Originally posted by Kozzy
Originally posted by spacemunkey
I think were getting confused here.
yes the Challenger 2 didnt enter service until well after Gulf War 1 (it was actually ordered in 1991 during/after the Gulf War). It was Challenger 1
that was used in the Gulf War 1. As for the barrel on both it was 120mm rifled.
Here's the link for Challenger 1 -
www.fas.org...
Here's the link for Challenger 2 -
www.fas.org...
As far as I am aware, there has never been a modern UK MBT with a 105mm barrel, the only MBT's that I can think of that had a 105mm barrel were the
M60 and M1 - US
Oh # you're right. Whoops.
I just wish to impart some information I heard at the time of GW1 (in those pre-internet days) Challenger 2 did go to GW1
Vickers Defence Systems started work on the Challenger 2 in November 1986 as a private venture and shortly afterwards, in March 1987, made its first
presentation of the vehicle to the British Ministry of Defence. In February 1988, Vickers submitted a formal proposal regarding the tank to the MOD
following the issue of the staff requirement. In December 1988 it was announced that Vickers Defence Systems was to be awarded a £90 million contract
to undertake a demonstration phase (also referred to as the proof of principle phase) which lasted until September 1990. This timed with the Iraqi
invasion of Kuwait.
In the days after the Iraqi invasion the coalition came together and it was apparent that the British army was mobilising to fight they put into place
programme to send out the demostration models to Saudi Arabia and actually managed to send out enought prototype to equip a unit (I heard from one
source that it was 12 tanks) during the Desert shield phase (remember this build p and the following air war took some time)
Thus Challenger 2 did participate in GW1 in this un-official/experimental capacity. How it performed what combat it saw I do not know, but it was
said that this event was a strong arguement for the British army to keep with Vickers and Challenger 2. In June 1991 not long after the end of the
GW1 the British Government selected the Challenger 2.
[edit on 26-1-2005 by Popeye]
