Challenger 2

With an estimated 60,000 tanks currently in operation with armies across the globe, armour remains a key component of defence for most countries. Many of these vehicles are old, so as a modern platform, the Challenger 2 remains an immensely capable piece of equipment able to fulfil the wide range of tasks required of it. 

The Challenger 2 is the British Army’s main battle tank. One of its strengths lies in its ability to shock the enemy by placing them enemy under pressure by a rapid and fully-committed advance, causing them to break and retreat. This form of manoeuvre has been present on the battlefield for centuries and was previously the role of horse-mounted cavalry. The industrialsation of warfare and the need for greater protection on an increasingly lethal battlefield makes the tank an essential part of the modern army  The mere presence of a tank on the battlefield, or even the suspicion of one can significantly boost the morale of our troops whilst simultaneously undermining that of the enemy, in both offensive and defensive situations.

The effectiveness of a tank is determined by a balance between its protection, firepower and mobility. Known as the ‘Iron Trinity’, the design of all tanks must achieve a balance between these fundamental characteristics. The Challenger 2 prioritises firepower (provided by its rifled 120mm L30A1 main armament which holds the distance record for the destruction of another tank) and protection  (provided by the UK designed world-class Dorchester 2 armour.) These world-beating technologies make Challenger 2 slightly slower than some of its opponents, but the accuracy and lethality of the Challenger 2 offset their higher speeds.