For active protection, a modernized set of L8 smoke dischargers was also fitted, five per side. [127], Following Britain's exit from the European Union, early in 2021 the United Kingdom entered talks to be allowed into the European Main Battle Tank project as an observer. You may opt-out by. Military-Wiki.com is a military blog for people who love history and military science around the world. It was never destroyed in combat, except incident "blue on blue" in Basra 2003, when another Challenger 2 tank destroyed another tank that had its hatch open at the time of the incident. This included 7 to friendly fire and 2 destroyed that had previously been disabled (to. Description. how many challenger 2 tanks have been destroyed. Beriev A-40 Albatros Why does Russia want to revive the worlds largest submarine hunting beast? [88][89][90], In 2015, the British Army provided an insight into the scope of the LEP, dividing it into four key areas, namely:[91], The MoD also began assessing active protection systems (APS) on the Challenger 2, including MUSS and Rheinmetall's ROSY Rapid Obscurant System. The regiments are called The Queens Royal Hussars, The Kings Royal Hussars, The Royal Tank Regiment, and The Royal Wessex Yeomanry the reserve regiment. The first operational deployments of Challenger 2 tanks were to support peacekeeping operations in Bosnia and Herzegovina and Kosovo. Some tests were performed with various coating and camouflage nets to reduce both thermal and radar signatures. 233480. The proposed CV12 upgrade by Caterpillar Defense would fit electronically controlled common rail fuel injection and introduce engine health monitoring (HUMS). T-14 ARMATA: 10 facts you need to know about, Challenger 2 MBT: One of the toughest tanks in the world. [96][97] In November, the MoD shortlisted two teams led by BAE Systems and Rheinmetall to compete for the LEP which was then estimated to be worth 650 million ($802 million). [85] The CSP was planned to be complete by 2020 and was to combine all the upgrades from CLIP, including the fitting of a 120mm smoothbore gun. The turret and hull are protected with second generation Chobham armour, also known as Dorchester. Crew safety was paramount in the design. The gun is made from high strength electro-slag remelting (ESR) steel with a chromium alloy lining. According to the British army, one Challenger 2 operating near Basra survived being hit by 70 RPGs in another incident.[49]. Russia circling Ukraines defence of Bakhmut as pressure mounts after months of fighting, African and Asian students forced to return to Ukraine for exam say treatment is racist. Like earlier British 120mm guns, it is insulated by a thermal sleeve. [63][64] The HAAIP programme "will be made to existing in-service Challenger 2 tanks to increase their mobility and stability, both of which are critical to providing the foundation for the new turret and systems that will upgrade the vehicle to a Challenger 3. It is not planned to upgrade all Challenger 2s, the balance will be retired.[13]. FP Explainers January 17, 2023 15:07:15 IST. [6] They also publicly stated a maximum road speed of 59km/h while equipped with 15tons of additional modules.[6]. It is hard to believe that the British tank has been able to move 2.5 km back to a safe location, handed over to repair technicians. HESH rounds have a longer range (up to 8 kilometres or 5 miles further) than APFSDS, and are more effective against buildings and thin-skinned vehicles.[37]. Challenger 2 has a unique record for a tank that has never been destroyed in any battle, including in the Middle East and elsewhere around the world. The L30A1 main gun is armed with a variety of ammunition, has proven effective in anti-conflict, anti-terrorism and peacekeeping missions. The Challenger 2 entered service with the British Army in June 1998, with the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards, with the last delivered in 2002. The smaller volume but more powerful EuroPowerPack additionally incorporates as standard a cooling system and air intake filtration system proved in desert use. 7 Specifications. All rights reserved. The British Army has 227 ageing Challenger 2 tanks. Only 1 Challenger 2 has been destroyed in combat; by another Challenger 2' More than any model in World War II. It would mean Russia would be fighting an undefeated platform - not once has the Challenger 2 been destroyed at the hands of an enemy. The power pack has been replaced by a new 1,500hp (1,100kW) EuroPowerPack with a transversely mounted MTU MT883 diesel engine coupled to Renk HSWL 295TM automatic transmission. