Saw this........

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Left Side:

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BAE System:

Front:

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Mad Max

RPG Rails:

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Right Side:

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Left Side:

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Rear:

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The Arm:

Front

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Right Side:

Arm

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Rear Left Side:

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Rear:

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Rear Markings:

[Taz]

Blue on Blue, Operation IraqI Freedom

The first reported ground fratricide incident during Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) occurred shortly after midnight on March 24th, when a British Challenger II tank fired on another near Basra. This incident is of particular interest. The two tanks, Britain's most advanced MBT types, were part of a squadron of the Queen's Royal Lancers attached to the 1st Battalion Royal Regiment of Fusliers Battlegroup of the 7th Armoured Brigade. The tanks were engaging pockets of Iraqi soldiers near a bridge over the Qanat Shat Al Basra canal which runs along the western edge of the city. In a nearby sector, a troop of CR2 of 2 RTR was tracking a group of enemy personnel through their thermal sights, which had been reported by the battle group HQ. The 'target' was indicated as an enemy bunker position. The QRL Challenger was, unfortunately, in turret-down position, below the skyline, its crew working on the turret top, visible to the 2 RTR crew as the reported "enemy" troops.

The RTR TC requested clearance to shoot, which was granted. Firing two shots of HESH at 4000 yards blew the turret off the QRL Challenger, killing two of the crew and seriously wounding the two others. Both tanks were fitted with visual identification systems in working order, but could not render clear visual contact, due to the hull-down positioned tank.

According to reports, tanks in OIF were issued bolted-on identification panels, including those emitting thermal signature which can be seen at long distance using IR observation devices. However there seemed to remain also some of the older fluorescent sheets, used during Desert Storm on some of the AFVs.

August 2006 - the driver of a Challenger II, Trooper Sean Chance, lost three of his toes when an RPG-29 penetrated the frontal armour during an engagement in al-Amarah, Iraq.

April 6, 2007 - in Basra, Iraq, an IED shaped charge penetrated the underside of the tank, resulting in the driver losing a leg and causing minor injuries to another soldier.

The outcome of one Chally II against another was inevitable.

The April 6th incident shows that if the charge is right, no tank is undefeatable as the underside is generaly weaker.

Of the three incidents the most worrying in my opinion is the RPG-29 "Vampir" penetrating the explosive reactive armour (ERA) .

However the The PG-29V tandem-charge Heat round used was designed for the sole purpose of defeating ERA armour, and this is the only time it has managed to do so on a Chally II.

Since then, and the following investigation as to why the ERA appears to have failed, no doubt measures have been made to combat the problem, although the outcome of the investigation remains an MoD secret because of security reasons.

Regards Eddie

Update on the RPG - 29 ''Vampir'' penetration of a Chally II

The RPG-29 that breached CR2, bounced off the ground and detonated under the tank sending a single piece of shrapnel through the belly, the driver lost some toes.

A new armour package has been developed that increases protection against this type of damage (Mainly IED's/Mines)

So it seems the frontal armour wasn't comprimised as was first thought.

As an additional note this weapon was tested against T-80 and T-90 tanks and penetrated the frontal armour.

Both the Merkava and M1 ''Abrams'' have been battle damaged by the ''Vampir''

Without being too biased, Chally vs which tank for the number 1 spot? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xF3faiNsiow

Regards Eddie

Edited December 21, 2008 by Taz