Challenger 2 Main

Battle Tank 1987-2006

 CONTENTS
THE CHIEFTAIN REPLACEMENT 3
PROGRAMME
• Slalr Requirement ( Land } 4U26
• Vick..", D..f.. nc.. S~~ I" llls co nlran
• For.. ign cO"'I"'lito r«
• Chall"llgl'r 2 I'rulo l'1>t·,
$l MOI'I OUNSTAH " .
.-ll -UO ~I_ .uthot, THE CHOICE OF CHALLENGER 2 9
fll........... _ """,__ pile.
In _ _ of .... 101)',
", ~1Uty
• T h.. po lilic. of d.. f.. ncl' pron lr..",..m
...... _ . ... . ~~ "F'Ndy
.......I_ _ ~W·... CHALLENGER 2 TRIALS AND 14
_ I l l " , " In _ -.-.
of _ • • rt...., . _ TRIBULATIONS
In whlclo ....... _ . rttIn1I • Rl'l iahilil\ Gm wlh T rial s
10< _ _ "'. _.
..... _ topic. oueh • Ch alk n!!:l' r 2 Fielding Tl'a m
_ _Icol>t.. _ .....
• • rt In _ ....In, ... OPERATIONAL DEPLOYMENT 18
CMt t _ B.on"
T. nk, IlrttIoI> _ _ OF CHALLENGER 2
.""""'" ••rt.,. In K...... • [x.. rci", SaifSarl'l'a
SImon I.... _ WO<k.
In L _ .
OPERATION TELIC 25
• T hl' assa ult on AL ZllhaH
• Th .. ad,·ance o n Bas",
• R[~I [ 10 I ll.. rl'seu..
• T Ill' batik tor Bitsr..

COLOUR PLATE COMMENTARY 44

INDEX 48

TONY " AYAH". _ _

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New Vanguard · I 12

Challenger 2 Main Battle

Tank 1987-2006
 _--,-_
..._ _,_ ...... _.""""'=_.uo:
, .............

E. _ _ - ".
~O'-_~2006

....-,,,,,,., ......
... " ' - _

__
Stevoo Allbun QRL-David C1........ ORL a rid 5' ....."" 'TC '

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_"" ....__d _ _ Acknowl edgem en ts

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~~
_. _ ~
ArmooredTriaI.andDevek>pmen1UnrtBovington;BA£
Sys tem. lMid Systemo ; Sgto..vid B8Ntl SC OTS CXt Col
.".-,-.0.
(field) Pel er Barry; W02 T"""" Boyd QRI-i; Mai Andrew
ll<rt1on RTR; Gapl Breen 6ro1IIe<1onSOOTS 00; '1'102S
D. carg,~ RE; Capt Andrew Doug... RE; Ll Col o.. vid E"" '"
DRL;$Sgt LJ,Edward.REME; Cpl Tam F"'l1-JSOO RTR;
LlCol(R.td)Geo<ge Forty RTR: MrGalyFOSterlBAE, CoI
IRetd) JaM Gillman; 00, Frar>l< Hack "" RTR; Maj Gi....

-_....--
I-iamson ORL;Ll Gen (Retdj SirRobert Hayman--Joyce
_,.,.,.. .. ""' ''''' ........ _ ~, lJI(
KCB DL CBE; Cpl M_ Heriderson RTR
"", 0ifec10r Royal ArmouredCorps Bovington;

T _ .....
1-I<>a<lQuart
~ .. . - " ' - l ... _ I-k>me!1ea<1q",,"~ The0 . - '0 Royal Lane.... ,
_ _ rrc _" . _ Home Hea<lq"""",,, The RoyalDrllQOOl1 Guardo; Home
_
~
O
-
__
~ TheRoyalScot.DragoOl'lGuards ;Home
., "'.. ,. " " '."" " 32 I-leadquarlers The Royal Tank Reqimenl ; Mai 51ll<1
KMlo:sleadORL;Gapl' Rab' living.toneRTR;M lnio!ry
ing

ofDrrl"""",Drrectorat.of Oeten<:ePubloclly(A.rmy);

.__
oot Ben McNamara RTR; Sgt Ar4y Pott ", SOOTS 00:
o..n
.
Maj Rawl.... ROO; Gpi Graham Reil!)' RTR; Ll Col Mi...
"",,",","""".<IO

.- e.-.400-.._ F\ossRII; M,o..vid Rowland.; Royal Eng"-,, Trial. arid

O""'eiopmenl Unil; SgtJusbn $lmon. REME; GoI (Retd)
DavidSOmpsonORL;$Sgt'Rab' SpiersRTR; The T_
M"""""""ll<MngIon;$SgtAndrewTopp;ngRTR;M, !.es
"",,",",Oi<o« lJI(. PO. _
. ...
" , , _, _ _, _ _ uo: Tylef BA£;Vick"""Oetence Systems
David Rowlands is oneolthflmosl accomplistledmdrtary
.opec ~ in thflacl_ofthflBritisl1"""'"'
ar11S1 , aro
pm l."",,*, thfl acllOl'l a1 Az Zub<oyr on page 34 ma~be
otItaJ."...lromwww.di~.oupaneot.com

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 CHALLENGER 2
MAIN BATTLE TANK
1987-2006

THE CHIEFTAIN REPLACEMENT

PROGRAMME
By th.· ",id·l~~ Ill<'S",i.'( Un i,,,, W;" p...'h,,- i"K"wr :l,lXM) \1"i" l\.;,uk
ra"le, ( MBT ) a ~·..ar . l lln{'a'i nl/;~' p"""'rf"IIll<"ld" "Kh a' th,· T-6-! ami
T-n. ",,,,.. ht-ing illlroduced that p"""d a ';gnilicaJU threalWlh" Briti'h
Al1n~', mix.>d tI,·.. , "r (:hidiaill and (:halle"l/;t"r \.lRT,. Acconlingly. th"
Chi,.ftain / C1Mll,·ng,·r 1"' 1"''' '' '' ''' " l I'n 'll)''''' '' '' · (Cl I I!') wa, i"'plt'-
Ilwnt,,,II,,;,,,,,,iI,- ,,,,,,.><l,"rni,,·,h,·;rlllrrt"' "'W"U'IIli,-, ,,,HI fin...-,,"trol
'y'lt'm'. COllcurITnth -, tI Cl l -\R\I "'- CHid'milli e l bU,',,!:.'r AR\b"l("m
I''''l:r.ulllllt' 'lOt, lllHl ", · In dt""l"p a ,ww high-p.',fom""Ke 1 ~ lrnrn
ril1<-d I'(\lll. rh.. XC\O t:4. ami illlp",,..<1 a",mnnil;on h" h"lh lh~ e~i'ling
120",,,, Lli ....ric." an<l lh~ ne,, - tank l:'''L In add;li"". a ""par-.ue
"p-an"o"ri llg I''''gr-..,,,,,, .. rlc·..ignal ..d Slill!>,.,·" "Of< illlmducerl for
Chieftain to Ih",lIt all'Kl fro", .1,.. 12'·'"nn ", ,,in "nlla""'''l "I' II,..
I:fi4 an<l-1'72. Ttl<"CHII' an" CH-\ R\ ll>n>p"dlnrnt'" ""n' In h.· "I'pli,·" 10
~~;,~,,~~:::t~,i~, ~:;':h~hc~~,~:~~~r pt·"rlinR l"~ intrnd"eti"n of" n....' \IBT
S, .. ·c-r-"I0I'.in"'''..r.. p'''l'o....·dlolhe E'l"il'''''·n' Poli<)'C.munil '' ....
ind"diug funh.·rp"'d,a...." "fCl",ll..nl':..r "'l':,'d,..r"; th "O""I""hc'",i\'<"
pro<lnetimpro,..nwrupn>p""""'... forlhc·c,,11lpleleCh,lIl,,ug.'rfk.· t. n<t.
purcha.....,fah'reign \ IBT,,,d,a'lh.· \11 Ahr-.uu, "r I.e " pa rd 2"·...,,,1 '"
c"",i<lc·rerl, .....lheywe.... malUred.."ign'an<llhead"I"i .. uofeilher"nnId

Thofl"'-...... ofChal - ' -

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to""",,, Cll.UIR\l, CMl _ _
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C... ' _ _ 2 io ly _
totolly _ _. To Ito c In

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.... lloy ai Atmou eo.po, _
_ Challyo(\'DS)
.."hallce :-;_\1'0 illl..mpe rahility d" ,' In Ih.. fan 111011 tlwy' l ~lth e"'plO)" 'd a
mutu;olh' "" "' IMlihk l ~'l h ,,, n ,n" K,thh<" ,- ",,,in 'trilla",..,,!. III :\",.. ", her
1'I!'lI;,<"'"..ral Sir Richard Vi" ...·ll1. t1>.. \I;o", 'r (;"",'r,,1 "ft1>.. O rd " " n,·e .
,i,i"'d \ "id." I'< ."' f,'n...· Snt,·"" (\ l )S) ;n :\".. ",c",tl,·-ul~ll\· Ty,,," to
i"''''li!!:ate ",h ..th..r Ih.. COllljMUyco"ld mgg, ·q a repl;on'Il1<'1l1 \18 1' for th..
9!'l1) Chi,itain, Ih"n ill ,, ·ni n· . -0 ,.. d,,,i,,, 1conn' pt '"'' hrW'" i"n",.. li",..~ .
tn...-d nil a co",hi""tioll of " re,i",-d \ 'id,,,,,, ~t.rk i lI",...t and an
npgrad'-d Chall"ll':"r d "" , i, - tIl<"\ !"rk i h,:in~ a pri"'k \ 'DS d,,,i~n
oll.. rt-d on th" int..mati""al ",,, rk..t. Th .. li"'t offi,-ial presentatioll "f
the Chall" ng,.'r 2' 1». \ 'DS 1U tl,.. \l ini, ,, )' of Dd'-nn· (MO D) ",",urn-<!
on :lI1 ~Iarrh 1911i at ~lil1ha" k Tow..r. th.. head o!fic.. of \ 'irk.." pk .
"'erl""kingtl'" Riw r TIta""" in I . ", <lo n.

Sta ff Re quirem ent (L 8 nd1 4028

Aft..r <I" .. ("n",ilk""i"". La " d S<''''Il'' Op ..ratio"al Req uirem.. ,,!.,
1
(L'>O R I ) prortmllr"tt-d SR(L)'ltI'2ti.th.. Staff Rrqui""""tj",- tJv !vplam1im1
ofC}'iRjla;Tl. " " :II) :>:,.,elllhrr H11l7. Th i, !<,l1"Wffl th.. di","ro,t, Canadian
Army' Trophy' (CAT I :>:.\1'0 tan k "'"l1l ..ry uHnJ"'titi"n of J un.. 19Hi
wh"1\ Chall.. n~,'r ,'alll'" !«,t. T h.. mh:s<·'1u..n1 Brili' h Army i"'1" i",' h..ld
i" July'id..nti li..<l",any'f"iling'and ..q"iprn" ntd..fifi ..nci..,that
n ''l" ir' 'd it11"'edi~t<, 1"·C1ilk " li" n.' \ \1 ", ,, ,-or"l'an'd 10 lh.. ~ llAI Abra"" .
L..opard 2 or ~,..." lh .. I....op:ml 1. Chall'·"j1;..r "'a' ,1"lTlon'lrably' ,lowe r
to ~<''l"ir~ and d,,'ltro~' ta'1':'-I', parlicular!>' ",I... " Hri"j!; 0" the m",... " I'
"!Iain,t m",i"K ta'1':..t" H"'....""r. neith ..r Ih.. ~IIAI Abram' "or l.e<'p~rd
2A~ in their CUrr..m f"nn fully m"l the ...qui ...·"' .. "!.,of SR(L )4lr2li
Furlb ..rn,or... lb" probl ..m, ofoJ"'rating lwo typ'" of~mT, firing dilferent
amlTlUnili"n, kt alo n.. l" w,tk ' I",r"" ""'n' ""I ~' l' ~' apl",r"1l1 if Chi"hai"
"a, r..p!a,-"d on a o nH o·-{)" .. tn,i, 10 sen'" aloll~id~ Chall" " g..r. y..t th..
req "ire"'''111 to r~pla,'" Chit"ft<>i" ..a, ,,,,,,; '''','1'"'''I'.. ut)l..m Wwn tIl<"
p,~>r p"rl<,rn ,a"c" of Ch all..nger dnrinj!; e n ·Hi . a, th''Y' ""semialh
,har..dth,·sarn.. fir"""' )I[lml"'1<"lll.\1IS"'a' ,c,k, ..lwl't-fi " .. it' p[l'1" ",II
I,,, th.. ( :h i..ftaill r" l'l"" " ", ..m I,mgr.mun .. a.,a maH..r of nIX""C)', Ha' t ng
.." rk,·d tlrmul/;hont th,' Chri ,un"., peri'KI. \'D S , ,, bm il,,..1 it, ftlm",l
1''''1'0",1 to lh" \ I() I) on HI .'..bma'Y l!lHH_ "tlh a funh..r two am .."d ..<1
",,,,;o,,,d,,rinl/;they·,·ar -,,II,,,,,fi,,,..lpri,·.. ,-ontrarl.
T h" .\ tafj &/"imnrn l f ar IJv lVp/arnnnll of Chi.'ftai n. SR(L)4026. ",a,
'lnit"'pe('ifit~"dit.-o"ld 'H1ly·b,:fulfil1,·dl>y·illlpl',,\'("dn"Kld'ofb"lh
th" ~I IAI Abram' a" d I....'pard 2 or a rigom", ,,,lidalio" of th .. \ US
pro p<''' 'l fo r Ch ~lI ..ngt'r 2. III dkn. all th,,'" p""I" "a l, ""''-'' P~I ...r
I'ruj .. n,.ahhoughlho".. of~I L\I.\hr"m,an<l I ....'pard2",,, r.. b:,,,..don
",atur.. ill....: nic .. de,ign, wh"n"" the \ llS " ", · w""lr,'wn onl y'frurn
.. "p.. ri.."c" with lh.. pmlo1''P'" oflh.. \ ,,-k ..,,, .\18 1' .\Iark 7 a"d th..
En;!;"'" FE..TI O' o ri" ~mT for 1I1u' il. n"lwi t lrstar"lin~ irs ,,,,,,,, . \'t 'a!" "I
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....FYd ....iKlIand pmd"oi"n, IIm...·wr , Ih n ,' "'n,' tho,,' "i , hin 'h t' hiKI,..r
....,h...lon. "f th e Ikili'h ,\ nl l>' Ihat "i,ht><! In b roo k "'. funhn ,kla,· '''ul
denldndedlhe inllu ....liat... procureme"t of the ir pre f...rred "h"ire, TI, i,
" •."he ~II..\I Abrau",i"'Tlhe [A·"pard 2h"d IK..·1lrejecl edou account
ofa f""'[''''I'(·nt,,1 d, ...iKIIflaw in th. -anno,u· illWw1'""fthr tIlrret fnJllI
.\ oS'u d, a ",Ir.-.i"" had ,iguilicant politi" al r,,,nific,,ti,,,,,, ,I,.. ",atwr
wa, refe rr ...d to Ihe Cahi"e!. The rl....-i,i"" to procure an A"'erira" .\ 1BT
wa, rt'j"rt,"<Illlll of h... ,,[ h' I' li lll<' \lini,t,"r \larg",,·t Thatcher. She
ill"mcll'd,hr~IO])lnthi"k"K"ill

Vlc lte ,. De l . n c e S , a t e m a co n tr act

On 20 Decemher 1911!l, thr s.'("r.-''' f)' or St"t .. Ii,r DeI~ "c .. . Georg ...
Y"""K'·r. anllo,u,c..d to tl ... I1,,",,: "f Con"noll' that , in "'der togi....
\ "lIS "" "pp'mu"i~' to d.. mon " r,,'" that Ih"ir prol",,,,1 o",ld ",,",·t
SR(l)4026. the ""'npan)' wa, to he awarded a £9(1 milli"" contraO In
nnd .. rtake a 'd e", o n , tra, i" n pi",,,, ' la,'i"g 2 1 n"'nth,. Th .. ·pr.".fof
llrin d l' lr ' cuntrMt """iK,wd 01' 21'lJ" ""." '" l'IIN . \"lIS"·a'l/:i,.. ,,a
,pt><:'ific " '1 of cli u'ria for th. - '''''>ran ","hid .- I,,-,fonn.,,'n· al\ain" which
the s"cce" "f th, ' demnnstratio ll pha",wa' to I,,· ",,·,c'lm·d, Th .. ni,"ria
c"wrt><! s"ch a'pect' a, re lia b ilin'. maill1ainabili~'_ 'l,,,,i,,,hilin' a!H1.
.."prciall,'.lil/:htabili"·.F.,,,,,uiall,·\US,,a, re'l,,i redlndem,,,,strate that
il.,Chidtainrt·I'Lln-rn,·ntc""ld·I"·'mTt·"f,,lh·d,·\'r! op,·dandproduct><!
Inther.-qui.-..d,ta"dard"'a'toachie'·etl'.. rt>qllirt"li,,.....·"';'·r,Lllr.a",1
ala pricewhi" h th.. compan)' ha, al,ead~'olf.. red· . Within th.. c"ntr•..-,.
Iher.-wer.- three 'p''("ific ·mi[,....",w,·'na,,,,,,,artnal pmg'''''. Th... set
d."'... fd l in S.·p'rmh,-r 1 ~9 . ~1ard, 199(1 ""d ,hr final une on :Ill
s..pt ..",I,,·r ]99(), when the cornl",n~' "'a, .-..quirt'd tu a''''''''r II 'I,,'("ific
que'tionsaboUlth"'polentialpt'rhmnallcealldcapahilin'ofthe"n"er...1
product, Th ..", we.. ' k,,,"wn a, ''1'1", Fle, ..n Co m ma nd me n t' and tht;,
'0
hood he Illrl hefo", Chall"uK"r2 <"o uld I,,· ,"\-.,Iua'rd wi' h Ih .. othr'
cOTllt·nd ..[';"-"h .. prt"pt'ni,,.. (:hi ..ftain rt'pbte"'''II1.
A, pan of th.. agr.-emem. \ US he ..am .. re'I"""ible a' prim ..
contrartor f(>r th.. C1IAR\I I, m lo p "'" ll11.. . th.. llunder de""loplllent m '
R", ·"IO,·d n.m ct'. CIL,I,R\lI,'mhr•..-...1 th rd,...igo andd..,.,.lopment 01
th.. hij(h·pr ....'ur.. Xl30£4 120mrn rifl"d lIu" and Ihe XI.2ti Am",,,r
Piercilli/: Fin Slahili,rd Disra,ding SabOl (APFSDS) projenil.. ,,;th a
De p le tt><! U r" n iu m (DC) I"nl/: rod pt'n .. ,.."to r. Th .. comhination ofth ...
L26f,n ruundandLI4 p,,-,pt'll.mtrl""lI:,·wa' ""'d t" d '...· a'talinl\enec t
I,,· Chall. -nK,·r \ IT\Ts anned ,,;,h ,h,' l l I A~ IZO,nrn Kun duriog til<"
Gul f War of 1991 , (:J IAR~ 1 :1"'Hnpri,,'n a ""w Il l' AI' FSnS pmj.·nil.· -
1.2; ..\1 with a newpmprllant cha rl/:e 1.Hi.-\1 (lat.. rl.1;A1) -thatjl;",'ea
2" IM'rCt'nt greater pt·,,.."ati,,,, c al", h i l il~' ,hao thr I.tf> round. togeth.. r
"i ,hlh.-,lt-.:r''''f)',ightinR. r",'kinR"",I,t''''''K,·i ...""f,,,Ch,,lIeng..r2
I" it,definiti"" fo rm . the L:lU.\1120mm rifletlj(IlIlIK·ca"""lt... ",,,i,,
anuam.. "tofChanenl/:er2.Atlhi"tal/:e.lheint.. ntionwa, torrtrofilthe
.....al" '" 10 an 4~'l1 Chall"nKrr \lBn h ' gi,'e commonality arro" the
<""IllI,kWl;lnkO,·el.

