Featuring - MBT - Britains Challenger-2

The Watcher

New Member
This thread is dedicated to Britains MBT Challenger-2.

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Challenger 2 is an advanced main battle tank built by the UK company, Alvis Vickers Ltd (formerly Vickers Defence Systems). Challenger 2 is in service with the British Army and with the Royal Army of Oman. The UK placed orders for 127 Challenger 2 tanks in 1991 and an additional 259 in 1994. In 1993 Oman ordered 18 Challenger 2 tanks and an order for a further 20 tanks was placed in November 1997. British Army Challenger 2 tanks were deployed on active service in Operation Iraqi Freedom.




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Challenger 2 is equipped with an L30, 120mm rifled tank gun from the Royal Ordnance division of BAE SYSTEMS. The gun is made from electro-slag refined steel (ESR) and is insulated with a thermal sleeve. It is fitted with a muzzle reference system and fume extraction. The turret is capable of 360° rotation and the weapon elevation range is from -10° to +20°.

There is capacity for 50 120mm projectiles, including armour piercing fin-stabilised discarding sabot (APFSDS), high explosive squash head (HESH) or smoke rounds. The L30 gun can also fire the Depleted Uranium (DU) round with a stick charge propellant. With the DU round, the L30 is part of the Charm 1 gun, charge and projectile system. A Charm 3 system is under development in which the DU projectile has a higher length to diameter aspect ratio for increased penetration.

The gun control is provided by an all-electric gun control and stabilisation system from BAE SYSTEMS. Challenger 2 is also equipped with a Boeing 7.62mm chain gun, which is located to the left of the main tank gun. The loader has a 7.62mm GPMG L37A2 anti-air machine gun, mounted on the cupola.





SELF-PROTECTION

The turret is protected with second generation Chobham armour. A nuclear, biological and chemical (NBC) protection system is located in the turret bustle. On each side of the turret are five L8 smoke grenade dischargers, from Helio Mirror Company. Challenger 2 can also set a smoke screen by the injection of diesel fuel into the engine exhausts.

FIRE CONTROL AND OBSERVATION

The digital fire control computer is produced by Computing Devices Company (now General Dynamics - Canada). General Dynamics UK is to supply the Platform Battlefield Information System Application (PBISA) for the British Army Challenger 2 tanks. PBISA integrates the commander's display, inertial navigation system, digitisation processing computer and driver's display panel. Alvis Vickers is responsible for system integration and some of the software. PBISA will be delivered from 2004 to 2006.
CHALLENGER 2E

Challenger 2E has a new integrated weapon control and battlefield management system, which includes a gyrostabilised panoramic SAGEM MVS 580 day/thermal sight for the commander and SAGEM SAVAN 15 gyrostabilised day/thermal sight for the gunner, both with eyesafe laser rangefinder. This allows hunter/killer operations with a common engagement sequence. An optional servo-controlled overhead weapons platform can be slaved to the commander's sight to allow operation independent from the turret.

The powerpack has been replaced with a new 1500 hp Europack with transversely mounted MTU 883 diesel engine coupled to Renk HSWL 295TM automatic transmission. The smaller but more powerful engine allows more space for fuel storage, increasing the vehicle’s range to 550km
 

The Watcher

New Member
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
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Stats from MoD:

Crew 4
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Length Gun Forward 11.55m;
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Hull Length 8.3m;
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Height to Turret Roof 2.49m;
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Width 3.5m;
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Ground Clearance 0.5m;
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Combat Weight 62,500 kgs;
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Main Armament 1 x 120mm L30 CHARM Gun (CHallenger main ARmament);
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Ammunition Carried Typically 50 rounds - APFSDS, HESH, Smoke;
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Secondary Armament Co-axial 7.62mm chain gun; 7.62mm GPMG Turret Mounted for Air Defence;
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Ammunition Carried 4000 rounds 7.62mm;
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Engine 1200bhp Perkins-Condor CV12;
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Maximum Road Speed 59kph;
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Average Cross Country Speed 40kph.
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Red aRRow

Forum Bouncer
Great post Watcher. I think the British Challengers are replacing their rifled canons with smooth bores now.
 

Winter

New Member
Possibly the last great British tank too.....What with the rise of AFVs....Perhaps Iraq has hopefully turned that around especially with the problems the U.S. is suffering with their Stryker....
 
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