During a demonstration drive in the mud, a British Challenger 2 tank drowned in Ukraine. The Ukrainian Armed Forces discussed the issues they face in using them on the front line

British tanks “Challenger 2,” transferred to Ukraine, are not yet being used in combat against other tanks. They also face mobility issues – due to their high mass, they get stuck in mud.

This is reported by the British publication The Sun.

A correspondent from the newspaper visited Ukrainian units using the “Challenger” tanks. Ukrainian soldiers praise the British tank for its gun, accuracy, shooting range, crew comfort and armor protection.

“But the tank’s size and weight are a drawback,” said a Ukrainian military member with the call sign “Kayfarik” to the newspaper.

With its 64-ton mass, the “Challenger 2” is roughly equivalent to the German Leopard 2 and the American Abrams M1A2 but is 20 tons heavier than the Russian T-80 and has 30 percent less power.

“The downside is its mobility, the ability to maneuver on the ground. They continue to get stuck in the mud because they’re very heavy,” said a Ukrainian tank squadron engineer.

The Sun journalist personally confirmed this: when he sat in the tank and drove it, the vehicle “got stuck in the mire.”

Therefore, Ukrainian military officials stated that currently, British tanks in the Armed Forces of Ukraine are used as a means of “sniper” shooting at a distance of 4.5 kilometers.

Only half of the Challenger 2 tanks transferred to Ukraine are still combat-ready, writes The Sun. Specifically, 7 out of 14.

One tank was destroyed by a “Lance” in September, another was sent to the rear for training purposes. Two others were damaged in battle but have since been repaired, including barrel replacement.

Five more tanks were decommissioned for technical reasons, but they cannot be repaired.

“Delivery of spare parts from Great Britain sometimes takes months and there’s also a shortage of qualified mechanics to keep the equipment in working order,” the article states.

Additionally, due to a shortage of soldiers on the front line, “trained tank crews were taken off their machines to dig trenches for infantry.”

One of the main problems with the Challenger, besides its low mobility and poor cross-country ability, is the rubber pads on the tracks and wheels, which wear out quickly.

“The turret details and precise aiming details are also not as durable. They broke from the very beginning,” said a Ukrainian tank crew member.

Moreover, the tanks were transferred to Ukraine without additional armor, which was used by the British in Iraq. As a result, Ukrainians themselves welded additional armor grilles to the side and front panels and installed anti-drone cages above the turrets.

A military member with the call sign “Kayfarik” stated that another problem with the Challengers is retraining commanders, “who do not understand what it is created for, what its pros and cons are.”

“Soviet tanks are combat vehicles designed to solve a variety of tasks. British and NATO tanks are mainly designed for sniper shooting – tank against tank,” said the tank crew member.

It is worth recalling that last autumn, Russia announced the first defeat of the British tank “Challenger 2.” In turn, the downing of a British tank was confirmed by the American financial-economic journal Forbes.