"Review: The new 35th "Megatron" Challenger 2 TES" Topic

"The Challenger 2 TES (Theatre Entry Standard) also nicknamed "Megatron" is the latest generation of British Main Battle Tank (MBT) in the Challenger 2 family. The design of the Challenger 2 was fully completed by August 1989. The British government selected the Challenger 2 and placed an order worth around £520.00 GBP million for 127 Challenger 2 MBTs in 1991. Production commenced in 1993 with first production vehicles completed at the Alvis Vickers Leeds facility in 1994. The Challenger 2 MBT was accepted in service with the British Army in 1994. The same year, Alvis Vickers was awarded a second contract by the British MoD for the supply of an additional 259 Challenger 2 MBTs. The Challenger 2 TES Megatron is very similar to the M1 Abrams TUSK (Tank Urban Survival Kit) in terms of protection. The TES system was developed to increase protection of the tank against tandem warheads and IED (Improvised Explosive Device) threats. The Challenger 2 Megatron was presented for the first time to the public in June 2013 at the DVD defence event in Millbrook, United Kingdom. A new version of the Challenger 2 Megatron was unveiled in July 2016 at the Tank Fest in Bovington fitted with a new armour design. This latest version is fitted with a combination of reactive, passive and bar armour providing unique protection against new threats of the modern battlefield. The Challenger 2 TES Megatron can be fitted with variable armour depending on the nature of the threats and the type of battlefield where the tank must be deployed.

The Challenger 2 TES Megatron maintains the original main armament of the previous version of Challenger 2 MBT consisting of one L30A1 120 mm rifled tank gun. The cannon is of ESR steel, chrome-lined and fitted with a thermal sleeve, fume extractor and muzzle reference system. It can fire all current 120 mm NATO ammunition, with the exception of the obsolete APDS round, the L30A1 also fires a new DU round L27A1 with a new BAE Systems, RO Defense L17A1 stick charge propellant system. A 7.62mm machine gun is mounted coaxially to the left of the main armament. This weapon is named L94A1 in the British army and is manufactured by the Defense Company BAE Systems, RO Defense under license in the UK. At the front of the loader, the hatch is mounted a remote weapon station "Enforcer" which can be armed with a 7.62mm NATO machine gun, a 12.7mm heavy machine gun, or a 40mm automatic grenade launcher. This weapon station is fitted with a thermal vision capability and can be operated and fired from under armour. A bank of five 66mm electrically operated smoke grenade dischargers is mounted on each side at the front of the turret. The turret has an all-electric gun control and stabilization system with a traverse of 360º with weapon elevation from -10 to +20º…."

Full Review here
link

Amicalement
Armand

I particularly like the little table on top of the turret. Add a gingham tablecloth and a couple of deckchairs and it'd be perfect for afternoon tea.

She's a pretty good looking ride !

Not to mention the bug zapper on the rear turret top!!

(smile)

Amicalement
Armand