Challenger 2 MainBattle Tank 1987-2006

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CONTENTSTHE CHIEFTAIN REPLACEMENTPROGRAMME• Slalr Requirement (Land} 4U26• Vick..", D..f..nc.. S~~ I" llls co nlran

• For.. ign cO"'I"' lito r«• Chall"llgl'r 2 I'rulo l'1>t·,

THE CHOICE OF CHALLENGER 2• Th.. po lilic. of d..f..ncl' pronlr..", ..m

CHALLENGER 2 TRIALS ANDTRIBULATIONS• Rl'l iahilil\ Gm wlh Trial s• Ch alk n!!:l' r 2 Fielding Tl'a m

OPERATIONAL DEPLOYMENTOF CHALLENGER 2• [x.. rci", SaifSarl'l'a

OPERATION TELIC• Thl' assault on AL ZllhaH• Th.. ad,·ance o n Bas",• R[~I[ 10 I ll.. rl'seu..• T Ill' batik tor Bitsr..

COLOUR PLATE COMMENTARY

INDEX

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18

25

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48

New Vanguard · I 12

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Acknowl edgem en ts

ArmooredTriaI.andDevek>pmen1UnrtBovington;BA£Sys tem. lMid Systemo ; Sgto..vid B8NtlSCOTS CXt Col(field) Peler Barry; W02 T"""" Boyd QRI-i; Mai Andrewll<rt1on RTR; Gapl Breen 6ro1IIe<1onSOOTS 00; '1'102SD. carg,~ RE; Capt Andrew Doug... RE; Ll Col o.. vid E"" '"DRL;$Sgt LJ,Edward.REME; Cpl Tam F"'l1-JSOO RTR;LlCol(R.td)Geo<ge Forty RTR: MrGalyFOSterlBAE, CoIIRetd) JaM Gillman; 00, Frar>l< Hack "" RTR; Maj Gi....I-iamson ORL;Ll Gen (Retdj SirRobert Hayman--JoyceKCB DL CBE; Cpl M_ Heriderson RTR1-I<>a<lQuart"", 0ifec10r Royal ArmouredCorps Bovington;I-k>me!1ea<1q",,"~ The0.-'0 Royal Lane.... ,Home Hea<lq"""",,, The RoyalDrllQOOl1Guardo; Home~TheRoyalScot.DragoOl'lGuards;Home

I-leadquarlers The Royal Tank Reqimenl ; Mai 51ll<1ingKMlo:sleadORL;Gapl' Rab' living.toneRTR;M lnio!ryofDrrl"""",Drrectorat.of Oeten<:ePubloclly(A.rmy);oot Ben McNamara RTR; Sgt Ar4y Pott ", SOOTS 00:Maj o..n Rawl.... ROO; Gpi Graham Reil!)' RTR; Ll Col Mi...F\ossRII; M,o..vid Rowland.; Royal Eng"-,, Trial. aridO""'eiopmenl Unil; SgtJusbn $lmon. REME; GoI (Retd)DavidSOmpsonORL;$Sgt'Rab' SpiersRTR; The T_M"""""""ll<MngIon;$SgtAndrewTopp;ngRTR;M, !.esTylef BA£;Vick"""Oetence SystemsDavid Rowlands is oneolthflmosl accomplistledmdrtaryar11S1.opec ~ in thflacl_ofthflBritisl1"""'"',aro

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.... lloy ai Atmou eo.po, __ Challyo(\'DS)

CHALLENGER 2MAIN BATTLE TANK

1987-2006

THE CHIEFTAIN REPLACEMENTPROGRAMME

By th.· ",id·l~~ Ill<'S",i.'( Uni, ,,, W;" p... 'h,,- i"K"wr :l,lXM) \1"i" l\.;,ukra"le, (MBT ) a ~·..ar . l lln{'a'i nl/;~' p"""'rf"IIll<"ld" "Kh a' th,· T-6-! amiT-n. ",,,,.. ht-ing illlroduced that p"""d a ';gnilicaJU threalWlh" Briti'hAl1n~', mix.>d tI,·.. , "r (:hidiaill and (:halle"l/;t"r \.lRT,. Acconlingly. th"Chi,.ftain / C1Mll,·ng,·r 1"' 1"' '' '' '' ''' " l I'n 'll)''''' '' '' · (Cl I I !') wa, i"'plt'­Ilwnt,,,II,,;,,,,,,iI,- ,,,,,,.><l,"rni,,·,h,·;rlllrrt"' "'W"U'IIli,-, ,,,HI fin...-,,"trol'y'lt'm'. COllcurITnth -, tI Cl l -\R\I "'- CHid'milli e l bU,',,!:.'r AR\b"l("mI''''l:r.ulllllt' 'lOt, lllHl ", · In dt""l"p a ,ww high-p.',fom""Ke 1 ~ lrnrn

ril1<-dI'(\lll. rh.. XC\O t:4. ami illlp",,..<1 a",mnnil;on h" h"lh lh~ e~i'ling

120",,,, Lli ....ric." an<l lh~ ne,, - tank l:'''L In add;li"". a ""par-.ue"p-an"o"ri llg I''''gr-..,,,,,, .. rlc·..ignal ..d Slill!>,.,·" "Of< illlmducerl forChieftain to Ih",lIt all'Kl fro", .1,.. 12'·'"nn ", ,,in "nlla""'''l "I' II,..I:fi4 an<l-1'72. Ttl<"CHII' an" CH-\ R\ ll>n>p"dlnrnt'" ""n' In h.· "I'pli,·" 10

~~;,~,,~~:::t~,i~, ~:;':h~hc~~,~:~~~r pt·"rlinR l"~ intrnd"eti"n of" n....' \IBT

S, ..·c-r-"I0I'.in"'''..r.. p'''l'o....·dlolhe E'l"il'''''·n' Poli<)'C.munil '' ....ind"diug funh.·rp"'d,a...." "fCl",ll..nl':..r "'l':,'d,..r"; th "O""I""hc'",i\'<"pro<lnetimpro,..nwrupn>p""""' ... forlhc·c,,11lpleleCh,lIl,,ug.'rfk.· t. n<t.purcha.... .,fah'reign \ IBT,,,d,a'lh.· \11 Ahr-.uu, "r I.e " pa rd 2"·...,,,1 '"c"",i<lc·rerl, .....lheywe.... malUred.."ign'an<llhead"I"i .. uofeilher"nnId

.."hallce :-;_\1'0 illl..mpe rahility d" , ' In Ih.. fan 111011 tlwy' l ~lth e"'plO)" 'd amutu;olh' "" "' IMlihk l ~'l h ,,, n ,n" K,thh<",- ",,,in 'trilla",..,,!. III :\",..", her1'I!'lI;,<"'"..ral Sir Richard Vi" ...·ll1. t1>.. \I;o", 'r (;"",'r,,1 "ft1>.. O rd "" n,·e .,i,i"'d \ "id." I'< ."' f, 'n...· Snt,·"" (\ l )S) ;n :\"..",c",tl,·-ul~ll\·Ty,,," toi"''''li!!:ate ",h ..th..r Ih.. COllljMUyco"ld mgg, ·q a repl;on 'Il1<'1l1 \18 1' for th..9!'l1) Chi,itain, Ih"n ill ,, ·ni n· . -0 ,.. d,,,i,,, 1conn'pt '"'' hrW'" i"n",..li",..~ .

tn...-d nil a co",hi""tioll of " re,i",-d \ 'id,,,,,, ~t.rk i lI",...t and annpgrad'-d Chall"ll':"r d "" , i, - tIl<"\ !"rk i h,:in~ a pri"'k \ 'DS d,,,i~n

oll.. rt-d on th" int..mati""al ",,, rk..t. Th .. li"'t offi,-ial presentatioll "fthe Chall" ng,.'r 2' 1». \ 'DS 1U tl,.. \l ini, ,, )' of Dd'-nn· (MO D) ",",urn-<!on :lI1 ~Iarrh 1911i at ~lil1ha"k Tow..r. th.. head o!fic.. of \ 'irk .." pk ."'erl""kingtl'" Riw r TIta""" in I . ", <lon.

Sta ff Re quirem ent (L8 nd1 4028Aft..r <I" .. ("n",ilk""i"". La " d S<''''Il'' Op ..ratio"al Requirem..,,!., 1(L'>O R I ) prortmllr"tt-d SR(L)'ltI'2ti.th.. Staff Rrqui""""tj",- tJv !vplam1im1ofC}'iRjla;Tl. " " :II) :>:,.,elllhrr H11l7. Th i, !<,l1"Wfflth.. di","ro,t, CanadianArmy' Trophy' (CATI :>:.\1'0 tan k "'"l1l ..ry uHnJ"'titi"n of J un.. 19Hiwh"1\ Chall..n~,'r , 'alll'" !«,t. T h.. mh:s<·'1u..n1 Brili' h Army i"'1" i",' h..ldi" July'id..nti li..<l",any'f"iling'and ..q"iprn"ntd..fifi ..nci..,thatn ''l" ir' 'd it11"'edi~t<, 1"·C1ilk " li" n.' \ \1 ", ,, ,-or"l'an'd 10 lh.. ~ llAI Abra"" .L..opard 2 or ~,..." lh .. I....op:ml 1. Chall'·"j1;..r "'a' ,1"lTlon'lrably' ,lowe rto ~<''l"ir~ and d,,'ltro~' ta'1':'-I', parlicular!>' ",I... " Hri"j!; 0" the m",... " I'

"!Iain,t m",i"K ta'1':..t" H"'....""r. neith ..r Ih.. ~IIAI Abram' "or l.e<'p~rd

2A~ in their CUrr..m f"nn fully m"l the ...qui ...·"' .."!.,of SR(L)4lr2liFurlb ..rn,or.. . lb" probl ..m, ofoJ"'rating lwo typ'" of~mT, firing dilferentamlTlUnili"n, kt alon.. l"w,tk ' I",r"" ""'n' ""I ~' l ' ~' apl",r"1l1 if Chi"hai""a, r..p!a,-"d on a o nH o·-{)" .. tn,i, 10 sen'" aloll~id~ Chall" " g..r. y..t th..req "ire"'''111 to r~pla,'" Chit"ft<>i" ..a, ,,,,,,; ''' ','1'"'''I'.. ut)l..m Wwn tIl<"p,~>r p"rl<,rn ,a"c" of Ch all..nger dnrinj!; e n ·Hi . a, th''Y' ""semialh,har..dth,·sarn.. fir"""' )I[lml"'1<"lll.\1IS"'a' ,c,k, ..lwl't-fi" .. it' p[l'1" ",III,,, th.. ( :h i..ftaill r" l'l"" " ", ..m I,mgr.mun .. a.,a maH..r of nIX""C)', Ha' t ng.." rk,·d tlrmul/;hont th, ' Chri ,un"., peri'KI. \'D S , ,,bm il,, ..1 it, ftlm",l1''''1'0",1 to lh" \ I() I) on HI . '..bma'Y l!lHH_ "tlh a funh..r two am .."d ..<1",,,,;o,,,d,,rinl/;they·,·ar -,,II,,,,,fi,,,..lpri,·.. ,-ontrarl.

T h" .\ tafj &/"imnrn l f ar IJv lVp/arnnnll of Chi.'ftai n. SR(L)4026. ",a,'lnit"'pe('ifit~"dit.-o"ld 'H1ly·b,:fulfil1,·dl>y·illlpl',,\'("dn"Kld'ofb"lh

th" ~I IAI Abram' a" d I....'pard 2 or a rigom", ,,,lidalio" of th .. \ USpro p<' '' ' l fo r Ch~lI..ngt'r 2. III dkn. all th,,'" p""I""a l, ""''-'' P~I ...rI'ruj ..n,.ahhoughlho".. of~I L\I.\hr"m,an<l I ....'pard2",,, r.. b:,,,..don",atur.. ill....:nic .. de,ign, wh"n"" the \ llS " ", · w""lr,'wn onl y'frurn.."p.. ri.."c" with lh.. pmlo1''P'" oflh.. \ ,,-k ..,,, .\18 1' .\Iark 7 a"d th..En;!;"'" FE..TI O' o ri" ~mT for 1I1'u il. n"lwi t lrstar"lin~ irs ,,,,,,,, . \'t 'a!" "I1. ._. ...... ... ...._,..._ ....,,-..__... ..... '""__."...,.,.•_-..no ....._ .....__....._""""'-""""P""'I"'_ ....__ ... _... _'C' • __..... ....,""""_""'-.__ _ ... _

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....,h...lon. "f the Ikili'h ,\ nl l>' Ihat "i,ht><! In broo k "'. funhn ,kla,· '''uldenldndedlhe inllu ....liat... procureme"t of the ir pre f...rred "h"ire, TI, i," •."he ~II..\I Abrau",i"'Tlhe [A·"pard 2h"d IK..·1lrejecl edou accountofa f""'[''''I'(·nt,,1 d, ...iKIIflaw in th. -anno,u· illWw1'""fthr tIlrret fnJllI.\ oS'u d, a ",Ir.-.i"" had ,iguilicant politi" al r,,,nific,,ti,,,,,, ,I,.. ",atwrwa, refe rr ...d to Ihe Cahi"e!. The rl....-i,i"" to procure an A"'erira" .\ 1BTwa, rt'j"rt,"<Illlll of h... ,,[ h' I' li lll<' \lini,t,"r \larg",,·t Thatcher. Sheill"mcll'd,hr~IO])lnthi"k"K"ill

Vlc lte ,. De l . nc e S , at e m a co ntr actOn 20 Decemher 1911!l, thr s.'("r.-''' f) ' or St"t .. Ii,r DeI~"c.. . Georg ...Y"""K'·r. anllo,u,c..d to tl ... I1,,",,: "f Con"noll' that , in "'der togi....\ "lIS "" "pp'mu"i~' to d.. mon " r,,'" that Ih"ir prol",,,,1 o",ld ",,",·tSR(l)4026. the ""'npan)' wa, to he awarded a £9(1 milli"" contraO In

nnd .. rtake a 'de", on, tra , i" n pi",,,, ' la,'i"g 2 1 n"'nth,. Th .. ·pr.".fofllrind l' lr ' cuntrMt """iK,wd 01' 21'lJ"""." '" l'IIN . \"lIS"·a'l/:i,.. ,,a,pt><:'ific " '1 of cli u'ria for th. - '''''>ran ","hid .- I,,-,fonn.,,'n· al\ain" whichthe s"cce" "f th, ' demnnstratio ll pha",wa' to I,,· ",,·,c'lm·d, Th .. ni,"riac"wrt><! s"ch a'pect' a, re liab ilin'. maill1ainabili~'_ 'l,,,,i,,,hilin' a!H1..."prciall,'.lil/:htabili"·.F.,,,,,uiall,·\US,,a, re'l,,i redlndem,,,,strate thatil.,Chidtainrt·I'Lln-rn,·ntc""ld·I"·'mTt·"f,,lh·d,·\'r! op,·dandproduct><!Inther.-qui.-..d,ta"dard"'a'toachie'·etl' .. rt>qllirt"li,,.....·"';'·r,Lllr.a",1ala pricewhi"h th.. compan)' ha, al,ead~'olf.. red· . Within th.. c"ntr•..-,.Iher.-wer.- three 'p''("ific ·mi[, ....",w,·'na,,,,,,,artnal pmg'''''. Th... setd."'... fd l in S.·p'rmh,-r 1~9 . ~1ard, 199(1 ""d ,hr final une on :Ills..pt ..",I,,·r ]99(), when the cornl",n~' "'a, .-..quirt'd tu a''''''''r II 'I,,'("ificque'tionsaboUlth"'polentialpt'rhmnallcealldcapahilin'ofthe"n"er...1product, Th ..", we.. ' k,,,"wn a, ' '1'1", Fle, ..n Co mmand ment' and tht;,hood'0he Illrl hefo", Chall"uK"r2 <"o uld I,,· ,"\-.,Iua'rd wi' h Ih .. othr'cOTllt·nd ..[';"-"h.. prt"pt'ni,,.. (:hi ..ftain rt'pbte"'''II1.

A, pan of th.. agr.-emem. \ US he ..am .. re'I"""ible a' prim ..contrartor f(>r th.. C1IAR\I I,m lop"'" ll11.. . th.. llunder de""loplllent m'R", ·"IO,·dn.mct'. CIL,I,R\lI,'mhr•..-...1 thrd,...igo andd..,.,.lopment 01th.. hij(h·pr ....'ur.. Xl30£4 120mrn rifl"d lIu" and Ihe XI.2ti Am",,,rPiercilli/: Fin Slahili,rd Disra,ding SabOl (APFSDS) projenil.. ,,;th aDeple tt><! Ur" nium (DC) I"nl/: rod pt'n .. ,.."to r. Th .. comhination ofth...L26f,n ruundandLI4 p,,-,pt'll.mtrl""lI:,·wa' ""'d t" d ' ...·a'talinl\enectI,,· Chall. -nK,·r \ IT\Ts anned ,,;,h ,h,' l l IA~ IZO,nrn Kun duriog til<"Gulf War of 1991 , (:J IAR~ 1 :1"'Hnpri,,'n a ""w Il l' AI' FSnS pmj.·nil.· ­1.2; ..\1 with a newpmprllant cha rl/:e 1.Hi.-\1 (lat .. rl.1;A1) -thatjl;",'ea2" IM'rCt'nt greater pt·,,.."ati,,,, cal",h i l il~' ,hao thr I.tf> round. togeth.. r"i ,hlh.-,lt-.:r''''f)',ightinR. r",'kinR"",I,t''''''K,·i ...""f,,,Ch,,lIeng..r2I" it,definiti"" fo rm . the L:lU.\1120mm rifletlj(IlIlIK·ca"""lt... ",,,i,,anuam.."tofChanenl/:er2.Atlhi"tal/:e.lheint.. ntionwa, torrtrofilthe.....al" '" 10 an 4~'l1 Chall"nKrr \lBn h' gi,'e commonality arro" the<""IllI,kWl;lnkO,·el.

1'0r . lon co mpa U t o nThe ha'ic r..quir"",,"n' " 'a, for jillO MRT, to repb..e Chieftai" and "''''.,al"n!<,ide the Oret "f 4W Ch "lln'K""', A, Chid' "f Ikt~ nce Protur..",ell\for ,Il<"\lOD. Sir I'et ..r Lt·""", · d,-.:rt..·t1 ,hat . in th,· imrr""'-,(~·a flft'

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",a ..k.., . th.. Chi..liain r.. plac..",,·"t I"''I(,.-a"u"r ""o"ld hr 01"'" w th,,,,'lan l·"'a""farturi,,!: rOllntri .., prod"ri"!: modrl, that ro"ld fultilSR(l.j.tlr.!6 "ithin till" ,,~,...n tilll,·h'lln,·. At th,' ,,,,, ...·t. tit .....· '''"' linl.·Tl"pou,,·wth.··imitatio" to trud..r·",,,ow.nk-I,,od,,ri"llrU"nll")'hadrwr h.. ld au ol"·nn>l"I,,·titiu,, h,·for.. tl"'t mi!:ht.Luna!:e"rrol1lpromi,,'it,ml11 lallk ",a,u,I;lt:t"ri"K inrl" 'tn'. '\ "n"ofth,' t:" m l" 'an nMnu f,lt:hll" '"or lIlt" Cnit"rl Stat... r..ally hrli"',ed that th .. rllmp .. tition wo"ld hr lairand "I"'u. '\0"""fth,.".· n>lIntrieswo"lrl '''....r h" ld"...h acollll",titi""11"·"',,·1....,..... it \1',,-, ...·e" ,,-,a 1"'r"'r e~,·rri...· an<l not \I',.«h "~IW"<IinK an~'

,ill"ilirantim,,,ulI .. nt" ....-.. rthd...., bo th Ji:"IU,...~"'lf.·i amI ( :'''It'ml Il "" am i,-, Laud

S~...t,·m, «(;Ill$) 'nh"' ith'd I'ropo,al, Ii ... th.. Chid"ain "·plan·",..ntpmg,.-anullr in '-\"!:"" 19Ki. T h.. N-a"" ....\ blr..i entrant wa, an illlpro .....d",,,,illn "ftht' u~ 'I ",nl 2A4 (,,,I ....~I""lIth· ,k,iK''''''·dl...·op,lrl I2 A5) willta Il..w w.·dK,... IMI,,'dmrrrt fmnt th, ,, owrra"'r thr ""'akuK' HI'I't"t','i"u,uu"I .. I,a,i.l.. ntili,'db\·II't' llriti,h.a,w.. lla'otht'r ..nha'K..m""t'.Atthi,timt' . tht' l...·"pOlr<l'l Illlpru"" d w,,, ,till IIm"'l' d""'I0I''''''1I\, Th.· Gil l: ;.. "tt"".mt"",L',h .. MI Illnd'l (,,,h'..q,, ..,, tly d,.,.ignat ..d ~ 1 1,\2 ). Again , Ihi'"u "I..lwa,,,nd..r tl, ...dopmt'lI1,,;th lh .. fi"'tp m uml't' appearin!:iIlJ,,I)1'.-1'.-1(1. Hotlt "",h ....r rrarnu'd ....ith ....."'io",,,fth.· RI,..irm ...talll'lOmlll'Ill,,,,thh,,r"i\"" liri,,!: 11l"tually compatihl" typ'""famt1lunitill"

r n ll" " i ll!: a ' ....i .... ,.fhiKh·I....,·lm...·ti"l('lx·t"" ..·lI H,iti,h,i,il ....",«""and Il,ilit,,,y oflirial' ";th thrir Am.. rira" and C......",'" """'t"'1,,,rt' in.-\I,ril J!I!~). ( ;n LS ami Ji:rd",...~laff..i w..rt' 1'.. """,,1<-<1 thaI all th.. "ntra,,""t'..t · to Ix· exa",i,u'd th'''''''l':hl..- and fai,h '"' to ,,1...th,·1' th,., · fllllillt-dth .. r"'l,,;r..nu·nt' of SR(I.)-tU'lIi. R01h «,mpani.., th ..n ,,,hmitt ..d",or.. d.-tail..d 'I"'('ili.-,,,i,,,,, f"r th..ir r"'I"..·ti.-.. G"'"",, a' "",,11a'th..irOIlH·ntpn"/rKt;onnlt"I ..I,I(>rin; ,ialt,,,,i,,l':_ n...thp"'I"",..ld,,,il':',,,,,·n·ofronwntio"al la)nU1";th a fOllr-man rrt'w, ,illlilar to ChaJl" " g.. r '1. andb"lh f"alll""d a rOl11m"n,!t-r's ind '"lx·ud. ,llt 'tahiliH'd pa,,<>rami,' 'il':ht tt"'tarrn....,'d ....hal ....as th..n t..rnu'd th.. 'h"nt..r-kirr..r' ta'"g..t ,u'"\'rirra"""a,,d,·n!:a!:.-", ..nt pn"-,·d,,r.·, In ' -' ''·'''-t'. th t' n >l1l1nander " "" ·, ,,, th.. battl ..lieldtl111'"l':h hi, :lIiU-d"gt"t'.. p""o,.-.1I,,;r 'ight_ On '1)O,"i"K a h.."ik thn ·at.he th.." ,,,; trh .., fmm a ,,;d,' lield of ,i ..w to a "am,w..r 0"" at a high,-r

