Text taken from the dzen.ru account of Russian military correspondent Aleksandr Kots
UPDATED: The British ministry of defense says the Challenger was hit by artillery, while some Russian sources say it was destroyed by the Kornet ATGM.
A story will appear here tomorrow about the newest Russian 125mm APFSDS round being introduced in the field.
⚡️⚡️⚡️⚡️⚡️The first British main battle tank Challenger 2 was destroyed in the NMD zone. This vehicle weighs 62.5 tons, which makes it one of the heaviest in its class. The lion's share of the combat mass falls on booking. The tank is protected by Dorchester multi-layered combined armor, information about which is classified. However, she obviously did not help the Challenger burning on the frames in social networks.
The reputation of this tank, as invulnerable, is thoroughly tarnished. They were actively used by the British contingent in Iraq and did not suffer any losses from enemy anti-tank weapons at all. The only burnt "Challenger" was destroyed by "friendly fire".
But in the NVO zone, the intensity of hostilities is an order of magnitude higher. The British tanks that the APU kept in reserve began to burn in the most logical way. Such an "advertising" of its products is unlikely to please the manufacturer - the giant concern BAE Systems.
Most likely, Kyiv hoped to use the 14 Challengers received from London as sniper tanks. To do this, they have all the introductory - a powerful rifled gun L30A1, excellent optics and suitable ammunition. In addition to BOPS, including those with a depleted uranium core, British tanks use devastating high-explosive armor-piercing HESH shells with a firing range of up to eight kilometers. Their damaging effect practically does not depend on the distance.
Now, apparently, the Ukrainians threw these tanks into frontal assaults, which may indicate a shortage of heavy armored vehicles in the direction of the main attack. The destroyed Challenger is further proof that superweapons do not exist. And a naive belief in an overseas wunderwaffe is capable of playing a cruel joke on military leaders.
More from the Twitter account of Kots:
Translation:
The first burning "Challenger 2" - the main battle tank of the British ground forces. Also did not become a wunderwaffe for Ukraine. There are no invulnerable machines. This is for those who rely on the American Abrams, the first batch of which is promised in September.
Well, those who burned - with an initiative!
The first burning "Challenger 2" - the main battle tank of the British ground forces. Also did not become a wunderwaffe for Ukraine. There are no invulnerable machines. This is for those who rely on the American Abrams, the first batch of which is promised in September.
— Александр Коц (@sashakots) September 5, 2023
Well, those who burned - with an initiative! pic.twitter.com/heo8lShl7c