Sfidante 1 | |
| Paese | Regno unito |
| digitare | Carro armato da battaglia principale |
| In servizio | 1983–2001 |
| Costruito | 420 |
Le FV4030/4 Challenger 1 è un carro armato britannico utilizzato dall'esercito britannico dal 1983 al 2001, quando è stato sostituito dal Challenger 2. La maggior parte della flotta Challenger 1 è stata successivamente venduta alla Giordania, dove è rimasta in servizio con il Royal Jordanian Army fino all'annuncio dei ritiri nel 2018. Conosciuti localmente come Al-Hussein, questi veicoli hanno ricevuto varie modifiche giordane prima di essere sostituiti da carri armati Leclerc di fabbricazione francese degli Emirati Arabi Uniti e cacciacarri a ruote ex italiani B1 Centauro 8×8. La flotta giordana del Challenger 1 era stata ritirata entro gennaio 2023
fonte: Challenger 1 I su Wikipedia
| Challenger 1 Walk Around | |
|---|---|
| Fotografo | Darren Baker |
| Localizzazione | Inconsapevole |
| Foto | 32 |
| Challenger CRARRV Walk Around | |
|---|---|
| Fotografo | Inconsapevole |
| Localizzazione | Inconsapevole |
| Foto | 30 |
From Persian Order to British Service
Le Sfidante 1 began its life as the “Shir 2,” a tank intended for the Imperial Iranian Armoured Forces. Following the 1979 Iranian Revolution, the project was taken over by the British Ministry of Defence to replace the aging Chieftain. While it shared the Chieftain’s lethal 120mm rifled gun, the Challenger 1 introduced a revolutionary leap in protection: Chobham Armour. It served as the UK’s primary Main Battle Tank throughout the late Cold War and cemented its legendary status during the Gulf War.
| Attribute | Technical Specification (Challenger 1) |
|---|---|
| Ruolo | Main Battle Tank (MBT) |
| Equipaggio | 4 (Commander, Gunner, Loader, Driver) |
| Armamento principale | L11A5 120 mm Rifled Gun |
| Armamento secondario | 2 x 7.62 mm L8A2 & L37A2 Machine Guns |
| Protection | Chobham Armour (Ceramic/Steel Composite) |
| Motopropulsore | Perkins CV12 26-litre V12 Diesel (1,200 hp) |
| Sospensione | Hydrogas (Hydropneumatic) |
| Max Road Speed | 56 km/h (35 mph) |
The Chobham Revolution
- Composite Matrix: Unlike previous tanks made of solid steel, the Challenger 1 used Chobham armour, a classified “sandwich” of ceramics and metals. This provided world-leading protection against both Kinetic Energy (KE) rounds and High-Explosive Anti-Tank (HEAT) shaped charges.
- Sloped Turret Design: The turret was characterized by sharp, flat-sloped cheeks designed to maximize the thickness of the Chobham matrix that an incoming shell would have to penetrate.
- Hydrogas Suspension: The Challenger 1 replaced traditional torsion bars with a nitrogen-filled hydropneumatic system. This allowed the 62-ton tank to maintain high speeds over rough terrain while providing a stable platform for the gunner.
The Gulf War Performance
- World Record Sniper: During Operation Granby (1991), a Challenger 1 achieved the longest confirmed tank-to-tank kill in history, destroying an Iraqi T-55 from a distance of 5.1 kilometers (over 3 miles) using an L15 APFSDS round.
- Combat Readiness: Despite early concerns regarding its Fire Control System (FCS) during NATO’s “Canadian Army Trophy” competitions, the Challenger 1 proved exceptionally reliable in the harsh desert, achieving zero losses to enemy fire during the conflict.
- Rifled vs. Smoothbore: British tanks remained unique by sticking with rifled guns. This allowed the use of the HESH (High-Explosive Squash Head) round, which is devastating against bunkers and light structures, though it required two-part ammunition (projectile and charge).
Retirement and Succession
The Challenger 1 was replaced by the Sfidante 2 in the late 1990s. While they look similar, the Challenger 2 is almost entirely new, with only 5% part commonality. Most retired Challenger 1 tanks were sold to Giordania, where they served as the “Al-Hussein” MBT until their recent retirement.
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