Ill~h'l lili"~tio,, to lay hi, ~illlill" m;o,k "H t" it~"d id,>ntil'" th" 10(1):'"' I""iti,...h-. lI, ' th ..n tin ..hi, l;o",..r to p",,'id, ' ,h .. th .... "ntml co"'pu... rwill, th,· i"I(,n"~tion il "' ...·d, to (;,k"l~t,· a tirinK" ,hni"" , 11", comm~",!,'r th, '" prt",,,,,;o ",itchIh~tallt"m;"irall,.ali"I"th,·tHrrt>t~"dWllllOth..pr ..ri" ·pointof,i,·.... lhali,''''''''tor..ct inll,,.fir..·."' ''' tm l r o ''' p llt..r. TI,i, ,,IIo''' , th,'W"""" ''''..,,!!;ag" Ih.. 10'1):'"imm"diat..ly"itholl1 h~'inK In

la ....· th" 10"'1:'" "gain _~I""nwhil, ' th" c"",,,,and..,ha' '''"''''''! th.. " " ""W,,,,,· ,,t ""'I'"·,,r.. agai n,t a",I"'·qu..m 10",,"1. tn thi, ....~) ' multipl,' l<ll'l{t·t, inctin"r ..nt dir ..ctio'" r an he ..""a"..da"dd..,tr,')'''''.,rpi cth' with tt". mini",,,,,, o f tim". In Ih,·,,·polil; ,-"lIy rorn><:t time,. tI,,· ttn" 'hm1l, 'r·kille ri, "0 10ll""r lIsect ill th" Ro:»a l .-\m ,o lln ·d n.'P'and th.. ,h-,iK",r ti"n ·han l" I, ..lct ma n,r""",,,nt'i' I',,·/i-m...1

I'k , id ," th" Iw" ~how r"""·nd ,',,. C;IAT"I' F,,r,,c,, ,,,b>.t'<J"""tl , ' I,roposed tI,.. A.\IX1...r1.. ,.., ~II\T ~, an ..ntr ant in th" Chi..liain"' ·p"'t.·"",,,, pn'l'r,ull""· . Coml-"tt-' "n<l hiKhl)'mohile. thi, inn",·~ t iw d.., il:" f.."lu,...d ana ll t om~ t ir "",,,,nniti,,,, loactin" ,,,,t .. ,,, and aIhn·t~"'all n, '''' "I' "mll",,,ndt·r. K"nn .., amIdri"",. TIll" L"" le , c wa' iurl",!,...1in till' "''' ''p''l i,i"nmnre om of a "·n .... "fElIropean ",hlluity Iha""~pt'Clatio".a" I", Rt "-. IIA,,n,,",..ctC"''P'ha,h1t l..bith in "uto""n;" I,,,,d,',, o r th, · "''''''''1'1"f " th,..·....,"'" t-rt'W. tIl 111,'meantime, in late I~i \"DS bt'"an Ih" ro "<tmuio" of a ",,,nher ofturre"m ingcoml",,,,'l'u n<t, .i ni liall,£;.i;,,,ill io,, .,,ithth.. fi"t,,,,.. co"' p le t""dur in" "u"""n IYI'!K. .'\1 ..II,· "'"". tim". num ..ro,,, 'ull...,,,u,,,'w" Wt'rrapp" "' c" "" '" iudu ,trial """m',,"ith th,,,... co",,,,,ni.., u"'''Hitti""appm xi" "" ..h £2l) mill inn "fpm"le moue~..at Ih..ir 0"" risk in the prt~""t

r " l1owing Il,,' ,i WlinK <>ftilt" 'pmo/' , ~ ' pri ,w ipl,, ' "m"r.WI <>"20 J anua r\'1\lllY. tI". manufacture b..",m of "i",' Ch"lk"l:"r 2 protol)l""' "nd afunher t•..., turrel" oue a, a weapon' t...., ri" ami one for 'a tlar k onarm" " r" trj" l,

Ch 81Ien".r 2 protottpe .The n iuel"" t''''I)<'< w",e huilt at the new fu m !>" w Worl<., in l .t·ect" All",..,-" ...n"pl,·,,·d t" ':l/l St·I" ..",tlrr I<J<WJ.<>nS<"hnl"k;u"l"ithin !>llct,,"If",tl". ,.mnpelitiwpl",seof tl" ·Chidt"inr'·I'I;..-e"" ·ntpr''l{l"",,m,,..TI,i,wa, to nm from OCloher to the end of Ih .. y..a, . when Ihe "inn..r wouldhe anno" " r ..ct_ DUli ng th i, I",,-ioct. ' U S wa, t" r"r"i,'e a 'hrid"in"r onlr ar f froHl tl". \ !O f) p,io r w a full ct..""lopmt·nt;u'dp"..-t"C1ionrt>lllr;oninJanuar\' 1991 ifCh~II,·nK..r 2 wo n theromp'·titi",,, itm,," b.·, t"tedthatlhi'wa'''''ttohearompa,atiwrompt·ti ti''nhetw.....nth.. fou r...mtende"a't"lh.. ·hr , t" tankow,,rll but t" ict..nt il1.. "hich m' '' t rl " se hf"lfIl1..<llhe ' p' ·t ific "·'l"i",·rn,·",_, "f SR(J.)4i)~'6. r",-[, ", .n"·"tkr ,,"-, tob.. tri,lIl,-d b)' a "'par"t.. d ...!i..", ..d1t'~rn of Briti, h Ann~- pe",.nnel "illrexperi.."n'<l crew, from each ofthe"'>In""ni..,,:-;o t..am wa, 10 haw au )'

_ I.., ..m' ...._ ' oonl '"IM y,...,. oontrot...._ n_ _"' ~

____m__ I fonn . __

"' C... "_ 2. n.. _ Ionlrom c _

.0.0 _ "..._...., ,".... _lal.............. _Pf'Ol>l*m. totodr(o_ ...... 01 .-"",.. From lettto tlll"'. �M _

IM d _" ...tM! ""',tIca , .••""""_ '_1.,w..pon _ -...,___ ...... _ • • ion lh u m b

oontrollor:_n.. odju. ........_ n....,. II<1"l1i bunon.. _I ....... .... ....., -""'..- _ .1'0'...._jo w"c~_ m... . bo

"'P _ ",.-._lI<In9__· l$O....... _ _

06llPG3, V7• .......,.to ..,..., _

oI~2 __ 55"ea ll_

1ontL.3OA112Omm _ ......__ _ 10__

............. oI _ n-m.I~

"'-(llSl_ Io... 1Mptowood......... oI to

~",.".,-­~nigh<-"'------,.._ .. In 1htoIogh---

colllan or dial ,,!!:,,,' "'ilh anm h..r and all data " .,,, to be a~""",d by a,liff,· r,·m ho, h- ..ntir ..h-i nth.. int ..r"",offaim""'"l<ltho"'lUl(hn,'"

l n l h.. .."'nt.tll<'comparJti '~lrial''''.. re n''the!d;nI99l10nacco''utof th .. lr<lqi im 'a'iou of I\.nwa it on 2 Ang"'t . T h.. ",hoI .. r..,ource, of\ TIS " ..,... nowde'nted wlh.. 'n pport of the Challt'ng-erfket and7th Arm ou red I\rig--J(k that was d,'plon ..:! to Saud i Arahia a' part ofOp era tio n Gm,,!') '. It co mpri,....{two annonred regiment' equipped "ithCha1l"nl(" " and an an"oured infalllr)" oonation mou nit'd in WarriorIFY,. On 2'! ""owmbt'r, 4th Anno"red I\riirad.. bt' jO(an d.' plo yn,.. nl to ,he( ;ulfwfonn 1,, (L·l\.j Arm ollf ..d Di'i'ion ",ithalotalof221 Chall ..nger~lBT,. "'"m"con, modifi cation' were d",i",d forlhe t"n ls to im pro'"r.. liahilit"and ' '' T\i ,-ahitil' . O n I October 19911. tb e:li"" 160 'Chall.. ng..rimprow"'''lI1 kiT.' d.."e!oped In' VDS ",e re ,hipped to the port ofAI ]u!>ail in Sandi Ar"bia . As the Ch"lIenl(..r MBT. arrin-d in the" ' rt".th.." w.. .....modifi" d b)' REME trchmrians and an ..njO(iueering .upportte"m from \ l)S, Ib.. 'Vickers ,,ohmt .... "' ·, a, w..n ". t..am, fromI\<tn and Slroud. D",id Bmwn • .'!<tIToni . P..rki", t"t "I. T hro ul(h Iheirnn<tim injO( ..fforts antl th. ·'lt-dica,inn ...f tl,..l<mlc....."'. ,174ontofth..176 Ch alle nger .\mT, co mm iued to oo"]e cro,,,,d the ,tan tine at theo"'-'.:·toflh.. landoff..n,i"' - Opt·rationl~$ff/ ,M"";tI,..otllt'r""nt"nls

collid ..d an d d'U'l;lg..d th";r jO(un. _ Th ....... m"ind..r ofth .. ChaU..ng..r<" ",,,,,,1",ldin th .. War.\laimenance R..",,,-e. ln,,ddition.12Ch,,lIeng ..r,\ rnum r..d Rq l<lir and R.·...'w o · \H,id," (CR.'\ RRV) ".·r" d'''Vl''''ed tothe Gulf. dire ct from th.. Armst ron!/: Wor"-, faclnl) ' in "' ..",ca,tI ... ",, ·.. nnHlIlth, priu r to Iheir schedu led ..ntry into "'nice "i1 h Ihe Bri tish Arm y.rh ~ <:RARR\, . pr." ....l to b.· hil(hly dT."(",;",· ,,"d achieved a lOll per c.. nt,,\"aibbilit~, rate durin!/: Ih.. land o tT..n,i, '". O" ..r 300 en ..my AI'\ ', ",..red..,tr "'·edb} ·Ch"llenger.\IBT,butn",,, ,ingl .. un .. uf tl,.. l,,tt. ·r ,,·a., lostinaniond"rinK ()p··rati"nl~ ''''b,

In it, ....po rt on th.. " ",,r. th.. li n"''' of Cummo", Defence Committe..•tated : ·Th .. tanl " ·...,th.·tl."('i,i"' ·!J;"'I.·"inn.-r"fth,·I,,ntl f<.J"("... ca" lp<tiRO

and th... British Chall ...n""r fore ... in th... h t ( U \.j Armour...d Di" ' ionmad .. animportanlrOnlrihlllion"' lhi"urc....'. ' ln'.....p'>Il""<la'!"...S1ionon 19\1ardll99lilllh... Il<l" · " f O.HnlTl" n' . th... Prim \lini,l...rJohn\l ajor d...clar...d, ·Th...ChaJl n~ r tank pt'rh,mlt'd ab,olul h' ma~nilir...nllyin,h.. Gulf _ tJ.r ab"' ·...lh xpt'Ctali,,"sthala"'''n...n'''ldha'... ha<l,,fiI 'H""...·w r. d'''pile: til""" rinl{in" ,·ndo",·rn,'ut'. th,' d,,,,i'ion as to th ...Chiefu in rt'phr ...m..m had slill 10 he marl... Th ... silua lion wa, rom ­p'>tmdn:!m' Ih... lall "flh... II<·r1inWan and II,.. n.nal"'; "fS,ni"1 LTlli" nauthori~' a<TO'" ,h .. n.tnltri", of Ea-st..m Europe thai IMd f"m,n:! th ...WaNl WPaCLTh..."..t) ' raliona l...f<,rIh.. h...a", \IBT " as called iIllO'!""" ' i" nd"'l' il" its un<l"uht<..1 ,,,cr,,,s in Ih... Gulf War. Alth"""h III("Chid'~,ill

r..plM'..melll,,«sa ·C<lrepn!iect' ami Ih.. Tr..a'ury-' had auth ori, ...d its fullhm ding,th..rer...main..d com id..rab l.. d...oo,... ast<'lh"'lolalnumhe,oflanks ""'luirt' d for th.· Bri, i'h Am,y'f"l1'''';n" tI,,· Str'{("l{ic fkf.·,,.-..~;.·w

Th ... comparali".. ",«lualiol1 ofth.. fourcoTl1 ..."d ..." " ..., dul)'h...lrl inIh.. ' pri ng of 199 1. All four ..xc..n..d in on .. a'p..rt or ..n" tI,,'r hll, f" ,Ih.. rea-""" <t.. I' '<! ahm.... t1,,· Lt"'I,'f(' "·",.·Ii ,,,i,mll·d . TI,.. th"'''''lh.."m..t Ih...r..qu ire m..nts of SR(L)4026. Wilhin Ih...Briti, h Anny, panicnlarl"th.. Royal ArmoHt ed Co 'll " th..r .. wa, an inlh, ..mi al lar lion Ihal ,,""-,....·duc ..d tn· ,h.· n", ion thai G•.-nnan ,·nl{i,,,...rins"-as 't' I',:ri"r III .. ny'oth ..r. [)"bbed th.. ·B.\!W sm drom...'. il " «' ,uffici ..m to C1...al...a bod\' ofopi nio n tha i bwmrn:! Ih.. l....ol>J.rd2 Imp''''....\. A111""'ghChall...ng.-r 2"-a'l-"·rn·il'{·d luha"-'KT'-'al..r,u"-;,,,hili~·m,,lma,,,·olh,·ratlrihUl""Ih..l.eopar d 2 Imprm'...d ,,« ' a ' '''''''d to ha'''' lo r· ...ho l.. lif.. c' '' Ls' "'....rall.al...a,s a m..tI .. r "fulm",1c,,",...rn 10 lh.. T ""'i.O lh...,." lill ..,,, I,,,,, 'dIh.. \ IIA2 Abr..",s. '" the Def..n,·" Pn Kut em..mAj.: ...n0' passed lh.. matt ...rto th.. Go"" rn m..m.

THE CHOICE OF CHALLENGER 2

l h fina l d...ci,ion a, to th.. Chieftain r...placem...nt lay' ,,;th th.. Cah in","Th re " ...r.. num..."'tlS a' I"'CL' ,0 ,onsid..r. Fi" l and fo... n" ..1 ......' lh..qm"l iun of numb,'~ f"I1",.;nl( lh.. Str..leg;c rkf...nc.. R",i ..w. This " ...'...xacerba l..d ffi' afin ancial , honfallin th.. MOD'<I 90:lILoni\T..rm (n.lingsfur "'l uip"' ''''1 p"KU"''''''''!. and il kd l"asiw,ifi,anl-eali"!I: d'''''' inth.. nu mber of n..w tanks Iha t ,,·"'s afftttd ..hle in th.. ,Ium tenn. Th i, "'''''pr..duded a ...hol .. n t rep br ..m..nl of bo lh Ch i..l'tain and Chall " " !1:""n ,... An....rican'.md na'''''....r.. f"riut .. ..t "'h at Ih...., pt· ", .. i"."lt" b.·a ch ..n"" in th... m l , but the ori¢nal r..quir ...m...nt had al,,·..~.. beenfor a replac..m..m for Chi..lia in 10 se"... alongsid.. Chall...ng ..' and ,h ..n..." · 'tr.tl<XiCK''''I'"liti(a lsitu''li"nf"II,''' ;n" dlt"cull..p" ,,,flh.. IronCurta in "«' an unfo...........n circu m'tanc.. , Th ..r..fore, th ... argum ...nt forint..mp"rabil i~· of a , moothb"... main arma m ...nl "i lh Britain', SATOpartn ...., ,,-.~, <I,,,·n,..d nu I"" " "r ,-..lid "i lhuut a full n. ·.·1 n' plan''''''1ll\ lini ste" co nclu d..d Ih..1 Britain ', oper..li" na l con tributi"n 10 ARRC(SATO Allin:! Rallid Reac tion (;0 '1"') "nuld he slm "i\ ,'r hr maintaininginl.....' p. ·r.I!>ilityhe l>l-..·..nCtl;\l k ngo'ra ndth.. ,..""',ta"k,a' lh.. im..mi"" "-asal,,«~, III r..ann Chall..ng..r ,,; th th.. L30 IWmm higlJ.p,,>,",ur.. gu n. It ......,ak",'lanori nth..irlinal d..risio n

TIw........,.....I", th... fin ."w~,l implicati" '" "f pure ha ' in" f''''~'r tanks.pan i.-uI..r1~ ' a foreig n on .. , Wilh f.........r Ihan .'>00 tan ks, c01'rooun ion

I><-.;-a",.. a I."" ,i;thk financ ial prop,,, it;o,, . f " r 1 ~~ Jl'ard 2. Kra'''<;-.\ Iatf..i....,irlMtt'<l ,hat "I' W 00 pt'r U'm of ,hl' ", nk co"ld hl' p""lhU'l;"(llocall~'

1><'1'1fe un; , n " l' n"<' ,ilo\nilicanth·. But ,h .. S"i" Am,~' "xp"riem'",,,!O......"-.:Ioll1<''"''',...,. ln a ,0 ,,,1 pnocllr..", ..m <>f:J,'ll) I., ·o l", rd 2..\4 \ II\Ts.:>..15 "~>r.. huilt lInd ..r ]ice"c .. in S"'"l'rlmrd bm il look t"'o~~>af'5 01'...·1"'1'.".·cnnrr..etn,w·,i;ui,,,,, ,,,irh"Mhmhcnmr..n or l><·!<,, .. ,,,anuJaetureb.-ga,,.",hid, r.,i....dlh.. ""i,o", In' a, Il'"'' 25 pc..r ce nt ",~· r , Ill' ",iWn,, 1 priceas ",..II a, a d..1a)inlo\ ilS ..nt ')· int" <;t'nir-.. "';Ih ,h .. S"i", .-\rm ~: 1"""' labh ·.i, 'o"""ld kad '<>a '"'' .. f j ot" in BriMi,, \ lank..n;"",fanuring ind'l" n '""h i" m"n~' ,ulxonmKu",; dom ..l ;rno" ,h .. COUHI')' in n""xinalc"' ''lil'' ..,1<'i..... TI lr C.on....",""iw gowmme", "",-, ..cr"d~' a" a r.. "f,h.. If",,.f"·n,oflho\l",,,,hofjo~,, in II,,' "'''n"facrurinKindu'"'.....of lh.. Sonh,,, ·..r ,he pr ..'i<lll'd....ad pani cu larh'on T~"....id... In addilion, ,h ..re,,~>r..dark m"nt'rinK";r1 \'kkc· I,k a, '0 ",Iwlh ..r til<' 0''''1''''''' ",,,,Id t... pam 'Wan" co·1'n)(lu('(ion d"al al "II ifi, should f<ril ,o",n Ih..... ,,"p"li,i.....procu rt>nwn1l'noc..,,,.Finall,,.th.. ol'ponunio',o,,,n Bri' i,h 'a nk.s ou dwim'·l1l;"ioual lTl;lTM·I\\', ."ldh,.. I,,,,I("·o·,.. r. do·,pi' l' ,I,.. f;rrIt ll;t, nn C<>llnl') 'had pulThaSl'<!Challe" K..r,

Th e p oli ti c . of d e f en c e pr o c ur ement.-\ !l ", ;rjnr ,,·..al'''''' pron,relll"'" pro!:rarnlll ..s haw " , i!:uilica", po]i,ir ald i", .. " sion; ,,' m~'r £2 hilli"". ill<'Chi"flain r"l ,l" n '[l", n , llrr~ra",,,w wa"r", ",xu 'I" ion , Aft..r Ih... , e,·..HI ~ilTlrr)(1 Airborn .. borly W"mi TlK (AEW)aircral'! lhsc o ,hal w:",1;"(l hilli"", "fl'OlllHl,.'h.. Bri, i, h gowrnlll ..nt

",,,-, <I..!t'nnim..l l" " h,,,i,, , .. hw for m",u~' ,h nn'Klr" n " I" 'n CO"'I)(",i,io"Th, ' f" il", ...of ~il1ln)(I.-\EW "hl iKl·d 11... Rm';o1 Air F"rc .. to pllr cha ...· ,I,,·]\oe i" !: f..3 S..n' ') 's's'..mlha'w",,ld ha, 'el><'.." si!:nilkanl1" cheaper iu'h .. lil"'pla' ·... h is apri."c· ".....I.. ""ihih'yof gm....n lll" ·r1l ,ol"">el rre,hem""dJ''C'iwlllihta ') 'eqlliplll..m al lhemillilllUlllc''''to,h.. taxp a)·..r,

Thec-...-"""""....""'---' - ,... c......II\l, __..

