United Kingdom Challenger 2 Main Battle Tank of Queen's Royal Hussars ( QRH ) Armoured Regiment. Tactical insignia indicates II Battalion, 2nd Company, 62nd Vehicle. Tank depicts British operations in Basra-Iraq 2004 during urban combat sweeps against Iraqi insurgent forces. QRH can traced its existence back over 300+ years when it was formed as light cavalry regiment in 1685.
Coming into service in 1998, British Challenger 2 is an extensive upgrade to mid-1980s Challenger 1 tank, primarily using predecessor's hull and automotive layout, with everything else newly designed such as 120 mm L30A1 rifled gun and Chobham armor - 2nd generation type "Dorchester" ( type of composite ceramic - metal - elastic armor developed by British in 1960s ).
With excellent crew protection on modern battlefield, during the Iraq War and subsequent combat with insurgent irregular forces, one Challenger 2 was hit by 8 rocket propelled grenades ( RPG ) and MILAN anti-tank rocket with its crew safely inside awaiting tank recovery vehicle, while another Challenger took 70 RPG hits with no armor penetration during its Basra operations. This prompted one British defense analyst to proclaim one RPG hit can bring down an American Apache gunship, but British Challenger can withstand multiple RPG hits can keep on rolling.
Challenger model has scratch-built armor side skirts, custom built British tank crewmen, custom designed / printed decals, and illustrated display base. Tank nicknamed "Cromwell" after English republican / anti-monarchist leader Oliver Cromwell who established England's first Republic called the Commonwealth from 1649 - 1660, about 130 years before existence of United States of America.
Private Collector :
Bryn.B @ Twickenham . London metro area . England . Great Britain . United Kingdom