1'0r . lon co m p a U t o n
The ha'ic r..quir"",,"n' " 'a, for jillO MRT, to repb..e Chieftai" and "''''.,
al"n!<,ide the Oret "f 4W Ch "lln'K""', A, Chid' "f I k t~ nc e Protur..",ell\
for ,Il<" \lOD. Sir I'et ..r Lt·""", · d,-.:rt.. ·t1 ,hat . in th,· im rr""'-,(~·a flft'
P- _ _..
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",a ..k..,. th.. Chi..liain r.. plac..",,·"t I"''I(,.-a"u"r ""o"ld hr 01"'" w th,,,,'
lan l·"'a""farturi,,!: rOllntri .., prod"ri"!: modrl, that ro"ld fultil
SR(l.j.tlr.!6 "ithin till" ,,~,...n tilll,·h'lln,·. At th,' ,,,,, ...·t. tit.....· '''"' linl.·
Tl"pou,,·wth.··imitatio" to trud..r·",,,ow.nk-I,,od,,ri"llrU"nll")'had
_.., N TO. _ ,v . _ rwr h.. ld au ol"·nn>l"I,,·titiu,, h,·for.. tl"'t mi!:ht.Luna!:e"rrol1lpromi,,'
__
..rl\fo _<1,,,''_'11 '''
,,..... it,ml11 lallk ",a,u,I;lt:t"ri"K inrl" 'tn'. '\ "n"ofth,' t:" m l" 'an nMnu f,lt:hll" '"
_ •_ _ t. ...... CfMefIo'" or lIlt" Cnit"rl Stat... r..ally hrli"',ed that th .. rllmp .. tition wo"ld hr lair
Sb' _ . C..... _ .. OT, .. .... ' and "I"'u. '\0"""fth,.".· n>lIntrieswo"lrl '''....r h" ld" ...h acollll",titi""
_ 'o'Iel<ers.. .... 71Z _ 11"·"',,·1....,..... it \1',,-, ...·e" ,,-,a 1"'r"'r e~,·rri ...· an<l not \I',.«h "~IW"<IinK an~'
, " - * " v,• . (llAC e-o.. , ,ill"ilirantim,,,ulI .. nt
" ....-.. rthd...., bo th Ji:"IU,...~"'lf.·i amI ( :'''It' ml Il "" am i,-, Laud
S~...t,·m, «(;Ill$) 'nh"' ith'd I'ropo,al, Ii ... th.. Chid"ain "·plan·",..nt
pmg,.-anullr in '-\"!:"" 19Ki. T h.. N-a"" ....\ blr..i entrant wa, an illlpro .....d
",,,,illn "ftht' u~ 'I ", nl 2A4 (,,,I ....~I""lIth· ,k,iK''''''·dl...·op,lrl I2 A5 ) willt
a Il..w w.·dK,... IMI,,'dmrrrt fmnt th,,, owrra"'r thr ""'akuK' HI'I't"t','i"u,
uu"I .. I,a,i.l.. ntili,'db\·II't' llriti,h.a,w.. lla'otht'r .. nha'K..m""t'.Atthi,
timt' . tht' l...·"pOlr<l'l Illlpru"" d w,,, ,till IIm"'l' d""'I0I''''''1I\, Th.· Gil l: ;
.. "tt"".mt"",L',h .. MI Illnd'l (,,,h'..q,, ..,, tly d,.,.ignat ..d ~ 1 1,\2 ). Again , Ihi'
"u "I..lwa,,,nd..r tl,...d opmt'lI1,,;th lh .. fi"'tp m uml't' appearin!:iIlJ,,I)
1'.-1'.-1(1. Hotlt "",h ....r rrarnu'd ....ith ....." 'io",,,fth.· RI,..irm ...talll'lOmlll
'Ill,,,,thh,,r"i\"" liri,,!: 11l"tually compatihl" typ'""famt1lunitill"
r n ll" " i ll!: a '....i .... ,.fhiKh·I....,·lm...·ti"l('lx·t"" ..·lI H,iti,h,i,il ....",«""
and Il,ilit,,,y oflirial' ";th thrir Am.. rira" and C......" ,'" """'t"'1,,,rt' in
.-\I,ril J!I!~). ( ;n LS ami Ji:rd",...~laff..i w..rt' 1'.. """,,1<-<1 thaI all th.. "ntra,,"
"t'..t · to Ix· exa",i,u'd th'''''''l':hl..- and fai,h '"' to ,,1...th,·1' th,., · fllllillt-d
th .. r"'l,,;r.. nu·nt' of SR(I.)-tU'lIi. R01h «,mpani.., th ..n ,,,hmitt..d
",or.. d.-tail..d 'I"'('ili.-,,,i,,,,, f"r th..ir r"'I"..·ti.-.. G"'"",, a' "",,11a'th ..ir
OIlH·ntpn"/rKt;onnlt"I..I,I(>rin; ,ialt,,,,i,,l':_ n...thp"'I"",..ld,,,il':',,,,,·n·
ofronwntio"al la)nU1";th a fOllr-man rrt'w, ,illlilar to ChaJl" " g.. r '1. and
b"lh f"alll""d a rOl11m"n,!t-r's ind '"lx·ud. ,llt 'tahiliH'd pa,,<>rami,' 'il':ht tt"'t
arrn....,'d ....h al ....as th..n t..rnu'd th.. 'h"nt..r-kirr..r' ta'"g..t ,u'"\'rirra"""a,,d
,·n!:a!:.-",.. nt pn"-,·d,,r.·, In ' -' ''·'''-t'. tht' n >l1l1nander " "" ·, ,,, th.. battl ..lield
tl111'"l':h hi, :lIiU-d"gt"t' .. p""o,.-.1I,,;r 'ight_ On '1)O,"i"K a h.."ik thn ·at.
he th.. " ,,,; trh .., fmm a ,,;d,' lield of ,i .. w to a "am,w..r 0"" at a high,-r
Ill~h'l lili"~tio,, to lay hi, ~illlill" m;o,k "H t" it
~"d id,>ntil'" th" 10(1):'"' I""iti,...h-. lI, ' th..n tin ..
hi, l;o",..r to p",,'id,' , h.. th .... "ntml co"'pu... r
will, th,· i"I(,n"~tion il "' ...·d, to (;,k"l~t,· a tirinK
" ,hni"" , 11", comm~",!,'r th, '" prt",,,,,;o ",itch
Ih~tallt"m;"irall,.ali"I"th,·tHrrt>t~"dWllllOth ..
pr ..ri" ·pointof,i,·.... lhali,''''''''tor..ct inll,,.
fir..·."' ''' tm l r o ''' p llt..r. TI,i, ,,IIo''' , th,'W"""" ''''
..,,!!;ag" Ih.. 10'1):'" imm"diat..ly"itholl1 h~'inK In
la....· th" 10"'1:'" "gain _ ~I""nwhil,' th" c"",,,,and..,
ha' '''"''''''! th.. " " ""W,,,,,· ,,t ""'I'"·,,r.. agai n,t a
",I"'·qu..m 10",,"1. tn thi, ....~)' multipl,' l<ll'l{t·t, in
ctin"r ..nt dir ..ctio'" r a n he ..""a"..da"dd..,tr,')'''''
.,rpi cth' with tt". mini",,,,,, o f tim". In Ih,·,,·
polil; ,-"lIy rorn><:t time,. tI,,· ttn" ' h m1l,'r·kille r
i, "0 10ll""r lIsect ill th" Ro:» a l .-\m ,o lln ·d n.'P'
and th.. ,h-,iK",r ti"n ·h an l" I,..lct ma n,r""",,,nt'
i' I',,·/i-m...1
I'k , id ," th" Iw" ~how r"""·nd ,',,. C;IAT
"I' F,,r,,c,, ,,,b>.t'<J"""tl ,' I,roposed tI,.. A.\IX
1...r1.. ,.., ~II\T ~, an ..ntr ant in th" Chi..liain
"'·p"'t.·"",,,, pn'l'r,ull""· . Coml-"tt-' "n<l hiKhl)'
mohile. thi, inn",·~ t iw d .., il:" f.."lu,...d an
a ll t om~ t ir "",,,, nniti,,,, lo actin" ,,,,t .. ,,, and a
Ihn·t~"'all n, '''' "I' "mll",,,ndt·r. K"nn .., amI
dri"",. TIll" L"" le , c wa' iurl",!,...1 in till' "''' ''p''l i,i"n
mnre om of a "·n .... "fElIropea n ",hlluity Iha"
"~pt'Clatio".a" I", Rt "-.IIA,,n,,", ..ctC"''P'ha,h1t l..
_ I..,..m' ....
____m
_ yn_,...,. _"'_
bith in "uto""n;" I,,,,d,',, o r th, · "''''''''1'1 "f " th,..·....,"'" t-rt'W. tIl 111,'
meantime, in late I ~i \"DS bt'"an Ih" ro "<tmuio" o f a ",,,nher ofturre" _ ' oonl '"
IM oontrot....
m ingcoml",,,,'l'u n<t, .i ni liall,£;.i;,,,ill io,, .,,ithth.. fi"t,,,,.. co "' p le t"" ~

dur in" "u"""n IYI'!K. .'\1 ..II,· "'"". tim". num ..ro,,, 'ull... ,,,u,,,'w" Wt'rr _ I fonn . _ _
ap p" "' c" "" '" iudu ,trial """m',, "ith th,,,... co",,,,,ni.., u"'''Hitti""
ap pm xi" "" .. h £2l) millinn "fpm"le moue~..at Ih..ir 0"" risk in the prt~""t "' C...c "_
lrom 2. n.. _ _ Ion
r " l1owin g Il,,' ,i WlinK <>ftilt" 'pmo/' , ~ ' pri ,w ipl,,' "m"r.WI <>" 20 J an ua r\'
1\lllY. tI". manufacture b.. ",m of "i",' Ch"lk"l:"r 2 protol)l""' "nd a
.0
....,.0 _
,"...."_lal....
. ._
funher t•..., turrel" oue a, a weapon' t...., ri" ami one for 'a tlar k on .......... _Pf'Ol>l*m. totodr(o
arm" " r" trj" l, _ ...... 01 . -"",.. From lett
to tlll"'. M _

Ch 81I en".r 2 protottp e . IM d _" ...

tM! ""',tIca , .
The n iuel"" t''''I)<'< w",e huilt at th e new fu m !>" w Wo rl<. , in l .t·e ct" All
",..,-" ...n"pl,·,,·d t" ':l/l St·I" ..",tlrr I<J<WJ.<>nS<"hnl"k;u"l"ithin !>llct,,"I
••""""_
w. .pon _ '_1.,
-...,__
f",tl". ,.mnpelitiwpl",seof tl" ·Chidt"inr'·I'I;..-e"" ·ntpr''l{l"",,m,,..TI,i, _ ...... _ • • ion lh u m b

. _I .
wa, to nm from OCloher to the end of Ih .. y.. a, . when Ihe "inn..r would oontrollor:_n.. odju. ........
he a n no " " r ..ct_ DUli ng th i, I",,-ioct. ' U S wa, t" r"r"i,'e a 'hrid"in"
r o n lr ar f fro Hl tl". \ !O f) p ,io r w a full ct..""lopmt·nt;u'dp"..-t"C1 ion
rt>lllr;oninJanuar\' 1991 ifCh~II,·nK..r 2 wo n th eromp'·titi",,, itm,," b.·
, t"tedthatlhi'wa'''''ttohearompa,atiwrompt·ti ti''nhetw.....nth.. fou r
_

..""'. ..-
_jo
n....,.

-
II<1"l1i bunon

. .... .....,_ .1'0'....

w"c ~_ m ... . bo
...mtende"a't"lh.. ·hr , t" tankow,,rll but t" ict..nt il1.. "hich m ' '' t rl " se h "'P _ ",.-._lI<In9
_ _· l$O....... _ _

f"lfIl1..<llhe ' p' ·t ific "·'l"i",·rn,·",_, "f SR(J.)4i)~'6. r",-[, ", .n"·"tkr ,,"-, to
b.. tri,lIl,-d b)' a "'par"t.. d ...!i..", ..d1t'~rn o f Briti, h Ann~- pe",.nnel "illr
experi.."n'<l crew, from each ofthe"'>In""ni..,,:-;o t..am wa, 10 haw au )'
06llPG3, V7 • .......,.
to ..,..., _ colllan or dial ,,!!:,,,' "'ilh anm h..r and all data " .,,, to be a~""",d by a
_ _ 55"ea ll_ ,liff,· r,·m ho, h- ..ntir ..h-i nth.. int ..r"",offaim""'"l<ltho"'lUl(hn,'"
o
I
~
2
__ _ 10 _ _ l n l h.. .. "'n t.tll<'com parJti '~lrial''''.. re n''the!d;nI99l10nacco''ut
1ontL.3OA112Omm _ ......
of th .. lr<lqi im 'a'iou of I\.n wa it o n 2 Ang"'t . T h.. ",hoI .. r..,ource, of
............. oI _ n-m.I ~ \ TIS " ..,... nowde'nted wlh.. 'n pp ort of the Challt'ng-erfket and
"'-(llSl_
......... oI Io ... 1Mptowood
to 7th Arm ou red I\rig--J(k that was d,'plo n ..:! to Saud i Arahia a' part of
Op era tio n Gm,,!') '. It co mpri,....{two annonred regiment' equipped "ith
~",.".,- ­ Cha1l"nl(" " and an an"oured infalllr)" oonation mou nit'd in Warrior
- ----,..
~nigh< - "'-

---
_ .. In 1htoIogh
IFY,. On 2'! ""owmbt'r, 4th Anno"red I\riirad.. bt' jO(an d.' plo yn,.. nl to ,h e
( ;ulfwfonn 1,, (L·l\.j Arm ollf ..d Di'i'ion ",ithalotalof221 Chall ..nger
~lBT,. "'"m"con, modifi cation' were d",i",d forlhe t"n ls to im pro'"
r.. liahilit "and ' '' T\i ,-ahitil' . O n I October 19911. tb e:li"" 160 'Chall.. ng..r
improw"'''lI1 kiT. ' d.."e!oped In' VDS ",e re ,hipped to the port of
AI ]u!>ail in Sandi Ar"bia . As the Ch"lIenl(..r MBT. arrin-d in the" ' rt".
th.." w.......modifi" d b)' REME trchmrians and an ..njO(iu ee ring .upport
te"m from \ l)S, Ib.. 'Vickers ,,ohmt .... "' ·, a, w.. n ". t..am, from
I\<tn and Slroud . D",id Bmwn • .'!<tIToni . P..rki", t"t "I. T hro ul(h Iheir
nn<tim injO( ..ffo rts antl th. ·'lt-dica,inn ...f tl,..l<mlc ....."'. ,174ontoft h..
176 Ch alle nger .\mT, co mm iued to oo"]e cro,,,,d the ,tan tine at the
o"'-'.:·toflh.. landoff.. n,i"' - Opt·rationl~$ff/ ,M"";tI,..otllt'r""nt"nls
collid ..d an d d'U'l;lg..d th";r jO(un. _ Th ....... m"ind..r ofth .. ChaU..ng.. r<
" ",,,,,,1",ldin th .. War.\laimenance R..",,,-e. ln,,ddition.12Ch,,lIe ng ..r
,\ rn um r..d Rq l<li r and R.·...'w o · \H,id," (CR.'\ RRV) ".·r" d'''Vl''''ed to
the Gulf. dire ct from th.. Armst ron!/: Wor"-, faclnl) ' in "' ..",ca,tI ... ",, ·.. n
nHlIlth, priu r to Iheir sched u led ..ntry into "'nice "i1 h Ihe Bri tish Arm y.
r h ~ <:RARR\, . pr." ....l to b.· hil(hly dT."(",;",· ,,"d achieved a lOll per c.. nt
,,\"aibbilit~, rate durin!/: Ih.. land o tT.. n,i, '". O" ..r 300 en .. my AI'\ ', ",..re
d..,tr "'·edb} ·Ch"llenger.\IBT,butn",,, ,ingl .. un .. uf tl,.. l,,tt.·r ,,·a., lost
inaniond"rin K ()p··rati"nl~ ''''b,
In it, ....po rt on th.. " ",,r. th.. li n"''' of Cummo", Defence Committe..
•tated : ·Th .. tanl " ·..., th.·tl."('i,i"' ·!J;"'I.·"inn.-r"fth,·I,,ntl f<.J"("... ca " lp<tiRO
and th... British Chall...n ""r fore ... in th... h t ( U \.j Armour...d Di" ' io n
mad .. animportanlrOnlrihlllion"' lhi"urc....'. ' ln'.....p '>Il""<la'!"...S1ion
on 19\1ardll99lilllh... Il <l" · " f O.HnlTl" n' . th... Prim \lini,l...r John
\l ajo r d...clar...d, ·Th ...ChaJl n~ r tank pt'rh,mlt'd ab,olul h' ma~nilir ...nlly
in,h.. Gulf _ tJ.r ab"' ·...lh xpt'Ctali,,"sthala"'''n...n'''ldha'... ha<l,,fiI '
H""...·w r. d'''pile: til""" rinl{in" ,·ndo",·rn,'ut'. th,' d,,,,i'ion as to th ...
Chiefu in rt'phr ...m.. m had slill 10 he marl... Th ... silua lion wa, rom -
p'>tmdn:!m' Ih... lall "flh... II<·r1inWan and II,.. n.nal"'; "fS,ni"1 LTlli" n
authori~' a<TO'" ,h .. n.tnltri", of Ea-st..m Europe thai IMd f"m,n:! th ...
WaNl WPaCL Th ..."..t) ' raliona l...f<,rIh.. h...a", \IBT " as called iIllO'!""" ' i" n
d"'l' il" its un<l"uht<..1 ,,,cr,,,s in Ih... Gulf War. Alth"""h III(" Chi d'~ ,i ll
r..plM'..melll,,«sa ·C<lrepn!iect' ami Ih.. Tr..a'ury-' had auth o ri, ...d its full
hm d ing,th..rer...ma in..d co m id..rab l.. d...oo,.. ast<'lh"'lolalnum he,of
lanks ""'luirt' d fo r th.· Bri, i'h Am,y'f"l1'''';n" tI,,· Str'{("l{ic fkf.·,,.-.. ~;.·w
Th ... comparali".. ",«lualiol1 ofth.. fourcoTl1 ..."d ..." " ..., dul)'h...lrl in
Ih.. ' pri ng of 199 1. All four ..xc..n..d in on .. a'p.. rt or ..n" tI,,'r hll, f" ,
Ih.. rea-""" <t.. I''<! ahm.... t1,,· Lt"'I,'f(' "·",.·Ii,,,i,mll·d . TI,.. th"'''''lh.."
m.. t Ih...r..qu ire m.. nts of SR(L)4026. Wilhin Ih...Briti, h Anny, panicnlarl"
th.. Royal ArmoHt ed Co 'll " th.. r .. wa, an inlh,..mi al lar lion Ihal ,,""-,
....·duc ..d tn· ,h.· n", ion thai G•.-nnan ,·nl{i,,,...rins"-as 't' I',:ri"r III .. ny'
oth ..r. [)"bbed th.. ·B.\!W sm d rom...'. il " «' ,uffici .. m to C1 ...al...a bod\' of
opi nio n tha i bwmrn:! Ih.. l....ol>J.rd2 Imp''''....\. A111""'ghChall...ng.-r 2
"-a'l-"·rn·il'{·d luh a"-'KT'-'al.. r,u"-;,,,hili~·m,,lma,,,·olh,·ratlrihUl""Ih ..
l.eopar d 2 Imp rm'...d ,,«' a' '''''''d to ha'''' lo r· ...ho l.. lif.. c' '' Ls' "'....rall.
al...a,s a m..tI .. r "fulm",1 c,, ",...rn 10 lh.. T ""'i.
O lh...,." lill .. ,,, I,,,,, 'd
Ih.. \ IIA2 Abr..",s. '" the Def..n,·" Pn Kut em.. mAj.: ...n0' passed lh.. matt ...r
to th.. Go"" rn m.. m.

THE CHOICE OF CHALLENGER 2

l h fina l d...ci,ion a, to th.. Chieftain r...p lacem...nt lay' ,,;th th.. Cah in","
Th re " ...r.. n um ..."'tlS a' I"'CL' ,0 ,onsid..r. Fi" l and fo... n" ..1 ......' lh..
q m"l iun of numb,'~ f"I1",.;nl( lh.. Str..leg;c rkf...nc.. R",i ..w. This " ...'
...xacerba l..d ffi' afin an cial , ho nfallin th.. MO D'<I 90:lILoni\T..rm (n.lings
fur "'l uip"' ''''1 p"KU"''''''''!. and il kd l"asiw,ifi,anl-eali"!I: d'''''' in
th.. nu mbe r of n..w tanks Iha t ,,·"'s afftttd ..hle in th.. ,Ium tenn . Th i, "'''''
pr..duded a ...hol .. n t rep br ..m..nl of bo lh Ch i..l'tain an d Chall " " !1:""
n ,... An....rican'.md na '''''....r.. f"riut .. ..t "'h at Ih...., pt· ", .. i"."lt" b.·
a ch ..n"" in th... m l , but the o ri¢nal r..quir ...m ...nt had al,,·..~.. been
for a replac..m..m for Chi..lia in 10 se"... alo ngsid.. Chall...ng ..' and ,h ..
n..." · 'tr.tl<XiCK''''I'"liti(a lsitu''li"nf"II,''' ;n" dlt"cull..p" ,,,fl h.. Iron
Curta in "«' an un fo...........n circu m'tanc.. , Th ..r..fore, th ... argum ...nt for
int.. mp"rab il i~· of a , moothb"... mai n arma m ...n l "i lh Britain', SATO
partn ...., ,,-.~, <I,,,·n,..d nu I"" " "r ,-..lid "i lhuut a full n.·.·1 n' plan''''''1ll
\ lini ste" co nclu d..d Ih..1 Britain', oper..li" na l con tri buti"n 10 ARRC
(SATO Allin:! Rallid Reac tio n (;0 '1"') "nuld he slm "i\ ,'r hr maintaining
inl.....' p.·r.I!>ilityhe l>l-..·..nCtl;\l k ngo'ra ndth.. ,..""',ta"k,a' lh.. im..mi"" "-as
al,,«~, III r..ann Chall..ng..r ,,; th th.. L30 IWmm higlJ.p,,>,",ur.. gu n. It ...... ,
ak",'lanori nth..irlinal d..risio n
TIw........,.....I", th... fin ."w~,l implicati" '" "f pure ha ' in" f''''~'r tanks.
pan i.-uI.. r1~' a foreig n on .. , Wilh f.........r Ihan .'>00 tan ks, c01'roo un ion
I><-.;-a",.. a I."" ,i;thk financ ial pro p,,, it;o,,. f " r 1 ~~ Jl'ard 2. Kra'''<;-.\ Iatf..i Thec-...-"""""....

- -____-
....,irlMtt'<l ,hat "I' W 00 pt'r U'm of ,hl' ", nk co"ld hl' p""lhU'l;"(llocall~' "c......
... " 'II\l,
-_ - - ' -_..
,
1><'1'1fe un; , n " l' n"<' ,ilo\nilicanth·. But ,h .. S"i" Am,~' "xp"riem'" RoyalE_ _ Mooe_
,,,!O......"-.:Ioll1<''"''',...,. ln a ,0 ,,,1 pnocllr..", ..m <>f:J,'ll) I., ·o l",rd 2..\4 \ II\Ts. E ~"'EMEl_' O
...... ....
.------
:>..15 "~>r.. huilt lInd ..r ]ice"c .. in S"'"l'rlmrd bm il look t"'o~~>af'5 01'...·1"'1'.".·
cnnrr..etn,w·,i;ui,,,,, ,,,irh"Mhmhcnmr..n or l><·!<,,.. ,,,anuJaetureb.-ga,,. _ . The I>ydr8uliea'ly_ .
",hid, r.,i....dlh.. ""i,o", In' a, Il'"'' 25 pc..r ce nt ",~· r , Ill' ",i W n,,1 price
as ",..II a, a d..1a)inlo\ ilS .. nt ')· int" <;t'nir-.. "';Ih ,h .. S"i", .-\rm ~: 1"""' labh ·.
...
i, 'o"""ld kad '<>a '"'' .. f j ot" in BriMi,, \ lank..n;"",fanuring ind'l" n '
_ean .on_
52 - . 5 t OllN. wtth t llOon
... wln< h ..,.... n.o fn>nt _ _

- --i.lm_-
""h i" m"n~' ,ulxonmKu",; dom ..l ;rno" ,h .. COUHI')' in n""xinal _ ~ .......... "'0.-- ___.
The
c"' ''lil'' ..,1<'i..... TI lr C.on....",""iw gowmme", "",-, ..cr"d~' a" a r.. "f,h.. If",
,.f"·n,oflho\l",,,,hofjo~,, in II,,' "'''n"facrurinKindu'"'.....of lh.. Sonh
,,, ·..r ,he pr ..'i<lll'd....ad pani cu larh'on T~" ....id... In addilion, ,h .. re,,~>r..
dark m"nt'rinK";r1 \'k kc· I,k a, '0 ",Iwlh ..r til<' 0''''1''''''' ",,,,Id t... pam '
Wan" co·1'n)(lu('(ion d"al al "II ifi, should f<ril ,o",n Ih.....,,"p"li,i.....
procu rt>nwn1l'noc..,,,.Finall,,.th.. ol'ponunio',o,,,n Bri' i,h 'a nk.s o u d w
im'·l1l;"ioual lTl;lTM·I\\', ."ldh,.. I,,,,I("·o·,.. r. do·,pi'l' ,I,.. f;rrIt ll;t, nn C<>llnl') '
--
AII _Mljil>c. - - lo _

__
.... . ~ C"" ''"''- 2
... 1I1'I

ly
"' __.N""'_

........
_ e10 AV._
_

ha d pulThaSl'<!C halle" K..r,

1F001' ~UonF"""
"' _ _ ' lIH ·(MOD1
Th e p oli ti c . of d e f en c e pr o c ur em en t
.-\ !l ", ;rjnr ,,·..al'''''' pron,relll"'" pro!:rarnlll ..s haw " , i!:uilica", po]i,ir al
d i", .. " sio n; ,,' m~'r £2 hilli"". ill<'Chi"flain r"l ,l" n '[l", n , llrr~ra",,,w wa"
r", ",xu 'I" ion , Aft..r Ih... , e,·..HI ~ilTlrr)(1 Airborn .. borly W"mi TlK (AEW)
aircral'! lhsc o ,hal w:",1;"(l hilli"", "fl'OlllHl,.'h.. Bri,i, h gowrnlll .. nt
",,,-, <I..!t'nnim..l l" " h,,,i,, ,.. hw fo r m",u~' ,h nn'Klr" n " I" 'n CO"'I)(",i,io"
Th, ' f" il", ...of ~il1ln)(I.-\EW "hl iKl·d 11... Rm';o1 Air F"rc .. to pllr cha ...· ,I,,·
]\oe i" !: f..3 S.. n' ') 's's'..mlha'w",,ld ha, 'el><'.." si!:nilkanl1" cheaper iu
'h .. lil"'pla' ·... h is apri."c· ".....I.. ""ihih' yof gm ....n lll" ·r1l ,ol"">el rre,he
m" " dJ''C'iwlllihta ') 'eqlliplll..m al lhemillilllUlllc''''to,h.. taxp a)·..r,
 :\,·,.. nl",k." rh.. r"marlahle pe rf"rmance " I Chall .. ng..r dlr rin g th..
,..'H·m libt"rarion of ,",u,,'ail co " ld n or ho' "wrl , ~ , l ,..-I . n", c""ld th..
",h"l eh ..ane,1 'l'PIH,rl b~' Rrirain ', ran l 'll, anufanur;"1'; ind"'I 1)'
th,on!,;hont Ihe crisis, Furtht'm,ort'.lht' ( ~ n l f Wa r ",a , d " "ITl t'<l l o bt' a
cu"'pklt· ,indiratio" "fth.. Briti,h phil""'pl,,',,fLanl d..,ign ", Ir.. rd,)
h..aw armou r pror,',',;on f<>r Ilw ",...,." a n d d' ''''''''a,ing n"·I.. "...· r to
..ngag .. and dt"\\r(~' h '''I;le .\ 1''', ar 1<>,,1'; ,-.m l';" "" 'n ' rlre p rimal)'
anrihut ..,ofa.\ lai" Baul.. 'b " k. ll o""' H' r. a ll th" cOlH,·", I,·,.. , htl""..d
SlKhd"'''Kleri,lic,
Th .. Cab;l1<"r,,,h ... ,"',"itH...· Ltsl,'il ",ith malillg th,' final d..d,i""
cotTlpri",d the Prim e ~lini,tt·r. Jnhn ~faior. Ih, ' Ikf,·" ...· s. ·,'n ·tal) ',
To m King. the For e illn St'<:re"'l) '. Bo u gla, IInrd ami th.. Trad .. and
[ndu,tl)' s,-r....'aw. \ litha..1 Il .....·hin .., I n iliall ~', th.. l'rim.. \Iillister
qu"'li,mt'<1 Ih .. "'...·d f"ra ",.,. ·\Ia;n Ba.t1k Ta n l a t all;:i",n tlw chan;:ing
gt'<'p"li/iral sima/;"n in Eastern Europ.. and tl", pr,"'un'"'' publit
spt'nding"U>"'iths"'ndinllther..cellt ..mbarr""ingd..fe"ceprocllre",..111
fail"r ..,hil';hliKht.. dln'lhe~al innaIA1lditO!lic .., Th e B..fenc .. Secre"'l)'

-_
..kp........-d th,·,i.·", thai tl...r.. "'ere ,,,,sil';n;firant,lt-f<-nr.. rt'a"""{tl nta l ..
a particular (t>(tlmmendal;on. Tire For"ij{ll S.:creral'" rt·,nai,,,,d ""U1r-~1
b.'y"n<i'!atin!,:that/heexpofto{<:hallenller2wlhe.\lid,UeF...,twuld
lead to ","'.. for ..ign poli0'benetir"
Only \ lithad l"·,,·lti,,.. a, th,' Trad .. and 1" " " Sll) ' s.·cr .. tan
~¥8""""""'''''''' "kp1t'S",d "wnK ,ie"'" " " tIl<" ,"bjo·n. II<- aTgr,,'" fordhl,' th,lt an
• .....,kcNring .n ....