RoyalE_ _ Mooe_E~"'EMEl_'O- _...... ...._­_ . The I>ydr8uliea'ly_ .-----.- - __...52-. 5 t OllN. wtth t llOon... wln< h ..,.... n.o fn>nt___ean . on__ .......... "'0.--__.The~ _

AII_Mljil>c.-- lo _

... 1I1'I.... .~C""''"''- 2--.._­"'__.N""'_ _- --ilmly_ ...... .. e AV.___10 _

1F001'~UonF""""' __ ' lIH ·(MOD1

~¥8""""""''''''''• .....,kcNring .n ...._ "- Rov-l-_......._ ..L_ ..-.TM_Io_... ___ ...."'~Zlo _

__ _ of _ 1m...

"' .... ..'''''_"_..........................._-"' ........ ofZ.OOOoft.{\'ll$)

:\,·,.. nl",k." rh.. r"marlahle pe rf"rmance " I Chall .. ng..r dlr ring th..,..'H·m libt"rarion of ,",u,,'ail co" ld nor ho' "wrl, ~ ,l,..-I . n", c""ld th..",h"leh ..ane,1 'l'PIH,rl b~' Rrirain ', ran l 'll, anufanur;"1'; ind"'I1)'th,on!,;hont Ihe crisis, Furtht'm,ort' .lht' ( ~n lf Wa r ",a, d" "ITl t'<l lo bt' acu"'pklt· ,indiratio" "fth.. Briti,h phil""'pl,,',,fLanl d..,ign ", Ir..rd,)h..aw armou r pror,',',;on f<>r Ilw ",...,." and d' ''''''''a,ing n"·I.. "...· r to..ngag .. and dt"\\r(~' h '''I;le .\ 1''', ar 1<>,,1'; ,-.ml';" "" 'n ' rlre primal)'anrihut ..,ofa.\ lai" Baul.. 'b " k. ll o""'H' r. a ll th" cOlH,·", I,·,.. , htl""..dSlKhd"'''Kleri,lic,

Th .. Cab;l1<"r,,,h ... ,"',"itH...· Ltsl,'il ",ith malillg th,' final d..d,i""cotTlpri",d the Prime ~lini,tt·r. Jnhn ~faior. Ih, ' Ikf,·" ...· s. ·,'n ·tal) ',Tom King. the For e illn St'<:re"'l) '. Bo ugla, IInrd ami th.. Trad .. and[ndu,tl)' s,-r....'aw. \ litha..1 Il .....·hin .., I n iliall ~', th.. l'rim.. \Iillisterqu"'li,mt'<1 Ih .. "'...·d f"ra ",.,. ·\Ia;n Ba.t1k Tanl a t all;:i",n tlw chan;:inggt'<'p"li/iral sima/;"n in Eastern Europ.. and tl", pr,"'un'"'' publitspt'nding"U>"'iths"'ndinllther..cellt ..mbarr""ingd..fe"ceprocllre",..111fail"r ..,hil';hliKht..dln'lhe~alinnaIA1lditO!lic.., The B..fenc .. Secre"'l)'..kp........-d th,·,i.·", thai tl... r.. "'ere ,,,,sil';n;firant,lt-f<-nr.. rt'a"""{tl nta l ..a particular (t>(tlmmendal;on. Tire For"ij{ll S.:creral'" rt·,nai,,,,d ""U1r-~1

b.'y"n<i'!atin!,:that/heexpofto{<:hallenller2wlhe.\lid,UeF...,twuldlead to ","'.. for ..ign poli0'benetir"

Only \ lithad l"·,,·lti,,.. a, th,' Trad .. and 1" " " Sll) ' s.·cr .. tan"kp1t'S",d "wnK ,ie"'" " " tIl<" ,"bjo·n. II<- aTgr,,'" fordhl,' th,lt anind illenOl" mn l -m:rm rlac tu rillll,';nd u' Il)' !oraw a nation poliri.-al ludmin tb.. ",m ... '''')' ", l",,.,,,,,,inll mrd ...ar ",eap"ns. Furtherm"re. thepurd '...", of a f<>lt'il';l1 ~IRT ,,"ould r"pn.,...nt a I""l "f faith on bt"hal!ofth.. (;",,'eml1lt'm;n Rritain', n'uional ..n,p',....ri"l'; capahility lh ,1\",,,uld S<"nda negat;".. ,ignal wforeigll tradinll,'parlne,-.; a' 10 the qua lit),ofhoth th.. Britj, " d..fence ",cWr and Rrili. h ..ngirlt"t'rinll in g..n ..ral/ It- al"o hil';hlill,"un:l tlr,' lild~' impact on th.. un""'l'!,)\'m"'rll fillr" ....t"Sp"cialh'in lll.. north ofRritain,if Chall'·"I';,·r2",,,n~j,·c\("".Afl<"Cdu,·

mn....ln:o. i"n . (l'W"'n~~ 2 ..~ ",lrelO'd bo Pri" 1<" \ linisl..,..,- ;000..ndo.ono:dbo t ~ .>f t..... commi".... with t po...... WI \ US bt"'~ 1<.;0 rij{o "t"1 of eon lr.>("l .ntn'I ;And ce.ndi ti"."- 0" 21 junt1991. Ilrl ..no:.. I'rucurnntm \linisl. .,..,- .'lbn ( :Lor" ."no"" ...O'd in ,....n.......,>fO..,,__ ..... G'l'I...mmMlt ·. dn-N..n ,,,...Ire , C:h.I"'n~ 2 ~

..... r..-pbo: " ..mr..r Cl\irluinj " don ""·r.... Friet: 2llj'''1<" 1991• • e... ur- W'O'd

I:>.- n t \ IO () and \US ror' dto ...k>prIN"n•• >fCl14n ,II:..r 2 ;000.u'-<j,...m 1Tlil""f....lU .... or 127 un'" to mf'I:"1 ,h .. rr<jui m..nr-ufSR(L j.fll'!t;. Thr fiN h;o.eh of 127 , ,,,t"<luip th.. ;lm .. .urO'drrWnl<"n~

.. r·hh ;o,..17'h .-\r!,.. ",rtd I\rig-.od ,'h tit "' .. ininll: ,.. hid I:>.-inll:u....tl.. rlr..inin ll:_Th .. ln-St-" ...... Oat.. (lSD ) , pl..n" 1 ,,, I ;" .. ...19!:1:\. III addi ,;" " . 1:\ n riw . Trai ninll:T;onl ' orrn .....r " l.. rtd ..;thth.. Ii", d..li' ·..ri -hrrl"lrrl ill 19'1:\. Th .. 1;"...11,ri.·" e"" tr.e' ...o nh( :'20 ", i lh" " ' I,,·eifi 12:\ "'il....u>ll..... . l1rrl""dt...... lli ......"'..m .-l" rinII:d....·.. I"p"'.·ut . J' pl <1 ,h .. " IH" ..fr"'I"" ,,i hilit), linl1 l~' "' ;'ll \TIS ,,-, ,h..

......_of 22~-_._--- - "' ........ -'"'__,-_ ._11---------_.,,-TI. _OTT _---.- -_.,,-.-._--­--, -'--'----_........ .._-----,-------"'-_.___of _

...~

....-' .. _ ea.-.-I"'--'-_of _

----.------.-----=--==~---,-----.....-,--___ T!oIo__ .-..n ___-_......-----_..--_.._... _of_loo_--­of_ '-_---­_.--.--.-_...._.---------_.._--...._---_._._.._­_ ..t.- ...___ .... 100.

~I. .... -

_1)'·1_ _ ol __ '91' '*.'_0_0_ dllStelo<l<l.. .Chol_2014lhTrool>.

•~. ' IITJIIl."...on ...._ duo1"l1--'_"

....eao_'n_ .._W.... duo1"l1__

lOO3.•~oll l1TJ11l

•.-IU~_k lO "'"........ 11<__.. "" llun

Corp&oI'elll_ _

_ (:-...,. 2 ,.0 1.. '.... ...'01_ ~_ '* rt

ol"..._N8C~.

A~""15_"

.. ....""" 4... _----.- .... rl .. _ _ Zero __ ..----,"'"

prim .. c""lran.". 1<,,',,11'''I''''n, or lIlt" pro~raml1l". ind,,,li"K w"i"i"Kc"Clllil,m"lll. lir 'l ·h,,.. 'I"'''''' and a c" " 'I' rd "· " , i.... I"K;'ti,- 'upp"rtp,,,.\.-aK'·;ndudi"K fieldi" K w;llIi" Ill,' I\,; ti, h Ann" . In additi,," . Ih..r..w,·r' ·H'r,-liKhl'tiIHllatio,,'c,,",..·r niIlKa.-hi, ·'·..n" ·nt uf , p....il;'-I ..\"<'l\olr..liahilit~'. 1<>whi.-h ">I"" :~7 I",·t ....Ill "I' th.. ,laK" p"yr""nl' w..r.. li..dn ... li"t 117 C11"llc' ''Kc'r2 \ Iln,"""r1<>I"" ·'l"iplw·dwi'h Cl1.-\R\ 1I"""n""ili.,,, ",hil, ' Ih.. 'uh"·'I"'·1lI i"",·"f Cll.-\ R\ 1 3 ,ulll11llniti"n",,,pla1ll,..d for 1~16hlll(",i"Kacc..ptahl,· ""'rtrial" FUrl lH'r " ..d.·I"SI<)fChall, ·ng ..r2 '...·r....xl)t"("t..dlobt"1,1a.-..din hatcl ,..,"f20(l

CHALLENGER 2 TRIALS ANDTRIBULATIONS

C",ur-d n., ,,·..n· n"w 'iKI1t"C1 1""lw"" 1I \ Th " " tI mOT(' Ih"n 2,,0 ,,,I>­uHlIr-dn Or' a", 1 , upl, li.." 'hrollKh"'" Gr..al I\rimin a"d """r",,,, tor..n" .. th.. d,·,ign "fCh"lI..nK.. t 1 ""d " lInw prod ucti"" '" b' ·Ki". A,th.· sa", .. tin",. II,.. tri"ls and tI..,;..I" I,,,,.. ,,1 ph ...", " fth,' Ch,dl" " K<'r 2l' ''' >I'''Yl'' ' ' n.nt;nm·t! ", Ih, ' Ar11lourt·t! Tri" l, a", l lIn, .. I"pnl<·nt L',, ;t(ATOU) "I I\m ; nKton C"mp. 11or... ' , Ih.. h" Ill" of th, · Ro~',, 1 Arn" '1lJt'dCnrp ' . Th,'''' " '..r.. di"i<!c"Ci in1n·r..hah iliIYKrowth trial, 'and 'u ,,·rtrial,·m ing a c" ",h in" ti"n "I' "·,,,,·k.. I,..r,onn..l mann ing th.. lanl'Sl II'I">r!,"CIh,· \l)S t..ch"jd~"" Tit.. nim ' 1'''''''1'1-'''' W"J(' nurnb,· r..d m' "rd ..r "fbuild. Prnl"t~1-'" \'1 (OriSI'S7 ) wa, " K..n..r-al tri~ l, ""h id .. and c"rrit'd"m ..n,irunl11,·tHal and olh ..r a' l...ct' "f,·..hid .. 1"·rfon1lan. ·.. . It " 'a,,uh"'qu..ntly bt"' Kh, h;.cl rrnm Ih.. \IOn hy' \ n s and 1"·"~II1'· Ih,' b",,'"u"I..1 f"r F'ro jr et Cop, ·nh"K,·n. Ih,' n«"l ili...1 Chal l,·ng..r 2 \I 8T forO n", ,,. P"'I"l~ p<" \'2 (OriSI'H-X). \'3 (OriS I'!'!')) "nd \'4 ((~;SI'!'O ) " ..t .. th..rt"l i" hi l i~'j;\ro"lhand f"'J\ 'i"j;\\ ,..h id .., and dia m"" " f lh" " uw",,,,i,,,,milt""K", l'H>totyp' "S\ ." «(~iSJ'9 l) and \ 11 « (~;SI'94) .....rt· IIt"two ""'r..;~ I , ....hjd ..,. 1'''''''I' p'', \' fi «(~iSf'92) an d \ 7 (OIiSf'93} .....r.. the finnKtri" I, ~nd ",,'ap"n ,~"St"I11' pr ", i u j;\,·..hid ..,. I'roWt~'l-'" \ll (( ~;SI'!6) wa,k..pIW thela t..st h" ild'tanda rd. II""""..... lli)Jsal..' I'Ulp",..'an. l"ft,·"

apl>t'art 'd at "'I"ip,,,nu ~xhihitiol1'_ It I....-an... th .. I~"i, f,," Pr"jrttExmouth . ,,,h""q""ll1ly th.. Ch"l k n" ... 2E and expon "",d,-l for\l ) Sh " "" liuffi "ith pr<"I"nion lUrr..' :-.:", 2 '"'' r"nh ..r tun.·t " '"rnan"I"rnnrtl at the conrl"'ion of the p""lunion m n. A r"nher t"."" , rr.... ",e rehuilt:T.-\1 hnri!:te"ingolthe "'eapt"'<)'ten"andTA2a'""·", mo ur fire..." t" ,, e,' _

l ',,-r ,rial< "f \ '5 anrl \'H "e"- r " nrln, ,, '" ht-'" ,..,n s.·p,e",ht-r I ~~):l

"", I Fd,wa'" 19!H . T h., ai'" "f th ..,,· triab w,.< to ....tahli,h ",I,..th ..rCh"n ,·nK..r2 r"II, ' ",, ·t tilt' pt,.f"nn""...·< p' ·' ili...1 in SR(l. j-«r2tiiu II...hands of R-\C 1"''''''''''' 1 and " I" , jIi"" I.>j\is,i.- "'pp"n "' ,"i . ·..,. s"d,a, the R,»:al Elrttriral and ~Ie,hani,al Enjlin...." ( R£ ~f Ej. inc",,,,,'"..xp.-rie nr e " f the n..", ~lIn to help ,h .. preparation "frlrill,. tra inin!:l<'rhniqu"' ,lllrlpuhlicationsthatw""lrlhereq"irffipriortoilSent~illto

"·nire,~fo,t"f ,ht"tria"""·I·t',,,ndnnerla'Il..., 'in!:t,,"anrl l .ul"'o rthli"the an w " " ,ti", w" ing ,un'Kun '" 'ry liri " g r"' I'."(',iw l,,_Suspe n, i,, n andha", ni"j!; tri"l, "' ... e al" . ro " d" c tt·" at th.. l " " " u , o<s and lI un , ,.."r o" ",·s. C.,ld -"·..a th~r trial' ".'r~ und,>na ke" in th,· dimat;r d>a",h...at Ch"n~' a"d '''hseq\lt'Il1I~' at Catt ..ri,k in Yor"-'h ir~ ro, ut'w 'oldhahi"' h iliw t~"ing _ Chane,,!:er 2 was Ihe lir<1 Briti' h lank "ith ~n

integ ral ai r conrl i,;"" i,,!: and he ating- ')"t'm, Tanical a '''''\llle,m w~re

", u k ru k" n 0" Sali,h",' , PI"in Tcain in!: Ar..a (SI'TAl anrl the , rainin!:I'ha"·,ulr"i '>a,,·tli,, a !:un,,..ry ..x...-tisr at Wacr"l' T,....ininK Ar..a_~I<",

"f ,h,'''' trial,w,·"·ro,, ,It..-lt'rl " ,i" " a..-stnn uf ·" ,lttididdda,,' ,i 'n ila,tn tI,,,,,·dt"i,,·tl fnr tlw n'ncu n,·nt Rd iabilir,' ( ;" ".,h Trials (RC;T )

Reliability Growth Tr Ial .fhe", RGT ,,-..re .ucce"f"lIy complet..d in 19!H wllt'n th ree proto'~·pt·s

",er t" t'" ..rl",-..rapla"'lt'rlt"talof21-k;hattldielrlrla)" Fortht'purp"'..."ftlte RGT ph.' ... . a hattl"fielrlda" con,i ,"-d ,,1', 271:.m" I' m arl tra"el;:n k", " f ..n"~uu",~' tran'l; tl,.. licin" " I' ~ ,uain...,m'anwn, "nrl1.0017.1;2",,,, ""..-loi","K"" "",,,,h wi,1t If> h,,,,,, "I' "ral">11 ",,,,ms"I',.,....,i"";",,,, "'" I"",,, "f ,,, ,,i,, en"i ,,.. idliu" ~,,,' 3_ 5 h,,,""uf,,,ai"' ·u!:i", · " m " i" " ..t,·..rio""I"·, 'tI" lh,ri""dt'",·I"I-',,,e'lttl,.. (:h,,11""""r2I'roto'~l"'s d". ·k...1 "I-' W .4(Klk'n of",..d an d ,-n"«""nt~' """,i"" a",1firffi I L6lKI ",,,,,d,,,f 120,,,,,, a",,,,un iti,,,, . Th~ British Am '" forr""n,·

_,_W._.C....... RV _ .... __ ..___' .d;__

.........._..........­"' '''''.. £.... P<'"''o UKI2.'o'O.. .. _.o_to_"''''''.. £001'''' • ...- .....t"", IoIIOWlng_ G<JH Wot........ It"'""~... _ ...."" K '_.

1On•......,...-_......

_ .t;"......... ._Of_ .._to___a.-....... 2 .. ..

....""" ful . Fol......... f\In_' rIot ~_I_

_""-',_""'ol_, ot__,e_~2"'."' _ _lvur C Irh_lwO_,........... _-Of'~ A_-"___"_ 20 "'.,.. ....pOK .....__ , lK11 _

I\nol del_ .. :lOOO..('o'DSI

____ -'lIM "

lIIl_~2_---~ ..-- ... .­~e-- '2__ f;VU TCol_ ~_...- ......­''-lI'l'5I<WJ''~_ 10 _~UdfN"' __ ...... 11I _- .__-..-._..._...-.. .- -

a<'<'<"f'I •..:1lhe Chall ..nW·r 2 on If; " Ia.. 19!H . S ...." rthd,·.." lh .. d ..bal .....nl1inutod a, In h"w ""1I1~- Chalknw'r 2 "IBTs wer .. to b.. p rtKur ..d andwhal n",,,-'u,,,s w..re to be impl ..m..nt ..d for lh .. Chief tain /C halleng.' rlmprowm..m Programme (CI IIP) . In Ihe eWIll, CI IlI ' wa , nOi pursne<!an d il was de<:idt' d to rep brt' hnlh Chieftain and Challenger "'i lh arn"'pl..l.. neet of 426 ehall""Ker 2 "mT, . 0 , ,,, 10 financial n"'strai"ts,lhi, " umber was r.-<Iur..d I,,· 40 '0 ~_ TI, .. ord .. r for II... n 'mai ning259 "IBTsa"H"lI ...,,,in.. fnrther OTI, ,,.,,, announced in J ul, -1994

Th .. fiN production ",hide ""a' com pleted Oil I AUj.\ll'119') 4, !l ow........th .. " ' OD wa, de l..rmine<! {(. en,ur.. lhat th.. p ,wl uctio n mod ..l, ofChallenger 2 mel the slring ..m demamh of Ih.. original sl't'd6ca ,io". tTlSr plt'mber l90:t4,a ·firsloffl'"K!uCli' lIl lria l'"ftlm_'<'ofdw6rsl,i"",hicl.... ......akdthal \ TlSha<1n"I'l"'......d,.di" "'m,f..rrinj.\lh.. I."" lofbllild'l,,,,li~' and reliabi lin ' achi ·e<! ill d,, ' ..ustom-mad.. proIO~pt' model, '"Ih.. manuf;onurinK proc , and lh.. produ ction v.. hid ... . .-\ccord inj.\lyt!lefirslbalchoflanks"<l,nOlacc..p1t'd~'lhe "IODandth..... "ere hddin.un-age nmil lh .. fault, were rerti!ied. [n....i lah ly. lh .. origi nal hh...·,..,iuDale slipped ~', much 10 ,h.. d is",a, ' of .h .. fiN al1"o ",·..d nWm.'m.,.h ..d"I,..:1 10 reed.... Chal k""... 2 _ TIl<· R,)\a l Scots Or;oWKJn Guards." ' '' '' , ' a rrnie-s I'...·ft-r 10 iUUlK!U"" a I,i.'(·.. "f ..quipment imo ",,..,;c.. an dll...n .'Ii",inal<" ,my l..... hing prohl ..n"sub't'quemly. Bm for Chall ..n~e r 2

th.. ~10[l h..td \'DS lo lh e slri({ lt'rrns of lhe contrac l a' lo q"ali ly co"'n>1

am! reliahili~'. In time , lhe I"ohl..tm were sol\'ed and n,,>dificatinns made10 all the tank.,held in s"',... . To achi..,ethisl ht' ~'O () imp•.....-!a .. ·ri...o f I'md uctio ll Reliah ility <;"""h Trials (PRGT ), l'a,-h ,,; ,h i"Hl'rnenta lilmore rlillicnh reli ahili~' la<)l;.·t,. PR( ;T 1 " .....' ",,,n pl" l..d in r-;')\·..mb.. r 1997"il h PRC;T 2, 3 ""d 4 "-h ..d ,,led 10 b.· held in March,J un.. and Oc to!>. ·r19YIl, lnth....n-mlh.. prt>dunio"lin.. tanksach i....'edth.. rle-sir..ddegreeof rcli"bilil" ";lhin .h .. firsl lh re.. PReas so lh.. ta,t was not held. E\ e n s,-,.lh .. MO l) d..lIlanrled an [n...'iel'o;"" Reliahili n' De", ,, ,, ,, rauon (ISKIll of aco"'plete am",,,,rd "'I"-,,dmn "rChalienger 2 "IRTs a, a final p" . ,f "flh..tank 'sm-..rallperformanre

