Challenger 1 tank

The British FV4030/4 Challenger 1 was the main battle tank (MBT) of the British Army from 1983 until it was superseded by the Challenger 2.

History

The Challenger was built by the Royal Ordnance Factories (ROF). In 1986 ROF Leeds (and the Challenger production line) were acquired by Vickers Defence Systems (later Alvis Vickers). The Challenger design by the former Military Vehicles and Engineering Establishment(MVEE) near Chobham in Surrey was born of an Iranian order for an improved version of the stalwart Chieftain line of tanks in service around the world. These were the Chieftain Mk5(P)- FV4030/1, FV4030/2 Shir (Lion)1 and 4030/3 Shir 2. With the fall of the Shah of Iran and the collapse of the UK MBT80 project, the British Army became the customer and the tank was further developed by MVEE to meet Western European requirements. For a short time the tank was actually named "Cheviot" before becomming Challenger,a recycled UK AFV name from WWII.

The most revolutionary aspect of the Challenger 1 design was its Chobham armour which gave protection far superior to any monolithic Rolled Homogeneous Armour (RHA), which was the then standard of tank armour material. This armour has been adopted by others, most notably the American M1 Abrams. Additionally the Hydrogas suspension fitted provided outstanding cross country performance through the long suspension arm travel and controlled bump and rebound behaviour offered.

Following a dire performance in the Canadian Army Trophy Competition in 1987, the requirement for a new MBT was issued. While the Challenger 1 scored the most direct hits of the competition, the poor fire control system and sights caused it to be the slowest firer and it was placed last in the league tables. Proposals put forward for the new specification included an improved Challenger from Vickers, the American M1 Abrams, the French Leclerc, and the German Leopard 2.

In the end the Vickers Defence Systems design, designated Challenger 2 was selected. While the name was the same it was a more capable vehicle based on the same basic MVEE designed hull with a new turret based on the Vickers Private Venture Mk7 design, coupled with improved Chobham armour.

Combat service

180 Challenger tanks were deployed to Saudi Arabia for the Persian Gulf War. The Challenger 1 claimed 300 kills against armoured vehicles for no losses. It also has the distinction of the longest range tank-to-tank kill in military history, destroying an Iraqi tank at a range of 2.5 miles (4 km).

Operators

Issued first to The Royal Hussars (PWO)

14th/20th Kings Own Hussars

13th/8th Hussars

2nd Royal Tank Regiment

Jordan operates the Challenger 1 as the 'al-Hussein tank', with various locally procured modifications.

Specifications

Crew: 4
Weight: 62 tons
Length: 11.5m (gun forward)
Height: 2.95m
Powerplant: Rolls-Royce CV12 diesel 1200 bhp
Max Speed: 56km/h
Main Gun: 120mm L11A5 with 44 rounds
Secondary Guns: Two 7.62mm L7 GPMGs with 6,000 rounds
Smoke Protection: Two 5-barrel L8 smoke dischargers

Trivia

The Challenger 1 tank makes an appearance on one of the episodes of the brittish TV comedy show "Mr. Bean" in which Mr. Bean (interpreted by Rowan Atkinson) visits a military fair. He leaves his car in the place of an identical car which is to be used in a demonstration which consists on the tank rolling over the vehicle.

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