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Hello, my name is Dung Tran. Other improvements were also considered, including a regenerative NBC protection system. [57] When deployed on operations the Challenger 2 is now normally upgraded to Theatre Entry Standard (TES), which includes a number of modifications including armour and weapon system upgrades. . [59], The Challenger Lethality Improvement Programme (CLIP) was a programme to replace the current L30A1 rifled gun with the smoothbore Rheinmetall 120 mm gun currently used in the Leopard 2 and M1 Abrams. Also for better collective protection, the NBC generators and systems were moved to the turret bustle. The Leopard II weighs 62.3 tons and has a top speed of 42 miles per hour. [9] A visual recognition feature is the armoured housing for the TOGS thermal gunsight: the Challenger 2 has this above the gun barrel, the Challenger 1 has it at the right hand side of the turret. Forty-nine main armament rounds are carried in the turret and hull. It was designed and built by the British company Vickers Defence Systems, since renamed BAE Systems Land & Armaments.[8]. You have entered an incorrect email address! Surveillance and target acquisition: Upgrades to the commander's primary sight and gunner's primary sight, as well as the replacement of the thermal observation and gunnery sights (TOGS) with third-generation thermal imaging. There have been a small number of tanks that have been damaged and repaired. Johnson instead chose to deploy British Challenger 2 tanks to Poland to backfill the Polish Army and allowing the Polish government to donate Soviet-era T-72s to Ukraine. It was confirmed that numerous armoured vehicle manufacturers had discussions with the MoD about a potential replacement for the Challenger 2. It would be an absolute "red line" if China provided weapons to Russia, a senior European Union official, who was not identified, said on March 3, adding that the EU would respond with sanctions. Has a challenger 2 tank ever been destroyed? Created By Olivia Brown. See answer (1) [14] Vickers received a 90 million contract for a demonstrator vehicle to be delivered by September 1990. Each tank weighs 62.5 tonnes and is armed with a 120mm rifled gun and a 7.62mm chain gun. The Merkava 3 and 4 tanks have also seen significant combat exposure in Gaza and Lebanon, with over 1000 units built. [15][14] The demonstration phase had three milestones for progress, with dates of September 1989, March 1990, and September 1990. There were a number of tank-to-tank skirmishes in the first two days of the operation, but the armored war began in earnest on February 26 when the U.S. 2nd Armored Cavalry Regiment and other . via the national interest. A Challenger 2 received 14 RPG-7 hits at close range with a MILAN anti-tank missile damaging the reconnaissance system. The ISRD took place from September to December 1998. There are major exceptions, of course. Study Guides . [26], In May 2021, the UK MoD published a command paper entitled Defence in a Competitive Age. The Challenger 3 tank will use the . This may have a bearing on a future replacement of the Challenger 3.[128]. Rishi Sunak hopes the UKs intensifying support will increase the pressure on Russian President, Vladimir Putin, and galvanise support among Western allies. The old, ex-Soviet tanks engaged passing Russian tanks at point-blank range. The tank was initially built in the UK by Vickers Defence Systems, now BAE Systems and Land Armaments. Over 8,800 m1 and m1a1 tanks have been produced for the us army and marine corps, and the armies of egypt, saudi arabia and kuwait. With the philosophy of sacrificing maneuverability to enhance crew protection, Vickers has developed for Challenger 2 the special second generation Chobham complex armor system called Dorchester. The Titan armoured bridge layer is based on aspects of the Challenger 2 running gear and replaced the Chieftain Armoured Vehicle Launched Bridge (ChAVLB). British Army Challenger 2 tanks in Poland for Exercise Black Eagle in 2014. . The duration combined with continued atrocities was increasing the pressure to support Ukraines resistance. A Challenger 2, likely a prototype, is plinthed outside Allenby Barracks, The prototype CRARRV is on display at The, This page was last edited on 17 February 2023, at 17:05. In one encounter within an urban area, a Challenger 2 came under attack from irregular forces with machine guns and rocket propelled grenades (RPGs). The tank has a glistening service record in Bosnia, Kosovo and Iraq. Theres not a lot of tank-on-tank combat in Ukraine. You are here: performance task roller coaster design edgenuity; 1971 topps baseball cards value; Foreign Secretary, James Cleverly, spoke to Ukraines foreign affairs minister, Dmytro Kuleba, and confirmed his readiness to work together on persuading other nations to provide Ukraine with Western-type tanks, according to Mr Kuleba. The type saw extensive use during the siege of the city, providing fire support to the British forces and knocking out Iraqi tanks, mainly T-54/55s. armour-piercing fin-stabilised discarding-sabot, armour-piercing fin-stabilized discarding-sabot, Challenger Armoured Repair and Recovery Vehicle, Minister of State for Defence Procurement, "Vickers Defence Systems Challenger 2 