C hil ll e nge , 2 .. Ie ldlng Te emFrom the out....r, th~ Chal1"Ojo(l"r 2 (la t.. r AFY) Fiddilljo( Tl'am plaw-d a"ilal rol ,· in th.. pron or...m...nt proc~\'; Ihe ir purpO\~ ",as 10 ~n 'u re th ...q t",l it,· " f th" l.ank, a'th'1 ' ro lk doff th.. l"nltran'port,·"" aodo"to till.'re l(iment al mnk par ..... FieldinK aC!i,it~, was su'pend..d from OctoberlY95 untiIJanuar\' 1991'\",hik th,· Production Rd iahi l i t~· Gruwth Trial," .. re und ...rtak ...n to impro\"<' th ... qual it~· of Ihe produn cm" inl( offth,' a\""mhl~' Iin..s in 1...,·,1> and ~..",ca,tl~, Oo c(' ddin·ti ,·s h~jo(an inJanuar\' 1Y91'\ . th ... tan ... ",...re i"'pe<:l<'d in hatches of 311:th~ number ofCh" lk nKer 2 .\IBTs allocal....-lto each armot1r~d rejo(iuwnIin tIll.'Type 311o rga nizalion th" n extant. With a total productio" rtlTlof 31'\6tanh. Ihefi,·ldinjo(teaml..'t ..dl..nhatchMoflank,o\'t"raperi,K1uft"'<J-dlld.a.half~·..a,-.;, Th,· ChallenKer 2 Fiddinl( T...am " ·d' task ...d "ith ..nsuti"K themitahility of ..ach and ~"""r\' tanl b..-for.. il ",a, accepted from \l)S, Tb..team con,i",O(] of an RAe major . a RE.\lE AS.\l a"d ", ,'eral highl~' ,kill ed,md ...xperi ..ne ..d R -\C in'lntC!",", and RE.\IE artilk .. ,....AUKlll<'ntingIh...Fiddi"g T...am smff were ere",'! fromlh...regiment that ,,"asto r..c...i'·e Ihetdnh ill Ihat hatch, Th e,... ert"'" too k parlin th .. handu",·roflb"'lanlto the . 'ielding T...am. a"i,red in all of th ... i"'pection'!. perfonned th ...Batrh T..'t lInd ..r Armoured Ttials and O..........lopm .·m Unil (ATOLl), " pe rti , ion'llId dccompani...dthe "'"bdutinl(lh....irdeh....r\·tolh....irf<'l{i", ....n" in C.. rmam' and Ih.. l·K. b ·..n' on ....ofth .. tanks in ""rbb'''rbof 31l "'a' 'ubjeet..d loan inspertion that cO\'ered""er\'a'Il<'C! of thetdnl in the most ..xartinjo( ,I<'"t"il.E"~ r\'fault from a ",ft"'are jo(lilr h inth.. fire<ull1rol syst ...m Ihroul(h inaccuraei.., in ,'ehide co ufigu rdtio ndonuu,·o ta tjo n h. p«int m·l·,'sp....~· on a jo("'. ...... n ipple "'a' rerortl,o(]h 'er\ 'tanl",t\ 1"'''rc1 on a road rtll1 tuandfrom the Lulworth K'll1ner\ '' .. nl{'.. ,,·h..r.. th.. ordna'H" ('w"-'r<>tnmi"'inn....-land th, · l{und ud'i/::htin/::"" t..m ·,,· n ><·d · fur accuraC'!·. In ..xce" of 22.()()(J ·incid..ms w.. re;, I<'"m ifi..d on Ih... lOl,,1"f~fi Chalkng.. r 2 .\lRT, and 22 OIT, . A pandof expen, ,,' nttini,..d all of Ihe i", 'ide,," and appli ..d correnin"," hr ...... n....d....-l, a, ajo(re...d belw' ·n th .. Fi...ld in jo( T" am and tlw \ l) Son -site tr ..m. Additionally. out of ..ach halch of 3fl I"nh. fnur wrrer ho", n and ,...nt to ATDU for a R..1iabj1iI~' Ilo lt b 1',-,;1 tlMt put lh"",panin,lar t;n,'" thro ul(h a ti l{or om thrr.. banJ ..fidd day" Irial. Th .. fat..nfl l,...." ·hole batch of3 H. ar r ....p'ann·mr...j n: ti" n, hnu jo( " n tl 'e r....' ..l,-",fthe Kneh 1',''' . Th.. re,ull was thai nu annour..d r"Kiment rec..i",d a,inl{l... tank Ihat ha t! a majo r f"ull. Any r...maininjo( minorfauhs. andtl,..", w<'le " x tremd~' rare . were identified 10 Ihe ree";,i ng regiment M'th.. Fi..ldingTeam prio r to 'h e l'lIll ·, tl ..li,'el) 'and fix..d bY'\1)S li~ld

rep r.."'nt"li",·" u"",ll~' a, ",on a, tl,.. pdrt' ar tiH'd "ithin one n r twuday'! of lhe tanl', arri\'al

T h.. first e ijo(htChall..nger 2 .\IBn "" 'r e d. ·liwn·d to The Royal Sum])ral{oon Guard, al Fallingb".,...1 in C.. rmany in lat.. J anuary I9'JIl. Th ..1"'1 of Ih reg;nw nt -' .'Il' n.·", tau h "'''-' hand ..d ''''er in a cen'm"n~'

on 3U J un J99fl. ",itn ..,,...dby,nmeof lh .. l..adin/::luminari,·,in th ..Chall<-nger 2 ""n.- , inrluding th .. .\1;l'l<"r ( ;"' I1('ral uf lhe Ordnar,.-...Li..utenant Ge neral Sir Rob.-rt Il ayman-:Joyre , who h"d t>t-..." a k~.. nau d(" onsist.. nt ad'H ("alenfChall""jo(...r2. Tbe firMI d"d 1\10 '" diffirulthurdle in th ...Challenl(er 2 prol(ramm.. acceptanc... proc ..dur~ was theIn-St'"I"\'ir e R.. liahil it~' Oe:mn l1strati" u {ISRD) . Thi, Wit' ...mdurl ...d byR Squadrun. The Rop l Scot, Dral{o"n Guard,. be tw.... " AUK'''I and

n.oft_"'~2.. _ ..__10

-.... *"_durIn9 _e".,.. __.e_,_Thlo_._"'.­_.._- ........00_-""" _ ___11",,1<25_.... -...,.cl ... _ ._ .._H_ _-_...--_.__ 2 _ _--_.------..__ "",, _ _ or---_ ......--._~~.~ ..~2__ ...._ _,'-----_._ ....... .... (VDSJ

I:k ct'm he , 1 \~ .1'l ",·h.." \2 Challt'Ilv;.-r 2 \ lBTs '...·r .. ,e,lt'd at Xf n U inBI,,'inl:{unand al lh e GIJlltl.." 'Sch,,,,1 in L" h." rt h.The ,rial.inmh...rlth .. tan les cow,illjl; 5.04Ukm dllrinjl;!H m.uldi..ld rlay' ",hil .. lirin"2,/('lllro"",h"fI20""" alllrn""it;'m ,u,,1 SVJ(JI) round,,,f7,fi2mrnarmm",;,i"". Th.. f"" d ""lull nrISRD ,,"'-, an "'"!ualili"d SlK... ·" "ilhall,lw1;\'W'" fnr I"..,.f""""",..and r"liabilil~' .·x, ....'kd ,,,,wl,,,i,..·]},.

TI" · ... cund an""nrrd '<"I,:;"'rn, 'oht-t'q"iPI..-d Wilh <'hall..""..,2"a, 2nd Rop\ Tanl R..gimrnl (2 RTR) during late J'j'Jl\ anrlearh 19':1'.1.Th e la' l of th ,· 3il(, Ch a ll,·n g..r 2 \ IBT' '' ·<i'pre '' -Ill..dlOth,-Briti,hAm.)'"n 17 April ~W()2 al a ~..ren"",)· h ..ld "n Sali,hn,,' Plain, riuinKh'. ,h.·l<lnk,,-a' <It'liwred l<>.\S<luadro", (RT R, that~an tran'it,Ii"""K"10lh .. """'Ii"'t ""il '" ,,, ... ' ,h .. ", " k to"-,,ron 15 S<-I'''''nh.. r 1916_.\Corllpa",·. 1/,-",) , \lachin" Gun Corp', ,uh"·'I",-ntl,'.\ ( ~"" l'a IlY of lh ..Tan"(~ >rp". " n<l " . hmh torhi,da,·, r"rth"fir,r .illl ....wr. th" Brili,hAr",~' rrtei",,'r! a reliahility-proM'" ~IRT thai wa, . "ad ,· to llo ttl wa,' '"">0.'" a, it aniwd Oil the tank park ofan armo"red r"j\irn"nt -and,,",rwa, Ilot 1r>r'Kin cOlllinK.

OPERATIONAL DEPLOYMENT OFCHALLENGER 2

Cha lle nll." 2 ,, 'a, lirst d..pl,»ffi"per.ui,,n allyin th .. )~-ar~'l~~ll()llo"inKth.·

~.-\T< )ill".",·.,nti"lli"rhe .. th"i<·di'p"lt'h.·."-....n .'\ lha lli<la" d St' rh ia "","tll<' I.-ni;:h"..( pn""",,,,,f 1,0""' ,, A' pal1 "f " FOR (I,,,,,,,,, roo" -)_ BSq""drun.n,,· R<o:oalSctlr'])'<Ij(.>o.m ( ;,,,,,,h . ,,...,cmllllli!U..(,,,,Ol,..,,.u;<>nA~",,"", J "ith it' compl"",..m of Ch"lIenll"r :1 ~IBT, "I lil.. lh .. tlth"r"lw,dron'''·..re'di'llltlurued ' . Theh..a' ) '<lnll",rraeteda"adt"lern'mI')o'eto tin ' ""ni"K fani",,, b\' und,-na kinj\ "",d patro(. and n:p, (\ '..hirkO,... ·k I'oi",,) al k""'1T!fuL,hpo;lIt, " "hin II... An:a ..f Op. -ralio", (N lK)tlr th.. ~luhi-~;"ional Brigade (C"''',"al). ,urh a, C..u .. 3 on rh. ' ",,,in ro " ,..

1m '" l'Tistina 1<J SI·rhi", ba..nd...l r<~,<1 march ... ",ithin , Il<" hriv;,,<I.. ·, AO R,h m ugh' '' " lh.. ,i"·",,,ruhmul,·,,,, ·ru,,,.,rt·d'''';l{IlauodOp,·rdli,,nS(m"m",(" ... {~,1,,"r l'la,,"A21 ;lIl<lafl ..<la'dl'lIlKihl.. sho"'off"n-,·."tirn"''',·rinKa, m'Kh a.' 2.'''Oklll b\' nM'1. :'\on .. oflh.. ,,,ri,,,,, ..,h nic factiu"s in K" s",,,d...·m..dil,..."sihlrlnconlnl lhrl'n"'S( ·n...·of(:hall.·IlW·r 2 .."ringilsfil'\!np.. rdli"nald'·ploull..m.

E".rcl •• Self S e re . eTh, ' ,,,Ialilt- silUdlion in Ill<" ~liddl .. Ea.st 'lIld Saddalll lI us""in 'scu mi" " i" g r..h,sal rn ahid .. ~, IIw ,·.,ri"", r..s.,l"rions pmnmlg;l(.-dI,,· til<"Cnil ,",1 :\ alinn' I""mpl..d Ih.. ~d, i,h K"""mm..m I<> u",duC! amajor milila')' ,,,, ,·rci,, · in lh.. rc'Ki"" ,n r..'1 ll". .roin, Ro,pi<lR"'K li""Fore.' (JRRF) con""pr in a ",..t1illlll-scal.·. cOlTlhin...-larms ""rfiv;hlinv;......nario .Old..nalllr <l t "..rci"" SaifSan...... Il . ·S,,; f! .<;"u rd · ill F.nKli,h .il was ,""",1",." ..1 in O n", ,, in conjllncr im, ,,; rh His .\la j" ' I)' lh,' S"ltan's-\ rcn..d Forc, .. t><.·,,,..·.·,, St'l'w",l...r;o m l :'\" ,.. ", h,: r 2IK11. In addirio" 10

rh.. mai" Irai"ing afli,;~- ill dt'<;('n cnIHIiri"ns . rh.. L"K arm ..<1f.,rc ....I"''''r<l lh,' d'"l,lo~~nrnr 1"'>(""" a",l "'pp"rl sU' Klllr..s "'...·.1<>01 ro, ,,,ta ill a,,d r...-,,w r ,,,,,,r 20.0IKl l' K m iliral')-p.. r<,onn..lrhollsa,,dsofmil ,..fro m rh"; r 11""'" h""", . Th,' ,kpl(~~""ll1 in",!> l .. "" .. 22.;)()(1I"',.,.m"' ... .l).,·,1)(1""hid.., an<l tr;oil..". !I:\ aircrah (~- all Iyp am i 21 '];0,,,,1 ww·h a,d p....j,...I... IC<"'of .. ,,". ·£9l) millioll . Th.·.·"I"-..lirim,al')·foR.. i",-h,,1<'<1"n.\JoYs. or"'hich filiw..r.. Chdll""K'" 2 ~lBTs

n,.. li""' pan ofrh.· ."'. ·R i..... cOIllI,ri,inK ~rili,h fm' .... alo" ... "'a'...>n.luet...-l in Ih.. h"sril .. d..""n co"dilionsof,h",·i"",, lh· unl)('I,,,I .....<I" " nl,.. m ,,,,,I ,-..mr"l poni""s of O man - an "r ..a ",h .....· rh.. K(~",I

Om"ni Arm y ran·l y c"n<llla, ..~.. rci.. ", <I,..pir,' ",,,d, of irs '"'luipll"'1Ilht·inK sp... ·i" lh· lHo.liti. ·d for . l......nco"'liri""s. such,,, rh..ir "",.,.i"""IChan""V;..r 2_TI", pI;"",..... "'rl'<' """.... of ,I", <lilli.-lIlri.·s of "l}("r;ui"K'''' ''r ll... "pl",llinK r..rr;oi" ""d in 'nch arduou,co"<liriu,,,. hut co",""m lra int' rli<lnol alln", 1<" an\' sp...·ifit mo,lif i,'alio", W '''j nip" ...m . Inp" n ic" l;lf. ir w", rh.. ad,;,'" 'If rh.. l l,·adqnam·... ll i.-...:rm K,~"I .-\nn(}tl r...-l

0--1" __..----.-----....... Ea<I><If.....l__..~­_ 111-_01 _ __ _ In ... __ .-.Tbio__

-"' .... .,..._.-.-~~-""""....... -.01...-_ ...~l _ .....

_"' <If_--_ -''''''''''' .... _ <If ~_ T_fffTl _ol .... .~---.........._....­_ ........ _ -.1I\l'- _-. ...-......- -.........._-­..-y ... _ -- ­--.,...---..... .-r-."" ...._<lf lta __ ____~l

.. _ <If. __

...-ol-...._ ._~...-<lf__ ...._ "'.___......01_...-_ ......----,-.. ... B.....--.ThOI ......._~Ouwdo.........._UIoon~ln-....

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-- - '''''''''''''­. ........ .. _ ... . Tho...........__ ......... 'o~ ..._""""",,,,,"1''' ____ cIo___ -."­_._-­.._-_...._-............_-_..___ ,own .....-_ -eo...... __ IrlDofMt.

Tho_oI_.................... ._-...._ -.. futi Tho oonf\g<orlotioool_

............ ......----.. _ .. _ 1

oo-PO.l.Tho __ _-__ Irl_..-

..,.. -.-...------­...--._- <~--_..... ..- "-'"BT__, t-...no_·_Irl ......,__..._... ... _.....-....- .._-­........,--_ .._......__01_............ on .... _ _ ."""............_..~_'.......... 2~orDL2~.- - ,

n"l" (DRAq ror ,til Chall"" I!W 2 \IRIS t<> h. · litwd "ilh ])<>reh"' t" rl.e ......1 2 appliq ue ann""r an·a~... owr ,h t" fmm alltl , i<l.. , 01 tit.· bnlsd uring major nrrri..... ,neh a,S"il ..........a 10 ,illl"l"tr ","'Ii"hti""eond ili"", a, el' .... lyas po.,ihle. h ,,"', al", knmm from ""IK'rirnn, in ,Ilt'Gnlf War 01 IWI th", the .i<l.. Ch"hham ann""r pant"I' ,<'duH'd ,hea 'n ollllt olrlllsthtoinK,hrm"'''ph,·th,, 'rade,in,;au<ly(Ollditiom,h''tr""lrlhe in"e,,,...1 iu'<>Ihe en!/;i'lt... and call'""'wre dama"e . n uriujl;tilt' Iantl oll-..",i", <>1 Oper." ion / J...m .~ in F" hn MTY 1991 thi, d id notp<"",a prohl. ·", a, ,he "·t"a,h""·ondilio,,, ,,'.. ,.. '0 10\l1 " orl 'h edt"....rt,;and ",ore grim. 1I" " ,·,...r. 11,.. n"t "I 'ran'I""ti"" aud lilliu" th ,'anu""r arra~...a, ...ell a.othrr ·d......rti'atio" · "-'Iwrt ' r"r Cha Il"n" "T 2 ",l',·"kulatetl"t£343.(J(J(lpertanl:.,,.,,,,...r£20mili ioll!'Jrfif,tan l:..,,amm,1r", ,,·,...,I<I haw arld.·d a funher 211perrell\ wlhemer"l1 "lS 'ofthe..serri,,·. A, ,h, · l,riuri p,,1 aim or .<;;,;1 Si,,.....a "a' to te<1 the deplo~men t

or 3 n,m",a" d" IIrig-ad . , Rrn,t1 \I a riut" . "ill ,i" Ih.. JRRf ~onltn,,"d

'l n1dur~. Ih, ' ·,l~....ni/.a liu,,· Oflh .. Ch ...llt',,~..r t ~ IlH, ........s nol d...."' ..d (0b~ t.....,ihl<' ";lhin Ih" hnd~,'l. Fun l,..nllor~ . lh~ "'I'ph,!", ' '<nIlo"r ...rr ...~,in ""rage .....o"ld ht· rt'(luirffi if ...n " I",r-,Ili,,,,,,-I dep l",mt'n( b.:ram,·nen',,," )· , lurin lo: lhe u m rst· of lhe ,·xeITi.....'

fhe Chall"nK,'r 2 for...• r""'pri" ..d f"nr ,<nll"lIrt 'd ' qu ad " " " 01rh ,' Royal Dragoo n G" ar d, (RIlG ) '" .....ell a, headqllarleN elemen(,,,,,, t a ronli"Jo:t"lll "fTh,' Q" n 'n\ Ro"" l l.al"'·" (Q RL). The RDG had,m ho recenll\' com'ert ,"<l '" Ch all"nger '2 hu( had umdllrh"<l hiKhh'lIrrt ·" ful . ·xe ,, ·i...., in l' o land ...",1 R\Tl 'Sin Can atl.... Afle ra I...riod ofMdi lllali, alion f<"ll,..!nK'I" _lh.. wmp"I'JlUr,"in Om, ut ru,,· ro 54d, ·!,:re,... ,'entij(rade-Ihe tanks .....ere ,oon I' ll! 10 Ihe le,1 inlhe haN hcOlldili" n. , In p;orrin 'lar Ih,· \'t'ry fint· "'ntl blo"ll up 1»-' Ih~ Ir"c ksral' id ly d ogged air lillef'<. ca ll. in!': a loss"fl'"......·rinlhe ..nJ'(inr •. T Il<"roc h lo:n."md al'o look a l{"['rible Inll on Irarkpad' and ruadw h.... I, . Airti ll, '" weI''' n" ..... I '.'l ;' t~ a nlall,'r "fda~" in''''ad ofmolllh' ...nd. UlHlrrtlw mo' l ..xl r"lI1econd ilion,.hadmbt'change d afler amall.. r of ho uf'<[n Iwnh."....l Eu",p" . ;oir lilwr, ,,,... ,'xp"oed 10 la'i " I' I<l 121Tlonr h,lx· f ' " ·e r~qu i ri ng replart'n... ntinanorlllallr-ainingy..ar. Ona\'rr-a~.'.(11<"

h6 lan h in O man "'er~ um,,,minK46 filte " ..arh tI"'y' '''1a cost off l .(J(JO",Kb , T h" "'1'1'1\' of air filte r. an d Ir-Mku"" umahl... in (I1rall'(''',,,rapid!)' Ix,col11inJ'(..xhall'led. B~' lhe final day of lhe di,i,iona l -"".. rciSt'l k '.: rl Rhi no. hM h .\ ,,,1<1 [) Squ,ulnm, "'......... hk In atl,,,,k t h~ final" h jer li"" \\i lh j n ' t I....o'-"nks ..ach . Ear h "flh"f'lIlr IU l(;squadmn.\\a,obhj(r d In 'l, md du",n a tr<~.p of (...nk, ami lhe QRl. ctHuinl{t"nt was senth" "' '' to r..dn c.. d" mand. nn Ihe ,upl'ly cha ill . II ",a. no", appa rc 111 "' h~·

lhe R')\'" l Oillani Anm' did nOl rea,lil,'collduCl"xerci...., in the '''''Ith\'aluahl" airliH c"'I"..-it, · ,,'a, nr...:kd tu n~· mit a con,oli,];,t"d load of

' pare pa rts " ...iJ'(hinj( "'Hn" !",.~ "'n,. " ;Ih air lill"" heinJ'(drawn from .."...1)'

" .uIT('. 11ti, pl't"l,.· nt...:l th" , upph· .,f , pa .... pan,fordlr·B· \ ·ehid .. nee l ~

" ll' ply and "'pp< lf! 'l·hirl.... "'c h a, I..tnd Rm l' I'S and {"iJ'(h\-lnl1lt.·rs-,lS"...11a' the helicop ters and C,.-I3O Hercul"' lran. po n aircr-.u1 in th.-...lre.O lh" r ('(jniplll<"ut, "'.. rr al""",lkringfrolll the ho'l ik cUl1ditiun,. , nch a,Ih,. AS'!oIO ", lf-pro pe llt"d I" ", i u er and th,. l.y1lxbiJul"l i..ldh..lir opl.' r: Ih.·l11ain rotor bl...d,", of the latwr [;"ro"<lun a' .. r-aJ'(eju,t 27 ho" " in Oma n a,"'/fainst a hf.. ""p<'('tanc"\,of.'">!)I) in EI" " I" ';lI1t uwl ili" n, . l1 w fO'IlMil1ingtanks 1110,...<1 to th.. nonh..m 1't"J':i')\l of the .--.H""I)· to take pan in a majorjoim ('"e rdsr " 'lh 12.ROO" ' K'I" of IIlr R(~<tl O mani Anm'. 11le .... thepMe of ope r-alinn' '' ''-' I..,., int enSt' and lhe r.. '' di lions l....' h,,,t ilr .Al lhefillal ro mbillt'd lin ..firing ex..rri,,· and firep<l",.. r d..",,,mtr-ation . 42 Briti.hand O ", ani Chalk ng.-r 2 ~ lBT. "e .... usr d. ";I h C Squadrn n. RDG . firinj(11)1) li n ...nd ~)lJ HESH fOund, in th ree da~,. Bill by no", lh.. 1'1'..... "',.,publi, hing alallni,( ,tori .., ah.,ul th,' dJ. ·"I;,....n..,.' ufChallrlll{t"r 2 lhalt'\... ntuaH~' led to a parl iaJllel1tal)' "nqnil)'. (Sr (' IlFpmt fTJ' 1M G;n"IJlmiln""d A"dit<w(";n,/'mi He /097 ,<in.sitm 2(j()/ ~2/X)2: / A ",o:wl 2002. ....hich i'O\'t' I"\IYCrllical of th" \ lin i,(r"\,of [lel " nr (' on "' any'''-' p' '('l. of ('(jnipnlt'nt'

._...,. ,"""-.•_ - _ ...-------... ...""""""'*"-----_-..... ""'-"""""_-.-~ _-""-- ~__ __ Tho_......._~'_ _..._ ..__"",.-",, ,,'''' _ 1_,_ '''_ '_ ___...JO_ ,,_ _ """"II _'__ ...__. ~ "" __ . _ """"' _ ; w_ooo<wd.t:23_ ...