_ ........
_ "- Rov-l ind ille n Ol" mn l -m:rm rlac tu rillll,';n d u' Il)' !or aw a nation poliri.-al ludm

_ ..L
TM_Io_. ..-.
__
in tb.. ",m ... '''')' ", l",,.,,,,,,inll mrd ...ar ",eap"ns. Furtherm"re. the
p u rd '...", of a f<>lt'il';l1 ~IRT ,,"ould r"pn.,...nt a I""l "f faith on bt"hal!
_ ....
ofth.. (;",,'eml1lt'm;n Rritain', n'uional ..n,p',....ri"l'; capahility lh ,1\

_-
" ' ~ Z lo _

__ _ of _ 1m... ",,,uld S<"nda negat;".. ,ignal wforeigll tradinll,'parlne,-.; a' 10 the qua lit),

"' .... .. ''' '_" _

...........................
ofhoth th.. Britj, " d..fence ",cWr and Rrili. h ..ngirlt"t'rinll in g..n..ral
/ It- al"o hil';hlill,"un:l tlr,' lild~' impact on th.. un""'l'!,)\'m"'rll fillr" ....
"' ........ ofZ.OOOoft.{\'ll$) t"Sp"cialh'in lll.. north ofRritain,if Chall'·"I';,·r2",,,n~j,·c\("".Afl<"Cdu,·
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..ndo.ono:dbo t ~ .>f t..... commi".... with t
Pri" 1<" \ linisl..,..,- ;000
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"'~ 1< .;0 rij{o "t"1 of eon lr.>("l .ntn'I ;And ce.ndi ti"."- 0" 21 junt _ .... 100.
1991. Ilrl .. no:.. I'rucurnntm \linisl. .,..,- .'lbn ( :Lor" ."no"" ...O'd in ,....
n......., >fO..,, _ _ ..... G'l'I...mmMlt ·. dn-N.. n,,,...Ire , C:h.I"'n~ 2 ~ ~I. . . . . -
..... r..-pbo: " ..mr..r Cl\irluin
j " don ""·r.... Friet: 2llj'''1<" 1991• • e... ur- W'O'd
I:>.- n t \ IO () and \US ror' dto ...k>prIN"n•• >fCl14n ,II:.. r 2 ;000
.u'-<j,...m 1Tlil""f....lU .... or 127 un'" to mf'I:"1 ,h .. rr<jui m..nr-uf
SR(L j.fll'!t;. Thr fiN h;o.eh of 127 , ,,,t"<luip th.. ;lm ...urO'd rrWnl<" n~
.. r·h h ;o,..17'h .-\r!,.. ",rtd I\rig-.od ,'h tit "' .. ininll: ,.. hid I:>.-inll:
u....tl.. rlr..inin ll:_Th .. ln-St-" ...... Oat.. (lSD ) , pl..n" 1 ,,, I ;" .. ...
19!:1:\. III addi ,;" " . 1:\ n riw . Trai ninll:T;onl ' orrn ..... r " l.. rtd ..;th
th.. Ii", d..li' ·..ri -hrrl"lrrl ill 19'1:\. Th .. 1;"...11,ri.·" e"" tr.e' ...o nh
( :'20 ", i lh" " ' I,,·eifi 12:\ "'il....u>ll..... . l1rrl""dt...... lli ......"'..m .-l" rinII:
d....·.. I"p"'.·ut . J' pl <1 ,h .. " IH" .. fr"'I" " ,,i hilit), linl1 l~' "' ;'ll \TIS ,,-, ,h..
 prim .. c""lran.". 1<,,',,11'''I''''n, or lIlt" pro~raml1l". ind,,,li"K w"i"i"K
c"Clllil,m"lll. lir 'l ·h,,.. 'I"'''''' and a c" " 'I' rd "· " , i.... I"K;'ti,- 'upp"rt
p,,,.\.-aK'·;ndudi"K fieldi" K w;llIi" Ill,' I\,; ti, h Ann" . In additi,," . Ih..r..
w,·r' ·H'r,-liKhl'tiIHllatio,,'c,,",..·r niIlKa.-hi, ·'·..n" ·nt uf , p....il;'-I ..\"<'l\ol
r.. liahilit~'. 1<> whi.-h ">I"" :~7 I",·t ....Ill "I' th.. ,laK" p"yr""nl' w..r.. li..d
n ... li"t 117 C11"llc'''Kc'r2 \ Iln,"""r1< >I"" ·'l"iplw·dwi'h Cl1.-\R\ 1I
"""n""ili.,,, ",hil, ' Ih.. 'uh"·'I"'·1lI i"",·"f Cll.-\ R\ 1 3 ,ulll11llniti"n",,,
pla1ll,..d for 1~16hlll(",i"Kacc ..ptahl,· ""'rtrial" FUrl lH'r " ..d.·I"SI<)f
Chall, ·ng ..r2 '...·r....xl)t"("t..dlobt"1,1a.-..din hatcl ,..,"f20(l

CHALLENGER 2 TRIALS AND

TRIBULATIONS
C",ur-d n., ,,·..n· n"w 'iKI1t"C1 1""lw"" 1I \ Th " " tI mOT(' Ih"n 2,,0 ,,,I>-
_1)'·1_ _ ol _ uH lIr-dn Or' a", 1 , u pl,li.." 'hrollKh"'" Gr..al I\rimin a"d """r",,,, to
_ '91' '*.' _ 0 _ 0 r..n" .. th.. d,·,ign "fCh"lI..nK.. t 1 ""d " lInw pro d ucti"" '" b' ·Ki". A,
_ dllStelo<l<l. . . th.· sa", .. tin",. II,.. tri"ls and tI..,;..I" I,,,,.. ,,1 ph ...", " fth,' Ch,d l" " K<'r 2
Chol_2014lhTrool>. l' ''' >I''' Yl'' '' n.nt;nm·t! ", Ih, ' Ar11lourt·t! Tri" l, a", l lIn, .. I"pnl<·nt L',, ;t
•_ ~. ' IITJIIl." ...
on .... (ATOU) "I I\m ; nKton C"mp. 11or... ' , Ih.. h" Ill" of th, · Ro~',, 1 Arn" '1lJt'd

_W.... duo1"l1- - ' _ "

....eao_'n_
duo1"l1_ ..
_

lOO3 .• ~ o l l l1TJ11l
Cnrp ' . Th,'''' " '..r.. di"i<!c"Ci in1n·r..hah iliIYKrowth trial, 'an d 'u ,,·rtrial,·
m ing a c" ",h in" ti"n "I' "·,,,,·k.. I,..r,onn..l mann ing th.. lanl'Sl II'I">r!,"CI
h,· \l)S t.. ch" jd~"" T it.. nim ' 1'''''''1'1-'''' W"J(' nurnb,· r..d m' "rd ..r "f
• .- IU~ _ k lO "'"
_ _.. "" llun
........ 11<
build. Prnl"t~1-'" \'1 (OriS I'S7 ) wa, " K.. n..r-al tri~ l, ""h id .. and c"rrit'd
"m ..n,irunl11,·tHal an d olh ..r a' l...ct' "f,·..hid .. 1"·rfon1lan. ·... It " 'a,
Corp&oI'elll _ _
_ (:- . . . , . 2 ,.0 1.. '
,uh"'q u.. ntly bt"' Kh, h;.cl rrnm Ih.. \IOn hy' \ n s an d 1"·"~II1'· Ih,' b",,'
.... ...
ol"...
'01_ ~_ '*
_ N8C~.
rt
"u"I..1 f"r F'r o jr et Cop, ·nh"K,·n. Ih,' n«"l ili... 1 Chal l,·ng..r 2 \I 8T fo r
O n", ,,. P"'I"l~ p<" \'2 (OriSI'H-X). \'3 (OriS I'!'!')) "nd \'4 ((~;SI'!'O ) " .. t .. th..
A~ ""15_ " rt"l i" hi l i~'j;\ro"lhan d f"'J\ 'i"j;\\ ,..h id .., an d dia m"" " f lh" " uw",,,,i,,,,

----.-
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---
milt""K", l'H>totyp' "S\ ." « ( ~iSJ'9 l) an d \ 11 « (~ ; SI '9 4) .....rt· IIt"two ""'r
. rl .. _ _ Zero _ _ .. ... ..;~ I , ....hjd ..,. 1'''''''I' p'', \' fi « (~i Sf'92) an d \ 7 (OIiSf'93} .....r.. the finnK
tri" I, ~nd ",,'ap"n ,~"St"I11' pr ", i u j;\,·..hid ..,. I'ro Wt~'l-'" \ll (( ~;SI'!6) wa,
-,"'" k..pIW thela t..st h" ild'tan da rd. II""""..... lli)Jsal..' I'Ulp",..'an. l"ft,·"
apl>t'art 'd at "'I"ip,,,nu ~xhihitiol1'_ It I....-an... th .. I~"i, f,," Pr"jrtt
Exmouth . ,,,h""q""ll1ly th.. Ch "l k n" ... 2 E a nd expon "",d,-l for\l ) S
h " "" liuffi "ith pr<"I"nion lUrr..' :-.:", 2 '"'' r"nh ..r tu n.·t " '"
rnan"I"rnnrtl at th e conrl"'ion of the p""lunion m n. A r"nher t"."
" , rr.... ",e rehuilt:T.-\1 hnri!:te"ingolthe "'eapt"'<)'ten"andTA2a'
""·", m o u r fire..." t" ,, e,' _
l ',,-r ,rial< "f \ '5 anrl \'H "e"- r " n rln, ,, '" ht-'" ,..,n s.·p,e",ht-r I ~ ~) :l
"", I Fd,wa'" 19!H . T h., ai'" "f th ..,,· triab w,.< to ....tahli,h ",I,..th ..r
_,_W._.
C.......
__

..........
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.. £.... P<'"''o UKI2.

"''''''.. £001'''' • . . . - .....

t"", IoIIOWlng _ G<JH Wot
........
""
It"'""~ ... _
K
....
'_.
Ch"n ,·nK..r2 r"II,' ",, ·t tilt' pt,.f"nn""...·< p' ·' ili... 1 in SR(l. j-«r2tiiu II...
ha nds o f R -\C 1"''''''''''' 1 and " I" , jIi"" I. >j\is,i.- "'pp"n "' ,"i .·..,. s"d,
a, the R,» :al Elrttriral and ~Ie,hani,al Enjlin...." ( R£ ~f Ej. inc",,,,,'"
_ . _to_
1On• . . . . . . , . . . - _......
_ .t;"......... ._Of
_ _ a.-....... 2 .. . .
..xp.-rie nr e " f the n..", ~ lIn to h elp ,h .. preparation "frlrill,. tra inin!:

_-
l<'rhniqu"' ,lllrlpuhlicationsthatw""lrlhereq"irffipriortoilSent ~illto
....""" ful . Fol......... f\In_
' rIot
_""-'
,_""'
ol_, ot
~_ I_

" ·nire,~fo,t"f ,ht"tr ia"""·I·t',,,ndnnerla'Il..., 'in!:t,,"anrl l .ul"'o rthli" _ _ ,e_

the an w " " ,ti", w" in g ,u n'Ku n '" 'ry liri " g r"' I'."(',iw l,,_Suspe n , i,, n a nd
ha", ni"j!; tri"l, "'... e al" . ro " d " c tt·" at th.. l " " " u , o<
s a nd lI u n , ,.."
r o " ",·s. C.,ld -"·.. a th~r trial' ".'r~ und,>na ke" in th,· dimat;r d>a",h...
~

lvur C
_ _2

,...........
Irh_lwO_
"' . " '

at Ch"n~' a"d '''hseq\lt'Il1I~' at Catt ..ri,k in Yor"-'h ir~ ro, ut'w 'old
ha hi"' h iliw t~"ing _ Chane,,!:er 2 was Ihe lir<1 Briti' h lank "ith ~n ___"_ 20 "'.,......
Of' ~ A _ -"

int eg ral ai r conrl i,;"" i,,!: and he ating- ')"t'm , Tanical a '''''\llle,m w~re pOK ..... _ _ , lK11 _

", u k ru k" n 0" Sali,h",', PI"in Tca in in!: Ar..a (SI'TAl anrl th e , rainin!: I\nol d e l _ .. :lOOO..('o'DSI
I'ha"·,ulr"i '>a,,·tli,, a !:u n ,,..ry .. x...-tisr at Wacr"l' T,.. ..ininK Ar..a _ ~ I<",
"f ,h,'''' trial,w,·"·ro,, ,It..-lt'rl " ,i" " a..-stnn uf ·" ,lttididdda,,' ,i ' n ila,
tn tI,,,,,· dt"i,,·tl fnr tlw n'ncu n,·nt Rd ia bilir,' ( ;" "., h Trials (RC;T )

Reli ability Growt h Tr Ial .

fhe", RGT ,,-..re .ucce"f"lI y complet.. d in 19!H wllt'n th ree proto'~·pt·s
",er t" t'" ..rl",-..rapla"'lt'rlt"talof21-k;hattldielrlrla)" Fortht'purp"'...
"ftlte RGT p h.'... . a hattl"fielrlda" con,i ,"-d ,,1', 271:.m" I' m arl tra"el;
:n k", " f ..n"~uu", ~' tran'l; tl,.. licin" " I' ~ ,uain...,m'anwn, "nrl
1.0017.1;2",,,, ""..-loi","K"" "",,,,h wi,1t If> h,,,,,, "I' "ral">11 ",,,,ms
"I',.,....,i"";",,,, "'" I"",,, "f ,,, ,,i,, en"i ,,.. idliu" ~,,,' 3_ 5 h,,,""uf,,,ai"
'·u!:i", · " m " i" " ..t,·..rio""I"·,'tI" lh,ri""dt'",·I"I-',,,e'lttl,.. (:h,,11""""r2
I'roto'~l"'s d". ·k...1 "I-' W .4(Klk'n o f",..d an d ,-n"«""nt~' """,i"" a",1
firffi I L6lKI ",,,,,d,,,f 120,,,,,, a",,,,un iti,,,, . T h ~ British Am '" forr""n,·
---
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a<'<'<"f'I •..:1lhe Chall ..nW·r 2 on If; " Ia.. 19!H . S ...." rthd,·.." lh .. d ..bal..
...nl1inutod a, In h"w ""1I1~- Chalknw'r 2 "IBTs wer .. to b.. p rtK ur ..d a n d
whal n",,,-'u,,,s w..re to be impl ..m.. nt .. d for lh .. Ch ief tain /C ha lle n g.' r
lmprowm..m Programme (CI IIP) . In Ihe eWIll, CI IlI' wa , nOi p ursne<!
an d il was de<:idt' d to rep brt' hnlh Chieftain a nd Challenger "'i lh a
rn"'pl..l.. neet of 426 ehall""Ker 2 "mT, . 0 ,,,, 10 financial n"'strai"ts,
lhi, " umber was r.-<Iur..d I,,· 40 '0 ~_ TI,.. ord .. r for II... n ' mai ning
259 "IBTsa"H"lI ..., ,,in.. fnrther OTI, ,,., , announced in J ul, -1994
Th .. fiN production ",hide ""a' com pleted Oil I AUj.\ll'119') 4, !l ow........
th.. " ' O D wa, de l..rmine<! {(. en,ur.. lhat th.. p,wl uctio n mod ..l, of
Challenger 2 mel the slring ..m demamh of Ih.. original sl't'd6ca ,io". tTl
Sr plt'mber l90:t4,a ·firsloffl'"K!uCli' lIl lria l'"ftlm_'<'ofdw6rsl,i"",hicl...
.......akdthal \ TlSha<1n"I'l"'......d,.di" "'m,f..rrinj.\lh.. I."" lofbllild
'l,,,,li~' and reliabi lin ' achi ·e<! ill d,, ' ..ustom-mad.. proIO~pt' model, '"
Ih.. manuf;onurinK proc , and lh .. produ ctio n v.. hid ... . .-\ccord inj.\lyt!le
firslbalchoflanks"<l,nOlacc.. p1t'd~'lhe "I O Dandth ..... "ere hddin
.un-age nmil lh .. fault, were rerti!ied. [n....i lah ly. lh .. origi nal h h...·,..,iu
Dale slipped ~', much 10 ,h.. d is",a, ' of .h .. fiN al1"o ",·..d nWm.'m
.,.h ..d"I,..:1 10 reed.... Chal k""... 2 _ TIl<· R,)\a l Scots Or;oWKJn Gua rds.
" ' '' '' ,' a rrnie-s I'...·ft-r 10 iUUlK!U"" a I,i.'(·.. "f ..quipment im o ",,..,;c.. an d
ll...n .'Ii",inal<" ,my l..... hing prohl ..n"sub't'quemly. Bm for Chall .. n~e r 2
th.. ~10[l h..td \'DS lo lh e slri({ lt'rrns of lhe contrac l a' lo q"ali ly co"'n>1
am! reliahili~'. In time , lhe I"ohl..tm were sol\'ed an d n,,>dificatinns m ade
10 all the ta n k.,held in s"',... . To ach i.. ,ethisl ht' ~' O () imp•.....-!a .. ·ri...
o f I' md uc tio ll Reliah ility <;"""h Trials (PRGT ), l'a,-h ,,; ,h i"Hl'rne nta lil
more rlillicn h reli ahili~' la<)l;.·t,. PR( ;T 1 " ..... ' ",,,n pl" l..d in r-;')\·..mb.. r 1997
"il h PRC;T 2, 3 ""d 4 "-h ..d ,,led 10 b.· held in Ma rch , J un.. and Oc to!>.·r
19YIl, lnth....n-mlh.. prt>dunio"lin.. tanksach i....' edth.. rle-sir..ddegre e
of rcli"bilil" ";lhin .h .. firsl lh re.. PReas so lh.. ta,t was not held. E\ e n s,-,.
lh.. MO l) d..lIlanrled an [n...'iel'o;"" Reliahili n' De", ,, ,, ,, ra uo n (ISKIll of a
co"'plete am",,,,rd "'I"-,,dmn "rChalienger 2 "IRTs a, a final p" . ,f "flh..
tank 'sm-..rallperformanre
C h il ll e n ge , 2 .. Ie ldlng Te em
From the out....r, th~ Chal1"Ojo(l"r 2 (la t.. r AFY) Fiddilljo( Tl'am plaw-d a
"ilal rol ,· in th.. pron or...m ...nt proc~\'; Ihe ir purpO\~ ",as 10 ~n 'u re th ...
q t",l it,· " f th" l.ank, a't h'1 ' ro lk doff th.. l"nltran'port,·"" aodo"to till.'
re l(iment al mnk par ..... FieldinK aC!i,it~, was su'pend..d from October
lY95 untiIJanuar\' 1991'\",hik th,· Production Rd iahi l i t~· Gru wth Trial,
" .. re und ...rtak ...n to impro\"<' th ... qual it~· of Ihe produn cm" inl( off
th,' a\""mhl~' Iin..s in 1...,·,1> an d ~ .. ",ca,tl~, Oo c(' ddin·ti,·s h~jo(an in
Januar\' 1Y91'\. th ... tan ... ",...re i"'pe<:l<'d in hatches of 311:th~ number of
Ch" lk nKer 2 .\IBTs allocal....-lto each armot1r~d rejo(iuwnI in tIll.'Type 311
o rga nizalio n th" n extant. With a total productio" rtlTlof 31'\6tanh. Ihe
fi,·ldinjo(teaml..'t ..dl..nhatchMoflan k,o\'t"raperi,K1uft"'<J-dlld.a.half
~· ..a,-.;, Th,· ChallenKer 2 Fiddinl( T...am " ·d' task ...d "ith ..nsuti"K the
mitahility of ..ach and ~"""r\' tanl b..-for.. il ",a, accepted from \l)S , Tb..
team con,i",O(] of an RAe major . a RE.\lE AS.\l a"d ", ,'eral highl~' ,kill ed
,m d ...xperi ..ne ..d R -\C in'lntC!",", and RE.\IE artilk .. ,....AUKlll<'ntingIh...
Fiddi"g T...am smff were ere",'! fromlh...regiment that ,,"as to r..c...i'·e Ihe
tdn h ill Ihat hatch, Th e ,... ert"'" too k pa rlin th .. handu",·roflb"'lanl
to the .'ield ing T...am. a"i,red in all of th ... i"'pection'!. perfonned th ...
Batrh T..'t lInd ..r Armoured Ttials and O..........lopm .·m Unil (AT OLl)
, " pe rti ,io n'llId dcco mpani...d the "'"bdutinl(lh....irdeh....r\·tolh....ir
f<'l{i", ....n" in C.. rmam' and Ih.. l·K. b ·..n' on ....o fth .. tanks in ""rbb'''rb
of 31l "'a' 'ubjeet..d loan inspertion that cO\'ered""er\'a'Il<'C! of the
tdnl in the most ..xartinjo( ,I<'"t"il.E"~ r\'fault from a ",ft"'are jo(lilr h in
th.. fire<ull1rol syst ...m Ihroul(h inaccuraei.., in ,'ehide co ufigu rdtio n
donuu,·o ta tjo n h. p«int m·l·,'sp....~· o n a jo("' ....... n ipple "'a' rerortl,o(]
h 'er\ 'tanl",t\ 1"'''rc1 on a road rtll1 tuandfrom the Lulworth K'll1ner\'
'.. nl{'.. ,,·h..r.. th.. ordna'H" ('w"-'r<>tnmi"'inn....-land th, · l{und ud'i/::htin/::
"" t..m ·,,· n ><·d · fur accuraC'!·. In ..xce" of 22.()()(J ·incid..ms w.. re
;,I<'" m ifi..d on Ih... lOl,,1"f~fi Chalkng.. r 2 .\lRT, and 22 OIT, . A pand
of expen, ,,' nttini,..d all of Ihe i", 'ide,," and appli ..d correnin",
" hr ...... n....d....-l, a, ajo(re...d belw' ·n th .. Fi...ld in jo( T" am and tlw \ l) S
on -site tr ..m. Additionally. out of ..ach halch of 3fl I"nh. fnur wrre
r ho", n and ,...nt to ATDU fo r a R.. 1iabj1iI~' Ilo lt b 1',-,;1 tlMt put lh"",
panin,lar t;n,'" thro ul(h a ti l{or o m thrr.. banJ ..fidd day" Irial. Th .. fat..
nfl l,...." ·ho le batch of3 H. ar r ....p'ann·mr...j n: ti" n, hn u jo( " n tl 'e r....'..l,-",f
the Kneh 1',''' . Th.. re,ull was thai nu annour..d r"Kiment rec..i",d a
,inl{l... tank Ihat ha t! a majo r f"ull. Any r...maininjo( minorfauhs. and
tl,..", w<'le " x tremd~' rare . were identified 10 Ihe ree";,i ng regiment M'
th.. Fi..ldingTeam prio r to 'h e l'lIll ·, tl..li,'el) 'and fix..d bY'\1)S li~ld
rep r.."'nt"li",·" u"",ll~' a, ",on a, tl,.. pdrt' ar tiH'd "ithin one n r twu
day'! of lhe tanl', arri\'al
T h.. first e ijo(htC hall..nger 2 .\IBn "" 'r e d. ·liwn·d to The Ro yal Sum
])ral{oon Guard, al Fallingb".,...1 in C.. rmany in lat.. J an uary I9'JIl. Th ..
1"'1 of Ih reg;nw nt -' .'Il' n.·", tau h "'''-' hand ..d ''''er in a cen'm"n~'
o n 3U J un J99fl. ",itn ..,,...dby,nmeof lh .. l..adin/::luminari,·,in th ..
Chall<-ng er 2 ""n.- , inrluding th .. .\1;l'l<"r ( ;"'I1(' ral uf lhe Ordnar,.-...
Li..utenant Ge neral Sir Ro b.-rt Il ayman-:Jo yr e , who h"d t>t-..." a k~ .. n
au d(" o nsist.. nt ad'H ("alenfChall""jo(...r 2 . Tb e firMI d"d 1\10 '" diffirult
h urd le in th ...Challenl(er 2 prol(ramm.. acceptanc ... proc .. dur~ was the
In-St'"I"\'ir e R.. liahil it~' Oe:mn l1strati" u {ISRD) . Thi, Wit' ... mdurl ...d by
R Squadrun. The Rop l Scot, Dral{o"n Guard,. be tw.... " AUK'''I and
_ _- .e_,_
..n.oft_"'~2
_ . . _ _ 10

-.... *"_durIn9 _
e".,.. _ _

. ........
Thlo _._"'.-
00_-""" _

-_--_.
_ . _H_ _
_ _ 11",,1<25_
.... -...,.cl ... _ .
_
I:k ct' m he , 1 \ ~ .1'l ",·h.." \2 Challt'Ilv;.-r 2 \ lBTs '...·r .. ,e,lt'd at Xf n U in
BI,,'inl:{unand al lh e GIJlltl.." 'Sch,,,,1 in L" h." rt h.Th e ,rial.inmh...rl
th .. tan les cow,illjl; 5.04Ukm dllrinjl;!H m.uldi.. ld rlay' ",hil .. lirin"
2,/('lllro"",h"fI20""" alllrn""it;'m ,u,,1 SVJ(JI) round,,,f7,fi2mrn
armm",;,i"". Th.. f"" d ""lull nr ISRD ,,"'-, an "'"!ualili"d SlK... ·" "ilh
all,lw1;\'W'" fnr I".. ,.f""""",.. and r"liabilil~' .·x, ....'kd ,,,,wl,,,i,..·]},.
TI" · ... cund an""nrrd '<"I,:;"'rn, 'oht-t'q"iPI..-d Wilh <'hall..""..,2
"a, 2nd Rop\ Tan l R..gimrnl (2 RTR) during late J'j'Jl\ anrlearh 19':1'.1.

