Why the UK Challenger Tank is So Hot Right Now 

British Challenger Tanks incoming! Get Your Own Mini GOAT Replica Today! bit.ly/2OlOkHu

It's not a tank, it's the world's best protected mobile tea brewing facility.

I was in the Royal Navy, and as part of my role as a forward observer for naval gunfire, I would be sent to Salisbury plain with the army on regular occasions....which initially I resented greatly! One day out in a Challenger (2), after a really really complex and tiring sequence we came to the end of the opp, miles from anywhere, so we stepped out and the next thing I knew a sergeant put a cup in my hand and a little foil oval "Tea and a potato, sir"....and my thoughts were simultaneously "tea?", "potato?" and "WTF?". Turned to see the squaddies tucking into a jacket potato and supping on tea.....I did the same, basic as it sounds. it was probably the nicest lunch I've ever had, the tea and the potato were perfect. (I was less of a "Rupert" after that, and started giving my army colleagues the respect they deserved.) You can learn a lot in the military, even if it is to enjoy the small things in life, and to be less of an a...hole.

227 ist actually the number of active tanks currently. We have 384 in total. 75 are stored for longterm storage as a replacement reserve. 51 are stored in Sennelager to work as a reserve for all the challenger 2 at the Eastern Nato flank. These 51 are being held serviceable so they could immediately replace any destroyed or damaged challenger 2 (for example in Estonia where the Welsh cavalry regiment is with their challenger 2) That leaves 31 challenger 2 with no real purpose. That's why we can afford to send 14 without affecting our active forces like our prime already stated. Ofc it would be great to have 1000 challenger 2 (or even 3) so ofc active personnel sometimes say things like these, but from active serving people I know that the situation of our challies ain't bad or anywhere near the situation of Germany and its leopard disaster. Also there haven't been 447 built in total. It is 424. 38 Challenger 2E for Oman and 386 for the UK.

Challenger 2s don’t miss. A British tank commander told me so. He was in Iraq. The problem, he said, was avoiding the enemy tanks turrets flying through the air.

I've had a lot of experience gunning in the Challenger 2 and can honestly say that the squash head round is very effective against enemy spawn points

Interesting fact, the 2 in challenger 2 is actually the number of boiling vessels on board. The challenger 3 is gonna have a 3rd one. Fuelled by that much tea, the crew are going to be unstoppable.

Indeed its hot. It's burning way better than Leopard 2.

As a German I would have liked to see our Military giving like 80% of our Leopard 2 Tanks (and other heavy equipment like IFVs) to Ukraine. This would have exposed our forces for a couple of years until we would have been able to get new ones. But if we're honest, all European countries have their armies because of one country and thats russia. 200 Leopard Tanks destroying Russian Hardware in Ukraine do more for my countries security than 1000 Leopards standing around in a Depot at home. I find it kinda sad that not more countries see the logic in that. Its not like UK is having tanks because Spain is going to come wage a tank battle with them - nobody is exposed if we supply this stuff to a country that keeps the russian army on the brink of collapse.

you could also have mentioned the longest recorded tank on tank kill with direct fire was Challenger 1 at 4700 meters during the gulf war

and it just exploded and burned

Frankly, I'm surprised there wasn't a joke about Jarvis the T-Rex being a small arms dealer.... I'll see myself out.

That didn't age well.

As an American,I love visiting the UK and respect for starting the tank trend 🇬🇧🤝🇺🇸

Perhaps the main reason that the Challenger is such a good tank is that the spec.'s for it was written up by a tanker. He ended up by leading the Challengers in the Gulf War.

Why the UK Challenger Tank is So Hot Right Now Because it's burning.

Well, Challenger is indeed hot right now, almost melting!

The problem with thinking that sending tanks will deplete the fleet is that the main threat, by far, is Russia. Every tank sent to Ukraine will significantly lower the risk of the reserves having to be used in the coming decade. They are more useful destroying Russian vehicles in Ukraine than they are sitting at home, requiring maintenance.

I find it fascinating that you film these a month before they upload, but it makes sense with all the post-production.

Because it was burned to a crisp by precision artillery 👌👌👌 Title aged like a champ 🤣🤣

That aged well.

