British Challenger 2 Main Battle Tank
Manufacturer: BAE Systems Land and Armaments [LSE: BA.L]
Photo Crown Copyright/MOD
The British Challenger 2 Main battle tank has several innovations unique to its design. One of the foremost innovations devised by the Brits is a type of armor known as Chobham armor, which is a layered matrix of steel and ceramics. In fact, incorporating layers of ceramic into steel has been a newer technique of strengthening steel, (the strongest knife blades are now layered steel and ceramics, because the ceramics provide an added measure of flexibility. The Chobham armor is known to perform especially well against HEAT (High explosive anti-tank) rounds. In one encounter in Iraq, one Challenger 2 was hit by 8 RPGs in close range and one MILAN anti-tank missile and managed to escape to be repaired. Another improvement currently being made to the Challenger 2 is the replacement of its 120 mm rifled cannon barrel with a smooth bore cannon, which will enable the Challenger to fire depleted uranium rounds among other more lethal ammunition developed by the US and Germany.
Specifications
Weight: 62.5 tonnes
Length: 8.3 m
Width: 3.5 m (4.2 m with appliqué armour)
Height: 2.5 m
Crew: 4 (commander, gunner, loader, driver)
Drive System
- Engine: Perkins CV12 diesel engine delivering 1,200 hp (895 kW).
- Gearbox: David Brown TN54 epicyclical transmission (6 fwd, 2 rev).
- Suspension: Second-generation Hydrogas.
- Track: William Cook Defence Hydraulically Adjustable double-pin.
- Maximum speed 37 mph, 59 km/h (road) 25 mph, 40 km/h (cross country)
- Range 280 miles, 450 km (road) 156 miles, 250 km (cross country).
Check out this Challenger 2 tank video, this thing is a beast!
9 Responses
even with the 120 rifled gun the challenger two does fire DU rounds the mod to smooth bore allows it to fire standard nato 1 peice ammo and heat ammunition
Posted on December 10th, 2007 at 11:20 pm
[...] Armor Damage Idea to improve realism, i think that armored units should have higher total hit points, combined with more of a chance for bits to go wrong, by this i mean that it is more likely to have a track come off or turret disabled, but more of a chance of the unit being able to be fixed by an engineer, so a tank can be taken out of action by disabling it, (making the crew inside no option but to ether sit an be helpless until a field repair or they have to brave the out side) but only totally destroyed by extended light AT attack (RPG), this would mean that the engineer would become a far more important asset to a team then they are now "n one encounter in Iraq, one Challenger 2 was hit by 8 RPGs in close range and one MILAN anti-tank missile and managed to escape to be repaired." The British Challenger 2 Main Battle Tank – British innovation in armored vehicles tested in Iraq [...]
Posted on July 12th, 2008 at 10:03 pm
The challenger is one sexy tank
I honestly think that the Leapord II, Challenger II, and Abrahms A2 are in a class of their own, power, beauty, effectiveness, what else could you ask for?
Posted on August 18th, 2009 at 4:04 am
Tanks of World War II
The armoured vehicle listings are primarily organized by country of origin. Over 200 tanks listed have detailed and standardized specifications of armor protection, fire-power, mobility and general information.while heavy armer and all-terrain mobility provide protection for the tank and its crew, allowing it to perform all primary tasks of the armoured troops on the battlefield. Tanks were first made by the French,
Posted on October 21st, 2009 at 8:55 pm
I think id trust this tank over anything else. The modern day King Tiger
Posted on January 1st, 2010 at 7:51 am
I wonder what other thanks in the world could withstand the pounding mentioned above….:)
god bless british armour desing and secresy lol
Posted on March 23rd, 2010 at 4:55 pm
British never knew how to make tanks!
Nothing has changed!
Posted on May 3rd, 2010 at 8:09 am
two coments are wrong . the challenger would be the the first tank i would choose to go to battle the leoard would be my next chose
Posted on May 6th, 2010 at 7:30 am
Rex if that was the case how come the Abrham uses British chabom armour?
The challenge two is by far the worlds most supperior tank designed specificaly for fast long range warfare the primary requirement of any tank.
Posted on May 21st, 2010 at 1:59 am
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