--_ .-
__ 2 _ _
... T h e la' l of th ,· 3il(, Ch a ll,·n g..r 2 \ IBT' '' ·<i'pre '' -Ill..dlOth,-Briti,hAm.)'

-----
---_
"n 17 April ~W()2 al a ~ ..ren"",)· h ..ld "n Sali,hn,,' Plain, riuinKh'. ,h.·
.. _ _ "",, _ _ or
l<lnk,,-a' <It'liwred l<>.\S<luadro", (RT R, that~an tran'it,Ii"""K"10

'_
lh .. """'Ii"'t ""il '" ,,,... ' ,h .. ", " k to"-,,ron 15 S<-I '''''nh.. r 1916_.\
Corllpa",·. 1/,-",) , \lachin" Gun Corp', ,uh"·'I",-ntl,'.\ ( ~ " " l'a IlY of lh ..

-----_..._,
--._~
...... Ta n "( ~ > rp". " n<l " . h mh torhi,da,·, r"rth"fir,r .illl ....wr. th" Brili,h

~.~ ~ Ar",~' rrtei",,'r! a reliahility-proM'" ~IRT thai wa, . "ad ,· to llo ttl wa,' '"
2 __ ....
">0.'" a, it aniwd Oil the tank park ofan armo"red r"j\irn"nt -and,,",r
wa, Ilot 1r>r'Kin cOlllinK.
_ ....... . . . . (VDSJ

OPERATIONAL DEPLOYMENT OF
CHALLENGER 2
Cha lle nll." 2 ,,'a, lirst d..pl,»ffi"per.ui,,n allyin th .. )~-ar~'l~~ll()llo"inKth.·
~.-\T< )ill".",·.,nti"lli"rhe ..th"i<·di'p"lt'h.·."-....n .'\ lha lli<la" d St' rh ia "","
tll<' I.-ni;:h"..( pn""",,,,,f 1 ,0""' ,, A' pal1 "f " FOR (I,,,,,,,,, roo" -) _ B
Sq""drun.n,,· R<o:oalSctlr'])'<Ij(.>o.m ( ;,,,,,,h . ,,..., cmllllli!U..(,,,,Ol,..,,.u;<>n
A~",,"", J "ith it' compl"",..m of Ch"lIenll"r :1 ~IBT, "I lil.. lh .. tlth"r
"lw,dron'''·..re'di'llltlurued '. Theh..a' )'<lnll",rraeteda"adt"lern'mI')o'e
to tin ' ""ni"K fani",,, b\' und,-na kinj\ "",d patro(. and n:p, (\ '..hirk
O,...·k I'oi",,) al k" "'1T!fuL,hpo;lIt, " "hin II... An:a ..f Op. -ralio", (N lK)
tlr th.. ~luhi -~;"ional Brigade (C"''',"al). ,urh a, C..u .. 3 on rh. ' ",,,in ro " ,..
1m '" l'Tistina 1<J SI·rhi", ba..nd...l r<~,<1 march ... ",ithin ,Il<" hriv;,,<I..·, AO R
,h m ugh' '' " lh.. ,i"·",,,ruhmu l,·,,,,·ru,,,.,rt·d'''';l{IlauodOp,·rdli,,nS(m "m",
(" ... {~,1,,"r l'la,,"A21 ;lIl<lafl ..<la'dl'lIlKihl.. sho"'off"n-,·."tirn"''',·rinK
a, m'Kh a.' 2.'''Oklll b\' nM'1. :'\on .. oflh.. ,,,ri,,,,, ..,h nic factiu"s in K" s",,,
d...·m..dil,..."sihlrlnconlnl lhrl'n"'S( ·n...·of(:hall.·IlW·r 2 .. "ringilsfil'\!
n p.. rdli"nald'·ploull.. m.

E".rcl •• Self S e re . e
_
0 - - 1 " _ _ ..

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....... Ea<I><If.....

_ 111-_01 _
_
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_

Th,' ,,,Ialilt- silUdlion in Ill<" ~ liddl .. Ea.st 'lIld Saddalll lI us""in 's
-~~-
....... """" ...
-.01...-_
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cu mi" " i" g r..h,sal rn ahid .. ~, IIw ,·.,ri"", r..s.,l"rions pmnmlg;l(.-d ~l _ .....
I,,· til<"Cnil ,",1 :\ alinn' I""m pl..d Ih.. ~d, i,h K"""mm.. m I<> u",duC! a _"' <If_

__
majo r milila')' ,,,,,·rci,, · in lh.. rc'Ki"" ,n r.. '1 ll". .roin, Ro,pi<lR"'K li""
Fore.' (JRRF) con""pr in a ",..t1illlll-scal.·. cOlTlhin...-larms ""rfiv;hlinv; ''''''''''' .... _ <If ~

----
_ol .... T_ f f f T l ._~
......nario .Old..nalllr <l t "..rci"" SaifSan...... Il . ·S,,; f! .<;"u rd · ill F.nKli,h .
-
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_ ........ _..........-.1I\l'
....
il was ,""",1",." ..1 in O n", ,, in conjllncr im, ,,; rh His .\la j" ' I)' lh,' S"ltan's
-\ rcn..d Forc, .. t><.· ,,,..·.·,, St'l'w",l...r;o m l :'\" ,.. ", h,: r 2IK11. In ad dirio" 10
rh.. mai" Irai"ing afli,;~- ill dt'<;('n cnIHIiri"ns . rh.. L"K arm ..<1 f.,rc ....
I"''''r<l lh,' d'"l,lo~~nrnr 1"'>(""" a",l "'pp"rl sU' Klllr..s "'...·.1<>01 ro ...... -_--
..........
-.
, ,,,ta ill a,,d r...-,, w r ,,,,,,r 20.0IKl l' K m iliral')-p.. r<,onn..lrhollsa,,dsofmil ,..
fro m rh"; r 11""'" h""", . Th,' ,kpl(~~""ll1 in",!> l .. "" .. 22.;)()(1I"',.,.m"' ... .
l).,·,1)(1""hid.., an<l tr;oil..". !I:\ aircrah (~- all Iyp am i 21 '];0,,,,1 ww·h a,
d p....j,...I... IC<"'of .. ,,". ·£9l) millioll . Th.·.·"I"-..lirim,al')·foR.. i",-h,,1<'<1
-
_
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..-y ... _

.<
.... l
.-frlta
---

- . " " ...._

____ ~l

"n .\JoYs. or"'hich fili w.. r.. Chdll""K'" 2 ~lBTs

_-_
.. _ <If. _ _
n,.. li""' pan ofrh.· ."'. ·R i..... cOIllI,ri,inK ~rili,h fm' .... alo" ... "'a' ...-ol-...._._
.... _ "'.
...>n.luet...-lin Ih.. h"sril .. d..""n co"dilionsof,h",·i"",, lh· unl)('I,,,I .....<I ~ ...-<lf_

___ ......01_
----,
" " nl,.. m ,,,,,I ,-..mr"l poni""s of O man - an "r ..a ",h .....· rh.. K( ~",I
Om"ni Arm y ran·l y c"n<llla, .. ~ .. rci.. ", <I,.. pir,' ",,,d, of irs '"'luipll"'1Il
ht·inK sp... ·i" lh· lHo.liti.·d fo r .l......nco"'liri""s. such,,, rh..ir "",.,.i"""I ... ......
Chan ""V;..r 2_T I", pI;"",..... "'rl'<' """.... of ,I", <lilli.-lIlri.·s of "l}("r;ui"K
'''' ''r ll... "pl",llinK r..rr;oi" ""d in 'nch arduou,co"<liriu,,,. hut co"
,""m lra int' rli<lnol alln", 1<" an\' sp...·ifit mo,lifi,'alio", W '''j nip" ...m . In
_~Ouwdo

_UIoon~ln-....
.....
- . . ... B.....--.ThOI .......

p" n ic" l;lf. ir w", rh.. ad,;,'" 'If rh.. l l,·adqnam·... ll i.-...:rm K,~"I .-\nn(}tl r...-l ~l_.(Slmon_
~2

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Tho oonf\g<orlotioool_
............ ......
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n"l" (DRAq ror ,til Cha ll"" I!W 2 \IRIS t<> h. · litwd "ilh ])<>re h"' t" r
1 2 appliq ue ann""r an·a~... owr ,h t" fmm alltl ,i<l.. , 01 tit.· bn ls
l.e ......
d uring major nrrri..... ,neh a,S"il ..........a 10 ,illl"l"tr ","'Ii"hti""
eond ili"", a, el'.... ly as po.,ihle. h ,,"', al", knmm from ""IK'rirnn, in ,Ilt'
G nlf War 01 IWI th", the .i<l.. Ch"hham ann""r pant"I' ,<'duH'd ,he
a 'n ollllt olrlllsthtoinK,hrm"'''ph,·th,, 'rade,in,;au<ly(Ollditiom,h''t
r""lrlhe in"e,,,...1 iu'<> Ihe e n!/;i'lt... and call'""'wre dama"e . n uriujl;
tilt' Iantl oll-..",i", <>1 Op e r." io n / J...m .~ i n F" hn MTY 1991 thi, d id not
p<"",a prohl. ·", a, ,he "·t"a,h""·ondilio,,, ,,'.. ,.. '0 10\l1 " orl 'h edt"....rt
,;and ",ore grim. 1I" " ,·,...r. 11,.. n"t "I 'ran'I""ti"" aud lilliu" th ,'
anu""r arra~...a, ...ell a.othrr ·d......rti'atio" · "-'Iwrt' r"r Cha Il"n" "T 2 ",l'
,·"kulatetl"t£343.(J(J(lpertanl:.,,.,,,,...r£20mili ioll!'Jrfif,tan l:..,,amm
,1r", ,,·,...,I<I haw arld.·d a funher 211perrell\ wlhemer"l1 "lS 'ofthe
..serri,,·. A, ,h, · l,riuri p,,1 aim or .<;;,;1 Si,,.....a "a' to te<1 the deplo~men t
or 3 n,m",a" d" IIrig-a d . , Rrn,t1 \I a riut" . "ill ,i" Ih.. JRR f ~onltn,,"d
'l n1dur~. Ih, ' ·,l~ ....ni/.a liu,,· Oflh .. Ch ...llt',,~ ..r t ~ IlH, ........s nol d...."' ..d (0
b~ t.....,ihl<' ";lhin Ih" hnd~,'l. Fu n l,..nllor~ . lh~ "'I'ph ,!", ' '<nIlo"r ...rr ...~,
in ""rage .....o"ld ht· rt'(luirffi if ...n " I",r-,Ili,,,,,,-I dep l",mt'n( b.:ram,·
nen',,," )· ,lurinlo: lhe u m rst· of lhe ,·xeITi.....'
fhe Chall"nK,'r 2 for...• r""'pri"..d f"nr ,<nll"lIrt 'd ' qu ad " " " 01
rh ,' Ro yal Dragoo n G" ar d, (RIlG ) '" .....ell a, headqllarleN elemen(,
,,,,, t a ronli"Jo:t"lll "fTh,' Q" n 'n \ Ro"" l l.al"'·" (Q RL). The RDG had
,m ho recenll\' com'ert ,"<l '" Ch all"nger '2 hu( ha d umdllrh"<l hiKhh
'lIrrt ·" ful .·xe ,, ·i...., in l' o land ...",1 R\Tl 'Sin Can atl.... Afle ra I...riod of
Mdi lllali, alio n f<"ll,..!nK'I" _lh.. wmp"I'JlUr,"in Om, ut ru,,· ro 54
d, ·!,:re,... ,'entij(rade-Ihe tanks .....ere ,o on I' ll! 10 Ihe le,1 inl he haN h
cOlld ili" n. , In p;orrin 'lar Ih,· \'t'ry fint· "'ntl blo"ll up 1»-' Ih~ Ir"c ks
ral' id ly d ogged air lillef'<. ca ll. in!': a loss"fl'"...... ·rinlhe .. nJ'(i nr •. T Il<"
roc h lo:n."md al'o look a l{"['rible Inll on Irarkpad' and ruadw h.... I, . Air
ti ll,'" weI''' n" ..... I '.'l ;' t~ a nlall,'r "fda~" in''''ad ofmolllh' ...n d. UlHlrr
tlw mo' l ..xl r"lI1econd ilion,.hadmbt'change d afler amall.. r of ho uf'<
[n Iwnh."....l Eu",p" . ;oir lilwr, ,,,... ,'xp"oed 10 la'i " I' I<l 121Tlonr h,
lx· f' "·e r~qu i ri ng re plart'n ... ntinanorlllallr-ain ingy.. ar. Ona\'rr-a~.'.(11<"
h6 lan h in O man "'er~ um ,,,minK4 6 filte " ..arh tI"'y' '''1a cost off l .(J(JO
",Kb , T h" "'1'1'1\' of air filte r. an d Ir-Mku"" uma hl... in (I1rall'(''',,,
ra pid!)' Ix,col11inJ'(..xhall'led. B~' lhe final day of lhe d i,i,io na l -"".. rciSt'
l k '.: rl Rhi no. hM h .\ ,,,1<1 [) Squ,ulnm, "'......... hk In atl,,,,k t h~ final
" h jer li"" \\i lh j n' t I....o '-"nks ..ach . Ear h "flh"f'lIlr IU l(;squadmn.\\a,
o bhj(r d In 'l, md du",n a tr<~.p of (...nk, ami lhe QRl. ctHuinl{t"nt was sent
h" "' '' to r..dn c.. d" mand. nn Ihe ,upl'ly cha ill. II ",a. no", appa rc 111 "' h~·
lhe R')\'" l Oillani Anm' did nOl rea,lil,'collduCl"xerci...., in the '''''It h
\'aluahl" airliH c"'I"..-it,· ,,'a, nr...:kd tu n~· mit a con,oli,];,t"d load of
' pare pa rts " ...iJ'(hinj( "'Hn" !",.~ "'n,. " ;Ih air lill"" hei nJ'(drawn from .."...1)'
" .uIT('. 11ti, pl't"l,.· nt...:l th" , u pph· .,f , pa .... pan,fordlr· B· \ ·ehid .. ne e l ~
" ll' ply and "'pp< lf! 'l·hirl.... "'c h a, I..tnd Rm l' I'S and {"iJ'(h\-lnl1lt.·rs-,lS
"...11a' the helicop ters an d C,.-I3O Hercul"' lran. po n aircr-.u1 in th.-...l re.
O lh" r ('(jniplll<"ut, "'.. rr al""",lkringfrolll the ho'l ik cUl1ditiun,. , nch a,
Ih,. AS'!oIO ", lf-pro pe llt"d I" ", i u er and th,. l.y1lxbiJul"l i..ldh..lir o pl.'r: Ih.·
l11a in rotor bl...d,", of the latwr [;"ro"<lun a' .. r-aJ'(eju,t 27 ho" " in Oma n a,
"'/fainst a hf.. ""p<'('tanc"\,of.'">!)I) in EI" " I" ';lI1t uwl ili" n, . l1 w fO'IlMil1ing
tanks 1110, ...<1 to th.. nonh..m 1't"J':i')\l of the .--.H""I)· to take pa n in a major
joim ('"e rdsr " 'lh 12.ROO" ' K'I" of IIlr R(~<tl O mani Anm'. 11le .... the
pMe of o pe r-alin n' '' ''-' I..,., int enSt' and lhe r.. '' di lions l....' h,,,t ilr.Al lhe
fillal ro mbillt'd lin ..firing ex..rri,,· and firep<l",.. r d..",,,mtr-ation . 42 Briti.h
and O ", ani Chalk ng.-r 2 ~ lBT. "e .... usr d. ";I h C Squa drn n. RDG . firinj(
11)1) li n ...nd ~)lJ HESH fOund, in th ree da~,. Bill by no", lh.. 1'1..... ' "',.,
publi, hing alallni,( ,tori .., ah.,ul th,' dJ. ·"I;,....n..,.' ufCha llrlll{t"r 2 lhal
t'\... ntuaH~' led to a parl iaJllel1tal)' "nqnil)'. (Sr (' IlFpmt fTJ' 1M G;n"IJlmiln
""d A"dit<w (";n,/'mi He /097 ,<in.sitm 2(j()/ ~2/X)2 : / A ",o:wl 2002. ....h ich i'

----_-
__
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O\'t' I"\IYCrllical of th" \ lin i,(r"\,of [lel " nr (' o n "' any'''-' p' '('l. of ('(jnipnlt'nt'

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__. ........ 2000~ . •••"" " " " " " ' ' ' ' ' .. . . , . _ ...
 ..mpl,»ffi during Ex..reise Saifs.........a lI ,j' Howe,er . th.. fundamental
_ptOblem.
T1Wo<>loMk:'"'- ...... Iea '1y
H......... .
probl ..m ,,"..., th.. inadN) ltal.. "'a ling of'llare parts for the pr....ailini/:
fUnditium. Thi' "-J,., n"npuund..d by a lam,·ntabl.. fail"re in ''''' ' ':1
_br_~2

.... 10 _"'-

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_ E .... mKk;ng·";lhinthelol(i"icehain,wllt.,...byspar... ma~'h",'·ebt-ena,"...ilabl..

The_.__
_NlnOmaft .........
............. _0.:_2001.
1y
but their exan wher ..about, remained unknown on immediat .. demand
Th i' ,,-J,., 10 come hick and haulll the Briti' b Arnl~' during Operation TPbt'

-__- -__..-
_ _ _ ... 320 ..._

_15IIm
___

...
_ _.ThMepn>bleono
_
M .........

... ...
;112003
Out of all th.. l'\ATO memb,·n;. onl y th.. Cii. and Unitffi Slat... ha"e
prO\ffilheeapabili~'ofd ..ployini/:any·formationofbrill:...d e,ileorlarger
in an ('''peditiollary' role m'er meh di'tallee" ...nd in ,ueh a demanding
{'TI,;",,,,nenl _ ~""e "I' the eo"'emp""-a,",!' \lBT design, wilhin ~ATO,
", eh ..., Ariete ,le<:lere or Leo l" lrd 2, ha'" fired a ,hot in ange r and

----"--
. - . . ." l<loooln _ ther ..fo.... remain unprm-en in banle. E"erci'" Saif Sareea wa, a cla...,ic
oICM1_
unj .... 2Iy-.....--- __
n ampk of pr..parini/: for the most lik.. I~' P""llrtl of war in the ""...,
diffin,[1 cirnun 'tanu'" r,,,her tha" a aMldl threM..." n ,'rei", in
... Limbo llrg or Berge n-Ho hne during a tempe rdte a",un", in Euro pe .
!>e'pite the mgg..-d temin and conditiom. Cha llenger 2 pe rfonnffi
admirahlywh..n 'I"'.....,w'·.... to hand , although the performance oflhe
tr"'-bWa'eri..... f"rrun'·em. Plan' """ 'e ": 1 in hand tofind ... sulut;un.
Similarl~', the problem' of d"" jng... tion were ad dr..,....d to make
Cha ll..nge r 2 ..., banl ..wonhy as I""',illl .. in desen condiliom. In 'pile of
th.. pro bl..m,. 4th Armour..d Brigdde 'till m.., il_'Co l1ec ti'" r..rfonnanre
T,.-"ini"KStandard ,,1~"Cli,'., an d g-ained it, I.e ad Ann'''"'ed T...4 Fo re..
readin"""I...t u,in january200'2.Attainini/:,hi''''"l1,,,,·en,,,dallth.. mor ..
urg .. m ...' Ih.. 9/11 t..rrori" amKks in ~ ..w York and Wa'hington DC

_b_.. _...
o.;curr..ddllringE"erci",SaifSar..ea ll,and'h.. prospeetofwar in ,he

-_
r.-gio" be-ca"' ...... '.. rmor.. likely
• df df .... _
--..'""ll"'Q_ dfO> _ _ ......... _ _ ~ 2 .. "" _
_ _ _ Io df" _ _ . . """""~"""""""'"" _

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O P E R AT IO N TELIC
Sp'Kep.....dlld"'"dt·tail..dhi ,"'I),of lh.. cam!"'iKT,dlln"!:th.. I,.<lqWarof
2003. Thi' aen ll"' ! ....ill highli,:;:ht rhel'rrli,nnanct" " f ClMlk nK,'r 2 ourinl(
O peratio n INu th""'Kh npical "l"adron and troop acti "'" dr",,,,, hum
..."ell of th.. tim . ...ann""rt'd "'!{irm'rus (kpl,,~t"(l to th.. r'1;;"''' TI,e R"p .1
SW t, Drago"" Gua rd, (Ca rhin i.." and G rn ",) - SCO TS D(; - "1111 A ,
Band C Squadron.; 'The Q" ...." .' ){()~ al l .ann ' ,.. _ QR I. _ {fro m
~lh Annou.....d Brilr"de j .... ·;,11 B ,md C S'llMdrom amI 2nd R(~'al
Tanl ReWm.." , - 2 KTR - "; Ih e n[0l'_, EK'pl and F;,k o n Squallro",
I'll" headquan..", .. Ieme"t,. In all. 7th Anu",,,ffi Brigad.. t'Ill I,I"yt"d
116 Chant"1IK'" 2 .\ lIn. and sc CR-\RRV, (juri,,!: Opennioll Tr/ic. tilt'
British «xl.."ame to r the rampai!l'l that the Ame riGUls te-rme-d0 1":,,<11;' '''
lr"'liFIWtimrI. Duri ng d{·pl~m .. nt , th.. ""p"rienc'" "f ..ach r.-gim ..m w.. r..
,im il..r. but fur Ilwsal .. " f th i' IMIT."; '''' \h, lSt"of2 RT R " r.. rt'n..,lIlt'd htT....
Followinjl the <:h ri' lm a, and " ...w Y...ar c...l..hrati"", . th.. rrjlinwlll
tt.'tllrn .-d to worl o n 6 Jan"'II~" 200 3 to " •• " "anlM o f th... lil ...lihood of
d '·p lnH n..n l to th.. \ liddk Ea,!- r o r th.. n..xl r....o w.·.·b . th.· n.' jlim,·nt
co n d " et..d indi,idllal and troop Ir"i ning !lefor .. condnel;n" a ra"jI"
]l'Kl "g... al Bt·tgl ·n·Hohrw b...I" ·n 20 'Illd 24 J"nua')'. Th ...tt.' follo",..l a
co m h in.-d-arm ' taet ica l tra;n .. r "ion at St-mw la".-r from 25 to 2 7
ja n ua ') '. A hattl ..group fidd·training ...x ""'i,,, wa,conduct...d for th...n..xt
Ih " ... II" ),, on Bt·fJ~,·n·lluhn" in hlinarrl' an d <lri'ing 'n ow " i th A and D
C" ' m p a n i.... of 1st Ih ttalio n . T h... Light In fa nt ,) '. in th..ir Warrior IF"' , in
tr m pt·ra tu r..., a,lowa, ·17dq.:n... 'S ce ntigr",k: a,o"... Scotti,h tro opt'r
o bs.-,, -..d . 'Su m...-", .. t..lIth.. "l""ddi.., ii 's Ih .. \ liddk Fa'tt'rll fmn!-
nu' Ih ... Ea'l ..rn Front w...·tt.' suppt_'ti ta... b.. fightin ' oon .' l b .. trai n ing
n m...·nt r.II<'tiOn "'1""drnn! c""'panyjlrnupmanu' ·..' TI... "loraiustS"".·t·
D: CHALLENGER 2, A SQUADRON,
THE KING'S ROYAL HUSSARS,
EXERCISE SABRE'S THRUST,
SALISBURY PLAIN, FEBRUARY 2006
EJ a

NO
1 lXJ,1l,1 12Q1vn rilled \Pl
2 F""" e<trac1co
3 ThennalImI>;lo3r SensorHood(TiSHI
4 ThennalIrnaging S\o>tem[TlS ) bartlene
5 Gurw'>ef'$pr'nWyoigl>t
6 Go.n-ief'surotaryVlSion pMscope
7 ~ '$ _

B Comma-ders p-imlwy oigl>!