MBT", "Thatcher Picks British Tank Over Rival American Model", "Company News; Britain Selects Tank Produced By Vickers", Trojan and Titan Armoured Engineer Vehicles, "Janes | Latest defence and security news", UK Army To Extend Life of Challenger 2; New Tank Too Costly, "BAE Systems bid provides glimpse into the future of Britain's battle tanks", "Challenger 2 vehicles prepared for an upgrade", "Britain awards $1 billion contract to upgrade Challenger 2 tanks", "British Tanks To Fight Russia? . The British Army has 227 Challenger 2 tanks though many are not currently in position to be deployed. It uses a solid state electric drive for turret and gun motion, instead of hydraulic systems that can leak fluid into the crew compartment. March 1, 2023, 12:49 AM. [126] The leaked excerpts of the AESP document had been edited to appear as though it had been declassified under the UK's Freedom of Information Act 2000. The Challenger 2 is a heavily armoured and well protected tank. Although the hull and automotive components seem similar, they are of a newer design than for the Challenger 1 and only about 3% of components are interchangeable. The Challenger 3 tanks will replace the existing . [109], On 22 March 2021, the MoD published its long-awaited command paper, Defence in a Competitive Age, which confirmed the British Army's plans to upgrade 148 Challenger 2 tanks and designate them Challenger 3. At 1999 prices Challenger 2 is believed to cost 4 million per vehicle. The Challenger 2 has the latest Chobham armor and is one of the most protected MBTs in the world today. The increase in both vehicle performance and durability is significant. There are fewer than 500 Challenger 2 tanks in service with the British and Omani armies, and only a few British battalions have been equipped with them at any given time. The first tanks were delivered in July 1994. The British Army ordered 80 vehicles. Electronic architecture: Upgrades to the gunner's control handles, video distribution architecture, generic vehicle architecture compliant interfaces, increased onboard processing and improved human machine interface. [20] However, IHS Jane's 360 reported in September 2015 that following discussions with senior Army officers and procurement officials at DSEI 2015 and the head of the British Army, General Sir Nick Carter, that the British Army was looking at either upgrading the Challenger 2 or outright replacing it. [citation needed], It has seen operational service in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo and Iraq. Explosive reactive armor kits can be fitted for added protection. The Challenger 2 is equipped with a 120-millimetre (4.7in) 55-calibre long L30A1 tank gun,[10] the successor to the L11 gun used on Chieftain and Challenger 1. Oddly enough it's feminists, One of the UK's smallest towns has an award-winning pub and England's oldest fishing society, The golden health rules GPs live by, including why you should ditch your weekend lie-ins, When the cost of living payments could be paid in 2023, and how much people will get, Liverpool plan to be ruthless in 'biggest rebuild for a generation', How many episodes of The Last of Us there are and when the series ends, 'The man is a narcissist': Tories despair as 'bully' Boris Johnson threatens Sunak's new start, NHS condemns 'unreasonable' demands of up to 262 an hour for cover during doctors' strike, Do not sell or share my personal information. The 90th operates many of Russias dwindling fleet of new T-90 tanks, as well as the nine surviving examples of the latest BMP-T fighting vehicle. An initial commitment of 14 vehicles was announced, alongside 30 AS-90 155 mm self-propelled guns, and armoured repair and recovery vehicles. It has been reported that this tank is fitted with a diesel engine . The Challenger 3 tanks will replace the existing . [62], Updates to the automotive components of Challenger 2 are being undertaken as part of the ongoing Heavy Armour Automotive Improvement Programme (HAAIP), which is expected to continue until 2031, and expected to align with the Challenger 3 programme. Only one has ever been recorded as destroyed, of which was due to a friendly fire incident involving another Challenger 2 tank. The driver's position is equipped with a Thales Optronics image-intensifying Passive Driving Periscope (PDP) for night driving and a rear view thermal camera. This is a BETA experience. The modest differences between the two Western tanks reveal different national philosophies. Production began in 1972, and the T-72 entered service in 1976. . Mechanical failure and the time required for repair were prime concerns. Built in the UK by Vickers Defence Systems, now BAE Systems and Land Armaments, it was designed as a replacement to . Challenger 2 tanks are a source of pride for the British military and have been in operation for almost 25 years. British Challenger 2 main battle tanks could be heading to Ukraine to help its forces in their defence