British MBT Challenger-1(mk.3) "Gulf War"

Plastic model kit of a British Challenger 1 Mk. 3 main battle tank (Gulf War era)

• Scale: 1:35
• Dimensions (LxW, assembled): 335.8 x 112.8 mm
• Over 670 parts
• Turret, upper hull, and lower hull manufactured using multi-slide molding technology
• Photo-etched parts and copper wire included
• Individual track links
• Unassembled, unpainted
• Paint and glue not included

The Challenger 1 Mk. 3 was the most advanced variant of the British Challenger 1 main battle tank and proved its worth during the 1991 Gulf War as part of the British Operation Granby. Compared to earlier versions, the Mk. 3 featured an improved fire-control system, an optimized interior layout, and additional composite and add-on armor. For desert operations, many vehicles were equipped with the ROMOR-A reactive add-on armor system on the front, improved air filtration systems, enhanced engine cooling, and external fuel drums to cope with the extreme climatic conditions.

Its main armament consisted of the 120mm L11A5 rifled gun, which fired separate-loading ammunition and could utilize both APFSDS and HESH rounds. This was supplemented by two 7.62mm machine guns. The approximately 62-ton tank was powered by a 1,200 hp Rolls-Royce Condor CV12 twelve-cylinder diesel engine, enabling a top road speed of around 56 km/h. Its hydropneumatic suspension ensured excellent off-road mobility and stability, while Chobham composite armor made the Challenger 1 one of the best-protected main battle tanks of its time.

During the ground offensive, Challenger 1 tanks formed the backbone of the British 1st Armoured Division. Within a few days, they destroyed a large number of Iraqi main battle tanks and armored vehicles without losing a single Challenger to enemy fire in tank-on-tank combat. The Challenger 1 gained international renown for the - to this day legendary - destruction of an Iraqi tank at a range of over 5,000 meters, marking the longest confirmed tank kill in military history. Its successful deployment in the Gulf War dispelled earlier doubts regarding the vehicle's reliability and confirmed the Challenger 1 as a capable and highly resilient main battle tank in combat conditions.