Ukrainian troops tailor Challenger 2 tanks for frontline advantage

The Ukrainians are pleased with the Challenger 2 tanks, dubbing them "sniper rifles" due to the quality of the optics and the fire control system. This setup allows for shooting from distances far greater than those possible with Soviet-era designs.

Yet, as with Western tanks, they've made additional modifications over time. Photos illustrate the addition of bar armour on the sides of the hull and on the front lower armour plate. These modifications are aimed to trigger the premature detonation of the shaped charge or its precursor in tandem solutions with two shaped charges.

Furthermore, the mount for the FN MAG machine gun on the turret now has a shield made from a pair of steel inserts taken from bulletproof vests. This modification is intended to provide some protection for the tank commander against gunfire.

The attention is also drawn to the L27A1 sub-calibre rounds, also known as CHARM 3, evident in the third photo. These are APFSDS types, or Armour Piercing Fin-Stabilized Discarding Sabot, essentially a dart - in this case, made of depleted uranium. They can penetrate the armour of any Russian tank, even those protected by heavy reactive armour.

Great Britain, as a pioneer in tank development, created the Challenger 2, advancing on its predecessor, the Challenger 1. One of its standout features is the advanced, multi-layered Chobham/Dorchester second-generation armour.

This armour provides exceptional protection against shaped charges and has very good resistance to kinetic penetrators. As a result, a vehicle with an additional armour package, weighing over 73 tons (approximately converted from 66 metric tons), was achieved.

A feature unique to the Challenger 2 is its rifled L30A1 cannon, 120mm in calibre and 55 calibres in length, which uses separately loaded ammunition. This means the propellant charge, projectile, and primer are loaded separately, unlike the standard one-piece ammunition and smoothbore guns found in NATO tanks.

This design choice allows for the use of specific HESH rounds, which effectively destroy fortifications and armoured targets without needing to penetrate the armour. HESH rounds work by flattening against the target's armour and detonating, causing high stress and producing small spalls on its inner side, potentially seriously injuring crew members without internal anti-spall protection. However, APFSDS penetrators remain the primary type of anti-armour ammunition.

The Challenger 2 tank's mobility is afforded by a powerful diesel engine producing 1,200HP. Though slightly less powerful than the engines in Leopard 2 tanks or the gas turbine in the M1 Abrams tank family, it still enables the British tank to achieve a satisfactory speed and maneuverability.