against Russia's invasion.It would mean Russia would b. Its beginning to make sense why the Ukrainian army is equipping two fast-moving air-mobile brigadesthe 25th and 80thwith lumbering, British-made Challenger 2 tanks. Its operational range is some 250 miles and cross-country range of 150 miles. Weapon control system: Upgrades to the fire control computer, fire control panel and gun processing unit. As of 2022[update] maintenance and overhaul of the Challenger 2 is undertaken by the Babcock Defence Support Group. ': Messages reveal frantic hours after Hancock affair story breaks, Instagram midwife faces misconduct hearing over racially offensive posts, Stephen Bear jailed for 21 months for revenge porn video of ex-girlfriend Georgia Harrison, Ken Bruce's final show reminded us he doesn't just talk to everyone, he listens to them, too, Who hates my naked protests most? The engine was arranged at the rear. Commentdocument.getElementById("comment").setAttribute( "id", "a83c5821f899228ce70da49d30a320fa" );document.getElementById("c08a1a06c7").setAttribute( "id", "comment" ); Content on this website is free to use and share, but please provide a link back to Spec Ops Magazine as a source. They were subsequently deployed during the 2003 invasion of Iraq, Operation Telic in 2003, alongside standard Challenger 2 MBTs. One of the battalions making up an "elite" Russian tank regiment waging war in Ukraine has just 10 . The Challenger Armoured Repair and Recovery Vehicle (CRARRV) is an armoured recovery vehicle based on the Challenger 1 hull, designed to repair and recover damaged tanks on the battlefield. The turret is capable of rotating 360 degrees in 9 seconds. Portugal. Production began in 1993 at two primary sites: Elswick, Tyne and Wear and Barnbow, Leeds, with over 250 subcontractors involved. The US is sending 31 of its Abrams tanks, the UK is providing 14 Challenger 2 tanks and Germany, 14 Leopards 2 tanks. The tank has a 550 kilometres (340mi) range and maximum road speed of 59 kilometres per hour (37mph). After some supportive lobbying by Baron Young, the Thatcher government chose to proceed with the Challenger 2 in December 1988. . How many Challenger 2 tanks have been destroyed? Spec Ops Magazine 2023 All Rights Reserved. The design of the tank is a further development of the Challenger 1 tank, a groundbreaking design with the vast majority of improved parts. Range: 342mi or 550km on road with external fuel; 156mi (250km) cross country on internal fuel. Only 1 Challenger 2 has been destroyed in combat; by another Challenger 2 in a friendly fire incident. how many challenger 2 tanks have been destroyed. Ordered in 1985, and delivered between 1988 and 1993, the CRARRV has subsequently been updated to use a Challenger 2 powertrain consisting of a CV12-5C/6C engine[115] with TN54E transmission. The driving position remains the same in the front center. Welcome to the world of Military. [73], Work to update the base Challenger 2 hull and automotive components, undertaken by DE&S, RBSL and Babcock, commenced in July 2021 in advance of these being converted to Challenger 3s. To help prevent incidents of this nature, Challenger 2s have been upgraded with a new passive armour package, including the use of add-on armour manufactured by Rafael Advanced Defense Systems of Israel. The tank has a glistening service record in Bosnia, Kosovo and Iraq. Thats why we are surging our military support. One tank was either seriously damaged or destroyed. In 1995, while deployed in Bosnia, a Challenger II was hit by an anti-tank missile, but the blast was absorbed by the tank's Chobham armor and it emerged unscathed. There are fewer than 500 Challenger 2 tanks in service with the British and Omani armies, and only a few British battalions have been equipped with them at any given time. Still, the T-90s on paper are better than the Ukrainian armys T-64s and T-72s are. Deliveries of Challenger 2 to Oman were completed in 2001. [16] The MoD evaluated the American M1A2 Abrams, the French Leclerc, and the West German Leopard 2 against the Challenger 2. The only Challenger 2 that was ever destroyed was due to being mistakenly shot by another Challenger 2. The Challenger 2 has a four-man crew. Challenger 2 uses a 120mm L30A1 rifled gun, although it has the advantage of a high muzzle velocity, accurate firing but is prone to abrasion, harder to make than a smoothbore cannon. It has been used by the British Army on operations in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo and Iraq, and has never experienced a loss at the hands of the enemy. [74], As of January 2022 six Challenger 2s were reported to have received the automotive upgrades prior to conversion to Challenger 3s. [101] The new improvements included a Safran PASEO commander's sight, Leonardo thermal imager for the gunner and Leonardo DNVS 4 night sight. In March 2021, the British Army announced plans to upgrade 148 Challenger 2s under the LEP with the aim to extend its service life to at least 2035. The Challenger 2 has seen limited combat service, primarily with a single British battalion in Basra, Iraq. [98][99][100], In October 2018, BAE Systems unveiled its proposed Challenger 2 LEP technology demonstrator, the "Black Night". In this way, which countries have the most tanks? The tank was then accepted into service in 1998. [70][71] [72] Publications in support of tender procurement for HAAIP indicate that a new CV12-9A engine build standard will be used for the Challenger 2s upgraded to become Challenger 3s, and for CRARRV. [112] In October 2019, it was announced that Thales would be supplying their Catherine Megapixel (MP) thermal imaging camera.