Ukrainian soldiers used British tanks to hit Russian targets 4.5 km away?

Recently, a reporter from The Sun had the opportunity to accompany the Ukrainian army using Challenger 2 tanks provided by the UK to fight against Russian forces.

Ukrainian soldiers have praised the accuracy of the Challenger 2 tank, which is equipped with a 120mm main gun. According to The Sun , a Challenger 2 tank opened fire on the move with the gun pointed sideways, destroying a target the size of a plate more than a mile away.

Image believed to be of a Challenger 2 tank firing in Ukraine

The Sun Screenshot

The commander of a British-trained Ukrainian tank crew, who goes by the nickname "Kayfarick", said the best thing about the Challenger 2 was its gun. "I like the Challenger 2. It's like a sniper, very accurate," said Kayfarick, 26.

“It can shoot accurately and has good armor. It is a really powerful weapon, but it all depends on how it is used,” Kayfarick emphasized.

A British Challenger 1 tank set the record for the longest confirmed target kill at 4.7 km, during the 1991 Gulf War.

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Kayfarick said his Challenger tank crew regularly fired at targets at ranges of 4.5 kilometers, but most of their missions were against Russian armored positions, including bunkers and infantry vehicles.

"The furthest we fired was 4.5 kilometers. It was extremely accurate. It hit the target," Kayfarick affirmed.

Kayfarick assessed that the Challenger's gun was "10 times better" than the gun on the Soviet-era T-80 tank he commanded in front of the Challenger tank squadron. "Compared to the Challenger, the T-80's gun is nothing."

Weighing 64 tons, the Challenger tank is similar to the German Leopard 2 and the American Abrams M1A2, but is 20 tons heavier than the T-80, according to The Sun.

The Sun reporter said they witnessed a Challenger getting stuck in the mud, forcing Mr Kayfarick to call in soldiers and another Challenger to help get the stuck tank out.

Ukrainian soldiers try to pull a Challenger tank out of the mud.

The Sun Screenshot

Britain donated 14 Challenger 2 tanks to Ukraine last year. The UK's provision of Challenger 2 tanks paved the way for similar moves by allies, such as the US providing Abrams tanks and several countries sending German-made Leopard 2 tanks.

However, Ukraine’s Challenger tank team revealed to The Sun that only seven of the 14 tanks donated in March 2023 are still in combat condition. In addition to the one destroyed by a drone in September 2023, another has been assigned to a training unit elsewhere in Ukraine.

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Two others were damaged in combat but were repaired, one of which had its barrel replaced.

A bigger problem, however, is reliability. Five Challengers have broken down, and Kayfarick says spare parts from the UK sometimes take months to arrive, and he lacks the skilled mechanics to keep the tanks in good working order.

Mr Kayfarick also revealed that a chronic shortage of fresh recruits on the front line meant trained tank crews had to leave their vehicles to dig trenches for infantry.

According to Kayfarick, the rubber pads on the tank's tracks were constantly wearing out. "The turret parts and precision aiming parts were also not durable," Kayfarick said.

There is no information yet on the reaction of the UK, Ukraine and Russia to Kayfarick's assessment.

Source link: https://thanhnien.vn/binh-si-ukraine-dung-xe-tang-anh-ban-trung-muc-tieu-nga-cach-xa-45-km-185240312105308608.htm