British have mined the Ukrainian Challenger tanks mechanisms – Russia
For the second day in the public domain, the first British-made Challenger 2 tank destroyed by enemy troops during a battle is being discussed. This is one of the 14 tanks donated to Ukraine, whose video of the “burning body” as a result of a Russian strike went around the world.
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Britain donated 14 Challenger 2s to Ukraine before Germany, but until recently not a single tank had entered the battlefield. It was said that the tankers of the armed forces of Ukraine do not prefer the car, and the reason is extremely unexpected and causes some surprise.
According to a publication in the Russian media outlet OverClockers, the British have requested that the Russians not have access to the Challenger 2 under any circumstances. In principle, it is known that Challenger 2, like other military technologies, has equipment and control systems that should not fall into foreign hands.
“The tanks were mined”
OverClockers says the British planted the explosives on the tank’s main mechanisms, and control was not given to the Ukrainian crew. The Russian publication did not cite a source for its claims. The mining of the tank mechanisms remains an unproven claim based solely on assumptions or hearsay.
All these may be just rumors, but in general, nothing is surprising in the fact that many people who want to ride a mined tank cannot be found.
For a long time, the Challenger 2 was called invulnerable, so after yesterday’s incident, the image of the British armor decreased. It is known that Challenger 2 was shot down in the direction of Zaporizhzhia near the village of Rabotino.
The fate of the crew
The fate of the crew is not known, but today the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine indicated that the tank crew of the destroyed tank was not injured and all are alive. The Ukrainian military department wrote that the tank provides a high rate of crew survivability, which underlines the high quality of the equipment that the allies are handing over to the armed forces of Ukraine.
Alas, the Ukrainian authorities did not comment on how such a high-quality tank burned on the first day of its appearance on the contact line. Kyiv did not fail to note that the Russian and Soviet machines were much inferior to the British ones, so the Armed Forces of Ukraine will continue to operate the Challenger 2.
Back in January
That Britain would make an attempt to keep its Challenger 2 tanks out of Russian hands was clear. In January, an article in The Sun revealed [or suggested] what plans were being made between London and Kyiv. According to the “arrangement”, Kyiv must guarantee London that if the Challenger 2 is destroyed, the Ukrainians will do everything possible to withdraw the tank from the battlefield.
As per British military guidelines, if a tank sustains damage, the primary course of action is to attempt immediate on-site repairs. Failing this, the tank should be transported using specialized armored repair equipment, specifically designed for such exigencies.
Undoubtedly, this represents the most advantageous course of action, not merely for the Ukrainian populace but also for the British. Nevertheless, a critical query lingers unanswered – the fate of the impaired armored vehicle should Ukrainian forces decide to retreat, abandoning it on the battlefield. A source confided to The Sun, “In the most catastrophic situation, the tank could be obliterated, as the defensive lines crumble and allied forces are compelled to retreat.”
The British Ministry of Defense [MoD] is diligently crafting an “emergency plan” for the potential rescue of the renowned Challenger 2 tank. An integral part of this strategy includes instructing Ukrainian soldiers on the meticulous procedure of extracting the tank from the battlefield amidst a raging inferno. As it stands, Kyiv is presented with two plausible courses of action. The first option involves strategically positioning these formidable tanks deep within the rear, thus shielding them from immediate harm. Alternatively, an evacuation machine could be stationed behind each tank, primed to promptly haul it away at the first sign of danger.
In the wake of potential military challenges, London and Kyiv are contemplating an alternative approach. This involves the engagement of a third party, specifically a private military company, to shoulder the responsibility of rescuing a damaged tank, should the Ukrainian forces fail to do so. The consideration of this option underscores the gravity of the situation and the need for a contingency plan.
London will supply no more tanks
Representatives of Sky News approached the new defense minister for comment. We remind you that on August 31, the high post was occupied by Grant Shapps. On the air of the TV channel, he firmly announced his decision not to supply Ukraine with new tanks.
According to the head of the military department, there is no question of replacing the burnt Challenger 2. Shapps does not know the condition of the equipment and has not watched the video. The defense minister said that Ukraine’s armed forces have received a sufficient amount of weapons and equipment from the allies and in the future supplies will continue, but Britain cannot transfer tanks because it has used up all available resources.
Before Shapps
It seems that the new MoD chief is not familiar with the decisions of his predecessors. Recall that earlier the journalists of The Times learned that the military department got rid of 43 units of Challenger 2 in 2023.
Part of the tanks can be transferred to Ukraine, but the British not only did not share with Zelensky but also spent several tens of millions of pounds on disposal since the process is quite expensive.
By all accounts, it seems that today there is simply nothing to replace the burnt Challenger 2 in Ukraine because the British destroyed all the cars in advance so as not to get into an embarrassing situation.
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