Key Points: The British Challenger 1 main battle tank excelled during its 18-year service, particularly in Operation Granby during the First Gulf War.
-Deployed against Iraq, 180 Challenger 1s destroyed over 300 enemy tanks and vehicles without a single loss.
-Key to its success were its Chobham composite armor and a powerful L11A5 120mm gun, which could fire sabot rounds with deadly precision.
-Advanced fire control systems, including night-fighting capabilities, complemented its robust design.
-Powered by a reliable 1200-horsepower diesel engine, the Challenger 1 offered solid performance in desert conditions. It proved a proud and effective cornerstone of British armor on the battlefield.
Britain’s Challenger 1 Tank Performed Like a Champ
The British Challenger 1 main battle tank was a workhorse that earned its spurs during the First Gulf War when the British army showed its mettle.
The Challenger 1 had a relatively short service life (compared to the M1 Abrams platform) with an excellent combat record.
Most importantly, it steadfastly did its job and paved the way for Challenger 2.
A Challenger 2 Main Battle Tank of the Royal Welsh Battle Group on Exercise Prairie Storm at the British Army Training Unit Suffield (BATUS) in Canada.
Let’s look at Challenger 1 to see how valuable it was to Great Britain.
Eighteen-Year Service Life
The Challenger 1 started as a concept in 1978 to replace the Chieftain tank. Four years later, it entered service when the British army ordered 420 Challenger 1 tanks from Vickers Defense Systems. It was used until 2000, when the Challenger 2 emerged as an updated version.
Jordan bought 274 Challenger 1 tanks after their success against Saddam Hussein’s forces in Operation Granby (the British version of Operation Desert Storm). Jordan still deploys the Challenger 1.
300 Wins to Zero Losses in the First Gulf War
Operation Granby was a highlight for the Challenger 1. The tank worked well in the desert under hot and sandy conditions. The British used 180 Challenger 1s during combat in the short engagement.
The tanks blazed over 217 miles in 97 hours and destroyed 300 Iraqi tanks and armored personnel carriers while sustaining zero Challenger 1 losses – a notable feat for the tank.
Strong Gun and Armor
One reason for the tank’s success was its heavy armor called the Chobham composite. The gun also showed its strength during the First Gulf War. A Challenger 1 eliminated an Iraqi T-55 from 2.54 miles away.
Watch Out for That Sabot Round
The gun was borrowed from the Chieftain – known as the L11 series (L11A5) 120mm caliber Length 55 main gun.
The sabot armor-piercing round with a depleted uranium tip set the gun apart on the battlefield.
The gun was reliable during the brief war. The projectiles were shorter compared to other high-explosive anti-tank rounds, and the Challenger 1 stored 64 of them in the rear of the turret.
Fire Control Was Top Notch
Another advantage of the Challenger 1 was its effective Fire Control System. It had a laser range-finder and a wind sensor connected to a computer, a feature ahead of its time. Gunners used the Thales Optronics Tank Laser Sight.
Later, Challenger 1s had a Thermal Observation and Gunnery System, another fire control improvement that allowed the tank to fire at targets at night. The tank had two 7.62mm machine guns – one coaxial and one for the tank commander.
The Tank’s Armor Gave Crews Confidence During Combat
The Chobham armor was developed in Chobham village in Surrey, England. According to Fighting-Vehicles.com, “Chobham is a composite armor, which is best described as a composition of hardened or dense materials, referred to as ceramics, which are bonded together and can give greater sustained protection than other armor types. What was pioneering about Chobham armor was not just the ceramic composition, but rather the bonding process used in its creation and the matrix the composition was fitted in.”
This resulted in a well-protected tank that gave the four-man crews confidence when going into battle. The Chobham armor was effective at countering high-explosive anti-tank rounds. Before going downrange in Iraq, maintenance crews used an up-armor kit on the front of the tank for more survivability.
Surprisingly Competent Engine
The Challenger 1 also had a respectable level of mobility and agility. It was powered by the 1200 horsepower 12-cylinder diesel Perkins Condor engine with a Hydrogas suspension. The engine and transmission were located in the rear.
The tank could hit 34 miles per hour, not fast, but quick enough to do the job. Its range was 280 miles, which served well during the lightning operation in Iraq.
One fear during the First Iraq War was the possibility that Iraq would use chemical weapons. The Challenger 1 had a Nuclear, Biological, and Chemical environmental protection system to counteract this contingency.
The Challenger was a solid tank that was battle-tested and performed at an optimum level. I like the gun and the fire control system that could fire sabot rounds. It took no losses and dominated Iraqi armor. Plus, its long-range engine enabled it to joyride into Iraq, looking to create death and destruction.
It was indeed a homegrown product that the British should be proud of. Veterans of Operation Granby will look back fondly at Challenger 1 and its success, which made the coalition forces’ job much easier in Iraq. This tank rose to the “challenge” in a desirable manner.
About the Author: Dr. Brent M. Eastwood
Brent M. Eastwood, PhD, is the author of Don’t Turn Your Back On the World: a Conservative Foreign Policy and Humans, Machines, and Data: Future Trends in Warfare, plus two other books. Brent was the founder and CEO of a tech firm that predicted world events using artificial intelligence. He served as a legislative fellow for U.S. Senator Tim Scott and advised the senator on defense and foreign policy issues. He has taught at American University, George Washington University, and George Mason University. Brent is a former U.S. Army Infantry officer. He can be followed on X @BMEastwood.