I think a large reason the U.K isn't worried about sending our tanks is attacking us is not an easy prospect. We are small island surrounded by water and sky, actually landing a force here would be difficult. Keeping any reasonable resupply for those forces while fighting off the R.A.F and RN will be fun when you account for the weather and the fact you probably landed in Scotland surrounded on all sides by water, its -3, raining and the local population of heroin addicts have been deployed as shock troops to contest your landing.

Ben Wallace is about the only good politician we have in the UK at the moment

Spent time with RTR. Coming from a small nation military that only has LAV 3s it was an awesome experience can honestly say the Chally is an impressive vehicle and I'm certain we will hear amazing things from Ukraine about the platform. I'd definitely say its superior to any east block 'equivalent'.

iirc, the boiling vessels were implemented after a tank column was attacked while they were stopped for lunch, with the crews outside their vehicles. it was decided that it should be possible for the crew to do so inside the tank while still being able to have a hot cup of tea. creature comforts and all that.

Some people think it’s a great tank (me too), some people would say it’s crap even if it had an anti gravity motor, could move at Mach1 at tree top level , it carried 48 precision missiles in a launcher on the turret each having a range of 900 miles plus 9 boiling vessels. But I’m sure the Ukrainians love it, it’s a big morale boost for them and is better than most tanks they have. And, as my wife said, “there is probably nothing better than being able to make a brew at the end of a long fight on a rainy day!” And she’s American! Earl grey is drunk by officers, the lads drink PG tips hence the two boiling vessels.

Challenger has the longest recorded tank on tank kill at 4.7km. This was technically out of range of the Challenger 1 at the time.

13 more to go

My grandad was chief engineer at Perkins and was the main guy who invested the direct injection diesel engine, and common rail diesel. He got an OBE for it. The military specifications for the tank engines they bought from the company was that they should last 30 mins combat time.

Chobham armor used on the Challenger is so effective it has been incorporated into the Abrams. Quote: One Challenger was struck by 70 RPG rounds and continued fighting but the crew probably had a headache at the end of it. LOL

Dint even maked it to the Dragon teeths😂

I am a British guy and nearly laughed my arse off when you mentioned how us brits love our tea on board our tanks !! Damn right gotta 'ave a brew mate

Just to add a bit about the survivability, the only reason that the Challenger 2 that was hit by FF was lost is that by an unfortunate coincidence the commanders hatch on the turret was open and a HESH round hit that. The armour was not actually penetrated, frag got in through the hatch which killed 2 of the crew and caused a fire leading to an ammo cook off blowing the turret off the hull.

It sure is hot right now...Russians made sure of that.

CrImEa ThAt WaY -> 💥🔥💀 another game-changer is destroyed comrade :)

It’s a very impressive tank and I’m glad we are on the same side…but the hot water kit for tea is the single most British thing I’ve ever heard. It’s brilliant for morale…Slava earl grey?

Obviously it's because of the standard issue boiling vessel fitted to every tank. That crazy jet engine and all those fancy optics on the Abrams is all fine and dandy. But sometimes a bloke just wants a brew while he's hull down waiting on an ambush.

It’s so hot it burned

Ex RTR serviceman here, the challenger 2 is in need of modernising (like challenger 3 is doing essentially with the turret) but the worst part about working on the challenger 2 is the maintenance. Everything is too old and is designed in the 80's/90's however it ABSOLUTELY can do the job! It is 100% possible to fire at a target that's moving, whilst the tank is moving, and the target being the size of a car door. The only way it misses is because the gunner doesn't line up the target correctly when firing.

The boiling vessel is legendary. The Cheiftain can never believe that other countries don’t put one on their new builds. Good bit of kit. Great vid 👍

I am glad the tea making system was mentioned.

Very hot indeed when it got hit by an ATGM

6 months later ... it doesn't look like very many Challenger 2's will ever roll on Crimean soil!

Our government maybe crap but they have been pretty good when it comes to supporting Ukraine. Challenger 2 is an awesome tank, more so now that it's persuaded Germany to supply Leopards. The BV has a serious side to it; many crews were lost to snipers in WW2 as they had to leave their tanks for a brew.