9 Comma-der'scontmlhw>dles

-
'O Fre-comrol ~
11 Comma-der'scupola Wttn9i\t<tL.<liWy'lision

12 E\ow<lwl User s-::lor Box (LISB)

'3 Commarder'scon1rolp<nel 24 D<rvar'stool bin
'4 'W"",,, WUf'O<'1· lIastling haz ard OOooon 25 OnveSl)<OCke1
1S Commarder's _ 26 ~ .............mo roct<

1e F"'-()" ''l1rol sys tem met roloQcal SOltl9Ol' 27 13owman1lHFra<1Io se1s

17 3X Bowrnan radio a'll ...-.- 28 DuslmotogaloOOsidegg,s
le _ sing <liffict.... in<loca
tors t.... 29 TOP guiOO foIier
' 9 N l3C fJIl ra t (:<1 syst ""' ~ 30 PowetOO1rJt>utoobo,
2O t 75-klre e>1ama1 !ue1m.n 31 Rat.", 00
21 F....._cap ~ ~ ""
22 Tl.ffllt Slowagello'lS 33 Retuse ejoctor ~
23 ();>o1an1 "'-""'t ....-.t fCSU) ~ 34 ~ staIJCo1 M<l ~ ~ urot
35 1!roodl a-,g _

..-
43 _ -.c1C>'lx1.x
3lI ~ ~ ......,no. ..a KTTdnlcl ....... controI .......
37 CoanoIl94A171l2nwT1a->gun ~ on-"s <lisplay _

"
39 D-/ ~ lore ext~
48 Aomo1e ~ Trad< T.......,..... (Kll)
47 on-"so..nlar)''''Sionper1SCOpe
Crew T"",,*_ ConIroI Syslem lCTCSl
~ -­
4(J
41 on-'a """",, _ 49 l94A1 <:Nwl fJoll """'"-<l l'll'>::l spenl case aperl<.nl
42 St-.g ........ 50 Barrelallgnment m.=le <e1<Jrfll'OlSyStam IMRS)
 M ig i" " @"3 M iI .
lAngt/1 18Oin14.57m) F.... c a pac iIy 1.59:2 Otre5
Crew F<>J - ~, O>ader lopera tOl'. iPVW. _ E"lIi... POO<.ns Engir>es~CV12TCAV- 12
Weiglrt 62 .5OJkg 1 2~ turbO -<:IWgOO aspirat "" ..--m- "' d1arge
length 11,5mll"'lorw.lrd ;9.136m1JU",-:8,33m tUt ~2\;, lWe<loeool

WOdth 3,52ffi MoOal No ,3 Ma-1<&I

H.igIrt 2 A9m 0u 1put l , ~ at 2 , 3COo-pm
Groundclear ance O.5m T,- . ni""i on o...;d Brown Def<n;:e EQUipmen1Lmi1ed

--
Trec~_h O , 65m TN54epocydictr~~·_ .... Iorw.lrdw>d1WQ
l ..,gtholtrec~ on ground 419m

Ground p.-e...... O.9· ·9i cm' ~­

SI"";"lI OooTw'nerciaI ~",-*,, _ Qffe<enbaI
M•• imum roed~ 5 91<P1'
Me.itnum g, ed ient 6OperC<lnl Suspension l+,<jrogas
Ye<tiealotI s _ O,9m Tl"ec~ s WlliamGo:>l<doul>I&-p01trocl<
TrenclI c rou.ing 2.34m Main Artnam.rt 12Cm'nL.XtAlrifledlJU"
Fon:lingdepth 107m s.co" '.....y lumamen t Coa><.. 7.I52mmU!4AlchainlJU"
M". imumroed ", nge ~45Okm w>droo/'moII'too 7,62rrmL37A2"""""",,,1JU"

,~lelr"'lidul!:-illrl..tell,i""po"iti",,, , am..lt,, rofl"""I,,,,illl'\ lofight ,h "

_.". ."..._._1<1
--
~"",,"''''' _ oa _ One One
...
_c_;. __...,...n....._. .
_-~-_ .
Gulf War or 19'JI al!:ain Ih ..t ""u l.-l he far rt'nwwrl fm m lh,· Mtn;ll

-_
~ 1fT1I. _1<I ~ _"'ooft
con!1ictlobeface.-l~'th .. trooP". [)llrinl!:"arlyFd"'''''')',th"litn k.,a nd
,·..hides ufth ...... riou, arnumred rt'"gi",ent' ""Ie loa<l...-Iahoard ,hip, at
-....-
_____I _e-I....... th e ponof Emrle"anrl rle'palcherl '0 "hat "...., ten",..:! in ol'"rational
planninRa"h~ ·","dyplace' - Kuw;li,.
T h e main bod~' of the reg iment', pt'",,,,,,d arri\'e.-I in Ku wai t
_ _ ... _ ..t _ het"'".." " a "d II .\ larc h "i th lhe unh ani,ing on lh ~ foll owing <1a~'. T he
- ~---
_ " _"Sol_,
. .. tank.. w~re tak~n to Ih~ l 'd a iri r..nge co m p l" " do"", [o lhe Kllwai l/l raq
h"rd~ r. From 10 to 13 \-larch. Ih~ Challenl!:~r 2 \-IBT, ll"rl~[',..ent
SCO T$pQ.(JmI) W~;lP''''' , e m ;lll!: "i th lhe L2iA I ()...pl ~ l~d l ' ra l1iu ", ( UU ) roun d
!" lIow..dbj. 'a,-"'nbi,wdarlll'li\l.·..firillKt·xt·rd ...·. n w Llnl , llw n rno\l.'"d ~ rInolorcomba.. call"""
l<J th.. barr Ml , of Ih.. Kuwaiti lith Armo" r..d 8 rill:a d" where lh..,' were One Oneol_Tlvop, tE"""
" I..ar mnured an el tiu ..el with ·el..... n i,.ation· m,>clificatiou,. O n 111"'la rch $q ...... _21lTR, .. · _ ~ p '
0fI 18Ma<d12003:._

. . _Ior t_.. .
th.. ammu ni tion arriwel and th.. lank. w..r.. ·hom h..d lip'. 0 " th .. _ . . . " . _ ... . .. lm m ........
but .... ... ....., _ _ ....
follo" i ng da )'. D Da)'. 71h Am,n ur..,1 8 rig"d .. anrl h t (L'K) Anllollrt·d
_ ..
Di,i ,iun dnlan..:l op,:ration"l. ;lltho uKh there n'"mai'wd """" ~ of

,hn l'(ag "I' equ ipme"l SIKh a' n..w ~ BC f,I,..", for Ih.. tauk. and
p.. .....",a l it..m, of u niform. Th .. war began in ..am .." on 20 "'Ia rch , n . . _IlUl'...l APFSDS .........

G Day, with a '-Ollt'.. n ..d air camp<.ign an",' tilt' l""gtl, and hrt·,,,lth uf
..itII_
_ ,_pI'Ot..,
c...l>Oo_ _ u..
....
Ir,,') . A, th,' 1I"l""p' w"ilt'd in tht· Fo..ward A,...·mhl)' Area (FA\ ) "" lh.. '-"""<I _ _ Ll ' l

KUI',;l il/ l raq horda lht"}' were ,"hj..ct..d to rep"al<:"<i Scud and ga. anad p<opet
...t _ IG' -
...._ 01 v
.... n
_ _....
-.
al..r1.•. At 030 7h", on 21 "'lar ch. Ih.. Chall..ng.. r 2 ...lIr r. of 3rd and
t ... l.on n _ 1on
!th Tron p' . B Stluadm n. Th .. Qu ....,, ·, Royal La,,,- ..,,. anrl th. · Warrio"
of Y Co mp<lfl)'. h I Bandlion . TI,.. RO)'al R" ginll'llt of Fu, ili...., (I RRF)•
...tloth _ ... ....,..In ....
• • "..,1.0_01 _ ......
k d th.. ;l, saull of h i (L'K) Armoured Di"i, ion ;lcn"" lh .. hord ..r . ......... butlh.. -..rnangoed
t o'lO fSH _ . . _ _.; ..
el..ten. i,'" lin... anel;nto Iraq
.....• CIlT R)

The •••• ult on AK Zub . , r

fh" ;Ko " m l n" w fl,lI""s th.. e"plo;l' of C"d op' Squadron of 2 RT R in
th.. a'«a llllo" ...vZ llhan " ,t h.. "owh -w...cof lraq·" ....co ndcin,of lb'rd
and .h .. pri ncipal ol~ ..ni,·" of h t (L'K) Armo "",,1 Divisio" . Cyd op'
Squadron ,-"",,,-'d th, · K" " " il/ l r,,'1 l...lI'd,·" oil 110.- mor ningof.Sit",nld'·
~2 "'Iar ch . It II,.." kd the 2 RT R BaukKfO"p in lhe c1eara'l(e "I' Rn " re
r0p" b lhal ran parallel t<l lIi gh",a)' l'l (Roult' Tam pa ) , which wa. Ih..
\ la in S" pplv Rout .. ( \ ISR) ofth.. L'S hI \ Iari n.. Expt."lilio"al) Fun-.. -
tht· pan 'll! f"n""ti"n f"r hi (L'K) Am" ,,,n'd Oi,i, i"" . T loi, "';l' ;lChi',\"'d
" ; lh" Ul indd.. nt hy nighllal1 ali ..r ~l>a...ing "' "" " " " " d......n ..d .." .."'"
I" " ition•. "' ..•....nh ..I..". th .. "'I"ad,..", I('ad..r. \ lajor Anelr..", Rrinon,
 __--_
"'~2MBToICydopo
.-tr
~21lTll,_. "
_
Io ' ' ' ' ' '~
01 _ _ ".......... '_

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-.....-
_rn:Col_Io_ ••_
...-10_110< _10_
.....
.- _ "-.00-
_ ..
----.-
. . ft_ _ ...... _

f'>tery-junctloB.--
Cydopo----
_01
_ 01
... _
_

~-"'-_(lmIl

- bI'
__ ~2"'" nol ..d lh If,"('l;n·n.·,,,, of lh d r """"Un,,!(.· ,,,,, I , ,,, ,, ...,,lllInu. wilh
<I,...p f"n ifi l ,""hid .. ""r"p'"' llMl un·..r..d all "W ilt,.., nr "pproarh.
0I7W>'fKIoI>,~""--'
21lTll, _ _. _ _
_ _ _ 01 .... _
Fonun,u..h·. the )' wer.. awndon.-d aud thr "Iuadron tnol up a ni!(hl
def ..",ivrp'"ili"nlnlh.. ,nwh-wrSl"f. -vZ"ha.-r _ ,\Z", Bl'il i,hm.. .p' _
_ _ "'-"'_ 1 ( _ ah r r r<'lit' vinl( A S<lu,,<!wn, S<:O TS 1)( ;. n l(> !<I'l.l< of II,,' "IIMdron w", to
_ 2:2_2003 .. _
,It-m·'·'H"nl\·movrm..,,' n"l nflh.. " ....'ern ,id .. nfAi. and ' '' p r.. wnt
..-01 _ _. f t _ .
_01 _ ;lll<'rf,·r..nre "ilh R" " le T " n pa ' o lh.. "."<;,
- ---
_ _ 200 T·72MB-r. .....
_01__. ___
l00 _ _ li'InlIln_ _
rh .. "llladron d "ployrd lhr .... "fit, In'''l'' ftllwar<l, with lith Tn " '!,
nla nninl( a ,·,·hid." d"'rl p"i", (\ 'C P) . lilh Troo !, t" It,..ir ",wh. call,i!("
I'~."" Br",.,. a lld lh .. h ' rw,m l O t"""""''' lio n O ll;r .. r ( FO O ) ill o" ............l'h
('''l1\rall~' and i lh Tro o p 10 Ihr ""uh . Squadron lI ..a<l'l"a,',,;...,
 ->lit Troo p 'Illd til<' L\() (I .ii(lu Aid 1l,·t,l( h nW'l1) r.. m~i",·d in n ·"·"",,,.'
·\ s <la w" was h ...aki"". an inc ident occurr..d ~l tlw Sth Troo p \'(]'
t h ~t l..d to lh .. tr~gic <I.. ~ th of S<.·rg.·~nt St<'H 'n 'TC Ko he n •. [kspit..
c_.. 0 - ...... of
. pproae_ _ ...... _o,_
Sjh
Cpc lopo Squad""', 2 RTR,
&0 ,, _ _.. _
T-.

.....

this ·tl",rk , C~'d "p' f<mt iu ....d th";r m ission and ,, 'on i,l<-mifi"d lh.· Z yr_Objec:.....
_ _• • oIM _ .......
_ 2OO3_ ...
....
F..da" " mililia 11t"adqH~rt"rl in Al. A t.. ~m of sn ip"" mO\'t'<II,"",,",u d .~ O ~
to plM" th.. buil.ling und ..r ob ,, ·........tion u'''''rt"<! by Th r.... 0 " .. of
i ,h TrtK'p (SKt Amh' Toppi"j.( ), Z,'ro lI.a\'O ( ~bj Am lr""' BritlOn ) ~nd _ . _ . (MOOI
th.. FOO (Ca pl J o.. I'o w..r ) in h i. Warri o r AOr (Artilt.. ry O hst' -ation
/'OM) in c~", ~ rtil1.·!")- su ppo n h.',-~m .. nt·H·"....!")·. How..\'t'r. th nipt'rl
,,·n .. sp"twd ~nd tl\iht iauwn dd:>o ,ud wn from ,h.. huil din" ~",l "ni(;o""d
th.. lan"-, "i th KI'( " an d h..a, )' m~chi n"i.'un fir ... Th.. tanh r..tu rn ..d
firt> with coax ~ nd HE SU roun ds Ix 'fo r...... ·tiring Wilh th.. lHl'\(-ath..d
,nip," r \t",ul'. II ",,~, no w ~pp;" ...nt Ih"t the I' '''l i I"n,·,. b"th n ·""lar and
irr"h'ular. w.. r.. t!")ing l<l lur .. ,~,al ilion for c.., inTO urhan ar ..a, wh.. r..
-]whuingfin·p""·t'Two"ltlh.. mini"' i,,·d ..ndh..a' -,.'ca'u..hit ·,
thei r ." ·.·......
inllitt"d upon ,h ..m in ro,tl~ ·str.... t.lighling
Armourt"<! ,..ids against sp..cific target, id..mili,'fl hy Spffial h ,rc...
tro0 l" or 1" ,:..1 intdlig"n n ' now b, -~m.· th.· nonll in or d"r to minimi,..
r i' ili..nr''''...lti... an.-lelim inat.. th n'·m\'m ililia.orF....I",·{"l· n,md Ha"ll h
/'am' infra ,mrclllr.. . At da"'1 on 26 ~Ia rch . (\ -dop' Sq,...dro" altar k..d
th.· militia h"~d'l,rar1" '" 'I 'ppol1 "d I,,· p 'l ..-ision1(ui d.. tl d,,,,· ~ir supp"n
from CS ~Iari n .. C0'l" airr ,..h Ihal deslroy..d O hj.....,i"'· Ik ..in, lh.· mili,ia
II Q "ithoUl a singl .. shot h.. in!t fir..d in r..tllm.A'"oon , th.. "'luadron
n",ulllt...1 ano,l,..rra id inlo lh," ,o" 'n f(,I1"...ing wl'0"' tlMt militi,un ..n
w..r.. ",ilhdra"in/: horn lh .. ,;c inil\ ' of O hj..ni", ik ..in. n Ul Ihi. lim.. Ih..
.. n"I1l~- ..-asrt>ally"ith nu m..rous RPG t..,uns " "aiting in amh",h. ith Tro0l'
It...1 ,h,· "s....,rlt in ....' \ " 1',mM,i"n .-Iown Ih" Hldin . h~ ,l r an i "g.....-,,,
thro ugh ,h .. lown. Thr O n,>·Cru",d... "'H I..r th.. r n mlllan.-lofSerg..am
.-\mho TOPI,in" (" ... Colou r rl~ t<· H) """ o n lh.· lefT "i th TI ,ret' Z.. ro
., ""'_ _• "'0_... IO _ •
.-._
_-....

, .. 0..'0>;>"."...,.
~ __ f

"" .. "'... --"""""""'' ' '''''_

..
;

_- --''
_ _

"' ... _ _ .. ... _

....
 'Om'l' " 'm r" (U Sam nark~ ) in 1I,., r~lUr " and Tlu~~ T",o ' (~ " "l"l'
(Cp l .l"" Ihk) <>I' th" riKlll follo",,"(\ d""'h' hy "I~'r<' Bram 'Cy,I0I" and
,hI' "l uatlmll 1,·atl,·1', \1;oj..,.AJul.' B,il1"'" "'ith 51h Tn " 'I' foll""';Il K nl'
hd, ind. \\'i lh ~xu-,,,'nlilM ,,'c,,nraK" , tilt· militia IU'(; Wam, "p"'ned lire
at lh.. 6:')-l<>n'l<' rhargilll'","hal \'irln allypoim-blankran!(e.
A, 7th Tn "'I ) ",a, pa",i,, !: th.. 10"''' h'''l'i",1 d,,'" to a r m "",,"' l, ,
Th n... On.· "'""-,,tmrk Il\'an RP(;"7 rollndinll"""rt~t,id ..., ,,,hir h had
no ..lI'Tl I"'yn"d hla'ti "K ,h .. ,-n''''', I""[:,,,nal df.·,-., ha"Kiu K nil the
.·x,...-ior of th.. ",n k,S ,·rK..allt T" l' l' inK irnr1lt,t1iaw ly, tran-",,'( 1 hi' lIl lT .. t
and .'n lfaK,·d th.· '''''' mili'iamen ",ilh r m,xial llMchill""gllll tir.. at a
ran!:,' of 10m. killillK lhern h"th, A ",c"nd I'>ln-m"n mililia team "',L'
p" , iti" " n! at th.. ha", "fa h"iltli"K arr"", th.. junrti"" hrhind a 10'"
,ton.· "'all. n,i,"'am " nK"K"d ,ll,d hit n"·...·7.<.·ro", ·itha" RP(; ata
'·.l1'K,· " f 411m. " rikillK,h'· lIlTT.·t aW,o llr h ut. -all, ing no da uMj\.·.. ~ain ,
S,·'X'·"1I11"ppinK'Iui ..kly'p"ned th.·.·Il.·l11y andenK"K..t1 Ihem"';tha
l 2Qrnrn H " SII "",,,d killing them all. AmHh"r militia le"m ",a, .. nlfaWnll
Three Zero "'ilh RI'(; rocke" and , rnall-arm_, li r" frmnlhe n pp.. rfloor
ofa hllilding " , th...; r 1,,,,,1. St''X' 'ant Tol'pi"K alfain "nll aKn1 ",ill, a
II F_''I l ro und n ll" i'' K,h,· e' " npl.·te ' k ' !n ,u im , uf th" firinKP''" i,iOil. He
,1l<'npn"id..t1funh,·r.·ftNti""'''ppn''"i'' .. r"axialm,U'hin''1/;<ll1lir.. in
~uppun of hi' troup a' ,he ,,!uadmn ~ruup I"'-,,,,d through and he~nnrl

_-- ---
7th'lh",p t" Ohj" n i.'e Brain, On the rml1e ha ..k t'''''arrl,th" "!u,,dmn
lorati"n . Srrg"an t T"l'pinll 'I""tn! militia ;lni,;t,· amllnd a ~',<1ic

.
·C . -. .... ChaI_ 2

_or-... ...:rn._,
~lIqouadn>n,2 R1l\,_
\ lTUIAPC i" th""irinity"fll"'\""'l'ital d""',n tht""'Kiual aml""h
~i ,,·, OI",'"i"K militiaro.·" ",-ith RI'G """"1"'''''. he opt'""d fir" "';lh lhree
m,, "d~ " f !I "SJI, killinK the """,il "m,. The co mpl..te contart l"''' '' d

..- ......--polnI-

-_
approximately 15 mi"m", . Srrg..alll And ..""" T" pl,i" K r.....e ;""d a

. "., __hlt_ ".

.... _ _ .. ... ZUbarr
... 28 _ 'C.(,mmand,·r·, Cornm"ndati",,' fmm th" oe, 71h .-\rrn" " ,...d Briga',,",

.. ,,-
__ " _
,
-
... RPG - . .... _
_ _ .. ... RPO- 7 ... _
....