[113]. In June 1991, the MoD placed an order for 140 vehicles, with a further 268 ordered in 1994. In 1986 Vickers Defence Systems began a follow-up to the Challenger 1 as a private venture. Date: 28 March 2003 - Challenger 2 of C Squadron 1 Queens Royal Lancers, on patrol on the outskirts of Basra. By Ellie Cook On 1/15/23 at 10:30 AM EST. Uniquely among NATO main battle tank guns, the L30A1 is rifled, because the British Army continues to place a premium on the use of high-explosive squash head (HESH) rounds in addition to armour-piercing fin-stabilised discarding-sabot rounds. BAES announced in 2005 that development and export marketing of 2E would stop. These new more modern assemblies will increase cooling capacity and reduce engine fuel cutback mode (where engine power is reduced if cooling capacity for the main engine and transmission is exceeded) through improved air flow efficiency. Its possible planners in Kyiv specifically intend for the Challenger 2s to engage the T-90s and BMP-Ts. designed to destroy tanks with a single shot, have also been supplied to . Although these two generations of tanks look similar, only about 3% of the components are interchangeable. The use of a smoothbore weapon would have allowed Challenger 2 to use NATO standard ammunition, including tungsten-based kinetic energy penetrators which do not have the same political and environmental objections as depleted uranium rounds. The Ukrainians so far have destroyed or captured 50 of the roughly 400 T-90s that tank-maker Uralvagonzavod has built for the Russian army. The Challenger 2 Driver Training Tank (DTT) is based on the Challenger 2 hull. A T-90 crew probably cant even see three miles, much less shoot that far with its 125-millimeter smoothbore gunnot even when the gunner is peering through Russias best Sosna-U day-night sight. Donate Paypal to maintain the website: vandung23@gmail.com The tank uses Perkins CV12 TCA Condor diesel providing a capacity of 1,216 horsepower, 8-speed gearbox and air suspension system that allows to reach 60km/h on a flat road, 1,592 liters of fuel reserve for Itinerary 550km. Rheinmetall's more extensive upgrade proposal, including the new 120mm smoothbore gun, had been accepted. [25] This complicated two-part project is detailed below. After the Army 2020 restructuring, only three Challenger 2 Tank Regiments will remain: the Queen's Royal Hussars, the King's Royal Hussars and the Royal Tank Regiment, each of which is the tank regiment of an Armoured Infantry Brigade. The sole BMP-T company just suffered its first combat loss. Boeing 7.62mm Chain gun and additional GPMG (general-purpose machine gun). The Challenger 2 is the third vehicle of this name, the first being the A30 Challenger, a World War II design using the Cromwell tank chassis with a 17-pounder gun. It has capacity for additional systems, such as a Battlefield Information Control System. The Challenger 2 tank has not been destroyed in combat due in part to the relatively small number of units built and deployed. [12], Since entering service, various upgrades have sought to improve the Challenger 2's protection, mobility and lethality, the most recent of which was the Life Extension Programme (LEP). [The tank was] well armoured but in an operational theatre it's not the case that you can have absolute protection. The two squadrons of tanks currently deployed, form part of the British contribution to the NATO Enhanced Forward Presence multinational battlegroup in the Baltics. The design is similar to the Challenger 1 derived Challenger Training Tank (CTT). Weighting the superstructure replicates the weight (and therefore also the driving characteristics) of the standard tank in operational service. The nuclear, biological, and chemical (NBC) protection system is located in the turret bustle. [65] The HAAIP programme, awarded to BAE Systems, was intended to apply a common engine and suspension standard to Challenger 2, the DTT, CRARRV, Titan and Trojan, improving reliability. No one has ever said Challenger tanks are impenetrable. Mobility: Upgrades including third-generation hydrogas suspension, improved air filtration, CV-12 common rail fuel injection, transmission and cooling. The hulls will also undergo ultrasonic testing, weld