Challenger 2 tanks meet challenges in Ukraine's harsh terrain
Nicholas Drummond, a former British Army infantry officer and now a military analyst, commented on the presence of Challenger 2 tanks in Ukraine. In his opinion, although these tanks are very well-armored, they are not always reliable.
According to the British analyst, from the Ukrainian soldiers' point of view, the most problematic aspect is the weight of the Challenger 2 tank, which exceeds 132,000 pounds. Combined with wide tracks (designed for traversing sandy terrains, among others), engines weaker than those in Leopard or Abrams tanks, and the specific conditions in Ukraine (frequent temperature fluctuations and high-humus soil that absorbs significant amounts of water), this results in noticeable issues.
Challenger 2 in Ukraine
There are situations where Challenger 2 tanks, while fully operational, are unsuitable for combat—they simply get stuck in Ukrainian mud. For example, Leopard 2 tanks handle such situations much better.
The weight of the Challenger 2 tank is the result of using a multilayered Chobham/Dorchester armor. Thanks to this, when entering service in 1994, the Challenger 2 was regarded as the toughest tank in the world. It performed very well in battles, including during the Second Gulf War, and even today, during the war in Ukraine, its durability is rated as above average.
Despite issues, Ukrainians appreciate the Challenger 2
Apart from its durability (in addition to strong armor, there is also an NBC—nuclear, biological, and chemical protection system), Ukrainian soldiers find several other advantages in the Challenger 2 tank. They appreciate its ease of use and accuracy, describing the British tank as a "sniper rifle" capable of hitting targets up to 3 miles away.
The armament of the Challenger 2 tank consists of a rifled L30A1 120 mm cannon. This is an unusual solution because most NATO tanks rely on smoothbore cannons. The British chose this option because they intended to use HESH deformable projectiles. The additional armament consists of two 7.62 mm machine guns.