I remember a British officer stating "our tanks are made for war not games". The Challenger 2 performed poorly in tank games in Canada the year before. It didn't perform poorly in real life combat. Infact it performed so well in Iraq none where lost to enemy combat

Oh, this video aged like a milk on a hot summer day. Ouch!

The challenger 2 is a world class tank. Definitely one of the best. The UK trains excellent crews for them though that surely contributed massively to their essentially perfect combat record. I hope the UK is able to pass on that expertise to their Ukrainian trainees. I have great confidence of this as the Ukrainians training in the UK though must be some of the most eager and dedicated students the UK staff have encountered.

I think the British did a noble and necessary move by sending these tanks to Ukraine. They were the first to commit to sending tanks to Ukraine in the hopes that those countries who were sitting on the fence, would follow suit. And history shows they did. Great Britain supports Ukraine all the way and they deserve that acknowledgement. Slava Great Britain.

The Challenger 3 will not only keep the two boiling vessels, but will also have a small crumpet griddle and a miniature oven for scones.

because its on fire?

Fully support having not one but two tea-making devices onboard - can you actually imagine the crew morale breakdown if just one of these essential items didn't work??!? Seriously, glad we Brits have made something that T&P approves of…

One of the best analysed features on Challenger. Well done old boy. Cheers ✌🇬🇧🇺🇦🇺🇸

So hot, it’s on fire!

Aaannnnddd its gone.

so glad you covered this so many people out there say Germany and the US was the first to send tanks which is not true

As a Brit I'm proud we have a tank like the Challenger. We should be sending ten times as many. Better them doing what they were built to do defending our allies than gathering dust in one of our military depots waiting to be sold off or scrapped .

Interesting trivia, the tea making facilities have been standard on all tanks post WW2. During the allied invasion of France following D Day, a column of Churchills stopped so the commanders could get out to discuss their next moves/check maps etc. over a cuppa. A hidden Tiger rained hell on them destroying most of them, and since then the tea making facilities have been incorporated into British tanks.

I love the Challenge II and was lucky enough together with my great team to design and install some of the fantastic 'stuff' on it. What people don't generally know is that the boiling vessel together with the tea is the "secret sauce" that makes the platform and the crew into real super heroes. That is why they are fitted with two boiling vessels for extra-super-powers. Oh my dog, when Challenger II gets together with the rest of their NATO platforms on the battlefield, you definitely don't want to be on the wrong end of that set of 'bad boys and girls', because I will warn you now that you will have a really bad day that eclipses anything you've ever had before that.

thaks to UK for taking the first step. more must come ...more will come.

The British aren't "on the fence" about replacing the rifled gun it's a stated part of the Challenger 3 program to install the L55A1 120mm smoothbore cannon for purposes of ammo commonality and increased performance.

Unfortunately now was destroyed last week

Challenger 2 is arguably the best tank out there, but the Challenger 3 will be interesting. Not sure if you got the update but the smoothbore is confirmed to be included, I knew this in 2018/19 when my company built the prototype turret for Rheinmetall, then known as Challenger 2 LEP (Life Extension Program)

I couldn't imagine the US ever letting anything ever happen to the United Kingdom. We've been brothers in arms and as far as I'm concerned they're family.

At the moment, there is a debate in Whitehall, on raising the number of Challenger 3 conversions to perhaps 200-210. This is in a general debate about raising defence spending over the "special military operation" in Ukraine. Existing Challenger 2 have been ignored too long & are in a bad state. Some of the firms that made parts of it, have gone out of business, as the UK MoD did not have the cash to resupply. Also, only perhaps a third of Challenger 3 will get the Israeli Trophy protection system. Many in UK defence circles, think all C3 should get Trophy. Again, a budget issue.

This hasn't aged well.

8:00 Technically Sunaks predecessor was Truss, but you're forgiven for forgetting about her. As a Brit, I can inform you that she was about as useful as a chocolate brewing station inside a Challenger 2.

Here’s my take. The UK is currently developing the Challenger 3. Wouldn’t be a great idea to send your current MBT against a western opponent with tanks to match without the risk of losing any of your own personnel. The Challenger 2, like most western tanks, have only had battles against old soviet tanks. This seems like the perfect research opportunity for developing a third generation tank.

