Feb 1, 2024
VIA SOCIAL MEDIA
If you’re wondering why there’s scant evidence of Ukraine’s British-made Challenger 2 tanks doing any actual fighting in Russia’s 23-month wider war on Ukraine, a recent interview with one Challenger 2 crew might provide some answers.
The tankers said they fight their 71-ton, four-person tank from Ukrainian-controlled treelines, firing at Russian-controlled treelines up to 1.8 miles away while drones correct their shots. Apparently often at night.
The targets: the Russians’ “full-concrete, dug-in positions.” But “no vehicles yet,” one tanker added.
Firing high-explosive rounds from their 120-millimeter smoothbore guns, the Challengers 2s—14 of which belong to the Ukrainian air-assault forces’ 82nd Brigade—support the infantry.
That’s a reversal of tank-first doctrine, where the infantry support the tanks. In that sense, the Challenger 2s are functioning more as mobile guns than as tanks proper. Few if any fast-moving assaults.
The crew in the interview explained why. “Cross-country mobility is difficult,” one tanker said. “For our ground” the 71-ton British tank “is heavy.”
“Our ground” is southern Ukraine’s agricultural Zaporizhzhia Oblast, where the 82nd Brigade joined Ukraine’s 2023 counteroffensive late last summer, in time to reinforce Ukrainian gains in and around Robotyne, 10 miles south of the previous front line.
A short report on the combat use of the British-supplied Challenger 2 tank, which belongs to the Ukrainian 82nd Air Assault Brigade. For secrecy purposes, some details are omitted from the report. pic.twitter.com/WqkqkAT7nJ
— Challenger Tank In Ukraine🇬🇧🇺🇦 (@ChallengerInUA) January 31, 2024
One Challenger 2 got hit by a Russian anti-tank missile while repositioning around Robotyne in broad daylight in late August or early September. After the crew bailed out, the charges for the tank’s main gun ammunition apparently cooked off—despite being stored in a water-filled container—and the resulting explosion destroyed the tank.
That has been the only verifiable loss of a Challenger 2 in Ukrainian service. The others apparently still are in the fight, supporting Ukrainian infantry trying to expand their perimeter around Robotyne and defending the town against Russian counterattacks.
Firing from treeline fighting positions at Russian fortifications nearly two miles away isn’t always as boring as it might sound. Russian missiles, drones and artillery are constant threats.
But the 82nd Brigade’s tankers said they’re getting numb if not complacent. “The first mission is always the scariest,” one tanker said. “And then … humans get used to anything.”
It’s not clear the Russians on the receiving end of the Challenger 2’s violence feel the same way. The British tank is the heaviest tank in the Russia-Ukraine war. It’s imposing even when it’s attacking from a distance.
“We heard their intercepted radio contacts,” one Challenger 2 crewman said.
“Vehicle movement spotted,” a Russian observer reportedly said.
“What vehicle?” another Russian asked.
“Don’t know,” the first responded. “Huge and loud!”
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“What vehicle?” another Russian asked.
“Don’t know,” the first responded. “Huge and loud!”
This is the first major war the Challenger 2 is used in, as far as I’m aware. No doubt, this will provide the British with valuable information on its capabilities and shortcomings, just like the Abrams and Leos for the Americans and Germans, respectively. One thing the Brits might consider; better mufflers.
The main thing wrong with the Challies is there are not enough of them! Send more Rishi.
Isn’t Viktor a top bloke?! The type you’d like to sit down and drink with. Everything the orcs aren’t: intelligent, cultured, civilized.
He and his friend seem to be speaking in Russian in the soft accent of South Ukraine, with a bit of Surzhyk thrown in. Another reminder of putler’s filthy lies about “protecting Russian speakers.”
He has in fact murdered many thousands of Russian speaking Ukrainians and ethnic Russians.
There must surely be a law even in a shithole like Russia that makes this mass murder of Russians a criminal offence?
We have to wait until Russia has renounced fascism and genocide though. Do we have to wait another fucking century for these savages to denazify themselves?
It seems so, Scradge. The ruskies are still far too primitive to bring positive changes to the shithole, their oppressed peoples are too used being slaves, and our leaders are just too cowardly to force it.