repairs and repainting. However, in the coming weeks and months, Western MBTs including the German-made Leopard 2 and British Challenger 2 could begin to arrive in Ukraine, while the U.S. has pledged to send at . Spain . August 2006: An RPG-29 capable of firing a, Upgraded CV12-9A engines for Challenger 3 and CRARRV, New Hydraulic Track Tensioners (HTT) with inline accumulators, Improved Electric Cold Start System (Intake Manifold Heater), Unspecified new components fitted to improve the transmissions. The 45-ton, three-person T-90s likewise arent having a great war. Since launching the unprovoked and unwarranted invasion in February, hundreds of Russian tanks have been destroyed.Though the T-14 hasn't been among the tanks lost, it has been a casualty in . The 120 tanks of 7th Armoured Brigade, part of 1st Armoured Division, went into action around Basra. an RPG-29 round was reported to have penetrated the frontal ERA of a Challenger 2 tank during an engagement in al-Amarah, Iraq, maiming . It is fair to say that all of these tanks are comparable and have proven their worth when exposed to significant combat situations. "Of these 24,000 belong to potential adversaries and 20,000 are in storage and at least 10,000 have been . This was not in any way new technology the device involved was the same type of shaped charge that we have seen used very regularly. [44] The use of an APU allows fuel consumption to be reduced, and lowers the audio and thermal signature of the vehicle. This has been linked by the media to the failure of the 2E to be selected for the Hellenic Army in 2002, a competition won by the Leopard 2.[114]. A Challenger 2 tank - the army's heaviest weapon - has been penetrated by a roadside bomb in Iraq, leaving the driver with serious injuries, the Ministry of Defence . The Ministry of Defence ordered a prototype in December 1988. The Prime Minister and ministers are speaking to our allies across the world in the following days and weeks to ramp up the pressure on Putin and to secure a better future for Ukraine.. Mass-produced since 1993, officially in service with the British army in 1998 with more than 400 units, Challenger 2 also served in the Royal Omani Army with a total of 38. The second was the Persian Gulf War era Challenger 1, which was the British army's main battle tank (MBT) from the early 1980s to the mid-1990s. The Challenger 2 is also armed with a L94A1 EX-34 7.62mm chain gun and a 7.62mm L37A2 (GPMG) machine gun. It is known as one of the most modern main battle tanks in the world today, and is the safest tank on the planet. Next month will mark the first anniversary of Mr Putins invasion, but Western analysts believe he is preparing for a drawn-out war. Challenger 2 tank hit in roadside blast By Martin Beckford 23/04/2007 A heavily armoured British tank has been badly damaged for the first time ever by a roadside bomb in Iraq. The tank is also well-protected against all-known anti-tank weapons as it has Chobham composite armour, which is made up of steel and uranium. The squadron is to be integrated into a Polish battlegroup under Polish command. Has a challenger 2 tank ever been destroyed? The FV4034 Challenger 2, also known as CR2, is a British third generation main battle tank, developed by Vickers Defense Systems in 1986, now BAE Systems Land & Armaments. [27], After the Russian invasion of Ukraine in spring 2022, the then British Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, declined Ukrainian requests for Challenger 2 tanks to be part of the military aid packages arranged by the United Kingdom and other NATO countries. This tank has a unique record of a tank that has never been shot down in any battle, including in the Middle East and elsewhere in the world. I think there is a plethora of evidence for that and we are confident they will do so again.. . There will though be fewer of them. Although no Challenger 2 tanks have been destroyed by the enemy, one tank was mistakenly hit by British forces during the battle of Basra, Iraq in 2003. The turret has been replaced with a fixed weighted superstructure to accommodate an instructor and up to 4 trainees. The Challenger 2 is a main battle tank, designed to destroy other tanks. 2 itself only needed a single shot to destroy his teammates. All the more reason for the Ukrainians to avoid tank battles. The Trojan minefield breaching vehicle and the Titan bridge-laying vehicle based on the chassis of the Challenger 2 were shown in November 2006. [17] Its one success led to Oman ordering 38 Challenger 2s; 18 in June 1993 [18] and a further 20 in November 1997. The UK will begin training the Ukrainian Armed Forces to use the tanks and guns in the coming days. Known locally as Al-Hussein, these vehicles received various Jordanian . Answer (1 of 2): excerpt from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Challenger_2 in August 2006, during the post-invasion stage of the Iraq War, an RPG-29 was fired at a .