One point that is not resting to me is that this is a good time for western militaries to see how their hardware works in a modern conflict. As well as off load older equipment as they modernize. Until recently, western countries have mostly fought in small scale conflicts against non state actors. Their militaries have been getting smaller and weaker as the thought of full scale war seemed to be obsolete. Now their modernizing and restructuring their armies with new equipment, leaving a lot of old stock.

The majority of the fleet are not fielded by the army, they’re in secure storage facilities, should they be needed for operations. The figure the defence secretary was talking about refers to the number of platforms currently being used for training. For example, a regiment might only have one squadrons worth of platforms, and each squadron shares those vehicles by cycling through the annual training schedule. In addition, the training units also have a small number

I have a new found respect for the Challenger II, what a beast.

The Challenger 2 is widely considered to be the best protected western MBT. I imagine the ability to fire HESH will be very useful for the Ukrainians as the Russians seem to have become fond of concrete pillboxes over the past few months. And all the rifled gun naysayers don't seem to realise that, because the gun barrel is longer than usual for a tank, the APFSDS rounds it fires actually have similar penetration values to a smoothbore gun, with better accuracy. Only concern is just how thicc it is, 75 tonnes if it's the up-armoured variant we're sending (I assume it will be because it has better mine protection, something that is vital in Ukraine at the moment). That's very heavy, even for a tank, but I suppose it's that way because it's extremely well protected so hey, could be worse.

is that a subliminal Cappy? (9:16) Jim Carrey still frame right after you say "...and not a single one has ever been lost to enemy fire."

In my former career I served in one of the Royal Tank Regiments for over 20 years. Britain actually has closer to 260 Challenger 2 tanks, although only around 140 are actually in service. These 142 tanks are being upgraded with the Black Knight LEP. Sending 2 battalions which is now what is being sent, will come from the reserve tanks. They will not have DRA or cage and track armour. Most bridges in Ukraine are designed for loads up to 50 tonnes. Without any additional armour, Chally 2 is over 60 tonnes already.

The first Challenger was destroyed a few days ago. The first, but not the last ))))

The armour of the challenger is on a different level and ❤️ to see it be implemented in future tanks

I could see the Challenger 2 being used in a "Breakthrough" Roll with the limited number being sent. 14 of them deploy as a Unit, and use them as a Boar snout of a tank push with them breaking evenly left and right to make a gap for the more numerous T-72's to rush through and play merry hell in the enemy rear (similar to how cavalry (and Cavalry tanks where designed for) used to do

Fun fact, the armor on British tanks has always actually been to protect the bivvy ( tea making machine ) placing crew safety second to the tea facilities

Two down, 12 to go! 😆

The challenger 2 main battle tank is a formidable monster on the battlefield it's just ashame us brits only have a handful 👍

For a country that Invented the Tank, Just glad we were the instigators of the movement to supply Ukraine with Tanks. Challenger 3 will be at the cutting edge of firepower and strength when it comes into service, as long as they don't let General Dynamics anywhere near it like the Ajax..

Just a couple of corrections. The MRS does not shoot a laser back at the sights, it is however, aligned with the sight and has a cross hair inside that is illuminated so as to be seen at night. The gunner then aligns the main gun sight with the MSR reticle. The miss alignment is a result of the gun tube heating up during firing. The MRS is then used to re-align the gun to the sight. Also, the track is not connected to the road wheels. The road wheels do however form a channel in between them so the center guides have a path to go through as they prevent the track from sliding off the tank. When a tank throws track this means the center guides have been pushed either to the outside, most often the case, or the inside of the road wheels causeing the track to jump off the front idler wheel or the sprocket as a result. Or causing the track to break at a section of track. I would say that when the Challenger slid into the ditch dirt was dug up by the track on the inside and pushed the track free to the outside and possibly breaking the track. The HESH round has no affect on composite armor, since it relies on a solid core to be able to cause shrapnel on the inside. I believe the other Challenger was shot in the engine compartment and thus making it useless to continue the battle. I'm an retired M1A2 tank commander if you are wondering about my knowledge.

