FV4034 Challenger 2 | ||
| Pays | Royaume-uni | |
| Rôle | Char de combat principal | |
| En service | 1998-présent | |
| Construit | 447 | |
Lla FV4034 Challenger 2 (Désignation MOD « CR2 (cr2) ») est un char de combat principal britannique de troisième génération (MBT) en service avec les armées du Royaume-Uni et d’Oman. Il a été conçu et construit par la société britannique Vickers Defence Systems (aujourd’hui connue sous le nom de BAE Systems Land & Armaments).
| Challenger II Walk Around | |
|---|---|
| Photographe | Inconnu |
| Localisation | Inconnu |
| Photos | 34 |
| Challenger Mk.I Walk Around | |
|---|---|
| Photographe | Inconnu |
| Localisation | Inconnu |
| Photos | 27 |
| Challenger 2 Megatron Walk Around | |
|---|---|
| Photographe | Darren Baker |
| Localisation | Inconnu |
| Photos | 71 |
Voir aussi :
| Challenger II Walk Around | |
|---|---|
| Photographe | Ian Barraclough |
| Localisation | Inconnu |
| Photos | 60 |
The World’s Toughest Tank?
Lla Challenger 2 (Challenger 2) is the United Kingdom’s primary main battle tank, renowned for being one of the best-protected armored vehicles in existence. Built by Vickers Defence Systems (now BAE Systems), it entered service in 1998 as a total redesign of the Challenger 1. Unlike its NATO peers (the Abrams and Leopard 2), the Challenger 2 retains a rifled main gun, a choice driven by the British Army’s preference for specialized ammunition types. It is famously durable, with a legendary combat record of zero losses to enemy fire during the entire Iraq War.
| Attribute | Technical Specification (Challenger 2) |
|---|---|
| Rôle | Main Battle Tank (MBT) |
| Crew | 4 (Commander, Gunner, Loader, Driver) |
| Armement principal | 120 mm L30A1 Rifled Gun |
| Armement secondaire | 7.62 mm L94A1 chain gun (coaxial), 7.62 mm L37A2 machine gun |
| Armor Type | Dorchester Level 2 (2nd Gen Chobham Composite) |
| moteur | Perkins CV12-6A V12 Diesel (1,200 hp) |
| Max Speed | 59 km/h (37 mph) on road / 40 km/h (25 mph) off-road |
| Weight | 62.5 tons (standard) / up to 75 tons (with TES upgrade) |
| Portée opérationnelle | 550 km (340 miles) on road |
Unique British Features
- The Rifled Advantage & HESH: The L30A1 gun is rifled, which allows it to fire HESH (High-Explosive Squash Head) rounds with extreme accuracy. HESH « smears » plastic explosive against a target’s armor before detonating, creating a shockwave that kills the crew inside without needing to penetrate the hull.
- Dorchester Armor: The secret composite armor, codenamed Dorchester, is an evolution of the famous Chobham armor. In 2003, a Challenger 2 in Basra survived being hit by roughly 70 RPGs and multiple anti-tank missiles in a single engagement, returning to service just hours later.
- The Boiling Vessel (BV): True to British tradition, the Challenger 2 is equipped with an internal kettle/heater known as a « Boiling Vessel. » This allows the crew to make tea and heat rations without leaving the safety of the armored hull.
- Separate Loading: Unlike the 1-piece shells used by the Abrams, the Challenger 2 uses 3-piece ammunition (projectile, propellant charge, and primer). This allows for safer storage in the turret and hull « wet stowage » bins.
Combat History & Future
- The Longest Tank-to-Tank Kill: A British Challenger 1 (the C2’s predecessor) holds the world record for the longest confirmed tank kill in history, knocking out an Iraqi T-55 at a distance of 5.1 kilometers (3.2 miles).
- Service in Ukraine (2023-Present): In 2023, the UK sent 14 Challenger 2s to Ukraine. These have seen heavy combat, where their protection has been praised by crews for saving lives even when the vehicle is disabled.
- Challenger 3 (The Next Step): The UK is currently upgrading 148 hulls to the Challenger 3 standard. This will replace the rifled gun with a NATO-standard smoothbore gun (the Rheinmetall L55A1) and introduce a fully digital turret.
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