One of the standout elements of Britain’s Challenger 2 tank which is being deployed to Ukraine is a kettle that allows for tea on the go, according to a commander.
It sounds like a quintessentially British feature to satiate soldiers’ thirst for a brew wherever they are in the world, but the “boiling vessel” is important in maintaining the morale and wellbeing of the crew, said Justin Crump, a former British Army commander who used the Challenger 2 during operations in Iraq in 2003-4.
He told i: “The loader looks after this feature, unique to British tanks, and it allows the crew to be sustained with hot drinks and also boil-in-the-bag rations without having to park and leave the vehicle.
“This makes a huge difference to [morale] and every commander I have ever hosted from a foreign nation has been deeply jealous.”
Interest in the fighting capabilities of the Challenger 2 and how it could help Ukraine defeat Russia is growing after Britain pledged to send 14 vehicles to the frontline, sparking promises of support from other nations including Germany and the US, too.
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The Challenger 2 is the British Army’s main battle tank. In service since 1994, it is 62.5 tonnes, has a maximum on-road speed of 37mph and requires a crew of four: a commander, gunner, loader and driver.
Challenger 2 specialises in firepower and protection, thanks to its “world-class” Chobham armour. The British Army admits prioritising these factors make it slower than some of its opponents, but maintains “the accuracy and lethality of the Challenger 2 offset their higher speeds”.
The main armament is a 120mm rifled gun with 47 rounds, but there is also a chain gun and a general purpose machine gun on board.
Mr Crump, who was a full time Challenger 2 commander with the Queen’s Royal Hussars and then commanded C Squadron of the Royal Wessex Yeomanry from 2014-19, said the Challenger 2 is very responsive to manoeuver.
He said the tank is “steered by push/pull tillers either side of a seat that reclines right down so you’re lying almost on the floor when the hatch is closed – comfortable enough that drivers can often fall asleep during a long period of moving and stopping even in mock combat”.
This feature helps to keep the vehicle as low as possible which is important in battle. At other times, the driver can “open up and pop their head out rather than view the world through a periscope sight, rather like a pillbox”.
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As commander, Mr Crump has worked closely with the tank’s driver, whose side view is restricted, to ensure they avoid obstacles. His other duties included managing the turret and gun, and the orientation of the tank’s hull.
“All possibly while using the radios, laying the gunner onto a target, checking the loader has not been bounced half out of the turret especially during cross-country movement, and having people shoot at you.
“There’s a lot going on in a tank and it will sorely tax most people – plus they bite you (sometimes terminally) hard if you get it wrong, even just in training.”
What makes the job slightly easier is being able to make a hot drink with the boiling vessel (BV).
“I’ve used the BV a lot – even as a commander you often find yourself on the loader’s side of the turret… plus you have to know everyone’s jobs. That includes making everyone a brew.”
The BV, said Mr Crump, is an example of how small things make a big difference in battle.
“Similarly four-person crews rather than three with Russian designs can better stand up to pressures due to being able to share the general workload of life in the field – for example sentry duties, camouflage and concealment and maintenance tasks.”
Another standout feature of the tank is the hydro-pneumatic suspension of the tank.
Mr Crump said: “Although other tanks might have more horsepower for tonne, Challenger 2 is able to maintain speed very well and is incredibly stable and flexible over difficult ground. This matters as it makes for a very smooth gun platform. The armament is fully stabilised and computer calculated to take account of every factor including wind, moisture, laser range to target, vehicle movement, angle to the ground.