Challenger 2

Last rifled-gun MBT in a major army.

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Specifications

Crew: 4
Combat weight: 64 t
Engine: 1200 hp
hp / tonne: 18.8
Road speed: 59 km/h
Range: 550 km
Main gun: 120 mm L30A1 rifled
In service: 1998–present

Perkins CV12, 1,200 hp

Armor: Dorchester (second-generation Chobham), TES kits to ~75 t

Secondary: 7.62 mm coaxial + loader, optional RWS

Briefing scores

Relative 1–10 for teaching, not a wargame rating.

Firepower: 8/10
Protection: 10/10
Mobility: 5/10
Awareness: 8/10
Logistics: 5/10

Ammunition natures

CHARM 3 DU APFSDSHESHSmoke

History

Replaced Challenger 1. In 2003 a CR2 survived multiple RPG and ATGM hits around Basra. Ukraine received a small fleet in 2023. Challenger 3 conversion is the smoothbore, Trophy, and new turret path.

Doctrine

British armor still believes in HESH for bunkers and a rifled gun that fires it. Protection is the religion: Dorchester armor and a crew that expects to take hits in a prepared defense. Challenger 3 will finally adopt a smoothbore L/55.

Strengths

Crew protection
HESH vs structures
Accuracy

Limits

Rifled gun vs NATO smoothbore logistics
1200 hp on 64–75 t
Two-piece ammo

Related hulls

Leopard 2A7

Germany

Centurion

United Kingdom

M1A2 SEPv3

United States

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