Explained: Meet the mighty Challenger 2 tank
The Challenger 2 is the UKs main battle tank, designed to destroy other tanks and has been successfully employed across a number of conflict areas.
Originally introduced into the British Army in 1994 to replace The Challenger 1 as a tank to destroy other tanks, The Challenger 2 has travelled the world on operations with the British Army including to Eastern Europe and Iraq.
The UK has sent a squadron of Challenger 2 tanks to Ukraine to help accelerate the Ukrainian’s fight against Putin’s illegal invasion.
Ukrainian tank crews have completed training on Challenger 2 tanks in the UK and have returned home to continue their fight against Russia’s illegal and unprovoked invasion.
The training began shortly after the announcement in January that the UK would donate 14 Challenger 2 tanks and accompanying ammunition and spare parts to aid Ukraine.
The British Army trainers spent several weeks training Ukrainian personnel how to operate and fight with the tanks. Instruction included how to command, drive and work together as a Challenger 2 tank crew and effectively identify and engage targets.
The Challenger 2 tank marks a step change in capability for the Armed Forces of Ukraine, ensuring they are better able to protect their crews and offering them some of the most modern and sophisticated gunnery systems in the world.
What makes a Challenger 2?
Mass: 62.5 tonnes (61.5 long tons; 68.9 short tons), with a combat-ready weight of 75.0 tonnes (73.8 long tons; 82.7 short tons) with add-on armour modules.
Crew: 4 (commander, gunner, loader/operator, driver)
Main Armament: L30A1 120 mm rifled gun with 47 rounds
Secondary Armament: Coaxial 7.62 mm L94A1 chain gun EX-34 (chain gun), 7.62 mm L37A2 Operator/Loader’s hatch machine gun
Engine: Perkins CV12–6A V12 diesel 26.1 litres, 1,200 bhp (890 kW)
Suspension: Hydro-pneumatic suspension
Fuel capacity: 1,592 litres
Operational Range: 550 km (340 mi) on road, 250 km (160 mi) off-road on internal fuel
Maximum speed: 59 km/h (37 mph) on road, 40 km/h (25 mph) off-road
The Challenger 2 is unrivalled in its ability to place extreme pressure on the enemy causing them to break and retreat from its rapid and fully-committed advances.
They have played a vital role in NATO’s Enhanced Forward Presence (EFP) in the Baltic States, where a squadron of Challenger 2 tanks have been deployed in Estonia. This deployment seeks to enhance Euro-Atlantic security, reassure our allies and deter our adversaries.