Would be awesome if we could develop Flying Drones that can take some of those rounds and different weapon deployments to address targets in exceedingly rapid ways to decimate enemies before they can adapt if the drones can also include close to hypersonic modes to reach behind lines to address ammo stockpiles and remove most projected tactics to demoralize the troops.

This tank is awesome! I saw three Scottish manned tanks take on 10 T54/55 out side Basrah, Iraq turn and then demolished a row of houses being used by the enemy. Then just drove off to another hot spot.

I love the use of the term 'temporarily'. They are 100% certain those tanks will return home at some point. That's how much protection these tanks have.

Just a quick correction - the rifled barrel improves accuracy and distance but it forces the use of primarily HESH rounds rather than other AP rounds using shaped charges. This is because the rotation of the round actually spreads the hot jet of a shaped charge so that it's much less effective. The rifling wasn't chosen to "spread the explosive HESH head", rather the other way around.

Love the humor. Thanks

The in service number - and the number actually available tell a sad story. The rifled gun is actually IMHO a very good weapon. The issue is they have been short of shells for a long time, and the hankering around NATO shells is being driven (as the whole Army spend seems to be) around cost. IIRC there are an additional 77 in a war reserve - but the whole fleet is heavily worn and wear and tear are a problem with the fleet. In a full blown war, I expect the C2s to either be taken out, or reach a state of unservicable - in a short timeframe. They will be too few to change the war, but I'd say that if we ship them in relative good shape and can supply a logistics chain - the Ukraine might be able to use them as a hulk smash tool. The C2, and tanks in general - have a purpose in life. To specifically face off against Russian, or other forces when required. We are stuck in a no war, peace mindset. Kit can't be made to go on for ever, and it can't survive a warzone. Its not magic. Brutally, they need to smash 10x their resource and do it well, and if at the end of that they are done, they will have won their day. These are days of shame that a country who WE GUARANTEED in the budapest agreement has been fighting for its life and has been handed drips and drabs to keep it fighting, but not more. The UK originally had to fly in the original NLAW shipments AROUND Germany because the Germans blocked the flights. People speak as if handing handfuls of tanks or planes is a thing. In the US and elsewhere there are thousands of units sat in stocked locations. We have hundreds of aircraft that we will retire in the next few years that could go today. (Tranche1 Eurofighters RAF, F18s in Finland and more beyond.). The Russians have been stupid - but they do have one thing right. Ukraine cannot fight indefinately. It has limited economic and manpower ability to do this. It must be given the ability and kit to break Russia and win, nothing more or less. If the idea is to keep them afloat and just have an endless bloodbath, that has to be challenged at every level. People moot weapons of mass destruction - and a fear of what Russia will do. Funny that, because when Saddam was declared to have them, an international coalition was formed and a complete smack down took place. Kuwait was a country. Its boundaries were restored. Ukraine is fundamentally the same. And so is this fight.

Ngl, I'm feeling kinda proud to be British right now. I didn't know our tanks were that impressive. 😅

So hot, it's been hit by heat rounds

Great video, but the pictures of the two casualties you showed are incorrect. The photos you showed were actually of two crew killed in a training accident at Lulworth in 2016. A breech explosion killed the two crewmen. Cpl Matthew Hatfield was one of the best soldiers I ever got to work with. Keep up the good work!

Glad you covered the earl gray tea while packing all the fire power and fancy features. Regards.

You know, as a brit, I am not a fan of old rishi, but I will not argue that this was a good move just a bit later than I like

When Challenger refuse to challege the front line. Keep hidding in bunker 😂 What they waiting for? until war is over? 😂 And abram too 😂

Es ist vorbei. 😔

Finally someone is actually talking about the challenger 2!

Having been on exercise with them, every morning I got up there was at least one or two left at their harbour area, broken down. That was when they were manned by British crews, supported by the REME on Salisbury plain during a normal exercise. I do not get a warm glowing feeling about many of them lasting very long in Ukraine

Nice Goatgun ad you made!

If I remember correctly the challenge 2 is also responsible for the longest range tank kill in history also?

I could see the Challenger II and the Leopards being used as the can opener on the line and then other armored vehicles and infantry would pour through. Creating that first opening is right up these western tanks alley.

It's coming from the one's in storage. The others over time will get turned into Challenger 3's which look like they will be amazing tanks.