Military of China, force comment.
Military of China, force comment.

British troops serving in Iraq battlefield Challenger II main battle tanks
British Challenger II main battle tank currently in use rifled gun combat force far less than
installed on the Leopard II main battle tank of the L55, 120 mm smoothbore gun

this article as a” foreign tanks “magazine for” Sina military “sole manuscript. Without permission, please do not reprint.

Bizhong An Mengzhao Fu

shortage of funds may force Britain to give up its army equipment “Challenger” 2 main battle tanks of the “capacity to support the plan” (CSP) in An important provision: Dress German Rheinmetall L55 120 mm smoothbore gun type to enhance firepower.

lethality of the early retirement reduction will lead to the tank, which is the “Challenger” 2 main battle tank by 2035 should not have happened. Dress the “Challenger” 2 main battle tank gun fire proposal to enhance the discussion had started as early as 2002-2003, when both as a “spend to save from” one of the measures taken, but also to solve the ammunition lethality environmental pollution problems and obsolete L30, 120 mm rifled gun issues.

Subsequently, the British Ministry of Defense signed the “Challenger” lethal Improvement Program (CLIP), and put 3.7 million pounds on the testing smoothbore gun technology demonstration kind of gun to provide substantive support. 2004-2007, British-based Rheinmetall L55 smoothbore gun performance was evaluated for the “Challenger” 2 main battle tank turret to match the gun to improve the external structure. At that time, a type L55 smoothbore gun fitted with a gun like the “Challenger” 2 main battle tanks, shooting accuracy to the extreme.

facelift in 2002 to enhance the firepower of artillery proposal, the British Ministry of Defense of an investment assessment report on the show: and developed a new cost comparison of their rifled gun, for loading Rheinmetall L55 smoothbore gun type, in 25 years, life cycle cost savings of 325 million pounds. It is estimated that, even if simply to improve existing rifled gun shells, compared with the facelift smoothbore gun, life cycle cost per cent more 46 million pounds. However, even now facelift smoothbore gun, equipped with short-term budget estimates still need 85 million pounds.

existing artillery obsolete issues

was a kind of prophecy, can not do anything to improve the “Challenger” 2 main battle tanks and artillery the situation faced by , due to outdated and contrary to “insensitive munitions” (IM) provides that the existing L31, 120 mm high decrepitation a bomb (HESH) and L34 smoke will stop using in 2009, which would mean the “Challenger” 2 Master battle tank will remain in the politically sensitive use of depleted uranium kinetic energy anti-tank ammunition L27A1, but with the line “insensitive munitions” provides a standard to re-charge authentication. L27A1 kinetic energy anti-tank ammunition containing depleted uranium (late 1980s design, put into use in 1996) the ability to hit the advanced armor protection as is now greatly weakened. In fact, the most active on the battlefield against main battle tank capacity has far exceeded the “Challenger” 2 main battle tanks.

British Army within the minimum recommended improvements in the “Challenger” 2 main battle tanks, the existing high decrepitation A bombs, smoke bombs and depleted uranium rifled gun, aimed at maintaining a temporary capacity to fight until more The future light quickly work the system – direct fire platform (FRES DF) eased the emergence of leaving the situation (in the UK direct fire platform refers to the tank), the proposal has been widely recognized. Direct fire platform will be equipped with a 120 mm smoothbore gun, the earliest completion time is expected to develop in 2018, but the improvement in the existing state program, part of the “Challenger” 2 main battle tank will remain in service until 2035.

United States and Britain jointly launched in 2003 since the war in Iraq, “Challenger” 2 main battle tanks, artillery combat usage on the decline. Especially in 2008 during the military operation in Basra, obviously as the main weapons of war “Challenger” 2 main battle tank shells of mass destruction in 2003-2004 seems inconsistent with the official release of mass destruction.

addition to the current “Challenger” 2 main battle tank dress smoothbore gun shells drop in utilization and funding shortfalls occur, the British Ministry of Defense also proposed a new concept in the next 10 years will cost millions of pounds “for the supply of ammunition to solve” (MASS) protocol, is expected shortly by the UK Ministry of Defence and British Aerospace Systems to discuss. MASS agreement is seen as 2001 the British Ministry of Defense and BAE Systems signed a “10-year framework agreement,” a continuation of, and plans to more thoroughly meet the late 2005′s, “British Defence Industrial Strategy” identified in the British ammunition ability of dominant needs.

