Challenger 2 - Main Battle Tank

INTRODUCTION

Originating as a private venture by Vickers Defence Systems in 1986, the Challenger 2 is the first tank accepted by the British Army since the Second World War designed and built exclusively by a Contractor, rather than in response to a specific Army request

The Challenger 2 is the first British Army tank since World War II to be designed, developed and produced exclusively by a single prime contractor, Vickers Defence Systems, with set reliability goals laid down in the fixed price contract. Challenger 2 was design and manufactured at both Vickers sites, Barnbow Leeds and

Scottswood/Newcastle.

The hull and automotive parts of the Challenger 2 are based upon its predecessor Challenger 1, but Challenger 2 incorporates over 150 improvements aimed at increasing reliability and maintainability. The turret of Challenger 2 is a totally new design. Armour is an uprated version of Challenger 1's Chobham armour. The Challenger 2 is the best protected tank in NATO (10) incorporating Chobham second-generation armour plating. Its NBC (nuclear, biological and chemical protection) system is capable of dealing with all known threats and, for the first time in any British tank, the crew compartment has both a heating and a cooling system.

In June 1991 the British Government selected the Challenger 2 and placed an order worth £520 million for 127 Challenger 2 MBTs and 13 driver training tanks. Production began in 1993 and the first vehicles were delivered in July 1994. The Challenger 2 is produced at the Vickers Defence Systems plants in Leeds and Newcastle. There are over 250 subcontractors (both UK and Overseas) involved at some point in the manufacturing process. Among the most significant are: Royal Ordnance (Main and Secondary armaments); Blair Catton (Track); and GEC-Marconi (Gun Control).

BODY

1. DESCRIPTION

The hull of Challenger 2 is essentially the same as Challenger 1, however some 156 improvements have been made. The Perkins Condor Diesel (originally a Rolls Royce design) produces 1200 hp and is coupled to a new 6 speed David Brown TN54 transmission

A Plessey Auxiliary Power Unit (APU) has replaced the Coventry Climax unit in the Challenger 1. Upgraded hydropneumatic suspension and hydraulic track tensioners are fitted. Two 45 gallon (200 litre) drums can be fitted to the rear of the hull in racks, but these are not connected to the vehicle’s fuel system. As well as the smoke grenade dischargers fitted to the turret, smoke can be generated by injecting diesel fuel into the engine exhausts, a feature normally associated with Russian AFVs.

The all new turret mounts an improved 120mm L30A1 rifled gun, which fires the new DU (depleted uranium) round. Ammunition is separate, with the round and the charge being loaded individually. A Boeing L94A1 7.62mm Chain Gun is installed coaxially with an L37A2 7.62mm machine gun being mounted externally. The fire control system used an improved version of the computer fitted to the M1A1 Abrams.

A thermal imaging sight for the commander, with 360 degree rotation, is fitted to the turret roof. The gunner also has a thermal imaging stabilised sight.

A Pearson Engineering Combat Dozer Blade can be fitted.

The main armament consists of a Royal Ordnance 120 mm rifled tank gun designated the L30. It also incorporates a McDonnell Douglas Helicopter Systems 7.62 mm chain gun, which is already in service in the British Army, being installed in the GKN Defence Warrior mechanized combat vehicle, and a 7.62 mm anti-aircraft machine gun. The Challenger 2's fire control system is the latest-generation digital computer from Computing Devices Company (CDC) of Canada and is an improved version of that installed in the US M1A1 Abrams tank. It also has growth capacity for future enhancement such as a Battlefield Information Control System and navigation aids. The Challenger 2 carries a crew of 4 and has a combat weight of 62.5 tonnes. It has a maximum road speed of 56 km/h and a range of 250 km cross country and 450 km on the road.