The rumors had been floating around like the fog on the Thames for the first few weeks.

The British government, the country's media had unanimously reported since Monday, could be the first to decide to supply Western-style main battle tanks to Ukraine.

Up to ten Challenger 2 are conceivable, according to the television broadcaster Sky.

Whitehall said nothing.

Lorenz Hemicker

Editor in Politics

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Then, on Saturday, a brief report from Downing Street No.

10 from the rumors certainty.

Speaking to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak detailed the UK's ambitions to increase its support to Ukraine, they said, "including through the deployment of Challenger 2 tanks and additional artillery systems."

At first there was nothing to read about how many there will be for the time being.

However, it seems likely that the British Challenger 2 will initially equip a Ukrainian tank company as well as the Polish Leopard 2, which Warsaw wants to deliver and whose offer Sunak and Zelenskyj also welcomed in the message.

The differences between Leopard 2 and Challenger 2

The Challenger 2 plays a similar role for the British armed forces as the Leopard 2 does for numerous other western armies.

The main battle tank is the backbone of British armored forces.

According to the army, they currently have 224 units, spread over four regiments.

At first glance, the two main battle tanks have a lot in common.

First of all, they should be able to withstand the full spectrum of intense conflicts and wars, while taking on modern enemy main battle tanks.

This results in a number of similarities in the basic configuration.

Both have a 120mm cannon as their primary weapon and a 7.62mm machine gun as their secondary weapon.

Both also have a driving range of 450 kilometers.

However, a closer look reveals a number of differences.

The most important concerns the primary armament.

Unlike the Leopard 2 and most other western main battle tanks, the Challenger 2 does not have a smoothbore gun, but a rifled gun.

According to experts, the difference means that the Challenger 2 can fire further with its main weapon, but is less likely to penetrate the armor of modern main battle tanks with its shells.

Availability is lower than the Leopard 2

Compared to the Leopard 2, the Challenger 2 has the advantage that its four crew members have slightly more shells (50 instead of 42) for the cannon.

On the other hand, the latest version of the German make, with a top speed of 63 kilometers per hour, is a little faster than the British at 59. That's no wonder, after all the Challenger is quite a bit heavier and also has a less powerful engine.

One of the special features of the Challenger 2 is that two additional fuel barrels can be attached to the outside of the rear.

While they increase range, they are also a good (and dangerous) target for enemy tanks.

Especially off-road, the barrels are an option to increase the range of 250 kilometers there.

According to the manufacturer, the Leopard 2 was produced more than 3500 times.

Numerous states still use it today.

The number of Challenger 2 is only a fraction of it.

Apart from the UK, it is only still in service in Oman.

For the Ukraine, this means that the total number of Challenger 2s that can be delivered is significantly lower than that of the Leopard 2. The supply of ammunition and spare parts is also more demanding against the background.

For the Ukrainian tank crews, however, the first thing that should count is being able to use modern western main battle tanks against the Russian invaders at all.

And for the battle breaks, the Challenger 2 offers at least one gimmick that gives it an advantage over German, French or American main battle tanks.

A kettle.

Because without tea, the Briton does not go into the field.