...._ ""'&"'-' ..81'0-...... ... ...-_""""""''''' .. ..,._ ...__~ "_~"' ........-e.-v~

__. ........ 2000~ . •••"

T1Wo<>loMk:'"'- ......Iea '1yH.......... _ptOblem._br_~2

.... 10 _"'-_ E ....

_NlnOmaft ...................... _0.:_2001.The_.__1y-_._-,___ ... 320 ..._

_15IIm ____ M .........-_ _..-_...- -_...__.ThMepn>bleono ...

. -..." l<loooln _

unj ....Iy-.....---oICM1_2 __- -...---"-

..mpl ,»ffi during Ex..reise Saifs.. .......a lI ,j' Howe,er . th.. fundamentalprobl ..m ,,"..., th.. inadN) ltal.. "'a ling of'llare parts for the pr....ailini/:fUnditium. Thi' "-J,., n"npuund..d by a lam,·ntabl.. fail"re in ' '''' '' ':1mKk;ng·";lhinthelol(i"icehain,wllt.,...byspar... ma~'h",'·ebt-ena,"...ilabl..but their exan wher ..about, remained unknown on immediat .. demandTh i' ,,-J,., 10 come hick and haulll the Briti' b Arnl~' during Operation TPbt';112003

Out of all th.. l'\ATO memb,·n;. onl y th.. Cii. and Unitffi Slat... ha"eprO\ffilheeapabili~'ofd..ployini/:any·formationofbrill:...de,ileorlargerin an ('''peditiollary' role m'er meh di'tallee" ...nd in ,ueh a demanding{'TI,;",,,,nenl_ ~""e "I' the eo"'emp""-a,",!' \lBT design, wilhin ~ATO,

", eh ..., Ariete ,le<:lere or Leol" lrd 2, ha'" fired a ,hot in ange r andther ..fo.... remain unprm-en in banle. E"erci'" Saif Sareea wa, a cla...,icn ampk of pr..parini/: for the most lik..I~' P""llrtl of war in the ""...,diffin,[1 cirnun'tanu'" r,,,her tha" a aMldl threM..." n ,'rei", inLimbollrg or Bergen-Hohne during a tempe rdte a",un", in Europe.!>e'pite the mgg..-d temin and conditiom. Cha llenger 2 perfonnffiadmirahlywh..n 'I"'.....,w'·.... to hand , although the performance oflhetr"'-bWa'eri..... f"rrun'·em. Plan' """ 'e ": 1 in hand tofind ... sulut;un.Similarl~', the problem' of d"" jng... tion were addr.., ....d to makeCha ll..nge r 2 ..., banl ..wonhy as I""',illl .. in desen condiliom. In 'pile ofth.. probl..m,. 4th Armour..d Brigdde 'till m.., il_'Col1ec ti'" r ..rfonnanreT,.-"ini"KStandard ,,1~"Cli,'., and g-ained it, I.e ad Ann'''"'ed T...4 Fore..readin"""I...tu,in january200'2.Attainini/:,hi''''"l1,,,,·en,,,dallth.. mor ..urg ..m ...' Ih.. 9/11 t..rrori" amKks in ~..w York and Wa'hington DCo.;curr..ddllringE"erci",SaifSar..ea ll,and'h.. prospeetofwar in ,her.-gio" be-ca"' ...... '..rmor.. likely

• df _b_..._... df .... _

--..'""ll"'Q_ dfO> __.........__~2 .. "" __ __ Io df" __.. """""~"""""""'"" _-_ ~-_.

O P E RAT IO N TELIC

Sp'Kep.....dlld"'"dt·tail..dhi ,"'I),of lh.. cam!"'iKT,dlln"!:th.. I,.<lqWarof2003. Thi' aen ll"' ! ....i ll highli,:;:ht rhel'rrli,nnanct" " f ClMlk nK,'r 2 ourinl(O peratio n INu th""'Kh npical "l"adron and troop acti"'" dr",,,,, hum..."ell of th.. tim.....ann""rt'd "'!{irm'rus (kpl,,~t"(l to th.. r'1;;"''' TI,e R"p .1SWt, Drago"" Gua rd, (Ca rhin i.." and G rn ",) - SCO TS D(; - "1111 A ,Band C Squadron.; 'The Q" ...." .' ){()~al l .ann ' ,.. _ QR I. _ {fro m~lh Annou.....d Brilr"de j ....·;,11 B ,md C S'llMdrom amI 2nd R(~'al

Tanl ReWm.." , - 2 KTR - "; Ih e n[0l'_, EK'pl and F;,k o n Squallro",I' ll" headquan..", .. Ieme"t,. In all. 7th Anu",,,ffi Brigad.. t'Ill I,I"yt"d116 Chant"1IK'" 2 .\ lIn. and sc CR-\RRV, (juri,,!: Opennioll Tr/ic. tilt'British «xl.."ame to r the rampai!l'l that the Ame riGUls te-rme-d0 1":,,<11;' '''lr"'liFIWtimrI. Duri ng d{·pl~m..nt , th.. ""p"rienc'" "f ..ach r.-gim..m w.. r..,im il..r. but fur Ilwsal .. " f th i' IMIT."; '''' \h, lSt"of2 RT R " r.. rt'n..,lIlt'd htT....

Followinjl the <:h ri' lma, and " ...w Y...ar c...l..hrati"", . th.. rrjlinwllltt.'tllrn .-d to worl o n 6 Jan"'II~" 200 3 to " •• " "anlM of th... lil ...lihood ofd '·p lnHn..n l to th.. \ liddk Ea,!- r o r th.. n..xl r....o w.·.·b . th.· n.' jlim,·ntcond" et..d indi,idllal and troop Ir"i ning !lefor .. condnel;n" a ra"jI"]l'Kl "g... al Bt·tgl ·n ·Hohrw b...I" ·n 20 'Illd 24J"nua')'. Th ...tt.' follo",..l acomhin.-d-arm' taet ica l tra;n .. r "ion at St-mw la".-r from 25 to 27ja nua ') '. A hattl ..group fidd·training ...x""'i,,, wa,conduct...d for th...n ..xtIh" ... II" ),, on Bt·fJ~,·n·lluhn" in hlinarrl' an d <lri'ing 'n ow " i th A and DC" 'mpani.... of 1st Ih ttalion . T h... Light Infant ,) '. in th..ir Warrior IF"' , intr mpt·ra tu r..., a,lowa, ·17dq.:n...'S centigr",k: a,o"... Scotti,h troopt'ro bs.-,, -..d . 'Su m...-", .. t..lIth.. "l""ddi.., ii 's Ih .. \ liddk Fa'tt'rll fmn!­nu' Ih ... Ea'l ..rn Front w...·tt.' suppt_'ti ta... b.. fightin ' oon .' l b .. train ingn m...·nt r.II<'tiOn "'1""drnn! c""'panyjlrnupmanu' ·..' TI... "loraiustS"".·t·

f _ E.___..-­_ _ --.UnIt.~_....-­

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,~lelr"'lidul!:-illrl..tell,i""po"iti",,,,am..lt,, rofl"""I,,,,illl'\ lofight ,h"Gulf War or 19'JI al!:ain Ih ..t ""ul.-l he far rt'nwwrl fm m lh,· Mtn;llcon!1ictlobeface.-l~'th.. trooP". [)llrinl!:"arlyFd"'''''')',th"litn k.,a nd,·..hides ufth ...... riou, arnumred rt'"gi",ent' ""Ie loa<l...-Iahoard ,hip, atth e ponof Emrle"anrl rle'palcherl '0 "hat "...., ten",..:! in ol'"rationalplanninRa"h~ ·","dyplace' - Kuw;li, .

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!" lIow..dbj. 'a,-"'nbi,wdarlll'li\l.·..firillKt·xt·rd ...·. n w Llnl , llwn rno\l.'"dl<J th.. barrMl , of Ih.. Kuwaiti lith Armo" r..d 8 rill:ad" where lh.., ' were" I..ar mnured an el tiu ..el with ·el..... n i,.ation· m,>clificatiou,. O n 111"'la rchth.. ammu ni tion arriwel and th.. lank. w..r.. ·hom h..d lip'. 0 " th ..follo" i ng da )'. D Da)'. 71h Am,n ur..,1 8 rig"d .. anrl h t (L'K) Anllollrt·dDi,i ,iun dnlan..:l op,:ration"l. ;lltho uKh there n'"mai'wd """",hn l'(ag "I' equ ipme"l SIKh a' n..w ~BC f,I,..", for Ih.. tauk. andp.. .....",a l it..m, of u niform. Th .. war began in ..am .." on 20 "'Ia rch ,G Day, with a '-Ollt'..n ..d air camp<.ign an",' tilt' l""gtl, and hrt·,,,lth ufIr,,') . A, th,' 1I"l""p' w"ilt'd in tht· Fo..ward A,...·mhl)' Area (FA\ ) "" lh..KUI',;l il/ l raq horda lht"}' were ,"hj..ct..d to rep"al<:"<i Scud and ga. anadal..r1.•. At 0307h", on 21 "'lar ch. Ih.. Chall..ng.. r 2 ...lIr r. of 3rd and!th Tron p' . B Stluadmn. Th .. Qu ....,, ·, Royal La,,,- ..,,. anrl th. · Warrio"of Y Co mp<lfl)'. h I Bandlion . TI,.. RO)'al R"ginll'llt of Fu, ili...., (I RRF)•k d th.. ;l, saull of h i (L'K) Armoured Di"i, ion ;lcn"" lh .. hord ..rel..ten. i,'" lin... anel;nto Iraq

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rh .. "llladron d"ployrd lhr .... "fit, In'''l'' ftllwar<l, with lith Tn " '!,nla nninl( a ,·,·hid." d"'rl p"i", (\ 'CP) . lilh Troo !, t" It,..ir ",wh. call,i!("I'~."" Br",.,. a lld lh .. h ' rw,m l O t"""""''' lio n Oll;r .. r (FO O ) ill o" ............l'h('''l1\rall~' and i lh Tro o p 10 Ihr ""uh . Squadron lI ..a<l'l"a,',,;...,

->lit Troo p 'Illd til<' L\() (I .ii(lu Aid 1l,·t,l( h nW'l1) r..m~i",·d in n ·"·"",,,.'·\ s <law" was h ...aki"". an inc ident occurr..d ~l tlw Sth Troo p \'(]'t h ~t l..d to lh .. tr~gic <I..~ th of S<.·rg.·~nt St<'H 'n 'TC Kohen •. [kspit..this ·tl",rk , C~'d"p' f<mt iu ....d th";r m ission and ,, 'on i,l<-mifi"d lh.·F..da" " mililia 11t"adqH~rt"rl in Al. A t..~m of sn ip"" mO\'t'<II,"",,",u dto plM" th.. buil.ling und ..r ob ,, ·........tion u'''''rt"<! by Th r.... 0 " .. ofi ,h TrtK'p (SKt Amh' Toppi"j.( ), Z,'ro lI.a \'O ( ~bj Am lr""' BritlOn ) ~ndth.. FOO (Capl J o.. I'ow..r ) in h i. Warrio r AOr (Artilt.. ry O hst' -ation/'OM) in c~", ~ rtil1.·!")- su ppo n h.',-~m .. nt·H·"....!")·. How..\'t'r. th nipt'rl,,·n .. sp"twd ~nd tl\ iht iauwn dd:>o ,ud wn from ,h.. huil din" ~",l "ni(;o""d

th.. lan"-, "i th KI'( " an d h..a, )' m~chin"i.'un fir ... Th.. tanh r..tu rn ..dfirt> with coax ~ nd HESU roun ds Ix 'for...... ·tiring Wilh th.. lHl'\(-ath..d,nip," r \t",ul'. II ",,~, now ~pp;"...nt Ih"t the I' '''l i I"n,·,. b"th n ·""lar andirr"h'ular. w.. r.. t!")ing l<l lur .. ,~,al ilion forc.., inTO urhan ar ..a, wh.. r..thei r ." ·.·......-]whuingfin·p""·t'Two"ltlh.. mini"' i,,·d ..ndh..a' -,.'ca'u..hit ·,inllitt"d upon ,h ..m in ro,tl~·str.... t.lighling

Armourt"<! ,..ids against sp..cific target, id..mili,'fl hy Spffial h ,rc...tro0 l" or 1" ,:..1 intdlig"n n ' now b, -~m.· th.· nonll in or d"r to minimi,..r i' ili..nr'''' ...lti... an.-lelim inat.. th n'·m\'m ililia.orF....I",·{"l·n,md Ha"llh/'am' infra ,mrclllr.. . At da"'1 on 26 ~Ia rch . (\ -dop' Sq,...dro" altar k..dth.· militia h"~d'l,rar1" '" 'I 'ppol1 "d I,,· p 'l ..-ision1(ui d..tl d,,,,· ~ir supp"nfrom CS ~Iari n.. C0'l" airr ,..h Ihal deslroy..d O hj.....,i"'· Ik ..in, lh. · mili,iaII Q "ithoUl a singl .. shot h.. in!t fir..d in r..tllm.A'"oon , th.. "'luadronn",ulllt...1 ano,l,..rra id inlo lh," ,o" 'n f(,I1"...ing wl'0"' tlMt militi,un ..nw..r.. ",ilhdra"in/: horn lh .. ,;c inil\ ' of O hj..ni", ik ..in. n Ul Ihi. lim.. Ih....n"I1l~- ..-asrt>ally"ith nu m..rous RPG t..,uns " "aiting in amh",h. ith Tro0l'It...1 ,h,· "s....,rlt in ....' \ " 1',mM,i"n .-Iown Ih" Hldin .h~,l r an i"g.....-,,,thro ugh ,h .. lown. Thr O n,>·Cru",d... "'H I..r th.. r n mlllan.-lofSerg..am.-\mho TOPI,in" (" ... Colou r rl~ t< · H) """ on lh.· lefT "i th TI ,ret' Z.. ro

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(Cpl .l"" Ihk) <>I' th" riKlll follo",,"(\d""'h' hy "I~ 'r<' Bram 'Cy,I0I" and,hI' "l uatlmll 1,·atl,·1', \1;oj..,.AJul. ' B,il1"'" "'ith 51h Tn " 'I' foll""';Il K nl'hd, ind. \\'i lh ~xu-,,,'nlilM ,,'c,,nraK" , tilt· militia IU'(; Wam, "p"'ned lireat lh.. 6:')-l<>n'l<' rhargilll'","hal \'irln allypoim-blankran!(e.

A,7th Tn "'I ) ",a, pa",i,, !: th.. 10"''' h'''l'i",1 d,,'" to a r m"",,"' l, ,Th n... On.· "'""-,,tmrk Il\'an RP(;"7 rollndinll"""rt~t,id..., ,,,hir h hadno ..lI'Tl I"'yn"d hla'ti "K ,h .. ,-n''''', I""[:,,,nal df.·,-., ha"KiuK nil the.·x,...-ior of th.. ",n k,S ,·rK..allt T" l' l' inK irnr1lt,t1iaw ly, tran-",,'( 1 hi' lIl lT .. tand . 'n lfaK,·d th.· '''''' mili'iamen ",ilh r m,xial llMchill""gllll tir .. at aran!:,' of 10m. killillK lhern h"th, A ",c"nd I'>ln-m"n mililia team "',L'p" , iti" " n! at th.. ha", "fa h"iltli"K arr"", th.. junrti"" hrhind a 10'",ton.· "'all. n,i,"'am " nK"K"d ,ll,d hit n"·...·7.<.·ro", ·itha" RP(; ata'·.l1'K,· " f 411m. " rikillK,h'· lIlTT.·t aW,ollr hut. -all, ing no dauMj\.·..~ain ,

S,·'X'·"1I11"ppinK'Iui ..kly'p"ned th.·.·Il.·l11yandenK"K..t1 Ihem"';thal2Qrnrn H"SII "",,,d killing them all. AmHh"r militia le"m ",a, .. nlfaWnllThree Zero "'ilh RI'(; rocke" and , rnall-arm_, li r" frmnlhe npp.. rfloorofa hllilding " , th...;r 1,,,,,1. St''X' 'ant Tol'pi"K alfain "nll aKn1 ",ill, aII F_''I l round n ll" i'' K,h,· e' " npl.·te ' k ' !n ,u im , uf th" firinKP''" i, iOil. He,1l<'npn"id..t1funh,·r.·ftNti""'''ppn''"i'' .. r"axialm,U'hin''1/;<ll1lir.. in~uppun of hi' troup a' ,he ,,!uadmn ~ruup I"'-,,,,d through and he~nnrl

7th'lh",p t" Ohj" n i.'e Brain, On the rml1e ha ..k t'''''arrl,th" "!u,,dmnlorati"n . Srrg"an t T"l'pinll 'I""tn! militia ;lni,;t,· amllnd a ~',<1ic

\ lTUIAPC i" th""irinity"fll"'\""'l'ital d""',n tht""'Kiual aml""h~i ,,·, OI",'"i"K militiaro.·" ",-ith RI'G """ "1"'''''. he opt'""d fir" "';lh lhreem,,"d~ " f !I "SJI, killinK the """,il "m,. The compl..te contart l"''' '' dapproximately 15 mi"m", . Srrg..alll And ..""" T" pl, i" K r.....e;""d a'C.(,mmand,·r·, Cornm"ndati",,' fmm th" oe, 71h .-\rrn" " ,...d Briga',,",I<,rhi'l l'mft ...,ionah,m and ,h,l1 of rh.. ,....."" "f ·Cm"" Ir r· .

n ,i, "'" , " ,klini"K "oioll a' it p"'M '(1 Cha llengtT 2 h,KI a high~uni.""hih~' raW ag-"in" Iraqi inh"un anti-lank """aI"'''''' . ..,.,.n in anurha n ..",imnment ,,;thout illlimll) ' '"pl"'rl. which """-S traditi"nallya r Ol1lplNely nnarc..pta!>le t"ni..al 'lC" " ario f"r tank-s, Th" lhr"...Chan "ng"r 2 \IBh of 71h Tn ..,p, O,'dop' StI,,,,,lmu , ,"Il-"rn1 ........." <lir -t

hi~, fmm RPG rt,,·k'·""'th no 'iK"ificaJIIdam"K··t oth.·tanb "rilyUD'l<>lheircr"""O pe ratiunal planll inK n"",rapital iled ""lh" oWrl p<", .. r p,...", ,,,.e " f e hall" ngr r 2,"'ith iL' imnwdiate and llexihl"firrl"",·"r1' >rnnd...r"'kin""lroekalladc<th'l1 n'(l<rc...1,h.. "e.'(1 f" r ,he illfam ", ,,,di,,,,ount from'h " ir Warrior [~" . in lh" far.. "fconrerl"d'l1lan-"n,,~ lire . Thi' 1n1 tn the inn"" " i\'eL1rti.. " fnlld"rtakinl'(· rairl and aid' 0p"r.atiu", thmn",hmll th.. Brili,h ar"a nfol"·'·,lli"m. "'ing imdl i""n .." ,h""", fmmnu""·n>l""",rn ... ,md ,, riki"K a' tlr.. k'1'i"",i,ioll,hddln,thernilitiaur »a'ath l'arty"ffirial~. run n"ing the raid. humanitarianaid ""a."he n p,mid,'d to the \ocal p"l'ular"

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Th e a d van ce o n Ba a r a.\kauwhik . 1\ amI C ,'"'I""dro us. Th" Q"'''''' 's Ru~'"l I.m 'n ·' '' . w,·r,·"I" ·,.,,riuj\";ll , upp"rt " f tlw Fit'S1 r",;li""'I I~l1I lt 'l(rnHp iu rlw 'b,url,' (HIrl,,' 1>r1<1 I('" "wr 11... Sh" u·AI·&" ra on rl,.. " ..., r,'rn " I'I'HMdu" ro rl",dr ,·, Th .. lil(hrinl( W'IS fernc;o" , aud ,u srain..d '" 110 ,' 1, ,,,,. h"n l''gmll p,"I' 7rh An",,"rt..l Bril\,uk a", 1 :>rd C""'''MIl.lo Bril(,,,1<·. 11.0)',,1~L1I11lt ·, .