Therefore, MASS agreement in principle will be 5.56 to 155 mm caliber guns, ammunition, supplies and research and development necessary resources, equipment and technology to provide protection. In particular, the British BAE Systems is considering investment in new production equipment, ammunition, large sums of money (more than 100 million pounds) in order to continuously improve the production efficiency of new ammunition, to meet the operational need.

now, it was suggested that a task is MASS agreement remaining UK tank ammunition for the protection and development of re-allocation of funds. However, since the British company BAE Systems closed a few years ago to promote the fuel factory has been developing a systematic approach to tank ammunition and personnel with the necessary experience has been difficult to find. Now, the United Kingdom most of the reserves of ammunition (including tank ammunition) R & D and production has been transferred to German companies.

independent research

on the previously mentioned kinetic energy ammunition, some kind of personal investment now hopes the development of non-depleted uranium long-rod penetrators. The non-depleted uranium armor-piercing was originally designed in the mid-1980s, British Aerospace Systems was that the kinetic energy anti-tank missile is L27A1 an environmentally friendly alternative to the test. Later, as an export-oriented shells, its design has improved, mainly exported to the Greek army (once that the Greek Army will order the “Challenger” 2 main battle tank), but also exported to the “Challenger” 2 main battle tank The only overseas users – Royal Army of Oman.

2005, according to the future with the British Business Group Defence Procurement Agency contract, British Aerospace Systems, a small amount of capital investment (￡ 300,000) to develop a new tungsten core kinetic energy missile, was informally named CHARM 2 or L28A2 kinetic energy rounds, (as distinct from the early British Aerospace Systems Design Vickers Defence Systems Division of export-oriented L28 tungsten core shells). The shells for Jordan’s “Challenger” 1 main battle tank installed L11, 120 mm rifled gun, the same for the “Challenger” 2 main battle tanks, firing artillery-type L30.

to maximize the use of ready-made components is the UK Ministry of Defense had hoped, “Challenger” 2 main battle tanks, artillery training range reduction (RRTR) will use an improved version of the German advance charge system (with a You can adjust the size of the connecting piece) and combustible cartridge, the shells in the British Aerospace Systems Glascoed loading and assembly plant. L28A2 L27A1 will be used depleted uranium shells kinetic energy anti-tank kinetic energy of the cartridge, thread structure, and tail, as the L28A2 modified nickel and cobalt tungsten alloy penetrators (which may be produced by Rheinmetall DM53-type kinetic energy missile reduction charge, but the length is similar to The original L28 type) will have already stopped production of L23 with the kinetic energy of shells (still used in Jordan and Oman) the same weight, so no need to change the existing fleet of ballistic fire control system.

Nevertheless, L28A2 anti-missile potential or kinetic energy by the attention. To provide the necessary “versatility”, L28A2 kinetic energy missile advance charge was reduced to sustainable L11 type gun maximum chamber pressure of 32 tons, is estimated muzzle velocity is not greater than 1550 m/sec. Since the shells become soft-shell has been designed to withstand 40 tons of L30-type gun chamber pressure limits the maximum principle, it is likely to still use a preferred charge to ensure that the L30-type gun to a higher muzzle velocity . However, L28A2 kinetic energy is always playing the maximum aspect ratio of less than 120 mm smoothbore gun shells (overall design) aspect ratio, mainly because based on the “Challenger” 2 main battle tanks, artillery mounted compact sub-structures and related storage box size.

In fact, L30-type guns used in any of the tungsten core is less than the kinetic energy of mass destruction such as bombs have the same size and weight of depleted uranium penetrators L27A1, L28A2 kinetic energy while playing but also because the quality is not fully verified through can not be used.

a possible remedy is to introduce an anti-tank guided artillery shells (GLATGM). This approach is seen as a return to the “Challenger” range 2 main battle tanks and armored targets advanced ability to destroy an alternative, and may make the “Challenger” 2 main battle tanks into network operations. Referred to artillery missiles on Israel’s aerospace industry is the largest company producing a range of 8000 meters, laser-guided anti-tank missiles (LAHAT). With a hollow charge warhead design LAHAT anti-tank shells can be traced back about 20 years ago, the initial design and manufacture of fit in the 105 mm rifled gun (whether GLATGM is from 105 mm or 120 mm smoothbore gun firing rifled or by both use the same warhead missiles). Estimate the diameter of the warhead with a 800 mm armor penetration, armor-piercing capability may be lower than Russia is developing a new generation of 152 mm artillery missiles, due to 152 mm laser-guided anti-tank missiles (LAHAT) with alternative mixed-effects (anti-personnel and armor) and the concrete barrier-breaking warhead, so it applies to urban warfare.

the potential of direct fire platform

future work fast system – platform’s ability to direct fire and immediately replace the “Challenger” 2 main battle tank is still is unknown. British Royal Armoured troops charge in January 2007 held at the “light-medium armored vehicles IQ defense meeting” proposed, existing technology and have not found a viable alternative as the “Challenger” 2 main battle tank as to provide the highest performance for close combat heavy vehicles. He also mentioned that British armored vehicles, especially the “Challenger” 2 main battle tank, which means the British Army’s “face” and “honor”, particularly in Central Asia and the Middle East, ignoring the intangible things, will British Army will bring unexpected losses. Meanwhile, the main battle tank can be converted into light troops and equipment, the British Army just can use the existing “Challenger” 2 main battle tank and its role; the other hand, light forces, heavy forces could never go. He further comments to the “Challenger” 2 main battle tanks have once again proved itself to the light forces are safe and reliable, especially in high-risk cities, the severity of the ability of complementary equipment is particularly important.

related topics: foreign tanks