The Probert Encyclopaedia of Warfare

CHALLENGER 1

The Challenger 1 is a British main battle tank developed from the Centurion and Chieftain lines, modified to produce the Shir/Iran 2 originally planned for service with the Iranian forces. After the Iranian Revolution the Shir Iran 2 project was taken over by the British Army and the end result was Challenger later redesignated as Challenger 1. The main differences between
Challenger 1 and its predecessor Chieftain are the Challenger engine, a Rolls-Royce CV12 which produces 1200bhp at 2300 rounds-per-minute, far more powerful than the Chieftain engine and provides a top speed of 35 mph, and the Chobham Armour, which gives very high protection levels against anti armour weapons. Challenger is armed with a 120 mm L11A5 gun; two 7.62 mm Machine-guns; two 5 barrel smoke dischargers. Challenger is manned by a crew of four.
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