You can even make tea inside the Challenger 2 battle tanks.
10:35•Updated 10:58
Training of Ukrainian tank mechanics is underway in Wiltshire, southern Britain.
Britain has promised to hand over 14 Challenger 2 main battle tanks to the Ukrainian armed forces. Even though the wagons were already manufactured in the 1990s, their technology is very advanced compared to the Soviet-era wagons used in Ukraine.
In addition to the wagon crews, training is provided to Ukrainian mechanics, who are responsible for maintaining the condition of the wagons in Ukraine, as well as repairing wear and tear caused by the terrain and traces of enemy weapons. Without maintenance and repairs, the 62-ton equipment would soon become useless.
Challenger 2 wagons have their own characteristics that make their repair work and maintenance challenging. The gun turret of Challenger 2 is built on the chassis of the older Challenger 1 carriage. As a result, the crews have to use two different tools.
Traditional foot and inch measurements were used in the old frames, but modern metric measurements were used in the manufacture of the new turrets, says The Daily Telegraph newspaper (you will switch to another service).
The characteristic of the Challengers is a rifled barrel, while the other tank models promised to Ukraine, Leopards and Abrams, have smooth barrels. This requires different maintenance and ammunition.
Most other battle tanks use armor-piercing or hollow-core ammunition. Challenger 2 wagon grenades instead have a HESH plastic explosive that detonates on the surface of the target wagon, causing the interior armor of the wagon to fragment, killing the crew and detonating the ammunition inside.
Challenger’s rocket projectiles are also two-part, meaning the propellant and explosive are separate. Carriage crews have to learn how to put ammunition parts together.
It is traditionally very important for the British to have regular tea. It has been said about British tanks that they have a built-in tea maker. This is not really true, but Challengers do have the option of making tea.
The wagons have a water heater whose main function is to produce hot water as a side dish for the dry food meals of the wagon crews, says Tankhistoria information website (you will switch to another service). Similar equipment is also available in many other wagon models.