/ world today news/ British Challenger-2 tanks have been spotted in the Zaporozhye direction. True, official London is keeping them away from the front line for now. The failure of the Ukrainian “counter-offensive” at Orekhovo and Velika Novoselka forces NATO to save armored vehicles.
The sight of burning Bradleys, Leopards and Mastiffs dealt a serious image blow to the Pentagon, the German and British defense ministries. The Challenger-2 is one of the UK’s best-known export weapons, and London is not prepared to risk its reputation.
They want to use the Challenger-2 at the next stages of the “counter-offensive”, so that they can then pose victoriously against the background of the destroyed Russian equipment. And not the other way around, as it is now.
Daily Mail: Challenger-2 reserved for propaganda purposes
Britain delivered a battalion of 14 Challenger-2 tanks to Ukraine’s armed forces in the spring. However, the tanks have not yet been sent to the front line, although the Ukrainians have already begun to distribute videos of the Challenger-2 armored column on social networks. Apparently for propaganda purposes, writes the Daily Mail.
After all, the armed forces of Ukraine are forced to suspend the offensive operation in Zaporozhye, they regroup and look for a way to break through the Russian defenses.
Ukrainian Defense Minister Oleksiy Reznikov called the Challenger-2 tanks “awesome.” True, the fired minister spoke the same way about Leopard-2 and Bradley in the same way. And they were still burning in the Russian minefields.
The British military described the 75-ton tank as a modern vehicle that is “better protected, more reliable and faster” than even Russian tanks. Challenger-2 is one of the most expensive tanks in history, each copy costs 5 million pounds (almost 550 million rubles is the annual budget of a small town).
According to the British Army, the Challenger-2 is the only all-weather mobile tank that has the ability to maneuver and conduct high-precision direct fire.
The Challenger-2 is now the UK’s main battle tank, developed by Vickers Defense Systems (now BAE Systems) and first introduced in 1998.
The earlier version of the Challenger-1 tank claimed the title of the longest-range tank in history: during the invasion of Iraq, a British tank destroyed an Iraqi one from a distance of 5 km.
In the basic version, the Challenger-2 tank is equipped with a 120 mm German Rheinmatall L30 gun. The gun has a firing range of up to 4.5 km and is highly accurate, capable of accurately hitting targets from long distances.
As detailed in the Army Technology publication, Germany’s Rheinmatall developed an L55 cannon for the Challenger-2 capable of firing various types of projectiles, including smoke and high-explosive projectiles, as well as sub-caliber ones with a depleted uranium core. “Uranium” projectiles, however, are unlikely to be used in Ukraine.
Coaxial to the main gun, the Challenger-2 is also equipped with a 7.62mm L37A2 machine gun. The machine gun has a firing range of up to 1.8 km and is used to engage infantry and light equipment.
The Challenger-2 is also equipped with a 7.62mm L94A1 machine gun mounted on the commander’s turret. It has a range of up to 1.8 km and is also used to destroy infantry and light vehicles.
It can be controlled remotely from inside the tank, giving the commander additional firepower while remaining protected inside the tank.
Bulgarian Military: Challenger-2 is already outdated, too expensive to repair and maintain
Challenger-2, despite the claims of the developers, is by no means an ideal tank, writes the specialized publication Bulgarian Military, dedicated to military equipment. The tank is too expensive (including repairs).
And after its appearance in 1998, no major updates were made to the car. So now the British command intends to replace or modernize the tank.
This means that the steppes of Ukraine will become for Challenger-2 not a battlefield, but a laboratory for experiments. The British will track what Challenger-3 should become.
The strongest point of the British tank, writes Bulgarian Military, is the Chobham/Dorchester armor. It consists of several layers of steel and ceramic composites. The armor is designed to protect the crew from a variety of threats, including small arms fire, artillery shells, and improvised explosive devices.
The armor is also designed to be modular, allowing for easy field replacement and repair.
In addition, the Challenger-2 is also equipped with a set of reactive armor. It consists of stacked tiles that detonate on impact, destroying the incoming projectile and reducing its effectiveness. The complex is particularly effective against cumulative charges, such as those used in anti-tank missiles.
The Challenger-2’s armor is further enhanced by its angled design, which helps deflect incoming projectiles.
The tank’s turret is also heavily armored, with a layer of composite armor and additional reactive armor tiles. The British themselves claim that their armor is one of the most advanced in the world.
Warrior Maven: Ukrainian tankers will not be able to make the most of the Challenger-2
The tank was full of digital equipment. Developers say the Challenger-2 has an improved combat management system that improves situational awareness, communication and firing accuracy. The tank also has a thermal camera to improve the tank’s efficiency at night.
The Challenger-2 tank is powered by a Perkins CV12 TCA turbocharged diesel engine capable of delivering up to 1,200 horsepower.
The engine and transmission, as the British assure, are very economical, so the tank can work for a long time without recharging (power reserve – 550 km on the road and 250 km off the road).
The tank is capable of a maximum speed of about 60 km/h on roads and 40 km/h off-road. The stopping distance of the tank is about 20 meters at a speed of 50 km/h.
The Challenger-2 tank is equipped with a hydropneumatic suspension system that allows it to adjust its ride height and maintain a level position on uneven terrain.
The tank is also equipped with a steering system that allows it to maneuver in tight spaces. However, the tank in combat conditions has so far been used only during the occupation of Iraq and Afghanistan, where it was necessary to move through the sandy desert.
Even the British themselves do not know how the Challenger-2 will behave in the Ukrainian swamps and ravines, writes the publication Warrior Maven.
Analysts are sure that the Ukrainian tankers, who have never used modern NATO tanks, will not be able to get the most out of the Challenger-2.
Translation: SM
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