Challenger 3 TD

Challenger 3 TD

Challenger 3 TD

Description

The Challenger 3 Technology Demonstrator is a rank British medium tank with a battle rating of (AB), (RB), and (SB). It was introduced in Update "Air Superiority".

General info

Survivability and armour

Armour protection on the Challenger 3 is extremely similar to all preceding Challenger 2s. The turret cheeks are capable of shrugging off most punishment; the rest of the vehicle, not so much. As is characteristic of the challenger family, the upper and lower glacis are extremely weak and will not protect against much, even 105mm shells won't struggle getting through. One benefit of the massive gun mount is the tendency for rounds aimed at the turret to be absorbed completely into the breach, providing a small chance for survival if lucky. Aside from the front, as is typical of MBTs in general the side and rear armour is also very very weak.

Armour type:

Armour	Front (Slope angle)	Sides	Rear	Roof
Hull	50-60mm (56-78)	25 mm Top 38 mm Bottom	50 mm	10 - 38 mm
Turret	38 - 50 mm Turret front + 50 mm RHA 50 mm RHA 400 mm Composite Screen 60 mm RHA 110 mm CHA 30 mm Gun mantlet + 200 mm RHA	10 - 25 mm	4 mm	10 - 25 mm
Cupola	60 mm	60 mm	60 mm	25 mm

Notes:

Mobility

As is to be expected of a member of the challenger family, this tank is nowhere near the mobility of the leopard or most russian MBTs. However, the lack of external add-on armour such as that present on the 2F and TES means the weight is a respectable 62.5 tonnes - exactly the same its older brother, the base Challenger 2. Even so, accelleration and especially mobility on any kind of incline is quite poor owing to a weak horsepower to weight ratio.

Game Mode	Max Speed (km/h)		Weight (tons)	Engine power (horsepower)		Power-to-weight ratio (hp/ton)
	Forward	Reverse		Stock	Upgraded	Stock	Upgraded
Arcade				_,___		__.__	__.__
Realistic				_,___		__.__	__.__

Armaments

Main armament

The Challenger 3 TD does do one unique thing for a British vehicle however - it incorporates a standardised NATO gun. The 120mm Rh120 L/55 A1 is the exact same as found on all top tier Leopard 2s which ensures the Chally 3 has access to the same high-powered top tier APFSDS shells as most NATO MBTs. This comes with one small drawback, however, as the smoothbore german main gun is unable to fire Britain's long standing HESH shell, instead having access to the DM12A1 HEAT-FS shell as stock.

120 mm Rh120 L/55 A1					Turret rotation speed (°/s)					Reloading rate (seconds)
Mode	Capacity	Vertical	Horizontal	Stabilizer	Stock	Upgraded	Full	Expert	Aced	Stock	Full	Expert	Aced
Arcade	37	-10°/+20°	±180°	Two-plane	__._	__._	__._	__._	__._	_.__	_.__	_.__	_.__
Realistic					__._	__._	__._	__._	__._

Ammunition

Penetration statistics
Ammunition	Type of warhead	Penetration @ 0° Angle of Attack (mm)
		10 m	100 m	500 m	1,000 m	1,500 m	2,000 m
DM12A1	HEATFS	480	480	480	480	480	480
DM33	APFSDS	496	494	486	476	466	456
DM11	HE-TF	37	37	37	37	37	37
DM53	APFSDS	652	650	640	628	616	604

Shell details
Ammunition	Type of warhead	Velocity (m/s)	Projectile mass (kg)	Fuse delay (m)	Fuse sensitivity (mm)	Explosive mass (TNT equivalent) (kg)	Ricochet
							0%	50%	100%
DM12A1	HEATFS	1,190	13.5	0.05	0.1	2.15	65°	72°	77°
DM33	APFSDS	1,690	4.3	-	-	-	78°	80°	81°
DM11	HE-TF	1,015	19	0.3	0.1	3.93	79°	80°	81°
DM53	APFSDS	1,750	5	-	-	-	78°	80°	81°

Ammo racks

Full ammo	1st rack empty	2nd rack empty	3rd rack empty	4th rack empty	5th rack empty	6th rack empty	Visual discrepancy
37	__ (+__)	__ (+__)	__ (+__)	__ (+__)	__ (+__)	__ (+__)	__

Machine guns

The Challenger 3 TD only comes with a single 7.62 coaxial machinegun operated by the gunner/commander

7.62 mm L94A1
Mount	Capacity (Belt)	Fire rate	Vertical	Horizontal
	___ (___)	___	__°	__°

Usage in battles

Use of the Challenger 3 TD is effectively the same as all preceding Challengers with it still lacking in mobility and armour though finally having access to the DM53 round which will allow it to more effectively pick off targets at range. The addition of a LWR also allows you to more effectively engage in long-distance duels across map. The armour configuration, slow turret traverse and below average reload rate discourages close-range brawls.

Pros and cons

Pros:

Now carries the tried and tested Rha120 L/55 A1 gun - decent firepower

Better horsepower to weight ratio than most of its predecessors (except the E)

LWR allowing for detection of enemy LRF

Cons:

Still below average mobility

Unreliable armour only effective ar long range

Poor mobility compared to other MBTs such as Leo 2s and T90s

Only one single coaxial 7.62 machinegun

Below average reload

Poor turret traverse

History

The Challenger 3 TD was first announced in 2020 as a project which the British army had commissioned from Rheinmetall BAE Systems Land. Although the model in-game is one of the first prototypes to recieve media coverage during press events between 2020-23, it has yet to be confirmed as the definite design for mass production scheduled to begin 2027. It is instead one of a few concepts submitted to British army procurement for testing and consideration, affectionately named 'Megatron' by the media. The main design differences between the Challenger 2 and 3 are the move to the standard 120mm Rh120 L/55 A1 smoothbore main gun as well as a new power pack for the chassis to solve the Challenger 2's chronic mobility issues. The new gun would also mean leaving not only the long-standing use of HESH shells behind but also 2-part ammunition as Rha120 L/55 A1s can only accept NATO standard single-canister shells. These are far from the only proposed changes however, as with the USA and Germany now beginning to develop the next generation of MBTs with 130mm main guns, it is possible that the Challenger 3 may be further modified in line with these advancements in firepower.

Media

Excellent additions to the article would be video guides, screenshots from the game, and photos.

See also

Links to the articles on the War Thunder Wiki that you think will be useful for the reader, for example:

• reference to the series of the vehicles;
• links to approximate analogues of other nations and research trees.

External links

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• topic on the official game forum;
• other literature.