Challenger 1 tank

Infobox Weapon
is_vehicle=yes
is_UK=yes
origin=United Kingdom
manufacturer=Royal Ordnance Factories
name=FV 4030 Challenger


caption=Challenger 1 at the Bovington tank museum
number=420
type=Main battle tank
length=11.5 m (Gun forward)
width=3.51 m
height=2.95 m
weight=62 tonnes
suspension=hydropneumatic (Hydrogas)
speed=56 km/h (37 mph)
vehicle_range=450 km (on road)
primary_armament =L11A5 120 mm rifled64 rounds
secondary_armament=7.62 mm L8A2, 7.62 mm L37A2 machine guns4,000 rounds
armour=Chobham,classified
engine=Rolls-Royce CV12 26 litre diesel
hp=1,200
kW=895
crew=4 (commander, gunner, loader, driver)
engine_power= 1,200 hp (895 kW)
pw_ratio=

The British FV4030/4 Challenger 1 A.K.A Al-Hussein, was the main battle tank (MBT) of the British Army from 1983 until superseded by the Challenger 2 in the mid 1990s. It is also currently used by the Jordanian Armed Forces as their main battle tank after heavy modifications. The variants for the Jordanian military are upgraded to Challenger 2 standards and are undergoing upgrades using an unmanned turret called the Falcon Turret.

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 originated in 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 named "Cheviot" before becoming "Challenger", a name reused from a cruiser tank of the Second World War.

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.

Challenger 1 competed in the Canadian Army Trophy Competition in 1987. It scored more direct hits than its competitorsFact|date=September 2008, but the poor fire control system and sights caused it to be the slowest firer, and it was placed last in the league tables.

A requirement for a new MBT was issued. 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.

The Vickers Defence Systems design, designated Challenger 2, was eventually selected. This tank was significantly more capable than its predecessor, based on the same basic MVEE-designed hull but with a new turret based on the Vickers Private Venture Mk7 design and improved Chobham armour.

There was also a Challenger Marksman SPAAG version, equipped with the Marksman turret.

Operational service

180 Challenger tanks were deployed to Saudi Arabia for Operation Granby, the UK operation in the Gulf War. The Challenger 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 5.1 km.

Challengers were also used by the British Army in Bosnia and Herzegovina and Operation Joint Guardian, the NATO-led drive into Kosovo.

Operators

Issued first to The Royal Hussars (PWO)
*flagicon|United Kingdom United Kingdom, replaced by Challenger 2.
**14th/20th Kings Own Hussars
**13th/8th Hussars
**2nd Royal Tank Regiment

*flagicon|Jordan Jordan, 392 Challenger 1, known locally as "al-Hussein". Multiple local variants.

Gallery

External links

* [http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/europe/challenger1.htm Globalsecurity.org]
* [http://www.battletanks.com/challenger_1.htm Battletanks.com]
* [http://www.historyofwar.org/articles/weapons_challenger.html Historyofwar.org]