ril(lor,·" ,'d llu 'ir I(li p " roulld &,,, a. Ar m\!Ohr, 0" \!,., ~ l ,",h . " IC"l\ir·h·;elUlly firt·· ;ur ;d,·nr ocr um ·<lro rl,.. ,o " rh"" ·sr ,, I'Br;dl\,· 3. u " I,·nall,..d[",;n "'1I'r, wh"n {',,1Is;j(1l Oll e T",u of C Sll""dm ll, QR1~ ''''-' , m,, 'll,,· altl hlll11 H t SH round fired I,,· a <:1o,,1I"1II:" r 2 or Ill<' hr Bhr l W"lrhIh rrl" jI;H>up, n,.. t'<,11l11l,,,,,I..,.. O''1 "" oll Sr..w l> .-\lIhulI. autl rh,' tlrin.,. .Tn"'I"-' n",id Cl"rl ,· . ",..,..·lill.·d <>ur rif/;hr aud rl,.. r.-maiud. ·,. <>1' rl,,',-rt''''. L...l"-.. ( ~''1'' >ral Twidd\' and T""<>l",r Jnli ..n . .-.11;,-all)' ; l~j"r"d , Tlml"""lilt" ,,, ,,i,·,..1 al all " ",IS m;ran,l<>"" h "", a """ ' r<' hi"", 11> rh.·hanlt' j(rtmp blll 1I,.. war cmu i"' ''' d "uab"l,·d. M"j<>r( ;il.·s l b l'riso ll , lh.·WlIlHM,uk r " f 1\''"'l"",huu QII.[" ",l." "l' lh.. '110'" oflh.· lliml.· for II,,, ,,,

At 023U1,,-,;Zl:LU [063UhrslrKallillle]on W"d",,,,,b) '3ApriltlKr3.rl"',<"l, mhti"", B ,'"'luadron s"pp on ,·ct hy 12 1>lal< ~'" (I.! Un;s1I..·..s-(;"), ]fro"'ZO.Illl'all~, [I I{RF]""rla .....-li<>n ,,f~liI"n .Ill"'....1fo...." ,d 10 tI,,· " ",, I"''' ''1'''-''' kno""1 '" Ill<''l ~ ~,l" to p"t in " "d,;d. ·C1,..rl l'"im (\'C I' )wh; rhl'han!:edlh'>l;ml'lahl .. (mrh.-!ib<'rali"uo( B;" r... n,,,lIrif/;ml,, C"mlll""''''' [Ilrijl;(;",lo;o lll llinlls] lmrl Kin' up"rllli"ion "n a hold "''''e f,'....-.m l, \\·hir h \\''' ' ld ,, ·ud '' u,..,, '' l\..10 lh....'lt'my tha t c. ",lil;" U r.. rn " "" 're rt'arh 'aud 1",;" ..1 lOmleth. ·dtr Wilho"llav;lll\si. 'gl· I"B;,,,-ai'.,, ·lf.th.·.· ll.·"' }',, ·,·,... hdllfo(st'll1an' Ille'l "i ,u,-"IIll"''''!:t'lhallhe(;o"lil ;ou",,, incrmlrol.h,,,asa K,uuhk ; this "·,IS II... ("nl""'l f••no"rd lhal fri" mll)' (" ,n'" hatll""'llallo""'d h'l'" ,h and mau" amic;l'ah'fllhal B S<]uadron ( ;ro" I'""uld I"·p",h...l olfth.· ' L~" 'I" 1~'s"p.. rio••·1lt>m)' lil"'po"" 'r, Th. ·pl," . ""L, f" r t"". r' lllh ro "" "" " l' rlw ,lipfl Mds. m '" th.·, ,,,,,'1"'-v,lnrtM>l'..ast"ud".."t.whil,10U. · laukIHlSh.·rlf" ....-ard"ud,'l'tl,..flMd h,i.lf/;<· 10 (' ''''r "o,th. n ... li,,,r Wani",., ",o"l tllI, ...1 IllO\'(' "I',mtolhem''''l''l.",audpmiutl,..\l :l',\\i lhlhei,.whidt''i splil ill1<>

z.." Ch._,_ Ch.. o.ng.r 2of (2I1c)

ofe,.,_ ........""',2fml,..k.. .... pos/tIo<I ·mono__0_.__ ........' 0<

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01 .... _01'201_2003---- ..........,__-. .... _ oI lho _----.......--,

pa;", ori~ntalt"d ill <1i tl nt <1irffl ion,. Ihi' ''''''ld a llo'" Ih~m 10Mop ""(..,,"a~' Iralli~ an<1lm "nl tlw p..",ibilin ' of a dri","..by ,h' ~ 'l; ng

In lh~ ...."Ill. and pr ..<1inabl". Ih.. p lan di <111<>1 , ,,,,i,'" ~"ll1a~1

"ilhlh.. .. II..my.A.. lh .. Warri""'",~r.. IHlllinginl"I''''i'ion.tlwl..ad",hid.. 'pout"d a T..5.~alahoUl l,OlMh"",ilh it,nIlT..I tra" ..",ing 10hring lh.. Illain annam..1ll 10 h..ar. Tank ~alhign Z..ro Bram (lIlt""'Iuadronl..a<1..r'stank)l'ul1t"dliHwardan<1..n!("g,><I .li"'l"i lhII ESII a"d lh.." " ilh [)U 10 mak.. ",re. A, ,,~'" a, lit.. [)U "'''ndhil . Ih.. ~n..",ylanl:.'larl..<1lObrt ·"'"I) _ar"nlim,..<1l:.iII.AI lh"",u" .. Ii", .. ralbign T",o On .. ISgI (;a r<1n..r ), nn<1..r lh .. hridg ..,lJ<'gau 10 r"pon ar.i,il~· f"''''a larg.. "' ''nht"r " f " " ..my RI'(; l" am,Ihal"'~((' m",inginlol',,,itil)n 10 hi,fmn!. [ ....ali' ..<1lha l "n l,.,.,I r<Jmmilwd n",r.. r"",hal I~>",..r I "",,1<1 run lh.. ri'k ofht"iuKli,rr ..dhark. I <1ffidt"d l"ral1 1<"""'ar<1TI'...... Z..rn (SSgl S", ,,ham )an<1TIm... Two [Cpr Drh ..rJ; TIm ... h'rn ",,,,'I'([ ",,<1..r lh .. bri<l!,:"1<>,ul'l~ ,n Two O" e. Thr.... Two ",,,,,,<I "p ,'" " , lh .. ""''1'""''' '"'''1'1)<'"Two T,,~> (Cpl Ul' rir har<l) who wa, "ri ..nl,il ..<lea,l and had,poll ... l (unh..r RI'G wam, in lh.. b" ildings I" hi , fm n!. TI, .. pL'"""rk,><I , Call,igl1 Thr .... 1... ", inull<><I;a ldy l(~,k n>n lwl I) f Ih..,;lIIal;On and k" l'l n,,· inf" m lt"d a, Ill' and Two On e d..all w;lh Ih....n..my di,mount'. O"re an RI'( ; I..am 1 , ~ , 1:. n'("!':" in a l>IIilding " ,ami dlh"'0thingn>aKIiI'''.lh''lanbw""[<1drnp llwh"i l<l;ng,,ilhIIESII, Th i' tartir ... r..-d lod..m'>rali,, · II,,· """m,' whl) Iud nl)nwan, ot' rt'phing

TIle H>", matld ..r(~-1 RRF Baul..gro,, 1' IU Co l I)a , id l'a l..,,,,,n),whnhadht·..Il"alrhi" go"rprogr..... wilhinl,·".,.I, ra ll,><Imrha<-I:. '"Ih...lipwad()nlolh.. ·I..~ll'·f()(aql( i('k r"nl......'l<'e;h (·"a.' ...>nI'·IIIlhal wt" pwht" Ih.. ""'·Illy".hil'l r<>ntin"ing ,,-;,h ""r la,l:.. TI,;,..... mt"d 10 me 10 he an ..Krd l..nt i'lt"a. Ah" "l II'" I" ,,, ,,, illlo lll<"la'k, Ih.. l ·S '-id d Hlllllan-l llld lige,,~e Tt"alll (fl IT) "'l";I'Ilt"d "ilhArab '1 ~>" ke", " ....' nil l<> "l<", Th"1' pro,...d '" ht" t"Xlrt'"l1lt' ly " ... 1',,1

and w~ 'tan"d,o gain ""n~ ..well~ll1 inteUigen~...Pt"rhal" lh,' "" ""i"",ilitant fanl";uTlnl '''ts lhalIll.· OMlili"" IMd Ih.· B;"ra l ·niwr\i,, · ;u,d Ill,·:s.:a,"al .-\<-ad~11l~· marked i,,~orrt"<"t1~' un "ur m"p'\\'~ weI''' ,,1'0 luld lhal lh~ l'ni, ~ ""i " had lwo 1'·5:;';, '" guard u" l., id t" i' . 1 rr;l li,, -d f...."' aqui~kmap,nn·lll'Ol.if thi'w"-' ''',llwn tl" 'fi rsl lank,ha, Iudh.·.·nd'""mwdw"...'pmb"hly ()l1.. ufdlt'rq",nt~1P; ;-". 1~an.-d forward '-' ,ur Z~m [Capl Hum r ] '"'K"laswinglllan.andlog.·lh,·rll"p'l,h~dh"ward

I" ha,,' a I,.,k . As h'm Rra'" m"",1<-d lh~ cumrrb,din" '" lh.·l."niwrsi,,· m~' dw.-.. r 'p',{l ,~1 a 1'-""at 4110m.lh~ !I;nnn ..r pumped a IlU ro"n d imo iland imoamil ila".-trncl. lhal .... 'mnl",m..whal'"rpri..-dlu .. .... ''-'-Wrh,ltln''''· cmlfim'n1th..1' ",·ali"" " f lM, ra U" iw rsir.'.

.\I ..anwhil.., llnd..rlh.. brid" ... Thr .... h ·roandI"" Oll~ II'er.. still ligh ting hard , I dNid~d 10

comm;l FOllrZ..m '0 lht" fra~. It wa, "uw apparemtI"'l il ,,-...' in Ihi, ar" a Ih,u lh...." r m,' " r rrn"'...·lllraliIlK th..ir ~hin Eflon . Shorn" an"r lhi,d..r i,ioll . w.. w..r.. ",ortar~d for th.. linll lim.. thaI<la,'. Lncl ily fm m , lh~~llrm" ....eo"..-lpr..{{yb"dat acljllSlingfire, ahhu"gh i, ,,,,-, .. ,,,,.·...-halp''''l;clhal lh.· f OO [f orward Ob,.." .uion O fficr r ] "01

hi, K.",n sighl lnoc1...doll1bj.,th.. fin<l roundTh.. indirect tire did nut all"et our mi"ionChallt'll"rNandWanioNc~>St"t1do,,",l ord..r..dtI.... "",~"i,,· of lh. · di,,,,ount' 10 ",mo"nl anda""il f"nh"r ord.·I>. TI,.. FHT pull..d t"lt'1. fm lllth.. 'Loop ' until Ih.. ",ortar fir.. d i..<1do"~, brca"'" th~' w...r..nHmmnl in HUllune"". l 'n dr r tl,.. hridge lhe n",ffihih tn",pp" shnl t',,.,,ard; lh~' disn"rrrd a lllllullt'r of ~nemy mn:hankaldilQl;t"1" anti Ih.· ' tan of all .."nhwur1., ,0000io,,,I,' d..,iW,..d 10 ,kl;,~,

our pnWt'" imo Ba' ra. Th e d;lQI;"''''""'" deslr<,yt'd to pr..wmth..ir funh ..r "se . Th .. 'Troop' ",,,n gut ~es on 10 th.. Iraq; :s.:a,-alAcadelllyand desp it.. con'lantl' e ti"hting. dnri ng ",hich T""On~ IIa, hil ~. an RJ'G lhal fail 1 ." dt'''",a,.., lht;" lIm"ghl in ''' 'dli'nis r fi", m;ssionl.illinKowr 30 Ctl",h;l,an~, in,id .· Ih. · Anul ..my

O''''t'tl... indire<:l fir.. hadstopped , Jtall ..db;",klh.. f HTandcarri ..d OHW;lh lh.. yC P. 1 ",a, delenn in..d locollap'" lh.. yCPun Ill~' l.. rm•• n01 lh....nemy' •. Afler l..n hOUN ",e had larg..ly,;l ..nct'd en .."" , J"t",i'lanc... anti call,ign. Tw., Oll e, T hrr t' Z"ruand f o" r Z"m ""'''' d,mg.'ro",I~·lo...-unan"",,,,ilion . al lhi, I'" imJ tI,"('i,kd 10 pull ",,, 1.. Th ai ", ..ning. Ih.. GOC [ ~l aj G..n Robini\ ri ", . j audth.. Brigad .. O,,,,,,,anderHlHgralU!al ..dlhe"'luadronullajob",eUdonealldstaflullkersstoppe<l "" ing lhal Ra, rawou ld notl'all until ah.. r Raghdad

REME 10 Ih . r••cu .FunlrlT 10 th.. ",, "h . Ih.. S<OTSlX; Batd'"Kf"up ",,-'aning a' th.. brigad ..r..",rs".alth""gh ,\Sq"adrollW"aspanof lqBI",· kWalc hBatlt"wollpand

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-~,

C SOI'.....ln'" - ' an""hrd ...' ann"u r "'l'IM'u lU " C""nnand" Brii<ad...1«..,,1 \ l.ui "' ''1 ralinj{ i'' th \! Faw l'.." in."la. ·!l '..r... C'i<I' .....lnm -em'" C - r"nd" ...-I ( >j... r.ni j> __ hrr.. n 2':1and :-II Marr h in' ..nj'''M·'io.., ....;lh-ll)(~.'''nando.Il.oI'''\ I..ri'M a.'h....' a<h" ,M'...-liIlIO tho:-a'·~a '..· .-\ho....J.Khoo.,ih.a •.,ho'rb .... " h ofRa. l1w ,,1al'Iffi ' ....JlllalSof,I><'pom;"."Ia parlirularft· puorln-.-.in fo. ,.... Ii'H,."'.. "'''''''andn.." .......m , pr""arioo.... "nd diltiruh ;,h tn.. Ian'" ronfinrd'o tn.. narn '. rai anhrr'G1'_... ,n 'i'rdt" .......... andGtn,hoon .\I-"\'.. 0" tl n..,.n in j{of 30 \I .....-h . 0..1101 (~>Illp;ul\ . -lllConur>;ondo.IU..'" \Luin..... "'l'P'>o...-I bo 2 Tronp. C 'i<1'lMln tiN.n:t ..;th,hr- G1ptlln' •..- > obt"" ti..... rrjoirinj{inrhr o "'"ul~,;ond

{ ;..oo,--.. _ ()pr'ral ';a-. .-.f<Tn"d 10 Jan..... ",..><I ;u ><I ;0/1 In.. <>hjr<:tion......... ,;n """'" d......n from thr Ian flnninR "'Mn..( :;oJktgn Two T\ffi........in , ,"', f........n! ~T..u O' .... O>lllm;u,.lord ... Srfxt';u1I n""id &ird.and T ',n" in!<"f'l ith rhr(:.omrru.nd". in II"';, 1'i1Ult"...... uurl.....-hilt' in .. ,1',..>0 thr "luadron Jr-...kT. \1";' .. j<..",m..n RiIO(:Ut.;nl .Ln ' Rr.o,,,. ,....tHO in h;' Warri<..-AO f' " " d a CR-\RR\ ·. fall\ij{ll Th lft'Iltlft' Rr""". h"", 2nd B. tul io...,. R[ \IE:, n"""""M\,rd bo ('~"V' ...,u John\ I".pn. T1>rir~ ....... a r TO'<'mad , ,hoo, .....n" "" MIni tht' !oolltht'rn

" I'P"....·h... In Ra..r...Th .. ra,,_,,~' ..-...' ..., "anow Iha' rh.. u nk. ami oru.'" ad,:anerd

" " a .i nll l.....hi.-1.. fwn"'f(" ; dl"'p di l<'h." tn ..a,·h ,id ,' ;<1.. , ",ad..ma "' ..·"'Ti nKn illh nl\i lllIM....ihl... 'i<..m att ..r l l :'r4 lh.-....... lh.. ...d, ·anrinl:forr .. 'w...,.. d th.. er,,,,,oad,. it {·an,.. und" r n "lt''' rl {·t1 RrG ...nd", ,,rhillt'1r ,,,n,,-ho,,, a I:mul,ol'm,," ,ha d ,., alHl hniltlin K't"th.. l.-hfn mt. T " T...." ........ '''' llI hi, four ,i",.·, 1,,· Rl'( ;' and " ',,, f' ''1:..d tu..,,,,,Ir,, Oth .. r F.·d..., ....n ""hM 1O",,~.. d j{r;<.'I,inll; r hiltl re n in oneh 1H1 and ..·.·"I.."" in th.. <>Ih..r. Sr rll;";lIll !\;.i rd in T O,'" fom ,d.. hi•cr · I" r..lu nl Ii.... umi l th.. rh ild....... hm~ .. fr.... a"' l ap.-rI. A . inl:leH[,,<;II o ,und lill ..d .i x ", ililia" ", ,, fol .. ...·...I I"· n .. xial "' hi,, <"1/;Un lin'Ih..1dimin"I ...1 a ,k,,,- ,, ",,,r.. . Th .. fIN .." ..m. · h....1 "I' ..",nm ...' ;r firr.ma.hn\ , d m -.-r' . ,;"i..." blod ofT 0.... ... ,h al T.... >pt"r lli. ia. '''''''e'\ I........"i f n Fiji eo"l d nO ")nj{t'"f " "'lhinj{; a" Rf'( ; rou nd aI-.o"ruellh.. riRhl.nand ......adlij{hl. Wi,h d..l..nni,ulion.~ ......~.r .. ,..-d .. il htn..Ian'" and o .....enlr..,.-d ' ir li ...... ,I.......hic'k<ij{hu. In.....'" ...r<k'. IU"G'or ...."~-..drhrj{Un r' . pri tnolry <ij{hl ;o,......II..,.t..... c ' >;o" ...1 chain It'''' ;ond ...Jt-hand di"-""'1I: ..r.."-'Mllher RI"Gi",.--,rdun ,.... 111".... roof;o,nd .in th inll;:....ploo»on uofrhrcom " •• r..;o, .;..... •;";'on bloc ...,.-..d . n... dm fM_ hadnof "td.;,.;. ..,;ond ' eornmandrr-' · litd... to the' l\"M. lnoKk rhrb1i,..1t-d IOInl. , bt-cominj{ .. rainrd. n... lan l conunand... .~ant Baird . ealm h ordr.-..d rhr dm It> bul an ""'m( ~>Illm..nd " f' in lll;:<l..... tn,d bIoc lrd , ilhd ·,u. Int.."di nj{ to p"-'"il ".;d.. . ~'1I:'"anl Baird p .... ,h .. om..r ' lcf, "ir l ' lu di..... , I.... d m ......

l"nf"nlll"'l ..h·. Ih.. in" " I...rit-"ced Tn " 'P" r " ' ...........i. .. ll" h;od onh · hre n..-;thl.... Il"Jli" nt<i nr .. <b ,-Nm;o., .pull ed th.. rill;tu .. ir l in 'I ....d . ca ,,<inll:l.... t;onlt" rotll ll.. r-au_:a'· intl) ...d....pditeh . ,h n1d inll:" " lh t l ..

llo.. nl h..r tanh j<..-lt;t-rI intu l"><itiun II) Im"ide .. ,1'1',.....,;... n unlh.. ..n..",,·.'Ilo.. H )() ra ll...-lfor a Ii mi"i on 1m", th.. ' '' ppu ni llj{105mml.ij{hl ( ;" " . of2!l O",n" "lHln. Ro I .-\nill..~·. I", i<l,. T.... 0".. thin l{' ....'..Illr.. ,m I~,d to ....,,, .... " 'h,.,, " ..... rt"-j{\,irl..et"nlH,,,, l l>r' ~'·i'l i l.. "nick th.. frontof tJr,' t"m·' . llinJo:'inll; tJr,·I'M,kr. T" " 'I',: r \\'illi ;"" Fr.II' ·~. "" , 'l ..,ml, "lid

Im ·,," i,,!!;hi, W,i'l. b~'nlllalt)'. lh.. """"'y lir.. ,b'-""'H'du" d..rlh.. ,,,,ui ,,..dho,,,I,,,,drn'·lllofl,,nla,,dartilh·,,,,',hd l, . "hh,,"!!;h ' pnr.,di,- , mall-arm, and mnru,r fill"n >nlinued . It "'as lime «) n ·o'....r 11... ,u"''''·'' Two (l u..hu m Ill<'diKh. Wilh mn,id.. ,.ahl.. ditl imlt\, . CIl -\RR\ 'r hr.... Th r..e Rra, 'o "ln",..l fO"""rd IOlh.·,ilt'llullh..,illlmin" "'''' dire. Wilh h" lh I,...r'" ,lw<1and jallllllt'd.n ' '' llld (/w '' ' ' J', ·n, ioll llluler j(r..all,·",ioll,d''·lanlWit , cnmplelely im",,,hik. 11",mId r<'<luire a Illltt inexn ·" " f l (lO l" nr' t·' lhal w" , I"' y" " d lhe t·al" ,bitily·of'~ " n l he powerhll CIl -\RR\ ·. And ,o il pmwd Wh""lh.." i nd , of Th", .., T hH'e 11,.",'0fail..d under Ih.. df""Th .. ( :!l·\RR\' wa., nhlij(l'{II ,. " i lhd "--" "'l " l in j(" i lh i' lh..i" jnred loa. l..r fmrn T" u O ne I"r medical lreal",..nt a'wdla, il'J':onnt·r.T'oop'·rSuMnf'·'j{u",n

Ib .. C Stluadmu. REMF., LiJ':hl Aid l)erad nnelll . "'ascalk d fo",-.lfd "ilh its CIl -\RR\ ·. ,'aU,i"" T,,'O FourCha rlie, rn lllmaml ..d rn G''l"w..1J am.., (;';,rr..u withr<'co\'t'I)' Hwdlanir Co rpo raI J " ' lin Simon, a",1!<'rhni(ian Co rp" ,a l Rid . PMl .·, (" ... Coln" r Pial.. E)

hi l appm"d,..dth.. ,il .., Two Four Charli.. pi,'kt'<lllpCO!'p',.. ,1J oh n \ Iorl('all. lh., o",uoan<kr of CRARR\'Ibr.... 'Ib r.... lI,.aw>.TI,.. disabled Chall ..nj(..r 2. T" " 0"... "...., ,lilt u"d ..r""'·Tlly· fire "" lh.· 1ij(hl b" ga n lo "' il in tl ,,· b lt· ...h.·m'KlI,. ,-\ll ht'oU""I ,n", hmr ( :harh.. lired it' ,mo"<'-!:renad.. d i...-harg.. '" 10 ma.'''lhe r""""'I)'opt',ali"n ...' Curpo ral, \ Io",an. Simon' a"d Park"r ,uradlt'(l lh.· "ind,"'1"·lolh.. ",..ndedra"",mdw.."II~·p"l1edit"nWlh.. ,-a"...."'a)';h,,we,...r,lite aUj(l.. ",lS ,,' acUl.. and fit.. Jl~,<1w,,)' ,,' nam,w llral if _li.l d",n, II,,'"pp.. ,il.·,id,·irnnane'.-e" ",un· difJi('uhp'"ili"n. ln "drlili"n,lh.. "inrhrop .. ofT"" h ", r Charl i.. ,napl"'<1. ,,' both CR-\ RRV. were now ror allill1..nrs am i pU'l""'''' our "fan;"n. L'lldel<'ITt'(l, tI,,· R[ \I E wan, 1";",1lu hreallh.. u.....l.. Wilh('"",.. ,ui""a l 1,~,I, hnld,.. len,ion ,,'a.. much f'~'

greal , .-\., dar""'''-' f..lllhe ..nemy' relllmed in 'frt'nRth. all<'mpli"R I"intih..u.. lh"p",ilion. bur Co'poral ( ;,IlTeli I"id down ell ''''li", ' '' pp...... i\'<'lir.. tr"mhi,r,~.f-nH"'lUedmarhin"J':"na.'lh.. m..chanj,-'Hllllin"ed"ilhtill' r<'{'owl)' "l><Tdl;Oll.ThrouRlwllI. the olh"r l<lrll.s p""ilkd S1'PI",rrinRlir.. andarlill.. ,, 'lired IIEand'mo.... ,h ..n'''' ma.,llh.. ...-..ne.

