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Challenger 2 ATDU

Challenger 2 ATDU

Challenger 2 ATDU is a fictional name given to the Challenger 2 Megatron for the game Armored Warfare. Including some of the upgrades of Megatron, the in-game version is fitted with a former British 140mm main gun.

ATDU stands for Armoured Trials and Development Unit and use the Challenger 2 Megatron for the trialling of new and possible future equipment for all British Army Challenger 2 Tanks.

Challenger 2 ATDU 140mm Main Gun

The low pressure 140mm main gun was developed and tested successfully as an alternative to a high pressure 120mm rifled main gun, now known as the L30 Charm gun currently used on the Challenger 2.

Declassified papers obtained for the game show that the 140mm main gun offered no significant improvements in Kinetic Energy rounds (APFSDS) due to its low chamber pressure.

However the increased bore allowed for larger, therefore more effective tandem charged HEAT rounds and Anti-Tank Guided Missiles to be fired compared to that of 120mm main guns.

Challenger 2 ATDU Autoloader

Challenger 2 ATDU 140mm APFSDS Left & 120mm APFSDS Right

Challenger 2 ATDU 140mm APFSDS Left & 120mm APFSDS Right

Declassified papers show that at the time of development the British Army was operating the Challenger 1, who speculated that the increased length of the 140mm bore APFSDS would be too large to manually load. They also speculated that the Challenger 1 turret could only hold 16 rounds.

This meant any future (at the time) Challenger 2 would require an auto loader. The completed APFSDS on display next to a standard 120mm APFSDS measured a total length of 1.5 meters.

With the eventual selection of the L30 main gun for the Challenger 2 it is not known if the autoloader would have been a bustle system or carousel system in the turret bottom.

The L30 120mm main gun was selected as its high pressure chamber allowed for continued improvements in lethality as new ammunition technology came available by 2020, the expected date a new main gun would need to be found.

Challenger 2 ATDU Specifications (Stock)

References:References:

Firepower
Main Gun 120mm, calibre Length 55 Rifled L30 CHARM
Elevation -10 to +20
Secondary Weapons x1 coaxial 7.62mm MG, x1 7.62mm MG
Ammunition Storage x50 120mm, x4,000 7.62mm
Mobility
Engine Perkins Condor V-12 1200hp Diesel
Transmission David Brown TN54 epicyclical (6 forward/ 2 reverse gears)
Top Road Speed 56 km/h (Governed)
Road Range 450 km
Fuel Capacity 1592 Litres
Vertical Obstacle Unknown
Water Capability Unknown
Trench Crossing Unknown
Gradient 60%
Side Slope 30%
Dimensions
Length Gun Forward 11.55m (excluding bar armor)
Length Hull 8.327m (excluding bar armor)
Width
3.52m+
Height 2.49m (roof top)
Ground Clearance Unknown
Weight 73,000kg aka 73 tonne combat
Protection
NBC Protected Yes
Armor Type Steel/Composite/modular/passive/ERA
Active Protection Systems No
Crew
Commander Yes
Gunner Yes
Loader Yes
Driver Yes
Additional Crew
Troops Carried n/a