I would argue that the pre-production Challenger 3 would be better as it has much better armour than any Challenger 2/3TD we have ingame
Basically what dotSHINI said.
The 130mm test bed at the end of the day is essentially a Challenger 3TD with a bigger gun and the Chally 3TD is a very bare bones test bed vehicle
Just look at how thick the turret and UFP armour is on the Challenger 3 prototype (2024)
Yes, that will be 4mm structural steel + air. ~ Gaijin, probably.
I can HOPE it dosen’t get the Shir 2 treatment
I mean currently none of the challys have any real armour outside of the turret cheeks, and no one EVER shoots there, its all well and good discussing the CR3 but we do not have that outside of the LEP prototype and its bimonthly nerfs, in the CURRENT tech tree it would be the best
If it is added right now, yes it could be better,
But it is heavier then a standard challenger with the heavier cannon, munition and so on.
It is meaned as an practical demonstrator of the 130mm cannon that it works on a tank platform to advertise it to germany in the current race for the mgcs vs the french ascalon.
For those reasons Rheinmetall only replaced turret parts for possible heavier equipment.
No work on the engine etc was done to possibly counteract that since it was not required for this demonstrator
+1 always fun to have a big punchy gun
+1 more challys more challys more challys more challys more challys more challys more challys more challys
This specific version would just be the Challenger 3TD with a new turret, right? (correct me if I’m wrong)
But also isn’t the idea that this turret would eventually end up on the actual Challenger 3 down the line if we decide to do that?
So, potentially, we’d have (not including other variants);
Same turret just different gun and add on stuff
I thought it was a brand new turret, cause it’s the 130mm, autoloader, different armour package?
^image from above
It just some stuff added onto the cheeck of the Challenger 3 TD turret
It is the same turret it was done in 3 weeks and then brought back to 3 TD standard
The turret was designed for the 130mm in mind
Ah ok cool, good to know
+1, this is a fine addition to Britain.
I imagine we would use the production Challenger 3 turret, which is very similar but not identical to the Challenger 2 LEP (3TD turret)
The actual Challenger 3 turret is a bit more blocky, with a higher angle on the roof and larger composite inserts. The mantlet also appears to be solid and the backup sight inside of it was deleted.
They’re both welded rather than cast as on the Challenger 2 though and I imagine are similar internally
omg…yeah the chally 3 is an absolute eye-catcher. love it.
No yeah I meant eventually, I know the plan is to have the 120mm turret on CH3 initially.
She’s a great looking tank