B, ' nllW lh.. darln..,,, "A' ;me"I",,,,,'d "ilh till' cn,,"p "fiml"Ktingmortarm"n<1.rnmhi"...I"ilhlh.·I"",ar{'<oftra....rlir.. and RI'( ;fOC....L.",the ..ne"'y,m.'d wdi,mpllh.. rt'C.l\'t'I)'opt'ralion. fOrc;llR lh.. R[~I[

nlt..'hanies 10 diw I" r u l\'t·r "' l,,·n .·,,, ·,,'" ,m" Il-,Uln, and RP(; lir.. f..ncI,,,,, rn' hel',r.. rerumin!!;'" fl,.. ta.," in han d , (;o'l"lral Simon, re,,,n..d 10d, ...I><'''Il'·Hlt·'C'''''t... rn·mingtocUlllw t""·l,s"ilh,,,.('....·.·ldillR<"l" ip""'''llhal hiRh1i!!;hled hi' l" " ilion l" ' h.... n..myi"'h.. da rln..'-'.·'lbi,"~lfail..d.E,...nt""lIy'.he d,,,'id,'(I,,nalllo",,nllflh,~lllxr..,.o....<;,lt,,'hni'IU<·"·l"'fl 'l"I,., r.. ",hined Ih.. lwn CR....RR\ 's. T"" f on, Charli .. and TI" .... Th r.... Bra",.which had H'IUIl",d 10 lh.. sc..ne. I<Igelh"r hy'dMin" and "i lh A.frall"·d, .."h,rs a!lad,ed In II,,' ,iI'lim fmm T"" f Ullr Ch"rli .., TI,i" anda<'i<""nlt'lhnd was "Kc",-""I and. "lin.. 14 ho",.. afr..r tI,e "riginal int·id..m. Two

. """"'__ .. flE... -."'""""""- ~ .... _"' ............. .... ___._. " , _ Ont

"'""'---~-,-_ .......

1'l>ec .... "'lWoOne,CSqu--, llCon OQ.grab

. ....... .........- ­prioo' ''' ........ ..-I".,.,ac:__fou9I>I"_"'_<:om_all Co<rKrIan<Io,110101M_ ..._ 01-...-. • '..... """"""....-posltlon .lloov-nt g__ fwttIl ~.

IUl""' moc:kfC _ ..... ac...r_.0 ...... h1._'_or~S"-'l f .......

~1 ~Wllllaf ._~Ia d. _

'2Omm lI"n 10 ..... d _ . '­_ 'Mac:' M_ " . l$COTS 00)

0,,..""-'drdAA~d I~K~ t" fri~ndly Ji"M ""111~ :'\~1Tl a",,~'. Within fo"r ,L",r""On~ "", r~pa.i ....<1"ith ,,~....,i!:ht'. n~td"h....l, and trach. h had Ix..-nhit a t"ta l ol ..i!:ht lim<"'lh\ ' R1,(;'; a"d an ATeW mi,";I,· "itl",,,, P'·Il .. u, ,,i,,n"f 11,.. cn'W c",u I~'rtm..nt.'_ F"r tl"'ir prof"',i",,,,1 dilil':"]]'" ..lid h,-.M·"·"ndtT fi..... (''''1'''",,1, (;;uT..n 'Illd Simo,,' "f th~ I{(~"I EI....tric..1 and\1,·"ha llic..1E"j(i",,,-,,,w<'r~ Ix>!h!>1~ llli'Jl...d in ])~'I"'t"hM

Th e bani . l or Ba sr aR.. tl,,· fi"" " ~of ....l'ril. I\;"r.. "'" rip.. ]i,. th, ' phK~i"l:" on,," Itt 'ath r amamI Ix>th gul ..r amI militia I<)ICf"> had bt'~" ....ri"n.,)'· d'1(o."I..d h\

r..peat<'<l,-..id,andprt"Ci'ion ...·ri"I"u'Kk.'''ith"ntc'''''iul':,,'''lu.· c'',,~,hi.'S

among Ih,' ci,ili .." p"pUI;KC,All tI ... l"ml"W""I" "f hI (l'K) .-\n,,""n:<IOi,i , i, ,,, w.·...."e"dil~" ''''T'~Khilll': '''' th.. (· i~'. B'·no ...., B S'lt~trlrun. S( X)T S

[)G. "".... ba......Jat a c""'p ~n""" ", Ou", l.... Ifom wh..,,. II",,· m"",u<'<lr..id, into th.. dt'· _On Thn",\a,· :'I Ap'il. th.. "'1",,,lrun """rlun...1 a r..idal""g Rrlll1f" R"'I.lh .. c"d,·n;onll·fnrlh...... Hth"'·,'S"..-nhighw·~·i"',,l\""d.

in ,u,ti""ui",, with :\"" 1 ..nd 2 O""pa"i.., of th~ lri,h CHdnts in th~ir

W..ni"r ny" By ....~- moming. th~ inran~' "", ",.U """-',>1"'<'<1 in Ih..prim..~' ohj....ti, .. Iha t """ th~ T hni"al C"ll,W' jl"l h......,,<1Bridl':" 4. Ti'inc...."...·II"'I'I(""urr'''''IIl·." '''}; ...",..,,,1 "tid'arlm'w ..r.. u",Jt>rta~..nwilh th.· r..,,~ t"",]'...., ""r~i"" 2'2 out of 2-1hon"': ""arding, patrolling ,fi"hti"" .."<1li,,all~'-lI\aiHlaillilll'( the tanh for th~ Il~xt rtl"n d "ith pern a!,,,a f..,.., Illinlll... · ,1....1'. All tl,.. whil.· II,.. t~nadou, " I1,''''Y f" " ght ,,;11,w~al drh"rmi "ati,m and "' ..·.·r blwH'd in th.· f.."" "f tI,.. '''''''''l1d",i,,1'(,,,,,lauKhtoflh.'C,,,,lil;,mf,,,,,t>S

On s..t"rda~-6April . th, .... t""'I" ofB S<lttadroll."" " ..U", SCfttadronfk",lq"art~". "'id''<I htrther ahm!: R,," t.· R,'<I", th, ' tanl.. d''''lro~<'<I ambanicad,""cr.-""their pa th. Cal""in Rall d," Sih-••• 2".ITn~'I,I..,,,I.·r, ,,, ,,Ihi ' cn''''' h"d ;0 ntd .. ,h, ,,·~ ,..,h.,]] a "' ..",i,,,,1>- "1",,,,I,,,,,,d T-:':' tir..da 100""" ro'lIld th..t ,tr\".~ th.. , ..mo.d ER.\ pand p'''t ....ti''l'( th~ II'....."f tlll·ir Chall"Il!:"r 2. AI....r a 'p ..ctacular .."pl,,,j,,,, , th,''''' w-,,-, n"I"',,..,ra,ion "I' th~ tan~. Withi" "'<'<H"h. th~ wh"l .. ""M']' " 1"'''''<1 "I' Oil

th.. hal.I,...., T_.~" . dMlrtl~inK th, ' "" ""'}' tan~ "o"'pktet:.: TI,e \auk., "0"­pa",'<Ia""'''pl,·""fh"ildi"",id.·ntifi<'<la, .. I\;t'ath r am ' comm.."d a",1

- ... ......._,~....-...-._-...__c.<_"... _310. . ....... bu< .... tI>el 10__c__.. _t .. _

_. ~ _-_ c.-w_._

CotI.roIleocl_ Ion .. t1t1

",."""", " ncl lnt eo...___Ion

_ .n-- _• orlncl;...,l_ .... _ ..... .. __ c.-wto_ ......,_of___Ion _""'.........d_ __.....- -.-_..'..,IdI·_'laKtMCO<I_beeat<1e<I __ ............. ' O fill___;·_ d...,_or

._ ..no._"_Y«I__bII_ .>lCa'O....

...... ·llli"""'DI>M....)

n m tro l n ·lIIre. l. ih · ,h ip, ,, f th,· ljn,·, th.. t,m"-' !1n·dhro,,d,i<l,,,imo til<'hllild inW'and bllulrr position, as w..n a' Ih.. la1ti~e n",mlUni~alio", Im.·..rof a ", ·ad ....· td""si,,,. 'tati"". an "wm rffonkd ror British wl..,;"io" b\a ~alUe ra mo"ntffi o u the turret of Z..co Bra,n. th,' Chan" nK"r 2 ofth.. "l'~l(t",n lea.kr. \lajor Chris Brannil(. lll. Th .. raid W.1Sdffmffi '", ,,cH",,f,, l that~'N allother w''' plau ued f,,r the follo''; lI ,, .lay

B S'lu" d"'" was ta,l..d W """tnt a d''''1'''r raid aIm' " Route ){, ,<!

as far as O bjen i\'<"Graniw. a pla~e l ", ,,,'u as Ih.. T~l1eway to Basra ' ­'~lT" )OIi(all,·. who, ·....·r hdd til.. lr" tl'waj' hrl d th .. (it~'. Jr wa, to h.- anoth" r.." hatMin" da y h,rlh.. SCOTS Il(; Battlel\roup "ud Ih.. ' \ l utant s' ofBSquadro" ...·lm w..'" in th.. , ,,n ollf .. lllo re. 2nd and 4th 1'''''' '1'' I..d till'advan~e to prm 'idea base of li re at RED "a, 'stand 3rd 'h I"'!" P',,'edlhro n" h " nd on lOward , th.. Coll' ·Kl· of l .it..ram r.. . or ( lhj, '('li,·.. t:lj ,i'"n.f h.. ,l;' a brisl tir ...lil\hl ..nsu ..d ,,'ilh 3rd Tn " ' fl d"sln,, 'i"l\ numerousb" nk..r p",ition. and fa"sinK wid'·'I,r..ad "",·m,· fa'"ait i,", It w.tshMd p"'lIld inll: all da" as the " '''taIllS ad,:a,,~eel int o Basra . c"" sinll'th.. " ,.t..nMtic d..stn,niun uf ..n..nn· p'"itiom ,,,, d AI'''•. 8,' mi,"'",·.Ird Tn " ' p h"" e " pend ed virmall" all or th .. ir main armament" mmunitio n ,mel w..r.. « ·Ii.·yed in pia.·.. ~' 2nd 1'...",1" .-\tt<·nt ion 11<""

rt"lul1\t' d to th, · 0,11<1:'"or Lito'rall"'" that "emain..d unrl ..ared of tilt"e n...m~'. Supported by ;,Ih Platoon. :<;0 2 Co mP''' I\·. Irish ( :" ,,,, Is. Zno8 r,,' ... sma.h...<1 thr""ll'h the front gaws li,l1"w..d M' Zem Ch arli .. and2nd Tn " ,p 10 lind the )!,'round litt ..red with bt"li •..,. The infaH1T)' "·,·r ..r all...1 forward in Ihdr Warrio ,., 10 sea,.~b th ...rompl..."

S"dd ..nl,·.th.. bt"li ... mseupfrom ·d,·"d ·andl,,¥anto ..ng;'K,·th..t,,,,1es"nd W",riol'l ...ilh RP(; s and .small_,um, Ii...... A ",·sl,,·rat ... do,,-~qu an ...r .sm,,,,,le ens"ffi , O ne unfon un ,n.. militiama n nlt·t hi. d..,nh in au"n ..'l,"'12,'m ..llK4':'·lll..nlh(·t....' ·enhisKalashni ..m· ...ud., I2tlllllll l lES"rou nd h"m a Challenw r 2 " tBT. ,,'hil.. an" lh..r ,,-as, n"h..e1by "\Hk trad" s",Ill' ...""toli...· his RI'( ;, "''' I <:'-,m)", n j; Irish Gua,.d.s.ntshe<lli,...,,,rdand di,motlllWd h...", th..ir Warrio['; to d"ar th.. ''''''pl.·" alth,,,,,,h il "''AS" " ...h UK' 1( "1 a ,a." I(),. a ,inl(l.. infant~· n ''''I );'''Y. ~."\.. rthd"", th....n..my...-a" "' nt" all,· s"btluffi . alth ,,,, ,,h not ,,;th out ,'a,ua hi"'.A' lheli"tn "'A' Eiilinl(. an"ther militiaman I"igning d..ath n"" "I) from Ihe,ba d,,,,,, and firffi iuto th"');Kk"fa\\'"rrior. l illin" t...·o ll' ''' n J-m.·n and" ·rim 'slj· " " lttHlinll: tw" t>then., \ \l w n th...tl..;ld .......r... ""archedlater.m..stnfthe m tun",d ",It to h.. f." ....iW"M ti",,,,ls frolll Tunisia. \ I"wo-.-o. r lOpt.

~f"' '''''''-''_ ","_ In ._".__ R_e-. ....... _-..nighI,....... to _- ..._.........-- ". _--Mo-O"w.,To _ ' _OIl_ --.g..-:IOOlI--'"_ _ 5.-0.._

~e..-_two

_".~a

MImI _ "'~-n.. __ ·, _ c~-n..

IIIo<k~'.~"",­

.....-----.___ 10< __

_ .... _twoMImI __ .............

.........-_.to<oI".'e _

_ 1n_1n"'~RDll, ~

...~----t .. .......~

_ 1.*"'-" _ __ ......-..l,_4...~

............".-------­_ _ _ 10.... _

___".5th-.

...~_c..--..~_In_,

l.otIoo~DorYly T__

_I--,~·........·----~............ . 0.-". In

..... 10__". ._pIc:ht-'--.....---­IOptotocl"'" ....... CNW___ IADGI

r

S"i> iIlltt ,..hcT .v..b "!iIt... m.u had COI1 t" IrMj I" f'Kht f<..-s.ldunH ,....n n ~"'" tI c. lillit;nn forr ..... X "f thrill ..... ;ollk I" t...... thor:mum pom .., nf I ,.;.-li,... Iit-ku fo" nd in 11"';( litlYj(\.

;\f l...- m;on~' "',, ''''' of r.......o:- liW>tinll:. It... noh;o' .. I.... Mnu n t...............Ii.-.".n in pLlCo:' '" C Squ;odron :o.l 15OOhn. Thn I'W'1lutlC'd 10 o. ,n<Jo:-.o:' lOTo:'J'kni..h Ih<"ir """"-' ;11><1 ",l<klUlo:-~"w nui"'o:-IWK'" U...L.-."ll" the,........,;.,. tlullho:-~.......,IeI.... """o<lrlo...n fur ;ll ...._ 12 "' "" fot'"rnl andrNupo:-r.tio ", . •·, ,, ,r "',"no bt ..r. th .. "tu;odn>fl u. 10 ""pport3rd f'-q ....h'no:-R.olu lio.... in " furtllt' r " h ifll tl II '>l<k'oIpiI" of & ..--..... Ill...... "f "11n.. -. , ,, ;11><1 fl;Irn_ "'rn-t., " 1.. ... it tn li'>-1, .." ... \ IB1'•. •-\1.....'Pnf"'nL...... ;lll;Kh.... to("a("hJ';or- h " ' r r' .."I ...n~ .. ;l h Sq".dron1I..;o<1.-I,...n ..", ..in;ninll: j P,-\}l-\ 1'"" tica l II Q . n,r rl.-" "'.'K '" ''P'-''"uiontx;r.."., li""llill:hl- Th ... n....:Iin th...r; .. · ..... "',--;li "lI:h·di tTr "' r mth...,Lr~ ' h.. l'" r... Rni."'nu · m.. IIHI ;I""'" "n.-l thr ~ "·i111"'J" ,lar (";1 m ' '' ' I I''II:r.... t lh. ·!r< .. ' I..... thr 1Jd111"'K""'1p' of I" (l' I\ l .-\m" ,urr.-l l>i,; . io lllilll rd"l' in lhr r r nm... of Bit.r.... Wilh i" mim m ·•. rr ....- I"' lnlt't....·...r.....xd"'" Il:... lr" r ll:n1 '. bl.,rl. ma..." ."orll:rrrn l..., .. I........-dl ;.. h, l k . an dI." n·"·...h"n " ·.. , 'I'h .· Ira", it;oll fro m ...arti ll:ht;n ll: It> 1'...M lll' p0r!op.· ...al ;ou . ..'".;,• •lI,I,I,·Il ;.. ;t ..·a....d ..." m·. TIi ,..n th .·l o<>!inll:hq.:all .

.tl ~Z

fIIIl_~~___Zl'I'flIl, __-""",­fIII_..,.....__lEIl.tlI_ ... _-----....-.--...--c--.. __ <»'0 _

--------------__fIII _

---- ....---- ..--.-.---.. _O"" • ......-.KOnOQ ....~_',~_-_.._-------.._ _ .._ ... 7_~-----­........._---­...........----..._ __. l$COTI OOf

COLOUR PLATE COMMENTARY

111, <:HALLIl!NGI R:2 COMMAN D TANK,RE OIM ENtAL H EAD QU AR T ER S , TH I! RO VA Ls e O TS D"A OOON QUA RDS leARel H ll ASAND GR EYS ) , I.X E RCISI ULA N ."Oll ,POL AND , OC T OB ER 11 811TheRoyalSco!sOragoonGuardswaslh<l _~

nlQOmenttobeOQ..OppedwrthChaI1<lnger2andlhefirstto """~onfieldlraininge'oIDsesinGanadaand_,o... One

8<a\IQ was !he cornroarxl t_ 01 the oomml>rldong offictIor.UouI""""' CoioneIAnd ..... PhiIlpO, during IM 7m ArmouredBriga<lef"d l'a inu>g exlOfC'"" conduete<l at Orawskof>oororsJ<a Training Area in Polan<IduringOCtober 1999 . fhetan!< is painled in ltle $l andard Bmi&1 Army camounage_oItJlai;ks tnpM """,al>ase c:olo<xol<larl<g<&M.Asa~oItheifarll~t.. , lho C~ and Gfeys.

allltle tacticalmarkJr>;l. ouch""lhecaMoognOneOnolBr a\IQ..... painted in~ ... isIhe Uon~""_ turnrt_

to denola lhe CO" Iank, The Lion Ra/npll<ll isaiSOIlying

:=;:"f:aio;rt=~a~~U:~~rlJS8 <I/J~tod~cornroarxlandCOOlJ<llt""k•. a.II

~=",2...M~..=.=.,rsr.on~h=~~=lront isa<kninul"",crossolSI~- t"" sa_- ... t""SCOTSOG "kfll>W'1 ... The SCotbsh Cav~_The"""""",,,

Ro9st,a!KlnNumbef(VRN)66KK82 "~G<>rlt,ally on

lhelrontiow<lr hull p!a1aand al Ihe top ng!1t 01 thO rear "".Oneacl10id0ollhflIrontVRN isa omallblad<mcIMgl&wrllla_ ·lapcodfl·.400.~in_,GentraIIy

on lhe plalallll<walhol towingbar .. lhe <:«M71distancemarl< (:O(lSIS!i"'}oIanillo.lmorlatedSQUMlwrtna~omatirIg t>lack and wMa~__ t""_ oIa kJllowing tanktomllmtainasaf8 <loslanCf1atnigM

" 2 : CHA LLI JlGiR 2. B S Q UAOIIO... ,THE RO YAL SeO TS 01110000'" OUARD SleA RBI... IIRS 10...0 OIlEYS), OPIEIlAT IO '"AO,,,eO LA 3, KOS OVO, ....Y 2000B SQua<Jr<><l ~ Beauloful B - of The Roy al Soof$ OrOQ<>Of'Guatds W8. t""fltSt ""'lto<leployGl\aIlenge<2ope<a1ional1yas t""OlMr~ On 1heregiment _actOng OnIhe

Onfant l'J'","" ,The t_io lil1ed with appliqu6 """"", panel.""1he _...-.:jIrorot :_""the _ are~arrays

";"le tl>ose""1he lrorotare ol t"" ERAtype, n- are fittedin 8 w8rlighbng"'"" ...-.:j "", desOgr>ated Oo:>tcMst"'~ 2.

