Challenger

Challenger 2

Challenger 2 is an evolutionary development of Challenger 1 with many improvements as dictated by experience with the design. The Chobham armour is uprated and a new turret fitted.

The L30 gun has improved durability over the L11, being rated at 240 high pressure rounds (- doesn't sound very many, does it).

crew: 4, loa: 9.8m (hull) 11.5m (gun fwd), width: 3.5m, height: 2.45m
grnd clearance: 0.5m
weight: 62500kg (laden)
Rolls Royce CV12, 26.1L
armament: 120mm L30 CHARM gun (50 rounds +/-), 2 x 7.62mm machine guns, 2 x 5-barrel smoke dischargers

Challenger 1

The Challenger 1 was developed from the Centurion and Chieftain line of tanks, originally intended, as the Shir Iran 2, for use by the (pre-revolution) Iranian army. Subsequently it was developed for the British army as the Challenger. The main improvements over the Chieftain are a more powerful (diesel) engine (1200bhp at 2300) and Chobham armour.

"Chobham" armour was developed at the Fighting Vehicles Research and Development Establishment (FVRDE) at Chobham UK but first used in production on the American M1, in service from 1980. It is a form of spaced armour that, rather than an air-gap, includes non-metallic material, giving good resistance to both armour piercing projectiles and also shaped charges.

The Challenger also features a high-powered 4-stroke V12 diesel engine by Rolls Royce, and hydrodynamic suspension.

crew: 4, loa: 9.8m (hull) 11.5m (gun fwd), width: 3.5m, height: 2.95m
grnd clearance: 0.5m
weight: 62000kg (laden)
Rolls Royce CV12, 26.1L
armament: 120mm L11A5 gun (44 rounds +/-), 2 x 7.62mm machine guns, 2 x 5-barrel smoke dischargers
Variant: Armoured Repair and Recovery Vehicle (ARRV), 2 x winch, crane, dozer blade
Production for the British Army, 1982 - 1990: 420 Challenger 1s

Go to the Chieftain and Military Vehicles pages