How Did the British Army Get So Short Of Tanks? The British Army invented the tank, and today, its only Armored Division has just a skeleton force of operational tanks. How did this happen? The British Army is so hollowed out that many in NATO now doubt that they could effectively join in if the alliance ever goes to war with Russia.
It has been widely reported that Britain currently has only 20 to 25 operational Challenger tanks, and its self-propelled artillery AS90 howitzers have been given to Ukraine.
Challenger 2 tank.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer recently stated that Britain could participate in a Ukraine peacekeeping mission, which has been dismissed as unrealistic.
No Tanks: What Happened To The Royal Armoured Corps?
The answer is plenty. Years of budget cuts, supply chain failures, and contractor bankruptcies have hollowed out the force. Donations to the Ukrainian military further strained the resources it didn’t have. British tank forces in the 1990s consisted of about 400 Challenger 2 Tanks.
After Britain donated 14 Challenger tanks to Ukraine, that number dropped to 213. The problems started in the 1990s and worsened due to parts shortages, defense contractors going bankrupt, and maintenance and repair worker shortages.
“In 2023, it was reported that only around 160 of the fleet was in any fit state to be used on operations (after extensive maintenance) – and the situation got worse.”
The Tanks Are Almost All Non-Operational
The situation has gotten so bad that the Corps is trying to get 59 tanks to sustain operations. Each Armored Regiment in the British Army is supposed to have 59 Challenger 2 tanks. As of today, they are nowhere near that threshold. They can count on only 20 to 25 tanks at most per regiment.
So, the British Armoured Corps currently has only about 30 percent of its armor that can go to war.
Challenger 3 Tanks Will Help But Not Solve The Problems
The British are building 148 Challenger 3 tanks and should have them by 2030, barring delays. However, an Armored Division should number between 170 and 300 tanks and between 110 and 220 artillery pieces. It is a nightmare for British commanders trying to plan operations.
The Challenger 3 will be the best tank to ever serve in the British Army. But it is more of a stop-gap than a true game-changer. Again, the force has been hollowed out, and there aren’t easy answers.
Organic Artillery Support is Hollowed Out, Too
With the gift of 32 AS90 self-propelled artillery pieces to Ukraine, Britain now has only 39 operational AS90s; it should have 89. Maintenance and spare parts are in very short supply, and many vehicles lack tracks or engines.
It is transitioning to the Swedish Archer 14 artillery pieces but currently has only 14.
Ammunition for the artillery is scant because much of it has been sent to Ukraine. Electronic warfare equipment is also in short supply. The troops are well-trained but don’t have enough equipment to do the job.
RUSI Paints a Bleak Picture
The Royal United Services Institute (RUSI) is an independent British think tank engaged in cutting-edge defense, security, and international affairs research.
They recently posted an article that speaks of the British Army’s dire straits overall regarding its readiness for war.
The trend of the past 35 years has been to trade numbers for sophistication, but this has overall led to a diminution of total firepower. The UK can do some things well, but not at a particularly impressive scale when the adversary is a state with significant military power of its own, which is prepared to suffer losses. A recent defense secretary admitted that the forces had been ‘hollowed out’ for years.
The United States will not be responsible for Europe’s security for much longer. The Trump administration has clarified that the US can no longer afford it. It will not turn its back on NATO, but Western Europe has to bear the brunt of its own security.
The British Army is in even worse shape than they were in 1940. They sent an ill-prepared force to aid France in its fight against the German invasion. The fight was over in six weeks.
The British government needs to fix this issue as soon as possible and tell the people the truth.
About the Author: Stephen Balestrieri
Steve Balestrieri is a 19FortyFive National Security Columnist. He served as a US Army Special Forces NCO and Warrant Officer. In addition to writing for 19FortyFive, he covers the NFL for PatsFans.com and is a member of the Pro Football Writers of America (PFWA). His work was regularly featured in many military publications.
