Challenger 2 tanks face challenges in Ukrainian terrain

According to the British analyst, from the Ukrainian soldiers' perspective, the most problematic aspect is the weight of the Challenger 2 tank, which exceeds 60 tonnes. 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), it results in noticeable issues.

There are situations where Challenger 2 tanks, even when fully operational, prove unsuitable for combat—they simply get stuck in Ukrainian mud. For example, Leopard 2 tanks handle such conditions much better.

The weight of the Challenger 2 tank is the result of using multilayered Chobham/Dorchester armour. Thanks to this, when entering service in 1994, the Challenger 2 was considered the toughest tank in the world. It performed admirably in battles, including during the Second Gulf War, and even today, during the conflict in Ukraine, its durability is rated above average.

Apart from its durability (in addition to strong armour, 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 5 kilometres 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.