TheVFlN iodosplayedverbcal~""1hetoprighloft"".­

"",n asmallUnionFlaglo 1he left,62 KK80wascommarlCledbyCorporalAAdyPO!lerand t"" """'""lecall"9'.OneOne. iIdlsplayOO On8stencillecloquatil"" t"" .-lurretsidesand11Irr;g/"TI""1he.-allhetCOTel, Aga...., t"" lacl ical ""'<lcng •...... painlOOin !7"Y...-.:jaga;n1hetanO.eame.t""5aII... ""the turret_.CamouftagenetlOngmasl<s t""tI.J'I'&t...-.:jmainam",,,,,••".Thet"" is_ <luring8road~

patrol\!"lat was a standard part olOperat"'" SCoI_<luring1he<lePloymenl to KOSOV<I

:~~".."oL~::~:=K2~;:~';::: . ~~~:~~~O.....~:L~~II~~ Z2~~~YII . S O UT IIE II... IIIAQ .

~0per8lionTf>hc.8I t""tanO,sofOyelopoSq_had

"""""t>eginnong_1hele!ler 'C ',lhose of 71hTroop__.ft,..IormerBrilislltanO,s-·Conquaror'. ·Comel'andCrusade(-atIl'IOugh_1he .. n... wasftl8llyappropliatein the theat re ofoptlf8tOons ""","n. optIfI to <lat>ate.'CnJsa<lar'was~by8ergeoantAAdy Topping_

lJInooCorporaiJasonl-1M'Mntlllas_Iope<aT<:M".Tf'OO\>tII'AAdy Coh\oas go..o;onerandTf'OO\>tII'~l""as_ ,The

tanl< t<l<ll<part inlhe~8Cl""'_"" _2910

32 <1uring1heassaull""lhe townoiAz ZLbayr,Thetanl< ispoinI&<l~ On.,.-,.jytAt:NtWl!hbloc.01tIrICiIlol<Ita<:ticaI

.........",o"inck>:1onglhe_caIIsogn. n-.ea One, "" Ihe _""""",ponelo.tlnatOldeS...-.:jolfsel tolherighl""lhetLntl!_ WJ1hin 8 St_~;~1he calsign

wasappiotl<l~_ltJem'IIJjin<llca1<:o-ponelo(TlPol

_1at"'frtledto1hetarWo..The_indic.at"'1he~

squadooowrthin lhef1l9imMl. inIl\isC8StlCydOpSSQua<Jr<><lWJlhn2Anl• ...-.:jIhe__ rln9S""tl>e lume extraClOf"~ l lhetl'iM'dbOop inlhe~, in

tI'liO C8SOl 7111Troop. Thisio rDp8atoo ""tI>e_.- huIplate as a convoy<1istar>::<> marI<... and_der>tJlyingmarl<er <luringr'ligtJl~Theleltwan:l-fa<:inQtJlado.

CI'IoMOnW8SthtlmutUl!llrecogn<tiOn<!eYi<:tll<MIheCoalitoon

n.o_ oI-"""' """'_10.- 010'__ .....-. " _ _ ......_.....-_~ ._ 'o..-.. ..._-.. .._10 ...... .... _ .. <10 _......-~ ..__._-_.._ .... h .. L37~ 7 ,6Jmm_ ..... _10 "' ....__ , . -. _

--~-_._---­_ Iy"'_ _ "_~_;on__ . /'iDS!

ThooC... I,",,-2E l>eva<lnProjeeth __ ",,~V9.

-.""'---­_...... ....._........_0I_ M8T,_",_M_........ _no1 -.oI_ Io_""""""",,

l .lIOOI>hI>E_k_ .... 1

-..... ..........._---.---.~~__e..._ 2E.t-.hoIl.__bw,oAd _

_ MeT,VD S--",~__ """'_MOO_"became_.xpon_... C... I'""-2 ...._~.......,_Wkers Lt<I__SAE Spt_~__ ..

"""""""'---­---_ ......-.._ F_olghb,.-- ­..".....-_ ...........__~2EIo

. ,....,. _ "' BT, !WSI

!<><ceo. ~ .. paint'" on 1tIe!l.net sides..-.:j offset to lhe letIonltle!l.net_as_ onltle_arm<U~,The

_ .....,.., ,·erusaaer· parIl... on""""'loIwan:l_arm<UpaneI,TheVR"'DS35AA "appliedatltleloprig1loflhe_hulplaIelogell'lefwrtl1aUnionFIlog.On the<lo<>folthensb<lrt>elle hoosing is lf>ered jerboa ol 7tt>ArmoumdBtigacIe- lheOesertRllto.a.--mlhal "Itle01signjaolCydopsSQuadmn.This .. -,ed oIIset to ltIe letIon the""" oIltle !l.net , The tank carried combat irOcat co-paneI$ICIPsjoneadllmnt l""",ol the turr.>lbulnoTlPson!l.netsidesco-_dIr<"o!IltleaetionatAzZubayf,althrJo.91ltlemount ng hoIeoMd-'dn/led. T!Iere was a """""",,,ofTlPs alltleoutselbullheyW9f8later_loeadl_ofltIe t~ _ ob5Cur'ng lhe _·lacing caJl$ogn, whi<:I1 was

reapplHld centrally~ItIe ~~ chevmn ..-.:j squadron

~,TheCfeW's~~itbagSw..... luXlfromlheradio ""t .....-..e:aI! hough lhey W9f8pron1llo combat damage~w... in$ul'fic_space tostowtt-..min_ltIe t_.D..oe10 a .r.ortage of supplie5 . Three One did not display "" ...."""'IPllonpaneldi..ringltleactionatAzZobfN.

C, CH ALLENGER 2 , B S QUA D RO N . THEQUEEN' S RO YAL L AN CER S , OP E RAT IONTIiUC , ' T H I L O OP ' . B A SR A, SO UT H E R NI RA Q, 3 AP RI L 2003This Challenger 2 is It>e mount of SUlft Sergean t JamSoutharn,lhel""'P_oIThree T""'P,BSquadron.ORL,di..ring !he action M !he'l.oop · _ on pages 33 to 36Thecallsigr1.ThreeZero.ispaintedonlhe_arm<UpaneI$__ 'lU'l'l"",oI the1UlTe!sides,Alle!lIcI>ableblado.pIate.

oull""",inayellowsq<;<l,e_tingB$Quadron,cornbinedwrtl1lt>evehiclec.alisign alsoiny1lllow. isattaetledcentra/ly1o!he_oIltlet~,ThreeZeroirOcat... lhetroop_llS<!oestnelennistwlimpaledonlt>eright __

~er;:~~=\~~::

:=:.n;~~~p~~C;::..."..-fac:ingblad<c:tIevmnlMt " ";soapplHld toltle _

=~~==TI~:a:="""":tr::=oIltIetcnet,A.;jainan orange air-Klerrt i/icabon panel is VISibleonlhelopol!tleturre!,Or"P"<!f(M.nd!tlelrontoflhevtlt-oi<:leis "" lsrook camoollage net Ctwa<:t_ oI many ORLlanksdi..ringQperat"",re/o(:,!tIe\t>efmlli-..eoflhe""""""""""'" WllSnot painted in desert yellow , Therestottnec<eWcompri$edCorporal8<.nletl .... loaderlopera1co-. Trooper5I-s--1fug as gonrw ancl Trooper wt1O!bVllSdriv<Y. Sefl}8MISoutharnwasMenboned in~forl>isactoons at

l"" 'Loop'

0 : C NA LLE NG E R 2 , A SQUADRON, KI NO 'SROYA L HU SSARS, 1i1liRCISI SAB RIi'STN RUST , S AL IS B U RY P L AIN , 'EBRUA RY 2 00 eSooplalelco- luloetails

E ' C NA L LE NGE R A RM D URIO RIPAI RAN D RECOVE RY YE NIC L£ , LI GH T AI DD ET A CHMENT, R OY AL ELiCT RICAL AN DMIiC HA NIC A L E NG I NEERS. C SQ U AD RO N,TH E RO YAL SCOTS DR A OO DN OUAR DS ,OP ER AT ION TIiUC , A1. f'AW P E NI N SUL A,SOU T NE RN I RAQ, 30 MA RCH 2 003Wothits cal lsign. Two F"",CharIie._CRIIRRVis depicted<:lurn}lhe""""""Y epoora toonporlfay.-.:l on P"II""37 10 40Thevehic"'is~edO'f<lr3ll in_yeIIowandis flttedwrtl1

dusfrrwtigat>::>nsl<.irts.(ln$oOCll_ lStM""""""c.alisignolTwoFOllCtlartiewithinacroe_ngC~,SCOTS

[)(; .as isthe5aJt.... just"""""ltIe_flxhaust~,As

~:..",.~=h~~~~=:.;ancl"""',lBsIledtolt>e gunpianj<.son thehydraulic""""' ",

\~~~-"-._-. .• •• ...:. -.:J "-'..~

it~_...._ .._--- <;: ,,,--_ .. .........~fC.....Yll E) _ C~_

__.. Uouno_ . _(CH VL8).....~

T_ Spt_..... IO_---.. <>fC... '_2_ wftII < ,""' . .... _oet_... _01 .... Mll T. TheC.... ....,... ...VII E .. ....-Th>jaro. It .. ._ _ ocIobo__h... _ _bIo

_ _ .. . It.,... ... ~<>f ..ti __ dltoh __._.-------_ -_.,,,,,. In_...__.._m", _ .in • __

""'...--.... ....-._ ...--_.To_ -.__...""._"" ... _.____M. T· \Si_ _ .... 1

""OfllnQ<l ait~io<lpanelandltwe"' .lu<ther

~or""llO~sale!'/matk.eo'pai<lted ontr>e

-, 1Op o1_jib. W~hlhe failinglight , tl>e f&lXJYf!J('of meci1anic.

Corpor al Justir>Simons,wasobligedlO ...... CI.1tIiI>;eqouipmoorIIIhat~tod Nspos;oonandlheC RARRV tc lhe""""'Y

.. 1he _commander,Corpora;Jar.-Gamott.!l'M'~lW'ewith l>isrool.....,...,.,todL37A27.6:?mm"""","",

IIU"_TIY<>..lQhoul the aclion, the lIag 01 the Corps 01 R<:>yalElBctricai and Mechanical Engir-../IowtromIheCRAARV'sradio antenna Th8 REME C<llW of Two Fouro-~

Corpor~JayG!nolll.CorporaIJusbnSimons,Corpor"R"",

Parl<ert~with~JoMMot'{jtw1

~~~C::~:~~~~~12D:ASGQOU::~~~'APSle ARe ' " IER' "' ''' 0 ORIi"I, . O PE RATION

~E:~~'1 ..8::::.S OU THE R N IA .o.O ,

l.JrMjoorlhocommandof~ArdyPolt<or.TwoOne "depicte<I <;krng!hol_""Fb.JleRe<l~Ihe _ _

00 Basra<:<;><lllnllmodOperat.,..,SinI»d:lhe_"MutanIc.-.-, _ TO'O<>pW Kevin Young .. _I""",ator,T""""" CIIIk.<l1GritfJtho;"~andTr<>opef·Do::'Ood'lerty

;'Pso;:;..~~ac:a~_"":~~2~:":1hermaI e. hai.>sl cowla(T'E Cs)andd..oslmltigatOollskirts,Tl>e

~::~.;.,":m..:=:::.u:: :,-~""IJo.."...,..;llhe ...... e>;1ractor_BSQuadron. .. _1tIe on.slalk_the~'s

"'-"""' . TtOs isatrltlfmalOlclicalorandis~l<>the SCOTS

DG,A~""" sigmlesA~, squareB, eo:cullo"C

a"ldrectat'ogUlarD, ~, CSQuaG-onMs tak""the SySlem

""" ' lepJu'tt>et_ twosl>apesonltleSlalk, Wilh ltlecJl:ularC5qoa<n>n sogn at lheboltom,lhe same ",,- _ __ l<> s/>;lweac:h~ _lheSQlJlldr<>n.l'hus. otnonglo

_lhecrcle iro:licot... 1st TroopoIC Squadron and 00 on- two_ being 3Rl TfOO\>. C Squodfon . These st>apes ...._1hrOlJo1l TOOS otnighl a"ldin poor ..-y. Ano!tlwiro:licotorol tho BeautrfulSis the 'Mulanl' SQIJlIdr<>ninoq'loo.....-.tJlazoneonthe..,.wmourf'lYl'M"""""'the ~

Not k""""" b-beingltle""""handsome peroonrtfII in theregimoont,the l<':o<m 'MulonlS'ongorIO!ed -.5e<geanI 'T"", ·Spenc;t>.,..;W... ~led .. a g ophic oes;gnC>MledbylanoeColporojF,orO<iel' yIO, ~ """' adcmsmo.o::t> B Squadron

~,Topedl<> thotopolthens_ iao _

=':. ~sr:.==::.=::..,=: :::Iorwardl)otlomeo:lge. lheVRN DA17AAaw-'" on tho top...,.. oI tho ..... lUl plat...'2, CKA LLE IUIUI a, TH E Q UE E H'S ROYA LHUS S AAS 8 ATT LEGA OUP , I XER CIS I

:::I~;:~ MAN 1 , lATUS , CANA DA ,

ThIs Chooll<tnger 2 I. P<tinted in tho g.--. Md yellOw~"""""",cMraeterislicol thtl _les ol t""

BrilishNmyTroi<Iing UnilSutf>eld,6ATUS, inc..-oo.,~

rMi ... "' ....Ii<ing.. , en::isas .... oondI.oc1edlMfe and ..fely iaa prmeconsi<le<a toon, To lhioend there"",wtoite S!t'4>esontho turrel rool 'nown asthe·45a· lhol _ _ ~the

~'s <Wld gur-.-.erssighl <Wld_ to ir>;licate the

sa!earcsol lire-' '-'"'''Il m ~.SimiIatly.ltle

~Spnmary siglrtMs fOKl<Wld~~ on

eac:h_so1tlat""'9"sa1aI'Istal!"-nowat all_e><acttvinwhichdirectJon the CPS is lacing . BeIliOO!hIlC<lrJlrJ--.ders",-""", is_... klly1eat",, _ a""'metai tMng<4ar_rdlcat.-.g lhol the _s """""""' . ySt...... ....._-. k-.e~ion <Wld """'Y l<> lirfI. Oithelumll sides and __the _callsign,One Two, Thio ieaisoPaio'ledon _ _

SI<orI. ".is thtl"-'zap oooe ·. The VRNis DPl 3AA

GI , C HALLING E Il 2 , A S QUA OIlO N,1ST 1l0 YAL TANII 1l1 0IMEN T, IX IIlCISE

:UJ~~~A;o~~UYH CA IIO LINA, USA ,

At0745/woon3 Ju1)'2004. theUniledSl..-oIAmeriCowas ·inva<;led'bylo<eogrttank,-'ChaI\er>;Ier2 MBT.oI1s1 T..,.,p , A Squadron , l RTR.wadedasllOrfllromLCUs(Ulnding C<aft llhllly) al HMS ,>Jo,on on lo 0rW0w _at~~,thehornool lheUSM""""Co.;>o.Tho

fourCMllanger 2 MBTsoI A Squadton. 1 RTR. _ acl.-.gast""" suppor1lo42Com<nar>do,Royal~,<l<.nng

E.""'.... ~a. ajoom e"""C.... 1I'1VOMng1roOpS 1rom _ .F'once, lioIandandthoUSA, The fourtanl<sb<llongedlOThoa..-. .. Roy al Lancers <Wld .. .... <epainted in Royal T....Aoqimentma1<.ingstore, _ """"".Asocompo$il"troop, II had fourW>!<.with the /ourth """....-.;,., thocomman<l"'~ 'Frog'_.haWlg_ cabignOM

Thnoe.Thio IO<2isplaytI<l .. rthin_tnongloolASquadmnandis Paio'ledin yflllOwon _ lumll si<le!land ..... _ as lhetorward ode skio:1•. Cenlral lyon thetum'll _lotheleflolthecaIlo<gnis o lo'9'l <!ecal~the F_ NaLJght orest ol lhe

n.o__ ·_·_'_Ofn.o ~.._0._0_ ...... __ .. , .. ......-.....O--""~2Iocu...-ty- .._.._--~--ot_-.._.. ___Of.__ . H.UtIII-.__....... n.o ......._ loeuP __~2~_~a.. ........._l___ ~ ..... _UOIl' _-----.._--~-------.- ..._-....-.. ....Io.~____a...r .. _

~--...,~--_ .._---­_"_~DOl

Flo¥-IT_~N.tt-._botIom.ao-ot_

l\,nIII_iltt-.a.- Er- ...... ot' RTFI.~

/cIowong1lS~_4lt>Flo¥-IT_RqrwilIMl

tr..,.._tymboI bedo. l<>WorIdWw I.Atwncllt>e~:'=':',lOngIIo while band ro:licM"",, 'al Troop. TheVR N

---,,---_....-_.._~,--_evIZTCA_a.....__1lOS4E-----------__TIoer__._---­_10._...»TreI-_»,",­___~"'VAh

_ ...YI......... _.. :rooe..(81__.....

02, C""LLE NGE R 2 , " I G U" b RGN, T " ERO"' '' L OR " OO ON aU"R b l , OP ER"T IO,.Tn , c t . MA.lA R_AL_It".IR , 1 0 UT " E RNIR AG , 2 . DE CEM . ER 2004.... ~t_Peolat-. .. ~_~ ..~.~r._-.._~

~1or_9ntIII'I"""Y.ko~..-.~1or''' ''--'oltt-.9nbIft_ ..~ bQ. n.cr-.g. 2-.,10"'~The~ar- a...o..._ .__

oltt-.""'*"""""'.MapDan~~.tt-.

_"'*"9'.z.oar-~on_~<lilt.-pIoote onlt>e_"...Thec>.-__ Corl>onII.SIo.m' Gr..-.to.der/_a!a'. T~·5I>once·

~.~_T"-·A.Mly·~.

'*"-.The_. depoCIeddunngOp.-et>on F-., .. lt>et"""' oIM ....-.. ·Kabi< oYII<"" Chnal p.oodol2004I( nown .. ·M4I<· to Bnt>s/'l l~. M • ·~iI _oI

t~ """t!.ow""" tow ns of Southefn I<"'l tnd w",,!fIe.e­of "" rnuta<::nt 01$I'Roy.. MII'I ""1 Polooesold... .. June2003.Du<ing the ''''ll''''"401 Sed<l11m~. ~ ~3O.DOO~_ oIl'1elicopt.~ __

otl>FVlto_""Ms..-.~."",*"oI

tt>aWolWlGuatdlB<rtt~dunng~oon""""">"'$QueclIon~..a--2_~_'~w-rotlFVtolEknnlCornpany.t.een..kIn. TheD.Qot~..~ .... _ .._~.

tt>a_Oonot<*TJ'-"':~on_11enoLThe....... ofz.oe.-. 0S2'AA~ ..._"""'_ .....~__lighIdt.iIl.-lOQelI.-_'_""-"'"_ The_of"'~_Ther... _ _ in"-l_ ......~ A_z.oar-...-·AVf.IT.PWit8don__oItt-.T1St.bone.The

a-.g.2la"oksin"-l .. no-'-l*flMd"_camoutIege_dust~_..not~OI'I(:Ida-negodbeyond_.The_ ....... "" Dl2F ..........con'igo..t oon _ fo..-ttw ..........~~ ..btong incorpoI'lOI<'1dbut d8IAoIa..- CIaM""". -''''''''l~ 'a-..cull ... • to prnloo:t "" CfIIW ""'" ""er!Ilongong... .... tndboobytraps

_.u.,,..,....., ' :hw....n ........

' ... ",.n1 l i :!." " BT ,', • .• ,9.'n, .."'.·'tl_"Alx " ~ r ',f.6..

T, .l L,u:p ,"" ..Tb>K ', ,

1Or ' n " .... ll 1" .

T"W·"'·""· "-~, ,,···Tn'" T."-"".l"d,,"'~ ,IlTT' ..

T_"".U,'."

--""", ,,.,......,..~..,"" ·.K'Il· ..Wh""', Tp< '.'

....w.'lW"'n ' t,"""'u."'-.HO ..... , . , " 1...' .' .....,.

-,,,,,",,,",T ''''~,'' "/ ulw", T '

.....,~,' ..,,..... ~~I"'~" ""'''', .. ....,. ." "" 2-"

:~,;,.;.'~::".'~:.". ~;rrr )_(lW""""' '' ,..n.I. ::~~~:'~:' :: .,.,~."..,,,.

INDEX

." .0"::,:~",t;,"

","",.-.. "

~~l:~:"

.,~..

~-

."

,:',~";;,,-,,;

",....:,':::::::

'~'Om.m"""'. ....... U , I•. ll

'....n".....,""f>"~"..." H'_''-U\;"'".,1". ,. ..,,~''''',. ,''' ,

I S R~ SERIfS

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Tnnnt eran y o f tt .....,e ti tl, ,, . ", fnr m o ",in f" rrn ationon ()" p n:y Pu b li, b in l\. m o lac l:

asp..,l o.rKt (Nort1>Amen<.) 'T<>II ~.· 1 .866-6lo-694 1 Fa>. .· I-800-659-2n6£-mot~~''"''

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The design, development ope-anon and history

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f . - ... ..

O SPREYPUBLISHING

....w .o'p r~ )'publ l ' h l ng.cDm

Cha lle n ge r 2Main Battl e Tank198 7- 2006

Tlw aw.~ 2 Is tM

cunmt M.i.ln \I.Inlir Tank of

the Bril ish Arrny and tq:Jrnn1b

the culmlnoltlon of 80 yun of

unlr. dnign.ln 198 7, lbdloslgn

wu p~led 101 M Mln l, uy

of ~frTlC1' In response to iI

~ulmnml to ITp I.«e I two

Chldlaln MDT thaI h~ bttn

panla lly superseded by the

Challenger ! MilT. Production

began tn 199J , wllh th l'lank

flnall y l' ntf" lng woM Q ln

2OOO, an d du ring Its r«t'n t

app"';Ir..n~ ln l rlKl lt provrd

Ind lspo-nloll* durtng t lw batt le

for ~... ThI,bool<OOVft1 t lw

~utlon of lbt Ctuollmgn 2,

frornlhortglmMld It"Sting.to

~ lnvoh-mwnl In 1M Middk

u.t uMl lraq.