Key Points – The British-supplied Challenger 2 main battle tanks have demonstrated mixed but valuable performance in Ukrainian service.
-Crews from the 82nd Airborne Assault Brigade praise its formidable Dorchester armor, which has allowed tanks to survive direct hits from Russian ordnance, and the exceptional accuracy of its 120mm rifled gun, likening it to a “sniper.”
-However, the 71-ton tank’s heavy weight and 1,200-horsepower engine make it underpowered and prone to bogging down in Ukraine’s soft soil, limiting its cross-country mobility.
-Ukrainian forces have adapted, often using it for infantry support and long-range precision fire rather than as a breakthrough tank.
How Have British Challenger 2 Tanks Fared In Ukraine
The ongoing war in Ukraine has seen the impact of drones and anti-armor missiles take a toll on tanks and armored vehicles. Russia has lost a reported 4,000 tanks and armored vehicles. Ukrainian losses have been high, but their numbers indicate that for every three tanks they destroy, they lose about one.
The West has supplied Ukraine with main battle tanks, German Leopards, American M-1 Abrams, and British Challenger 2 tanks.
There are mixed reviews, but Ukrainian troops are generally pleased with how the Challengers have performed. Ukraine deployed 14 Challenger 2 tanks to the 82nd Airborne Assault Brigade in Bukovyna.
The Challenger’s Dorchester Armor Gets High Marks
The Challenger 2 is among the best-protected main battle tanks operated by the 32 NATO member allies, thanks to its Dorchester armor.
The armor, itself an evolution of the United Kingdom’s Chobham armor, used on M1 Abrams, is a multi-layered composite material, thought to be made of several kinds of metals, ceramics, and possibly other types of materials that are a tightly guarded British secret.
One example of how tough the armor is was when a Ukrainian tank crew survived a direct hit from a high-explosive round during a rocket attack by Russian helicopters.
“The damage was 720 mm deep, but the crew inside survived. The tank could still move and complete its mission,” according to the tank commander.
Works “Like A Sniper”
The tank crew relayed that one of Challenger 2’s key strengths is its accuracy. The tank features a rifled 120mm gun and a sophisticated firing system that compensates for factors such as wind speed and humidity.
The onboard computer acts as the tank’s “brain” and allows the crew to make highly accurate shots at distances of up to 10 kilometers. “It works like a sniper,” the tank commander named Oleksandr said.
The brigade has changed its usage, and they are using the Challenger 2s to support the infantry rather than the other way around. Other tankers said they fight their tank from Ukrainian-controlled treelines, firing at Russian-controlled treelines up to 1.8 miles away while drones correct their shots.
The targets were the Russians’ “full-concrete, dug-in positions.” But “no vehicles yet,” one tanker added.
The 120mm Main Gun Requires Special Ammunition
One of the drawbacks of the Challenger 2 is that, despite the tank functioning like a “sniper,” the main gun requires special ammunition suitable for a rifled cannon, which complicates logistics in NATO-standardized operations.
The future Challenger III model will incorporate 120mm smoothbore cannons, similar to those found in the Leopard and Abrams tanks, but this doesn’t address the resupply issues that Ukraine faces today.
The Challenger 2 Is “Heavy”
The Ukrainians didn’t use them in attacks for which it was designed. The Challenger 2 was intended as a break-out, defensive line-penetrating platform during the counteroffensive. They were used more as a mobile assault gun than a traditional tank role.
The crew in the Forbes article explained why. “Cross-country mobility is difficult,” one tanker said. “For our ground, the 71-ton British tank is heavy.”
Like its American counterpart, the M1 Abrams main battle tank, the British Challenger 2’s mobility and range are compromised by an effective but heavy armor protection package.
The Tank is Underpowered and Lacks Mobility
The Ukrainians learned what NATO has known for a long time. Ukrainian Challenger 2 tank crews have said that the tank’s 1,200-horsepower engine is underpowered for a 71-ton vehicle. Challenger IIs often get bogged down in Ukraine’s soft soil and need towing by other Challengers or engineering vehicles.
In the heat of combat, when towing isn’t always possible, a bogged-down Challenger 2 is a dead duck on Ukraine’s battlefields, where drones and anti-tank missiles are plentiful.
The underpowered engines require regular maintenance to keep them performing optimally. Without timely maintenance, the engine may struggle to perform at optimal levels.
A tank crewman suggested a more powerful 1500-horsepower engine would enhance the tank’s capabilities, particularly in high-pressure combat scenarios. That has been a constant complaint since the Challenger 2’s introduction.
The performance of the Challenger 2s has been mixed, but the Ukrainian unit to which the tanks were assigned has learned to utilize their strengths.
About the Author
Steve Balestrieri is a National Security Columnist. He served as a US Army Special Forces NCO and Warrant Officer. In addition to writing on defense, he covers the NFL for PatsFans.com and is a member of the Pro Football Writers of America (PFWA). His work was regularly featured in many military publications.
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