,",,,"0....
I<,rhi'l l'mft ...,ionah,m and ,h,l1 of rh.. ,....."" "f ·Cm " " Ir r· .
n ,i, "'" , " ,klini"K "oioll a' it p"'M '(1 Cha llengtT 2 h,KI a high
~uni.""hih~' raW ag-"in" Iraq i inh"un anti-lank """aI"''''''. ..,.,.n in an
urha n ..",imnment ,,;thout illlimll) ' '"pl"'rl. which """-S traditi"nally
a r Ol1lplNely nnarc..pta!>le t"ni..al 'lC" " ario f"r tank-s, Th" lhr"...
Chan "ng"r 2 \IBh of 71h Tn ..,p, O,'d op' StI,,,,,lmu , ,"Il-"rn1 ......... " <lir -t
hi~, fmm RPG rt,,·k'·""'th no 'iK"ificaJII
dam"K··t oth.·tanb "rilyUD'l<>lheircr"""
O pe ratiunal planll inK n"",rapital iled ""
lh" oW rl p<", .. r p,...", ,,,.e " f e hall" ngr r 2,
"'ith iL' imnwd iate and llexihl"firrl"",·"r
1' >rn nd...r "'kin""lroekalladc<th'l1 n'(l<rc... 1
,h.. "e.'(1 f" r ,he illfam ", ,,,di,,,,ount from
'h " ir Warrior [~" . in lh" far.. "fconrerl"d
'l1lan-"n,,~ lire . Thi' 1n1 tn the in n"" " i\'e
L1rti.. " fnlld"rtakinl'(· rairl and aid' 0p"r.
atiu", thmn",hmll th.. Brili,h ar"a nf
ol"·'·,lli"m. "'ing imdl i""n .." ,h""", fmm
nu""·n>l""",rn ... ,md ,, riki"K a' tlr.. k'1'
i"",i,ioll,hddln,thernilitiaur »a'ath l'arty
"ffirial~. run n"ing the raid. humanitarian
aid ""a."he n p,mid,'d to the \ocal p"l'ular"
t~~i~i::,~'~:,:~!ron"" .. ,."nlid""..... in ,h ..
Th e a d van c e o n B a a r a
.\ kauwhik . 1\ amI C ,'"'I" " dro us. T h" Q"'''''''s Ru~'" l I.m 'n ·''' . w,·r,·
"I" ·,.,,riuj\";ll , upp"rt " f tlw Fit'S1 r",;li""'I I~l1I lt'l(rn H p iu rlw 'b,url,' (HI
rl,,' 1>r1<1 I('" "wr 11... Sh" u·AI·&" ra on rl,.. " ..., r,'rn " I'I'HMdu" ro rl",
dr ,·, Th .. lil(hrinl( W'IS fernc;o" , aud ,u srain..d '" 110,' 1, ,,,,. h"n l''g mll p,
"I' 7rh An",,"rt..l Bril\,uk a", 1 :>rd C""'''MIl.lo Bril(,,,1<·. 11.0)',,1 ~L1I11lt·,.
ril(lor,·" ,'d llu 'ir I(li p " roulld &,,, a. Ar m\!Ohr, 0" \!,., ~ l ,",h . " IC"l\ir
·h·;elUlly firt·· ;ur ;d,·nr ocr um ·<lro rl,.. ,o " rh"" ·sr ,,I'Br;dl\,· 3. u " I,·nall,..d
[",;n "'1I'r, wh" n {',,1Is;j(1l Oll e T",u of C Sll" "dm ll, QR1~ ''''-' , m,, 'll,,· a
ltl hlll11 H t SH round fired I,,· a <:1o,,1I" 1II:" r 2 or Ill<' hr Bhr l W"lrh
Ih rrl" jI;H >up, n,.. t'<,11l11l,,,,,I..,.. O''1 "" oll Sr.. w l> .-\lIhulI. autl rh,' tlrin.,..
Tn"'I"-' n",id Cl"rl ,·. ",..,..·lill.·d <>ur rif/;hr aud rl,.. r.-maiud. ·,. <>1' rl,,'
,-rt''''. L...l"-.. ( ~''1'' >ral Twidd\' and T""<>l",r Jnli..n . .-.11;,-all)' ; l~j"r"d , Tlml
"""lilt" ,,, ,,i,·,..1 al all " ",IS m;ran,l<>"" h "", a """ ' r<' hi"", 11> rh.·
hanlt'j(rtmp blll 1I,.. war cmu i"' ''' d "uab"l,·d. M"j<>r( ;il.·s l b l'riso ll, lh.·
WlIlHM,uk r " f 1\ ''"'l"",huu QII.[" ",l." "l' lh.. '110'" oflh.· lliml.· for II,,, ,,,

At 023U1,,-,;Zl:LU [063UhrslrKallillle]on W"d",,,,,b) '3ApriltlKr3.

rl"',<"l, mhti"", B ,'"'luadron s"pp on ,·ct hy 12 1>lal< ~'" (I.! Un;s
1I..·..s-(;"), ]fro"'ZO .Illl'all~, [I I{RF]""rla .....-li<>n ,,f~liI"n .Ill"' ....1
fo...." ,d 10 tI,,· " ",,I "''' ''1'''-''' kno""1 '" Ill<''l ~ ~,l" to p"t in " "d,;d. ·
C1,..rl l'"im (\'C I' )wh; rhl'han!:edlh'>l;ml'lahl .. (mrh.-!ib<'r ali"u
o( B;" r... n,,,lIrif/;ml,, C"mlll""''''' [Ilrijl;(;",lo;o lll llinlls] lmrl Kin' u
p"rllli"ion "n a hold "''''e f,'....-.m l, \\·hir h \\''''ld ,, ·ud '' u,..,,'' l\..
10 lh....'lt'my tha t c. ",lil;" U r .. rn " ""'re rt'arh'aud 1",;" ..1 lOmle
th. ·dtr Wilho"llav;lll\si. 'gl· I"B;,,,-ai'.,, ·lf.th.·.· ll.·"' }',, ·,·,... hdllfo(
st'll1an' Ille'l "i,u,-"IIll"''''!:t'lhallhe(;o"lil ;ou",,, incrmlrol.h,,,as
a K,uuhk ; this "·,IS II... ("nl""'l f••no"rd lhal fri" m ll)'(" ,n'" hatll""'ll
allo""'d h'l'" ,h and mau" amic;l'ah'fllhal B S<]uadron ( ;ro" I'
" "uld I"·p",h...l olfth.· ' L~" 'I" 1~'s"p.. rio••·1lt>m)' lil"'po"" 'r, Th. ·
pl," . ""L, f" r t"". r'lllh ro " " "" " l' rlw ,lipfl Mds. m '" th.·, ,,,,,'1"'-v,
lnrtM>l'..ast"ud".."t.whil,10U. · laukIHlSh.·rlf" ....-ard"ud,'l'tl,..
fl Md h,i.lf/;<·10 (' ''''r "o,th. n ... li,,,r Wani",., ",o"l tllI, ...1 IllO\'(' "I'
,mtolhem''''l''l.",audpmiutl,..\l:l',\\i lhlhei,.whidt''i splil ill1<>

z.." Ch . _ , _ Ch .. o.ng.r(2I1c)
of 2

_0_.__.. . . .'
ofe,.,_ ........""',2fml,
..k. . ....

Az
pos/tIo<I ·mono_ 0<

_ 2_~
_ r. Of""
lon .. lcuIoIrnot
ol . ... GPS .._ .. ,

.....
.... .I>O.oI _
_~ - - -
c ~,

. ' _ _ .u .....
_
___
_ 01_ _, ..
fo ~Tl'Kbr

~ ._Im "'

• • Niot.dIn !IfJInII

_ .... _ . . """ 10 _
.... 0I_ 2IIc ln ...,~ ..-rnou.....

........""'.(IITJIl
_
_

----__
lhoeto.l........ 2MS ...
~ . 'Comot ' _
~0I71t1_Cye _

-
....., 2 n d_
. . ...-lnto

01 .... _01'201_2003
....,

----
--,
. .... _
__

oI lho _
-,

......
.......
pa;", ori~ntalt"d ill <1i tl nt <1irffl ion,. Ihi' ''''''ld a llo'" Ih~m 10
Mop ""(..,,"a~' Iralli~ an<1lm "nl tlw p..",ibilin ' of a dri","..by ,h' ~ 'l; ng
In lh~ ...."Ill. a nd pr ..<1inabl". Ih.. p lan di <111<>1 , ,,,,i,'" ~"ll1a~1
"ilhlh.. .. II..my.A.. lh .. Warri""'",~r .. IHlllinginl"I''''i'ion.tlwl..ad
",hid.. 'pout"d a T..5.~alahoUl l,OlMh"",ilh it,nIlT..I tra" ..",ing 10
hring lh .. Illain annam..1ll 10 h..ar. Ta n k ~alhign Z..ro Bra m (lIlt"
"'Iuadronl..a<1..r'stank )l'ul1t"dliHwarda n<1..n!("g,><I .li"'l"i lh
II ESII a"d lh .." " ilh [) U 10 mak .. ",re. A, ,,~'" a, lit.. [) U "'''nd
hil . Ih.. ~n ..",ylanl:.'larl..<1lObrt ·"'"I) _ar"nlim,..<1l:.iII.AI lh "
",u" .. Ii", .. ralbign T",o On .. ISgI (;a r<1n ..r ), nn<1..r lh .. hridg ..,
lJ<'gau 10 r"pon ar.i,il~· f"'''' a larg.. "' ''nht"r " f " " .. my RI'(; l" am,
Iha l"'~((' m",inginlol',,,itil)n 10 hi,fmn!. [ ....ali' ..<1lha l "n l,.,.,
I r<Jmmilwd n",r.. r"",hal I~>",..r I "",,1<1 run lh .. ri'k ofht"iuK
li,rr ..dhark. I <1ffidt"d l"ral1 1<"""'ar<1TI'...... Z..rn (SSg l S", ,,ham )
an<1TIm ... Two [Cp r Drh ..rJ; TIm ... h'rn ",,,,'I'([ ",,<1..r lh .. bri<l!,:"
1<>,ul'l~ ,n Two O" e. Thr.... Two ",,,,,,<I "p ,'" " , lh .. ""''1'""''' '"
'''1'1)<'"Two T,,~> (Cpl Ul' rir ha r<l) who wa, "ri ..nl,il ..<lea,l and had
,poll ...l (unh..r RI'G wam, in lh .. b" ildings I" hi, fm n!. TI,.. pL'"
""rk,><I , Call,igl1 Thr .... 1... ", inull<><I;a ldy l(~,k n>n lwl I)f Ih..
,;lIIal;On and k" l'l n,,· in f" m lt"d a, Ill' and Two On e d..all w;lh Ih..
..n..my di,mount'. O"re an RI'( ; I..am 1, ~ ,1:. n'("!':" in a l>IIildi ng " ,
ami dlh"'0thingn>aKIiI'''.lh''lanbw""[<1drnp llwh"i l<l;ng,,ilh
IIESII, Th i' tartir ... r..-d lod..m'>rali,, · II,,· """m,' whl) Iud nl)
nwan, ot' rt'phing
TIle H >", matld .. r(~ -1 RRF Baul..gro,, 1' IU Co l I)a,id l'a l..,,,,,n),
whnhadht·..Il"alrhi" go"rprogr..... wilhinl,·".,.I, ra ll,><Imrha<-I:. '"
Ih...lipwad()nlolh .. ·I.. ~ll'·f()(aql( i('k r"nl ......'l<'e;h (·"a.' ...>nI'·III
lhal wt" pwht" Ih.. ""'·Illy".hil'l r<>ntin"ing ,,-;,h ""r la,l:.. TI,;,
..... mt"d 10 me 10 he an ..Krd l..nt i'lt"a. Ah" "l II'" I" ,,, ,,, illlo lll<"
la'k, Ih.. l ·S '-id d H lllllan-l llld lige,,~e Tt"alll (fl IT) "'l";I'Ilt"d "ilh
Arab '1 ~>" ke", " ....' nil l<> "l<", Th"1' pro,...d '" ht" t"Xlrt'"l1lt' ly " ... 1',,1
 and w~ 'tan"d,o gain ""n~ .. well~ll1 inteUigen~ ...
Pt"rhal" lh,' "" ""i"",ilitant fanl";uTlnl '''ts lhal
Ill.· OMlili"" IMd Ih.· B;"ra l ·niwr\i,,· ;u,d Ill,·
:s.:a,"al .-\<-ad~11l~· marked i,,~orrt"<"t1~' un "ur m"p'
\\'~ weI''' ,,1'0 luld lhal lh~ l'ni, ~ ""i " had lwo 1'· 5:;';
,'" guard u" l., id t" i' . 1 rr;l li,, -d f...."' aqui~kmap
,nn·lll'Ol.if thi'w"-' ''',llwn tl" 'fi rsl lan k,ha, Iud
h.·.·nd'""mwdw"...'pmb"hly ()l1.. ufdlt'rq",nt~1
P; ;-". 1 ~an.-d forward '-' ,ur Z~m [Capl Hum r ] '"
'K"laswinglllan .andlog.·lh,·rll"p'l,h~dh"ward
I" ha,,' a I,.,k . As h'm Rra'" m"",1<-d lh~ cumrr
b,din " '" lh.·l."niwrsi,,· m~' dw.-.. r 'p',{l ,~1 a 1'-""
at 4110m.lh~ !I;nnn ..r pumped a Il U ro"n d imo il
an d imoamil ila".-trncl. lhal ....'mnl",m..whal
'"rpri.. -dlu .. .... ''-'-Wrh,ltln''''· cmlfim'n1th..
1' ",·ali"" " f lM, ra U" iw rsir.'.
.\I ..anwhil.., llnd..rlh.. brid" ... Thr .... h ·roand
I"" Oll~ II'er.. still ligh ting hard , I dN id~d 10
comm;l FOllr Z..m '0 lht" fra~. It wa, "uw apparem
tI"'l il ,,-...' in Ihi, ar" a Ih,u lh...." r m,' " r rr
n"'...·lllraliIlK th..ir ~hin Eflon . Shorn" an"r lhi,
d..r i,ioll . w.. w..r.. ",ortar~d for th.. linll lim.. thaI
<la,'. Lncl ily fm m , lh~~llrm" ....eo"..-lpr..{{yb"d
at acljllSlin gfire, ahhu"gh i, ,,,,-, .. ,,,,.·...-halp''''l;c
lhal lh.· f OO [f orward Ob ,.. " .uion O fficr r ] "01
hi, K.",n sighl lnoc1...doll1bj.,th.. fin<l round
Th.. indirect tire did nut all"et our mi"ion
Challt'll"rNandWanioNc~>St"t1do,,",l o rd..r..d
tI.... "",~"i,,· of lh.· di,,,,ount' 10 ",mo" nl and
a""il f"nh"r ord.·I>. TI,.. FHT pull..d t"lt'1. fm lll
th.. 'Loop ' until Ih.. ",ortar fir.. d i..<1 do"~, brca"'" th~' w...r..
nHmmnl in HUllune"". l 'n dr r tl,.. hridge lhe n",ffihih tn",p
p" shnl t',,.,,ard; lh~' d isn"rrrd a lllllullt'r of ~nemy mn:hankal
-'"'-----
Tho...-.-,tw\d9t"'- 1o

...--~........,....­
_.11Uft _~_

_ .... _ _ Nol0
dilQl;t"1" anti Ih.· ' tan of all .."nhwur1., ,0000io,,,I,' d..,iW,..d 10 ,kl;,~,
_-.- 10
our pnWt'" imo Ba' ra. Th e d;lQI;"''''""'" deslr<,yt'd to pr..wm _ _ ..,10 z.a.""","_ _
th..ir funh ..r "se . Th .. 'Troo p' ",,,n gut ~es on 10 th.. Iraq; :s.:a,-al ~ _ _ "" 13.&o>-long
Acadelllyand desp it.. con'lantl' e ti"hting. d nri ng ",hich T" "
On~ IIa, hil ~. an RJ'G lhal fail 1 ." dt'''",a,.., lht;" lIm"ghl in ''' '
dli'nis r fi", m;ssionl.illinKowr 30 Ctl",h;l,an~, in,id .· Ih. · Anul ..my - __-
_ _ 00 _
Nol'_-,-,
_ _ hor
, ,_
_
__

_----
O''''t'tl... ind ire<:l fir.. ha dstopped , Jtall ..db;",klh.. f HTand _~_11Uft_
carri ..d OHW;lh lh.. yC P. 1 ",a, delenn in..d locollap'" lh.. yCP
un Ill~' l.. rm•• n01 lh.... nemy' •. Afler l..n hOUN ",e ha d larg..ly
,;l ..nct'd en .."" , J"t",i'lanc... anti call,ign. Tw., Oll e, T hrr t' Z"ru
...
klI .... _ _ ....... plouglI.

-~,
and f o" r Z" m ""'''' d,mg.'ro",I~·lo...-un an"",,,,ilion . al lhi, I'" im
J tI,"('i,k d 10 pull ",,, 1.. Th ai ", ..ning. Ih.. GOC [ ~ l aj G.. n Ro bin
i\ ri ", . j audth .. Brigad .. O,,,,,,,anderHlHgralU!al ..dlhe"'luadron
ullajob",eUdonealldstaflullkersstoppe<l "" ing lhal Ra, ra
wou ld notl'all until ah.. r Raghdad

REME 10 Ih . r••cu .
FunlrlT 10 th.. ",, "h . Ih.. S<O TSlX; Batd'"Kf"u p ",,-'aning a' th.. brigad ..
r..",rs".alth""gh ,\Sq"adrollW"aspanof lqBI",· kWalc hBatlt"wollpand
C SOI'.....l n'" - ' an""hrd ...' ann"u r "'l'IM'u lU " C""nnand" Brii<ad...
1«..,,1 \ l.ui "' ''1 ralinj{ i'' th \! Faw l'.." in."la. ·!l '..r... C'i<I' .....l n m -
em'" C - r"nd" ...-I ( >j... r.ni j> __ hrr.. n 2':1 and :-II Marr h in
' ..nj'''M·'io.., ....;lh-ll)(~.'''nando.Il.oI'''\ I ..ri'M a.'h....' a<h" ,M'...-liIlIO tho:-
a'·~a ' .. · .-\ho....J.Khoo.,ih.a •.,ho'rb .... " h ofRa. l1w ,,1al'Iffi ' ....JlllalSof
,I><'pom;"."Ia parlirularft· puorln-.-.in fo. ,.... Ii'H,."'.. "'''''''and
n.. " ....... m , pr""arioo.... "nd diltiruh ;,h tn.. Ian'" ronfinrd
'o tn.. narn '. rai anhrr'G1'_... ,n 'i'rdt" .......... andGtn
,hoon .\I-"\'.. 0" tl n.. ,. n in j{of 30 \I .....-h . 0..1101 (~>Illp;ul\ . -lll Conur>;ondo.
IU..'" \Luin..... "'l'P'>o...-I bo 2 Tronp. C 'i<1'lMln tiN.n:t ..;th
,hr- G1ptlln' •..- > obt"" ti..... rrjoirinj{inrhr o "'"ul~,;ond
{;..oo,--.. _ ()pr'ral ';a-. .-.f<Tn"d 10 Jan..... ",..><I ;u ><I ;0/1 In.. <>hjr<:tion
......... ,;n """'" d......n from thr Ian flnninR "'Mn..( :;oJktgn Two T\ffi
........in , ,"', f........ n! ~T..u O' .... O>lllm;u,.lord ... Srfxt';u1I n""id &ird.
and T
..-hilt' in ..
',n",1',..
in!<"f'l
>0
ith rhr(:.omrru.nd". in II"';, 1'i1Ult"...... uurl...
thr "luadron Jr-...kT. \1";' .. j<..",m..n RiIO(:Ut.;n
l.Ln ' Rr.o,,,. ,....tHO in h;' Warri<..- AO f' " " d a CR-\RR\ ·. fall\ij{ll Th lft'
Iltlft' Rr "" . h"", 2nd B. tul io...,. R[ \IE:, n"""""M\,rd bo ('~"V' ...,u John
\ I".pn. T1>rir ~ ....... a r TO'<'mad , ,hoo, ..... n" "" MIni tht' !oolltht'rn
" I'P"....·h... In Ra.. r...
Th .. ra,,_,,~' ..-...' ..., "anow Iha' rh.. u nk. am i oru.'" ad,:anerd
" " a .i nll l.....hi.-1.. fwn"'f(" ; d l"'p di l<'h." tn ..a,·h ,id ,' ;<1.. , ",ad..
ma "' ..·"'Ti nKn illh nl\i lllIM....ihl... 'i<.. m att ..r l l :'r4 lh.-....... lh.. ...d, ·anrinl:
fo rr .. 'w...,.. d th.. er,,,,,oad,. it {·an,.. und" r n "lt''' rl {·t1 RrG ...nd
", ,,rhillt'1r ,,,n,,-ho,,, a I:mul,ol'm,," ,ha d ,., alHl hniltlin K't"th.. l.-h
fn mt. T " T...." ....... . '''' llI hi, four ,i",.·, 1,,· Rl'( ;' and " ',,, f' ''1:..d tu
..,,,,,Ir,, Oth .. r F.·d..., ....n ""hM 1O",,~.. d j{r;<.'I,inll; r hiltl re n in one
h 1H1 and ..·.·"I.."" in th.. <>Ih..r. Sr rll;" ;lIll !\;.ird in T O,'" fo m ,d.. hi•
cr · I" r..lu nl Ii.... umi l th.. rh ild....... hm~ .. fr.... a"' l a p.-rI. A . inl:le
H[,,<;II o ,und lill ..d .i x ", ililia" ", ,, fol .....·...I I"· n .. xial "' hi,, <"1/;Un lin'
Ih..1 dimi n"I ...1 a ,k,,,- ,, ",,,r.. . Th .. fIN .." ..m. · h....1 "I' ..",nm ...' ;r firr
.ma.hn\ , d m -.-r' . ,;"i..." blod ofT 0.... ... ,h al T.... >pt"r lli.ia. ''''' 'e'
\ I........"i f n Fiji eo"l d nO ")nj{t'"f " "'lhinj{; a" Rf'( ; rou nd aI-.o
"ruellh.. riRhl.nand ......adlij{hl. Wi,h d..l..nni,ulion. ~ ...... ~.
r .. ,..-d .. il htn..Ian '" and o .....enlr..,.-d ' ir li...... ,I.......hic'k<ij{hu. In
.....'" ...r<k'. IU"G'or ...."~-..drhrj{Un r' . pri tnolry <ij{hl ;o, ......II..,.
t..... c'>;o" ...1 chain It'''' ;ond ...Jt-hand di"-""'1I: ..r.."-'Mllher RI"G
i",.--,rdun ,.... 111".... roof;o,nd .in th inll;:.... ploo»on uofrhr
com " •• r..;o, .;.....•;";'on bloc ...,.-..d. n... dm fM_ had
nof "td.;,.;...,;ond ' eornmandrr-' · litd... to the' l\"M. lnoKk rhr
b1i,.. 1t-d IOInl. , bt-cominj{ .. rainrd. n... lan l conunand... .
~ant Baird . ealm h ordr.-..d rhr dm It> bul an ""'m
( ~>Illm ..nd " f'inlll;:<l..... tn,d bIoc lrd , ilhd ·,u. Int.. "di nj{ to p"-'"
il ".;d.. . ~'1I:'"anl Baird p .... ,h .. om..r 'lcf, "ir l ' lu di..... , I.... d m ......
l"nf"nlll"'l ..h·. Ih.. in" " I...rit-"ced Tn " 'P" r " ' ...........i. .. ll" h;od onh · hre n
..-;thl.... Il"Jli" nt<i nr .. <b ,-Nm;o.,.pull ed th.. rill;tu .. ir l in'I ....d . ca ,,<inll:
l.... t;onlt" rotll ll.. r-a u_:a'·intl) ...d....pditeh . ,h n1d inll:" " lh t l ..
llo.. nl h..r tanh j<..-l t;t-rI intu l"><itiun II) Im"ide .. ,1'1',.....,;. .. n un
lh.. ..n..",,·.'Ilo.. H )() ra ll...-lfo r a Ii mi"i on 1m", th.. ' '' ppu ni llj{105mm
l .ij{hl ( ;" " . of2!l O",n" "lHln. Ro I .-\nill.. ~·. I", i<l,. T.... 0".. thin l{' ....'..Ill
r.. ,m I~,d to ....,,, .... " 'h,.,, " .....rt"-j{\,irl..et "nlH,,,, l l>r' ~'·i'l i l .. "nick th.. front
of tJr,' t"m·' . llinJo:'inll; tJr,·I'M,kr. T" " 'I',: r \\'illi ;"" Fr.II'·~. "" ,'l ..,ml, "lid
Im ·,," i,,!!;hi, W,i'l. b~'nlllalt)'. lh.. """"'y lir.. ,b'-""'H'd
u" d..rlh.. ,,,,ui ,,..dho,,,I,,,,drn'·lllofl,,nla,,dartilh·,,,,'
,hd l, . "hh,,"!!;h ' pnr.,di,- , mall-arm, and mnru,r fill"
n >nlin ued . It "'as lime «) n ·o'....r 11... ,u"''''·''
Two (l u..
hu m Ill<'diKh. Wilh mn,id.. ,.ahl.. ditl imlt\, . CIl -\RR\ '
r hr.... Th r..e Rra,'o "ln",..l fO"""rd IOlh.·,ilt'llullh..
,illlmin" "'''' dire. Wilh h" lh I,...r'" ,lw<1and jallllllt'd
.n' '' llld (/w '' '' J',·n, ioll llluler j(r..all,·",ioll,d''·lanl
Wit , cnmplelely im",,,hik. 11 ",mId r<'<luire a Illltt in
exn ·" " f l (lO l" nr't·' lhal w" , I"' y" " d lhe t·al" ,bitily·of
'~ " n l he powerhll CIl -\RR\ ·. And ,o il pmwd Wh""lh..
" i nd , of Th", .., T hH'e 11,.",'0 fail..d under Ih.. df""
Th .. ( :!l·\RR \' wa., nhlij(l'{II ,. " i lhd "--" "'l " l in j(" i lh i' lh..
i" jnred loa. l..r fmrn T" u O ne I"r medical lreal",.. nt a'
wdla, il'J':onnt·r.T'oop'·rSuMnf'·'j{u",n
Ib .. C Stluadmu. REMF., LiJ':h l Aid l)erad nnelll. "'as
calk d fo",-.lfd "ilh its CIl -\RR\ ·. ,'aU,i"" T,,'O Fo ur
Cha rlie, rn lllmaml ..d rn G''l"w..1J am.., (;';,rr.. u with
r<'co\'t'I)' Hwdlanir Co rpo raI J " ' lin Simon, a",1
!<'rhni(ian Co rp" ,a l Rid . PMl .·, (" ... Coln" r Pial.. E)
hi l a ppm"d,..dth.. ,il .., Two Fo ur Charli.. pi,'kt'<lllp

