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Challenger II Main Battle Tank |
BACKGROUND
The Challenger II tank is the British Armies advanced main battle tank built by Alvis Vickers Ltd (formerly Vickers Defence Systems). An upgraded version of the original Challenger Tank, the Challenger II tank is one of the most advanced tanks in the world now that all of the original Challengers bugs have been solved. Fielded by the British Royal Armoured Corp primarily, (the 7 Armoured Brigade, AKA Desert Rats, being the most famous,) the Challenger II is also in service with the Royal Army of Oman. The British Army ordered 386 of the Main Battle Tanks between 1991 and 1994. Oman has ordered 38.
The Tank entered service with the British Army in June 1998 and the last of the 386 tanks was delivered in April 2002. Whereas the original Challenger Tank saw combat against Iraqi land forces in the Gulf War of 1991, the Challenger II was not to see operational service until British units acting as UN Peacekeepers saw service in Bosnia and Kosovo. The Challenger 2E, the latest development model, has been designed for the export market and is suitable for harsh environmental and climactic conditions. The 2E has been extensively trialled in Greece, Qatar and Saudi Arabia.
RPG STATS
Vehicle Type: Tank
Crew: Driver, Gunner, Loader & Commander
Passengers: 0
MDC BY LOCATION:
(1) Main Body 285
(2) Turret 120
120 mm Smoothbore Cannon 90
(3) Tracks (2) 85 each
Headlights (2) 2 each
NOTES:
- (1) Destruction of the main body will shut the unit down completely.
- (2) If the Turret is destroyed then all of the weapons will be destroyed as well. In addition the interior of the Tank will be exposed.
- (3) Destruction of the tracks will immobilise the vehicle.
SPEEDS:
- GROUND MOVEMENT:
- 38 mph (59 kph on roads)
- 25 mph (40 kph cross country)
STATISTICAL DATA:
- HEIGHT:
- 2.50 m
- WIDTH:
- 3.5 m
- LENGTH:
- 8.3 m
- WEIGHT:
- 62,500 kg
- OPERATIONAL RANGE:
- 281.25 Miles (450 km)
- CARGO:
- Small amount of cargo space behind crew
- POWER PLANT:
- 12-cylinder, 1,200hp Perkins Caterpillar CV12 diesel engine
WEAPON SYSTEMS:
- L30 120MM RIFLED TANK CANNON:
The main armament of the Challenger II is the 120mm Cannon developed and manufactured by the Royal Ordinance Division of BAE Systems. The cannon is capable of 360° rotation and an elevation range from -10° to +20°.
- PRIMARY PURPOSE: Anti-Tank
- SECONDARY PURPOSE: Anti-Vehicle
- RANGE: 1600 m
- DAMAGE: 3D4x10 M.D.
- RATE OF FIRE: Once per round
- PAYLOAD: 50 rounds
- BOEING 7.62MM CHAIN GUN: (2)
Fitted to the left of the main cannon for anti-personnel fire, and providing close support for the tank.
- PRIMARY PURPOSE: Anti-Personnel
- RANGE: 1,000 metres
- DAMAGE: 6D6 S.D.C.
- RATE OF FIRE: 30 rounds per burst. Rate of fire equal to the pilot's combined number of attacks
- PAYLOAD: 2000 rounds
- 7.62MM GPMG L37-A2 ANTI-AIR MACHINE GUN: (2)
Fitted to the cupola of the tank, this Machine Gun is designed to easily swivel upwards so as to defend against aircraft attacks..
- PRIMARY PURPOSE: Anti-Personnel
- RANGE: 1,000 metres
- DAMAGE: 2D6 MD
- RATE OF FIRE: 20 rounds per burst. Rate of fire equal to the pilot's combined number of attacks
- PAYLOAD: 2000 rounds
- L8 SMOKE GRENADE LAUNCHER: (5)
Mounted externally on the turret are five smoke grenade launcher, for laying down smoke to permit the Tank to provide cover for troops, or so as to evade hostile forces. In addition to this the Challenger II Tank is able to inject diesel fuel into the engine exhausts to provide additional smoke.
- PRIMARY PURPOSE: Evasion
- RANGE: 50 m
- RATE OF FIRE: Equal to the pilot's combined number of attacks.
- PAYLOAD: 6 smoke grenades already loaded, with an additional rounds carried within the Vehicle.
STANDARD EQUIPMENT FOR THE CHALLENGER II:
- OPTICAL SIGHTS/PERISCOPES: The commander's station is equipped with six periscopes, providing 360 degree view. The Raytheon Commander's Independent Thermal Viewer (CITV) provides the commander with independent stabilised day and night vision with a 360 degree view, automatic sector scanning, automatic target cueing of the gunner's sight and back-up fire control.
- LASER TARGETING SYSTEM: Range: 10 miles (16 km).
- OPTICS: INFRARED/NIGHTVISION: Range: 2000 feet (610m). Thermal Imaging System (TIS) has magnification x10 narrow field of view and x3 wide field of view. The thermal image is displayed in the eyepiece of the gunner's sight together with the range measurement from a laser rangefinder
- GPS SYSTEM: The Tank is fitted with a GPS Navigation system for navigation and location mapping.
- RADIO COMMUNICATION: Long range, directional communications system with satellite relay capabilities. Range: 60 miles (96 km) or can be boosted indefinitely via satellite relay.
- NBC LIFE SUPPORT SYSTEM: The Tank is sealed against Nuclear, Biological and Chemical attacks and able to sustain crew and passengers and remain fully operational for up to 48 hours.
- CAMOUFLAGE WEBBING: Carried on the exterior of the Tank is camouflage webbing sufficient to cover the entire vehicle.
REFERENCES
© Aaron Sketchley