Exclusive footage shows the inside of a British Army Challenger 2 tank as it fires its main gun.
The FV4034 Challenger 2 is a British main battle tank in service with the armies of the United Kingdom and Oman. It was designed and built by the British company Vickers Defence Systems (now known as BAE Systems Land & Armaments).
The Challenger 2 is considered to be one of the best protected tanks in the world.
The turret and hull are protected with second generation Chobham armour (also known as Dorchester). However, on one occasion, in August 2006, during the post-invasion stage of the Iraq War 2003 an RPG-29 was fired at a Challenger 2 that was climbing over a ramp, the front underside hull armour of the tank which was not augmented with an explosive reactive armour package was damaged, the tank subsequently returned to base under its own power and was quickly repaired and back on duty the following day.
As a result, the explosive reactive armour package was replaced with a Dorchester block and the steel underbelly lined with armour as part of the ‘Streetfighter’ upgrade as a direct response to this incident. To date, the only time the tank has ever been seriously damaged during operations, was by another Challenger 2 in a ‘blue on blue’ (friendly fire) incident.
It has seen operational service in Bosnia, Kosovo and Iraq.
Seriously? That’s the outside of the tank from a view inside the drivers cab. Exclusive; I think not, go to you tube there is more than enough footage of firing from inside Challenger 2.
No Jim, it’s not. It was filmed by our writer who is also a crewman. So yes, an exclusive.
Jim Peachey, are you the very same Jim Peachey I know that works for the Boys in Blue and used to spend some time at a certain gunnery school in Dorset?
Was that filmed recently?
BV
Clearly not, Jan 18, I recognise a few voices in the turret.
BV
Is the gun going to be changed to a smooth bore as is being put out by various outlets ?
99% yes, The L-30 is not safe apparently so will need changing anyway, the incident at castle Martin sort of forced the hand of the Army to adopt smoothbore.