--
CO!'p',.. ,1J oh n \ Iorl('all. lh., o",uoan<kr of CRARR\'
Ibr.... 'Ib r.... lI,.aw>.TI,.. d isabled Chall ..nj(..r 2. T" " 0"... "...., ,lilt u"d ..r 1'l>ec .... "'lWoOne,
" "'·Tlly· fire "" lh.· 1ij(hl b" ga n lo "' il in tl,,· b lt· ...h.·m'KlI,. ,-\ll ht'oU""I , C Squ--, llCon OQ.grab
n", hmr ( :harh.. lired it' ,mo"<'-!:renad.. d i...-harg.. '" 10 ma.'''lhe r""""'I)' .................
opt',ali"n ...' Curpo ral, \ Io",an. Simon' a"d Park"r ,uradlt'(l lh.· "ind,
"'1 "·lolh.. ",..ndedra"",mdw.."I I~·p"l1edit"nWlh .. ,-a"...."'a)';h,,we,...r,
lite aUj(l.. ",lS ,,' acUl.. and fit.. Jl~,<1w,,)' ,,' nam,w llral if _li.l d",n, II,,'
_fou9I>I"_"'_
prioo' ''' ........ ..-I".,.,ac:_

<:om_all Co<rKrIan<Io,110101
M_ ..._ 01-...-. • '
"pp.. ,il.·,id,·irnnane'.-e" ",un· difJi('uhp'"ili"n. ln "drlili"n,lh.. "inrh
rop .. ofT"" h ", r Charl i.. ,napl"'<1. ,,' both CR-\ RRV. were now ror all
ill1..nrs am i pU'l""'''' o ur "fan;"n. L'lldel<'ITt'(l, tI,,· R[ \I E wan, 1";",1
lu hreallh.. u.....l.. Wilh ('"",.. ,ui""a l 1,~,I, hnld,.. len,ion ,,'a..
much f'~'
_.0
..... """"""....-posltlon
lloov-nt g_ _
IUl""' moc:kfC _
.fwttIl

...
~.

..... ac...r

. h1 . _'_ or ~
S"-'l f .......
greal , .-\., dar""'''-' f..lllhe ..nemy' relllmed in 'frt'nRth. all<'mpli"R I"
_
~1 ~ Ia d.
~Wl ll laf _ .
intih..u.. lh"p",ilion. bur Co'poral ( ;,IlTeli I"id down ell ''''li", ' '' pp...... i\'<'
lir.. tr"mhi,r,~.f-nH"'lUedmarhin"J':"na.'lh .. m..chanj,-'Hllllin"ed"ilh
till' r<'{'owl)' "l><Tdl;Oll.T hrouRlwllI. the olh"r l<lrll.s p""ilkd S1'PI",rrinR
'2Omm lI"n 10 ..... d_ .'-
_ 'Mac:' M_ " . l$COTS 00)
lir.. andarlill.. ,, 'lired II Eand'mo.... ,h ..n'''' ma.,llh.. ...-..ne.
B,' nllW lh.. darln..,,, "A' ;me"I",,,,,'d "ilh till' cn,,"p "fiml"Kting
mortarm"n<1.rnmhi"...I"ilhlh.·I"",ar{'<oftra....rlir.. and RI'( ;fOC....L.
",the ..ne"'y,m.'d wdi,mpllh.. rt'C.l\'t'I)'opt'ralion. fOrc;llR lh.. R[~I [
nlt..'hanies 10 diw I" r u l\'t·r "'l,,·n .·,,, ·,,'" ,m" Il-,Uln, and RP(; lir.. f..n
cI,,,,, rn' hel',r.. rerumin!!;'" fl,.. ta.,"in han d , (;o'l"lral Simo n, re,,,n..d 10
d, ...I><'''Il'·Hlt·'C'''''t... rn·mingtocUlllw t""·l,s"ilh,,,.('....·.·ldillR<"l" ip""'''l
lhal hiRh1i!!;hled hi' l" " ilio n l" ' h.... n..myi"'h.. da rln.. '-'.·'lbi,"~lfail ..d.
E,...nt""lIy'.he d,,,'id,'(I,,nalllo",,nllflh,~lllxr..,.o....<;,lt,,'hni'IU<·"·l"'fl 'l"
I,., r.. ",hined Ih.. lwn CR....RR\ 's. T"" f o n, Charli .. and TI" .... Th r.... Bra",.
whic h had H'IUIl",d 10 lh.. sc..ne. I<Igelh"r hy'dMin" and "i lh A.frall"·
d, .."h,rs a!lad,ed In II,,' ,iI'lim fmm T" " f Ullr Ch"rli .., TI,i" anda<'i<""
nlt'lhnd was "Kc",-""I and. "lin.. 14 ho",.. afr..r tI,e "riginal int·id..m. Two
_ _ ._.
. """"' _ _ .. flE ... - . " ' " " " " " " -
" ,_
.... _ " ' ............. .... _
Ont
~
"'""' --- ~-,-_ .......
 -....-......-.._-
. ..

_-
0,,..""-'d rdAA~d I~K~ t" fri~ndly Ji"M ""111~ :'\~1Tl a",,~'. Within fo"r ,L", _ ,~

r"" On~ "", r~pa.i ....<1"ith ,,~....,i!:ht'. n~td"h ....l, and trach. h had Ix..-n
__ c.<_"... _ 3 10
...
hit a t"ta l ol ..i!:ht lim<"'lh\ ' R1,(;'; a"d an ATeW mi,";I,· "itl",,,, P'·Il .. u, ,,i,,n . . ....... bu< .... tI>el 10 _ _
c _ _ .. _t .. _
"f 11,.. cn'W c",u I~'rtm ..nt.'_ F"r tl"'ir prof"',i",,,,1 dilil':"]]'" .. lid h,-.M·"·
"ndtT fi..... (''''1'''",,1, (;;uT.. n 'Illd Simo,,' "f th~ I{(~"I EI....tric..1 and _. ~

\1,·"ha llic..1 E"j(i",,,-,,,w<'r~ Ix>!h !>1~ llli'Jl ...d in ])~'I"'t"hM _ c.-w_ . _

CotI.roIleocl_
_ _ _Ion Ion .. t1t1
Th e b ani . l or B a sr a ",."""", " ncl lnt eo...

]i,. th,' phK~i"l:" on,," Itt 'ath r am

_ .n-- _
R.. tl,,· fi"" " ~of ....l'ril. I\;"r.. "'" rip..
amI Ix>th gul ..r amI militia I<)ICf"> had bt'~" ....ri"n.,)'· d'1(o."I..d h\
_ ......,_of__
•
_
orlncl;...,l
.... _ ..... .. _ _ c.-wto

.d_- -.__.
- _. . ..
r..peat<'<l,-..id,andprt"Ci'ion ... ·ri"I"u'Kk.'''ith"ntc'''''iul':,,'''lu.· c'',,~,hi.'S
among Ih,' ci,ili .." p"pUI;KC,All tI ... l"ml"W""I" "f hI ( l'K) .-\n,,""n:<I
Oi,i ,i,,,, w.·.... "e"dil~" ''''T'~Khilll': '''' th.. (·i~'. B'·no ...., B S'lt~trlrun. S( X)T S _Ion _ " " '.........
[)G. "".... ba......Jat a c""'p ~n""" ", Ou", l.... Ifom wh..,,. II",,· m"",u<'<l
r..id, into th.. dt'· _On Thn",\a,· :'I Ap'il. th.. "'1",,,lrun """rlun... 1 a r.. id '..,IdI·_'laKtMCO<I_be
eat<1e<I _ _ ............. ' O fill
al""g Rrlll1f" R"'I.lh .. c"d,·n;onll·fnrlh...... Hth"'·,'S"..-nhighw·~·i"',,l\""d. _ _ _;· _ d...,_or
in ,u,ti""ui",, with :\"" 1 ..nd 2 O""pa"i.., of th~ lri,h CHdnts in th~ir
W..ni"r ny" By ....~- moming. th~ inran~' "", ",.U """-',>1"'<'<1 in Ih..
._ ..no._"_Y«I
_ _ bII_ .>lCa'O....
prim.. ~' ohj....ti,.. Iha t """ th~ T hni"al C"ll,W' jl"l h......,,<1Bridl':" 4. Ti' ...... ·llli"""'DI>M....)
inc...."...· II"'I'I(""urr'''''IIl·." '''}; ...",..,,,1 "tid'arlm'w ..r.. u",Jt>rta~..n
wilh th.· r.. ,,~ t"",]'...., ""r~i"" 2'2 out of 2-1hon"': ""arding, patrolling ,
fi"hti"" .. "<1li,,all~'-lI\aiHlaillilll'( the tanh for th~ Il~xt rtl"n d "ith pern a!,,,
a f..,.., Illinlll... · ,1....1'. All tl,.. whil.· II,.. t~nadou, " I1,''''Y f" " ght ,,;11,
w~al drh"rmi "ati,m and "' ..·.·r blwH'd in th.· f.."" "f tI,.. '''''''''l1d",i,,1'(
,,,,,lauKhtoflh.'C,,,,lil;,mf,,,,,t>S
On s..t"rda~-6April . th, .... t""'I" ofB S<lttadroll."" " ..U", SCfttadron
f k",lq"art~ ". "'id''<I htrther ahm!: R,," t.· R,'<I", th,' tanl.. d''''lro~<'<I am
banicad,""cr.-""their pa th. Cal""in Rall d," Sih-••• 2".ITn~'I,I ..,,,I.·r, ,,, ,,I
hi' cn''''' h"d ;0 ntd .. ,h, ,, ·~ ,..,h.,]] a "' ..",i,,,,1>- "1",,,,I,,,,,,d T-:':' tir..d
a 100""" ro'lIld th..t ,tr\".~ th.. , ..mo.d ER.\ pand p'''t....ti''l'( th~ II'.....
"f tlll·ir Chall"Il!:"r 2. AI....r a 'p ..ctacular .."pl,,,j,,,,, th,''''' w-,,-, n"
I"',,..,ra,ion "I' th~ tan~. Withi" "'<'<H"h. th~ wh"l .. ""M']' " 1"'''''<1 "I' Oil
th.. hal.I,...., T_.~ " . dMlrtl~inK th,' "" ""'}' tan~ "o"'pktet:.: TI,e \auk., "0"-
pa",'<Ia""'''pl,·""fh"ildi"",id.·ntifi<'<la, .. I\;t'ath r am ' co mm.."d a",1
 ~
_
f"' '''''''-''
" , " _ In . _ " . _
_ R _ e - . ....... _
---
- ..nighI,.......
...
". _--
Mo-O"w.,To
_ --.g..-:IOOlI--'"
_ _ 5.-0.._
_
to.........
_
_ ' _OIl

~e..-_two

_".~a
M ImI _ "' ~ -n.. _
_ ·, _ c ~ -n..

..... -----.
IIIo<k~ '.~"",­
_ _ _ 10<

_ ... _two
__

MImI _ _ .............

n m tro l n ·lIIre. l. ih · ,h ip, ,, f th,· ljn,·, th.. t,m"-' !1n·dhro,,d,i<l,,,imo til<' .........-_.
'e _ to<oI".
hllild inW'and bllulrr position, as w..n a' Ih.. la 1t i~e n",mlUni~alio", Im.·..r RDll, ~
_ 1n _1n "'~
of a ", ·ad ....· td""si,,,. 'tati"". an "wm rffonkd ror British wl..,;"io" b\
a ~alUe ra mo"ntffi o u the turret of Z..co Bra,n. th,' Chan" nK"r 2 of
th.. "l'~l(t",n lea.kr. \lajor Chris Brannil(. lll. Th .. raid W.1Sdffmffi '" ... ~----
t ..
_ 1.*"'- " _ _
....... ~

----
, ,,cH",,f,, l that~'N allother w''' plau ued f,,r the follo''; lI ,, .lay
B S'lu" d"'" was ta,l..d W """tnt a d''''1'''r raid aIm' " Ro ute ){, ,<!
as far as O bjen i\'<"Graniw. a pla~e l ", ,,,'u as Ih.. T~ l1e way to Basra ' -
'~lT" )OIi(all,·. who, ·....·r hdd til.. lr" tl'waj' hrl d th .. (it~'. Jr wa, to h.- anoth" r
_

............
_ _
".----
. . . . . . - . . l , _ 4...

_ 10.... _
~

.." hatM in" da y h,rlh.. SCOTS Il(; Battlel\roup "ud Ih.. ' \ l utant s' of _ _ _ ".5th-.

. . .·
BSquad ro" ...·lm w..'" in th .. ,,,n o llf .. lllo re. 2nd and 4th 1'''''' '1'' I..d till' ...~_c..--..
~_In_,

advan~e to prm 'idea base of li re at RED "a, 'stand 3rd 'h I"'!" P',,'ed l.otIoo~DorYly T __
lhro n" h " nd o n lOward , th.. Co ll'·Kl· of l .it..ram r... o r ( lhj, '('li,·.. t:lj ,i'"n.
_I--, ~ ·
f h.. ,l;' a brisl tir...lil\hl ..nsu ..d ,,'ilh 3rd Tn " ' fl d"sln,, 'i"l\ numerous
b" nk..r p",ition. and fa"sinK wid'·'I,r..ad "",·m,· fa'"ait i,", It w.ts - ---~
............
".
. 0.-
In

pIc:ht-'-
hMd p"'lIld inll: all da" as the " '''taIllS ad,:a,,~eel int o Basra . c"" sinll' ..... 10 _ _ ". . _
th.. " ,.t..nMtic d..stn,niun uf ..n..nn· p'"itiom ,,,, d AI'''•. 8,' mi,"'",·.
Ird Tn " ' p h"" e " pend ed virmall" all or th .. ir main armam ent
" mmunitio n ,m el w..r.. « ·Ii.·yed in pia.·.. ~' 2nd 1'...",1" .-\tt<·nt ion 11<""
rt"lul1\t' d to th, · 0,11<1:'" o r Lito'rall"'" that "emain..d unrl ..ared of tilt"
e n...m~'. Supported by ;,Ih Platoon. :<;0 2 Co mP''' I\·. Irish ( :" ,,,, Is. Zno
-.....----
_ _.......
IOptotocl"'" _ IADGI
CNW

8 r,,' ... sma.h...<1 thr""ll'h the front gaws li,l1"w..d M' Zem Ch arli .. and
2nd Tn " ,p 10 lind the )!,'round litt ..red with bt"li •..,. The infaH1T)' "·,·r..
r all...1 fo rward in Ihdr Warrio ,., 10 sea,.~b th ...rompl..."
S"dd ..nl,·.th.. bt"li ... mseupfrom ·d,·"d ·andl,,¥anto ..ng;'K,·th..
t,,,,1es"nd W",riol'l ...ilh RP(; s an d .small_,um, Ii...... A ",·sl,,·rat ... do,,-~
qu an ...r .sm,,,,,le ens"ffi , O ne un fon un ,n.. militiama n nlt·t hi. d..,nh in au
"n ..'l,"'12,'m ..llK4':'·lll..nlh(·t....'·enhisKalashni ..m· ...ud., I2tlllllll l l ES"
rou nd h"m a Challenw r 2 " t BT. ,,'hil.. an" lh..r ,,-as, n"h..e1by "\Hk trad" s
",Ill' ...""toli...· his RI'( ;, "''' I <:'-,m)", n j; Irish Gua,.d.s.ntshe<lli,...,,,rd
and di,motlllWd h...", th..ir Warrio['; to d"ar th.. ''''''pl.·" alth,,,,,,h il "''AS
" " ...h U K' 1( "1 a ,a." I(),. a ,inl(l.. infant ~· n ''''I );'''Y. ~."\ .. rthd"", th..
..n..my...-a" "' nt" all,· s"btluffi. alth ,,,, ,,h not ,,;th out ,'a,ua hi"'.A' lhe
li"tn "'A' Eiilinl(. an "ther militiaman I"igning d..ath n"" "I) from Ihe
,ba d,,,,,, and firffi iuto th"');Kk"fa\\'"rrior. l illin" t...·o ll' ''' n J-m.·n and
" ·rim 'slj· " " lttHlinll: tw" t>th en., \ \l w n th...tl..;ld .......r... ""archedlater.m..st
nfthe m tun",d ",It to h.. f." ....iW"M ti",,,,ls frolll Tunisia. \ I"wo-.-o. r lOpt.
r
 .tl ~Z

___
Zl'I'flIl, _ _ - " " " , -

f
I
I
I
l
_
~
~
fIII_..,..... _ _

-----
lEIl.tlI_ ... _

_
-.-- --....
c--..
<»'0
_
... _

----
----
------
_ _ fIII _

---
- ....
---- . -
-.-.---
------
__--
.. _O"" • ......-.KOn
OQ . . . . ~ _ ',~ _

.._ _ ...._ ... 7_

..........._
----...
----
~ - - ---­
.........
_ _ _. l$COTI OOf

S"i> iIlltt ,..hcT .v..b "!iIt... m.u had COI1 t" IrMj I" f'Kht f<..-s.ldun
H ,....n n ~"'" tI c. lillit;nn forr ..... X "f thrill ..... ;ollk I" t...... thor:
mum pom .., nf I ,.;.-li,... Iit-ku fo" nd in 11"';( litlYj(\.
;\f l...- m;on~' "',,''''' of r....... o:- liW>tinll:. It... noh;o' .. I.... Mnu n t...........
....Ii.-.".n in pLlCo:' '" C Squ;odron :o.l 15OOhn. Thn I'W'1lutlC'd 10 o. ,n<Jo:-.o:' lO
To:'J'kni..h Ih<"ir """"-' ;11><1 ",l<klU lo:-~"w nui"'o:-IWK'" U...L.-. "ll" the
,........,;.,. tlullho:-~.......,IeI.... """o<lrlo... n fur ;ll ...._ 12 "' "" fot'"rnl and
rNupo:-r.tio ", . •·,,,,r "',"no bt ..r. th .. "tu;odn>fl u. 10 ""pport
3rd f'-q .... h'no:-R.olu lio.... in " furtllt'r " h ifll tl II '>l<k'oIpiI" of & ..--...
"'rn-t., "
.. Ill...... "f " 11n.. -. ,,, ;11><1 fl;Irn_ 1.. ... it tn li'>-1,.." ... \ IB1'•. •-\
1.....'Pnf"'n L...... ;lll;K h.... to("a("hJ';or- h " 'r r' .."I ... n~ .. ;l h Sq".dron
1I..;o<1.-I,...n .. ", ..in;ninll: j P,-\}l-\ 1'"" tica l II Q . n,r rl.-" "'.'K '" ''P'-''"uion
tx;r.."., li""llill:hl- Th ... n....:Iin th...r; ..·..... "',--;li "lI:h·di tTr "' r mth...
,Lr~' h.. l'" r... Rni."'nu · m.. IIHI ;I""'" "n.-l thr ~ "·i111"'J" ,lar (";1 m ' '' 'I I''
II:r....t lh.·!r< .. 'I..... thr 1Jd111"'K""'1p' of I" (l' I\ l .-\m" ,urr.-l l>i,; . io ll
lilll rd"l' in lhr r r nm... of Bit.r.... Wilh i" mim m ·•. rr ....- I"' lnlt't....·...r...
..xd"'" Il:... lr" r ll:n 1 '. bl.,rl. ma..." ."orll:rrrn l...,.. I........ -dl ;.. h, l k . an d
I." n·"·...h"n " ·.. , 'I'h .· Ira", it;oll fro m ...arti ll:ht;n ll: It> 1'...M lll' p0r!
o p.·...al ;ou . ..'".;,• • lI,I,I,·Il ;.. ;t ..·a....d ..." m·. TIi ,..n th .·l o<>!inll:hq.: all .
COLOUR PLATE COMMENTARY
111, <:HALLIl!NGI R:2 COMMAN D TAN K,
RE OIM ENtAL H E AD Q U AR T ER S , TH I! RO VA L
s e O T S D" A O OON Q UA R DS leARe l H l l AS
AN D GR EYS ) , I.X E RCISI ULA N ."O l l ,
POL AND , OC T OB ER 11 811
TheRoyalSco! sOragoonGuardswasl h<l _~
nlQOmenttobeOQ..OppedwrthChaI1<lnger2andlhefirstto """
~onfieldlraininge'oIDsesinGanadaand_,o... One
8<a\IQ was !he cornroarxl t_
01 the oomml>rldong offictIor.
UouI""""' CoioneIAnd ..... PhiIlpO, during IM 7m Armoured
Briga<lef"d l'a inu>g exlOfC '"" conduete<l at Orawsko
f>oororsJ<a Training Area in Polan<IduringOCtober 1999 . fhe
tan!< is painled in ltle $l andard Bmi&1 Army camounage
_oItJlai;ks tnpM """,al>ase c:olo<xol<larl<g<&M.As
a~oItheifarll~t .. , lho C ~ and Gfeys.
allltle tacticalmarkJr>;l. ouch""lhecaMoognOneOnolBr a\IQ
..... painted in~ ... isIhe Uon ~ ""_ turnrt _
to denol a lhe CO" Iank, The Lion Ra/npll<ll isaiSOIlying
:=;:"f:aio;rt=~a~~U:~~
rlJS8 <I/J~t od~cornroarxlandCOOlJ<llt""k •. a.II
~=",2...M~.. =.=.,rsr.on~h=~~=
lront isa<kninul"",crossolSI~- t"" sa_- ... t""
The SCotbsh Cav~_The"""""",,,
SCOTSOG "kfll>W'1 ...
Ro9st,a!KlnNumbef(VRN)66 KK82 "~G<>rlt ,ally on
lhelrontiow<lr hull p!a1aand al Ihe top ng!1t 01 t hO rear "".
Oneacl10id0ollhflIrontVRN isa omallblad<mcIMgl&wrlll
a _ ·lapcodfl· . 4 0 0 . ~ in_,GentraIIy
on lhe plalallll<walhol towingbar .. lhe <:«M71
distancemarl< (:O(lSIS!i"'}oIanillo.lmorlatedSQUMlwrtn
a~ omatirIg t>lack and wMa ~ __ t"" _ oI
a kJllowing tanktomllmtainasaf8 <loslanCf1atnigM
" 2 : CHA LLI Jl G iR 2. B S Q UAOII O ... ,
THE RO YAL Se O TS 01110000'" OUARD S
leA R B I... IIR S 10... 0 OIlEYS), OPIEIlAT IO '"
AO ,,,e O LA 3, KOS OVO , ....Y 2000
B SQua<Jr<><l ~ Beauloful B - of The Roy al Soof$ OrOQ<>Of'
Guatds W8. t""fltSt ""'lto<leployGl\aIlenge<2ope<a1ional1y
as t ""OlMr~ On 1heregiment _actOng OnIhe
Onfant l'J' ","" ,The t_io lil1ed with appliqu6 """"", panel.""
1he _...-.:jIrorot :_""the _ are~arrays
";"le tl>ose ""1he lrorotare ol t"" ERAtype, n - are fitted
in 8 w8rlighbng"'"" ...-.:j "", desOgr>a ted Oo:>tcMst "'~ 2.
TheVFlN iodosplayedverbcal~""1hetoprighloft"".­
"",n asmallUnionFlaglo 1he left,62 KK80wascommarlCled
byCorporalAAdyPO!lerand t"" """'""lecall"9'.OneOne. iI
dlsplayOO On8stencillecloquatil"" t"" .-lurretsidesand
11Irr;g/"TI""1he.-allhetCOTel, Aga...., t"" lacl ical ""'<lcng •
...... painlOOin !7"Y...-.:jaga;n1hetanO.eame.t""5aII... ""
the turret_.CamouftagenetlOngmasl<s t""tI.J'I'&t...-.:j
mainam",,,,,••" .Thet"" is_ <luring8road~
patrol\!"lat was a s tandard part olOperat"'" SCoI_<luring
1he<lePloymenl to KOSOV<I
:~~".."oL~::~:=K2~;:~';::: . ~~~:~~~O.....
~: L~~II~~ Z2~~~YII . S O UT II E II... IIIAQ .
~0per8lionTf>hc.8 I t ""tanO,sofOyelopoSq_had
"""""t>eginnong_1hele!ler 'C ',lhose of 71h Troop_
_ .ft,..IormerBrilislltanO,s-·Conquaror'. ·Comel'and
Crusade(-atIl'IOugh_1he .. n... wasftl8llyappropliate
in the theat re ofoptlf8tOons ""","n. optIfI to <lat>ate.
'CnJsa<lar'was~by8ergeoantAAdy Topping_
lJInooCorporaiJasonl-1M'Mntlllas_Iope<aT<:M".Tf'OO\>tII'
AAdy Coh\oas go..o;onerandTf'OO\>tII'~l""as_ ,The
tanl< t<l<ll<part inlhe~8Cl""'_"" _2910
32 <1uring1heassaull""lhe townoiAz ZLbayr,Thetanl< is
poinI&<l~ On.,.-,.jytAt:NtWl!hbloc.01tIrICiIlol<Ita<:ticaI
........." ,o"inck>:1onglhe_caIIsogn. n-.ea One , "" Ihe _
""""",ponelo.tlnatOldeS...-.:jolfsel tolherighl""lhe
t Lntl! _ WJ1hin 8 St_ ~ ; ~ 1he calsign
wasappiotl<l~_ltJem'IIJjin<llca1<:o-ponelo(TlPol
_1at"' frtledto1hetarWo..The_indic.a
t"'1he~
squadooowrthin lhef1l9imMl. inIl\isC8StlCydOpSSQua<Jr<><l
WJlhn2Anl• ...-.:jIhe _ _ rln9S""tl>e lume extraClOf
"~ l lhetl'iM'dbOop inlhe~, in
tI'liO C8SOl 7111Troop. Thisio rDp8atoo ""tI>e_.- huI
plate as a convoy<1istar>::<> marI<... and_der>tJlying
marl<er <luringr'ligtJl~Theleltwan:l
- fa<:inQtJlado.
CI'IoMOnW8SthtlmutUl!llrecogn<tiOn<!eYi<:tll<MIheCoalitoon
__._-_
n.o_ oI-"""' """ ' _
10 . - 010' _ _
_ .....-_~
. . . . . -. " _
._ 'o
_ ......
......
..-.. ... _ - . . .._ 1 0 ...... .... _
.. <10 _..
..
_
-
~
_ .... h .. L37 ~ 7 ,6J mm _ ..... _
10 "' . . . . _ _ , . - . _
_
- - ~-_ ._- --­ Iy"'_ _ " _ ~_ ;on
_ . /'iDS!
 ThooC...
h _I,",,-2E

