Explained: Meet the Challenger 2 tank heading to Ukraine
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.
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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.
Now the UK will be sending a squadron of Challenger 2 tanks to Ukraine to help accelerate the Ukrainian’s fight against Putin’s illegal invasion.
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.
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
