Challenger I
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The Challenger I was the Main Battle Tank (MBT) of the British Army from 1983 until replaced by the Challenger II in the 1990s. It is still the Jordanian Armed Forces MBT.
| FV4030 Challenger I | |
|---|---|
| |
| Challenger I during Operation Desert Storm | |
| Specifications | |
| Type | Main Battle Tank |
| Origin | United Kingdom |
| Entered production | 1983 |
| Length | 11.5 m |
| Width | 3.51 m |
| Height | 2.95 m |
| Weight | 62 tonnes |
| Crew | 4 |
| Armor | Chobham armour |
| Primary amament | L11A5 120mm rifled gun |
| Secondary armament | 1 x 7.62mm L8A2 machine gun 1 x 7.62mm L37A2 machine gun |
| Suspension | Hydrogas |
| Max. road speed | 56 km/h (37 mph) |
| Operational range | 450km road/250km off-road |
| Engine | Rolls-Royce CV12 26 litre diesel |
| Power output | 1,200 hp/895 kW |
The Challenger had an excellent combat record in the Gulf War, destroying about 300 Iraqi tanks for no losses.[1]
References
- â Tanks of the World, by George Forty, Anness Publishing, 2005