-.""'----
_

M_........ _
_
_. . . ..... ........
l>eva<lnProjeet
",,~V9.

_ 0 I _ M8 T , _ " , _

no1 - . o I _ Io_""""""",,

--.---.~
~ _
...........
l .lIOOI>hI>E_ k _
-.....
_ _ e...
2E.t
-.hoIl. _ _ bw,oAd _
_-
.... 1

~
_
__ """'_MOO
M eT,VD S - - " ,

_"became_.xpon_
... C... I'""-2 .... _~

---_
.......,_Wkers Lt<I _ _

"""""""'
-----.
SAE Spt_ ~ _ _ ..

_ F_olghb,
--
..".....-_
__

. ,....,. _
~
...... -..
...........
2 EIo

"' BT, !WSI

!<><ceo. ~ .. paint'" on 1tIe!l.net sides..-.:j offset to lhe letI

onltle!l.net_as_ onltle_arm<U~,The :=:.n;~~~p~~C;::
_ .....,.., ,·erusaaer· parIl... on""""'loIwan:l_ ..."..-fac:ingblad<c:tIevmnlMt " ";soapplHld toltle _

arm<UpaneI,TheVR"'DS35AA "appliedatltleloprig1lof
lhe_hulplaIelogell'lefwrtl1aUnionFIlog.On the<lo<>fol
thensb<lrt>elle hoosing is lf>ered jerboa ol 7tt>Armoumd
BtigacIe- lheOesertRllto.a.--mlhal "Itle01signjaol
CydopsSQuadmn.This .. - , e d oIIset to ltIe letIon the
""" oIltle !l.net , The tank carried combat irOcat co-paneI$
ICIPsjoneadllmnt l""",ol the turr.>lbulnoTlPson!l.net
sidesco-_dIr<"o!IltleaetionatAzZubayf,althrJo.91ltle
mount ng hoIeo Md-'dn/led. T!Iere was a """""",,,of
TlPs alltleoutselbullheyW9f8later_loeadl_of
ltIe t ~ _ ob5Cur'ng lhe _·lacing caJl$ogn, whi<:I1 was
reapplHld centrally ~ ItIe ~ ~ chevmn ..-.:j squadron
~ ,TheCfeW's~~itbagSw..... luXlfromlhe
radio ""t .....-..e:aI! hough lhey W9f8pron1llo combat damage
~ w ... in$ul'fic_space tostowtt-..min_ltIe t _.D..oe
10 a .r.ortage of supplie5 . Three One did not display "" ....
"""'IPllonpaneldi..ringltleactionatAzZobfN.
C, CH ALLENGER 2 , B S Q UA D RO N . THE
QUEEN ' S RO YAL L AN CER S , O P E RAT ION
TIiUC , ' T H I L O OP ' . B A SR A , SO UT H E R N
I RA Q , 3 A P R I L 2003
This Challenger 2 is It>e mount of SUlft Sergean t Jam
Southarn,lhel""'P_oIThree T""'P,BSquadron.ORL,
di..ring !he action M !he'l.oop · _ on pages 33 to 36
Thecallsigr1.ThreeZero.ispaintedonlhe_arm<UpaneI$
_ _ 'lU'l'l"",oI the1UlTe!sides,Alle!lIcI>ableblado.pIate.
oull""",inayellowsq<;<l,e_tingB$Quadron,
cornbinedwrtl1lt>evehiclec.alisign alsoiny1lllow. isattaetled
centra/ly1o!he_oIltlet~,ThreeZeroirOca t ... lhetroop
_llS<!oestnelennistwlimpaledonlt>eright _ _
~er;:~~=\~~::
=~~==TI~:a:="""":tr::=
oIltIetcnet,A.;jainan orange air-Klerrt i/icabon panel is VISible
onlhelopol!tleturre!,Or"P"<!f(M.nd!tlelrontoflhevtlt-oi<:le
is "" lsrook camoollage net Ctwa<:t_ oI many ORL
lanksdi..ringQperat"",re/o(:,!tIe\t>efmlli-..eoflhe""""
""""""'" WllSnot painted in desert yellow , Therestottne
c<eWcompri$edCorporal8<.nletl .... loaderlopera1co-. Trooper
5I-s--1fug as gonrw ancl Trooper wt1O!bVllSdriv<Y. Sefl}8MI
SoutharnwasMenboned in~forl>isactoons at
l"" 'Loop'
0 : C NA L LE NG E R 2 , A SQUA DRON , KI NO 'S
ROYA L H U SSARS, 1i1liRCISI SA B RIi'S
TN R U ST , S A L IS B U RY P L AIN , 'EB RUA RY 2 00 e
Sooplalelco- luloetails
E ' C NA L LE NGE R A RM D URI O RIPA I R
AN D R ECOV E RY YE NIC L£ , LI GH T A I D
D ET A CHM ENT, R OY A L ELiC T RICA L AN D
MIiC HA N IC A L E NG I NEERS . C SQ U A D RO N ,
TH E R O YAL SCO TS DR A O O DN OUA R DS ,
OP ER AT ION TIiUC , A1. f'AW P E NI N SUL A ,
SOU T NE R N I RAQ, 30 MA RCH 2 003
Wothits cal lsign. Two F"",CharIie._CRIIRRVis depicted
<:lurn}lhe""""""Y epoora toonporlfay.-.:l on P"II""37 10 40
Thevehic"'is~edO'f<lr3ll in_yeIIowandis flttedwrtl1
dusfrrwtigat>::>nsl<.irts.(ln$oOCll_ lStM""""""c.alisignol
TwoFOllCtlartiewithinacroe_
n g C ~,SCOTS
[)(; .as isthe5aJt.... just"""""ltIe_flxhaust~,As
~:..",.~=h~~~~=:.;
ancl"""',lBsIledtolt>e gunpianj<.son thehydraulic""""' ",
 -._-
"'-"""' . TtOs isatrltlfmalOlclical orandis~l<>the SCOTS
DG ,A ~ """ sigmlesA ~ , squareB , eo:cullo"C

.
a"ldrectat'ogUlarD, ~, CSQuaG-onMs tak""the SySlem
""" ' lepJu'tt>et_ twosl>apesonltleSlalk, Wilh ltlecJl:ular

\~~~ -"
C5qoa<n>n sogn at lheboltom,lhe same " , , - _ _
_ l<> s/>;lweac:h ~ _lheSQlJlldr<>n .l'hus. otnonglo

_lhecrcle iro:licot... 1st Troop oIC Squadron and 00 on

. - t w o _ being 3Rl TfOO\>. C Squodfon . These st>apes ....
_1hrOlJo1l TOOS otnighl a"ldin poor . . - y. Ano!tlw

• •• ...:. -.:J "-'..~ iro:licotorol tho Beautrful Sis the 'Mulanl' SQIJlIdr<>ninoq'loo
.....-.tJlazoneonthe..,.wmourf'lYl'M"""""'the
Not k""""" b-beingltle""""handsome peroonrtfII in the
~

regimoont,the l<':o<m 'MulonlS'ongorIO!ed -.5e<geanI 'T"", ·

it~ _
Spenc;t>.,..;W... ~led .. a g ophic oes;gnC>Mledby

. . _ . _---<;: ,,,--
_ .. ......... .....Yll E) _
~fC C~ _
lanoeColporojF,orO<iel' yIO, ~ """' adcmsmo.o::t> B Squadron
~,Topedl<> thotopolthens _ iao _

=':. ~sr:.= =::.=::..,= : :::

Iorwardl)otlomeo:lge. lheVRN DA1 7AAaw-'" on tho top
_ _.. Uouno_ . _(CH VL8) .....
_
T_ wftII <
Spt_..... IO_ - - ,""'
-. . ....
. <>fC... _oet_.
'_2._ ~

...,.. oI tho ..... lUl plat...

'2, C KA LLE IU IUI a, TH E Q UE E H'S ROYA L

_._...._,--, ,.-------_In_.. __._-

01
HUS S AAS 8 ATT LEGA OUP , I XER C IS I
_ .... _Mll T.ocIobo
TheC....
_ ....,...
_...VII E _.. ....-Th>jaro. It_bIo
h ... .. .

. :::I~;:~ MAN 1 , lATUS , CANA DA ,

....-._ --_.
_ _ .. . It.,... ... ~<>f . . ti _ _ dltoh _
l<tnger 2 I. P<tinted in tho
ThIs Chool g.--. Md yellOw
m ", _ .in • __ ~"""""",cMraeterislicol thtl _les ol t""
BrilishNmyTroi<Iing UnilSutf>eld,6ATUS , inc..-oo.,~

""'
T .... . .""._""
o_ -. __
_ _ _ _ M. T· \Si_
... ... _. _ .... 1
rMi ... "' .... Ii<ing.. , en::isas .... oondI.oc1
e dlMfe and ..fely ia
a prmeconsi<le<a toon, To lhioend there"",wtoite S!t'4>eson
tho turrel rool 'nown asthe·45a· lhol _ _ ~ the

~ 's <Wld gur-.-.erssighl <Wld_ to ir>;licat e the

sa!earcsol lire-' '-'"'''Il m ~.SimiIatly.ltle

""OfllnQ<l ait~io<lpanelandltwe"'
~or""llO~sale!'/matk.eo'pai<lted ontr>e
-, 1Op o1_jib. W ~ hlhe failinglight , tl>e f&lXJYf!J('of meci1anic.
Corpor al Justir>Simons,wasobligedlO ...... CI.1tI
iI>;eqouipmoorII
Ihat ~ tod Nspos;oonandlheC RARRV tc lhe""""'Y
.. 1he _commander,Corpora;Jar.-Gamott.!l'M'
~ lW'ewith l>isrool.....,...,.,todL37A27.6:?mm"""","",
IIU"_TIY<>..lQhoul the aclion, the lIag 01 the Corps 01 R<:>yal
ElBctricai and Mechanical Engir-../IowtromIheCRAARV's
radio antenna Th8 REM E C<llW of Two Four o - ~
Corpor~JayG!nolll.CorporaIJusbnSimons,Corpor
"R"",
Parl<ert~with~JoMMot'{jtw1
~~~C::~:~~~~~12D:ASGQOU::~~~'APS
.lu<ther ~ Spnmary siglrtMs fOKl<Wld~~ on
eac:h_so1tlat""'9"sa1aI'Istal!"-nowat all_e><acttv
inwhichdirectJon the CPS is lacing . BeIliOO!hIlC<lrJlrJ--.ders
",-""", i s _ ... klly1eat",, _ a""'metai tMng<4ar_
rdlcat.-.g lhol the _ s """""""' . ySt...... .....
~ ion <Wld """'Y l<> lirfI. Oithelumll __
_-. k-.e
sides and
the _callsign,One Two, Thio ieaisoPaio'ledon _ _
SI<orI. ".is thtl"-'zap oooe ·. The VRNis DPl 3AA
GI , C HA LLING E Il 2 , A S QUA OIlO N,
1ST 1l0 YAL TANII 1l1 0IMEN T, IX IIlCI SE
: UJ~~~A;o~~U Y H CA IIO LINA, USA ,
At0745/woon3 Ju1)'2004. theUniledSl..-oIAmeriCo
was ·inva<;led'bylo<eogrttank,-'ChaI\er>;Ier2 MBT.oI

~E:~~'1 .8::::.
l e AR e ' " IER ' "' ''' 0 O RIi"I, . O PE RATION
S OU T HE R N IA .o.O ,
1s1 T..,.,p , A Squadron , l RTR.wadedasllOrfllromLCUs
(Ulnding C<a ft llhllly) al HMS ,>Jo,on on lo 0rW0w _
at~~ ,thehornool l heUSM""""Co.;>o .Tho
l.JrMjoorlhocommandof~ArdyPolt<or.TwoOne " fourCMllanger 2 MBTs oI A Squadton. 1 RTR. _ acl.-.g
depicte<I <;krng!hol_""Fb.JleRe<l~Ihe _ _
ast""" suppor1lo42Com<nar>do,Royal~,<l<.nng
00 Basra<:<;><lllnllmodOperat.,..,SinI»d:lhe_"MutanI E.""'.... ~a. ajoom e """C.... 1I'1VOMng1roOpS 1rom _ .
c.-.-, _ TO'O<>pW Kevin Young .. _I""",ator, F'once, lioIandandthoUSA, The fourtanl<sb<llongedlOTho
T""""" CIIIk.<l1GritfJtho;"~andTr<>opef·Do:: 'Ood'lerty a..-. .. Roy al Lancers <Wld .. .... <epainted in Royal T....
;'Pso;:;..~~ac:a~_ "":~~2~:":
Aoqimentma1<.ingstore, _ """"".Asocompo$il"
troop, II had fourW>!<.with the /ourth """....-.;,., tho
1hermaI e. hai.>sl cowla(T'E Cs)andd..oslmltigatOollskirts,Tl>e comman<l"'~ 'Frog '_ .haWlg_ cabignOM

~::~.;., ":m..: =: ::. u:: :,-~

""IJo.."...,..;llhe ...... e>;1ractor_BSQuadron. .. _
1tIe on.slalk_the~ 's
Thnoe.Thio IO<2isplaytI<l .. rthin_tnongloolASquadmnand
is Paio'ledin yflllOwon _ lumll si<le!land . . . . . _ as lhe
torward ode skio:1•. Cenlrally on thetum'll _lotheleflolthe
caIlo<gnis o lo'9'l <!ecal ~ the F_ NaLJght orest ol lhe
 _. -
---,,-
--_
-- _~ .... ,

---
---
_evIZTCA_a
. . . . . _ _ 1lOS4E

--
_._--.
---
_ _ TIoer_

_10._.
--
»TreI-_»,",-
_ _ _ ~ "'VAh
_ ...YI......... _
.. :rooe..(81 _ _.....

02 , C "" LLE NG E R 2 , " I G U" b RG N, T " E

RO"' '' L OR " OO O N aU"R b l , OP ER"T IO,.
Tn , c t . MA.lA R_AL _It".IR , 1 0 UT " E RN
IR AG , 2 . D E CEM . ER 200 4
.... ~t_Peolat-. .. ~_~ ..
~.~r._-.._~

~1or_9ntIII'I"""Y.ko~..-.
~1or''' ''--'oltt-.9nbIft
_ .. ~ bQ. n.cr-.g. 2-.,10
"' ~ The ~ ar- a...o... _ __ .

oltt-.""'*"""""'.MapDan~~.tt-.
_"'*"9'.z.oar-~on_~
<lilt.-pIoote onlt>e_"...Thec>.- _ _ Corl>onII
.SIo.m' Gr..-.to.der/_a!a'. T~·5I>once·

_0._ 0_.. . . _
~ . ~ _ T"-·A.Mly·~.
'*"-.The_. depoCIeddunngOp.-et>on F - . , .. lt>e

_
t"""' oIM ....-.. ·Kabi< oYII<"" Chnal p.oodol2004
n.o_ _ .. I( nown . .·M4I<· to Bnt>s/'l l~ . M • · ~iI _oI

- . ..
·_· _ ' _ O f n.o ~

t~ """t!.ow""" tow ns o f Southefn I<"'l tnd w",,!fIe.e-

ot_-.._..
_ .. , .. ......-..... O - - " " ~2Iocu...-ty
_--~--
_ o f "" rnuta<::nt 01 $I'Roy.. MII'I ""1 Polooesold... .. June
2003.Du<ing the ''''ll''''"401 Sed<l11m~. ~ ~

n.o _ . H.UtIII-.
__
_
___ Of.
......._
_l_
3O.DOO~_ oIl'1elicopt.~

....... otl>FVlto_""Ms..-.~ ."",*"oI

tt>aWolWlGuatdl B<rtt~dunng~oon""""">
_ loeuP __ ~ 2 ~ _

......... "'$QueclIon~ .. a--2_~ _

_ _ ~ ..... _UOIl' _
-----.
~a..

'~w-rotlFVtolEknnlCornpany.t.een..kIn. TheD.Q

------.-
_ _ a...r _--~-

. _----
...
.. __ _
_ - . . . . - . . ....
ot~

....... ofz.oe.-.
~
.. ~

tt>a_Oonot<*TJ'-"':~on_11enoL
The
0S2'AA~ ... _"""'_ .....
_ _ lighIdt.iIl.-lOQelI.-_'_""-"'"
.... _ .. _ ~.
I
o
.
~
_ _ _ in"-l
_ ...... A_z.oar-.
T
h
e
_
o
f
"
'
~
_
T
h
e
r
.
.
.
~

~--...,~--_
_"_~DOl
..-·AVf.IT.PWit8don _ _ oItt-.T1St.bone.The
a-.g.2la"oksin"-l . . no-'-l*flMd"_
Flo¥-IT_~N.tt-._botIom.ao-ot_ . . not~OI'I(:I
camoutIege_dust~_
l\,nIII_iltt-.a.- Er- ...... ot' RTFI.~ da-negodbeyond_.The_ ....... "" Dl2F ..........
/cIowong1lS~_4
lt>Flo¥-I T_RqrwilIMl con'igo. .t oon _ fo..-ttw ..........~~ . .
tr..,.._tymboI bedo. l<>WorIdWw I.Atwncllt>e~ btong incorpoI'lOI<'1dbut d8IAoIa..- CIaM""". -''''''''
:'=':',lOngIIowhile band ro:licM"",, 'al Troop. TheVR N l~ 'a-..cull ... • to prnloo:t " " CfIIW ""'" ""er!Ilongong
... .... tndboobytraps
INDEX

." .0"
::,:~",t;,"
","",. -.. "

..... ,~,' ..,

,..... ~~I"'~ " ""'''', .. ....,. ." "" 2-"

~~l:~:" :~,;,.;.'~::".'~:.". ~;rrr)_(lW""""' '' ,..n.I. ::~~~:'~:' :: .,.,~." ..,,,.

. ..
,~

~- _.u.,,..,....., ' :hw.... n ........

." -,,,,,",,,",T ''''~ ,'' "

' ... ",.n1 l i :!." " BT
"'.·'tl_"Alx "~r
,', • .• , 9.'n, ..
',f.6..
/ ulw", T '

T, .l L,u:p ,"" ..
Tb>K ', ,
1Or ' n " .... ll 1" .

,:',~" T"W·"'·""·
Tn'" T."-"".l"d,,"' ~
" -~, ,,···
,IlTT' ..

.. ..
;;,,-,,;
T_"".U,'."
",

:,'::::::: ....w.'lW"'n
"'-.HO ..... , . ,
' t,"""'u.
" 1...' . ' ....., .
--""", ,,.,
,..~
. ....
..,"" ·.K'Il· ..
' ~' Wh""', Tp< '.'

Om.m"""'. ....... U , I•. ll \;"'".,1". ,. ..

'....n".....,""f>"~" ..." H'_''-U ,,~''''',. ,''' ,
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w w w .o.p....y p u h l i. h i ol\ _.o m

 New Vanguard . I 12

The design, development ope-anon and history Cha lle n ge r 2

of the machil'lery of warfare through the ages
Ma in Battl e Tank
198 7- 2006

~..
" -
Tlw aw.~ 2 Is tM
cunmt M.i.ln \I.Inlir Tank of
the Bril ish Arrny and tq:Jrnn1b
the culmlnoltlon of 80 yun of
unlr. dnign .ln 198 7, lbdloslgn
f . - ...
wu p~led 101 M Mln l, uy
of ~frTlC1' In response to iI
~ul mnml to ITp I.«e I two
Chldlaln MDT thaI h~ bttn
panla lly superseded by the
Challenger ! MilT. Producti on
began tn 199J , wllh th l'lank
flnall y l' ntf" ln g woM Q ln
2OOO, an d du ring Its r«t'n t
app"';Ir..n~ l n l rlKl lt provrd

Ind lspo-nloll * durtng t lw batt le

for ~... ThI,bool<OOVft1 t lw
~utlon of lbt Ctuollmgn 2,
frornlhortglmMld It"Sting.to
~ lnvoh-mwnl In 1M Middk
u.t uMl lraq.

O SPREY
PUBLISHING

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