The Challenger 2 is a British main battle tank designed by Vickers Defence Systems between 1986 and 1993 and later built by Alvis and BAE Systems Land and Armaments, entering British Army service in 1998. It carries a four-person crew, is armed with the L30A1 120mm rifled gun, unusual among NATO tanks for using a rifled rather than smoothbore barrel, and is protected by second-generation Chobham composite armor known as Dorchester. Around 447 Challenger 2s were built, and the tank saw extensive combat during the 2003 Iraq War, including heavy use in the siege of Basra, where the first Challenger 2 lost in action was destroyed by friendly fire. The United Kingdom began supplying Challenger 2s to Ukraine in 2023, where the type has sustained combat losses during the Russo-Ukrainian War, and the British Army is now upgrading its fleet to the Challenger 3 standard.
Facts
Classification
Service Status Weapon Class Introduced Year Weapon Class
Weapon Class (category) FAQs
Why does the Challenger 2 use a rifled gun when other NATO tanks use smoothbore guns?
The British Army values HESH rounds alongside APFSDS rounds.
The Challenger 2's L30A1 120mm gun is rifled, which makes it unique among NATO main battle tank guns. The British Army keeps a rifled barrel because it continues to place a premium on high explosive squash head (HESH) rounds in addition to armour-piercing fin-stabilized discarding-sabot (APFSDS) rounds. HESH rounds have a longer range than APFSDS and are more effective against buildings and thin-skinned vehicles.
Connections
Associated With
Iraq War, Wars The British Challenger 2 tank saw its first sustained combat during the 2003 Iraq War, including the battle for Basra
Operated By
Source Wikipedia: Challenger 2
Used In
Source Wikipedia: Challenger 2
Source Wikipedia: Challenger 2
In the Other Atlases
Manufactured By
Also in Business Atlas: the manufacturer of this subject.
Source Wikidata: Challenger 2
Also in Business Atlas: the manufacturer of this subject.
Source Wikidata: Challenger 2
Also in Business Atlas: the manufacturer of this subject.
Source Wikidata: Challenger 2
Also in Business Atlas: the manufacturer of this subject.
Source Wikidata: Challenger 2
Also in Business Atlas: the manufacturer of this subject.
Source Wikidata: Challenger 2
Sources
1. Wikipedia: Challenger 2
WikipediaLead section, Challenger 2 Wikipedia article
is a third generation British main battle tank (MBT) in service with the armies of the United Kingdom, Oman, and Ukraine.
Lead section, Challenger 2 Wikipedia article, service entry year
The tank entered operational service with the British Army in 1998 and has since been used in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo and Iraq.
Article text
The tank entered operational service with the British Army in 1998 and has since been used in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo and Iraq.
Infobox: service
1998-present
Infobox: primary_armament
L30A1 120 mm rifled gun
- Operated By: British Army, infobox used_by/operator field: 'British Army'
- Used In: Kosovo War, infobox wars field: 'Kosovo War'
- Used In: Iraq War, infobox wars field: 'Iraq War'
- Used In: Russo-Ukrainian War, infobox wars field: 'Russo-Ukrainian War'
View the Source 2. Wikidata: Challenger 2
Wikidata Q234676, class allow-list match (w-wdresolver-0926)View the Source Reader Challenges (0)
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