Challenger Mk III Main Battle Tank
When the Mega-Damage revolution overtook the World in the Twenty-Thirties, many countries looked towards upgraded versions of already existing designs to replace their combat units instead of completely new designs. Budgets were generally tight and even with the increase in lethality of weapon systems, the World was seen to be generally at peace. Even though Russia had declared itself Communist, it was not seen as a large threat at the time. As a result, radical designs were not promoted. The United States developed an upgraded version of their M1 Abrams and the German Military deployed an upgraded version of the venerable Leopard Main Battle Tank.
The British Military had successfully deployed the Challenger Mk I and Mk II tanks in various hot spots around the world although its combat service was far less than the American Abrams tank. Its is natural that the British would look to the Challenger design for a new battle tank and it was chosen as the starting point for the new tank program. Old Challenger Mk II tanks were upgraded with new armor as a stopgap until the new tanks could enter service. The first Challenger Mk III rolled off the production line in the mid Twenty-Thirties but enjoyed only a relatively brief service as a front line tank. The tank was upgraded in the mid Twenty-Forties to the point where it should have been listed as the Challenger Mk IV but still remained the Challenger Mk III in designation. These upgrades included a new main gun and a new power plant. Even though the tank went through multiple upgrades, it was considered underpowered by many in the beginning of the Twenty-Fifties. It was later replaced by the Conqueror Heavy Tank, a huge tank which many crews though was too heavy for effective service. Some preferred the Challenger in is latest versions to the Conqueror. In addition to British service, the Challenger Mk III was sold to a variety of other nations and remained in production for export even after the introduction of the Conqueror. It remained in front line service in many of those nations along with remaining in British second line units.
As a result of the British tank's worldwide dispersion, a good number of these tanks survived to the coming of the Rifts and many have found their way into the hands of mercenaries around the globe. The Triax Company in the New German Republic produces repair parts for the Challenger Mk III and many components, most notably the cannon, are shared by the Leopard III and Panther tanks. The Challenger is well armed compared to many post Rifts designs and the tank has done well in battles it has fought in. Like many Pre-Rifts designs, the combat service after the coming of the Rifts has been far more extensive that it was prior to the destructive event. The British tank's only real weakness is that it is a bit slower than American and German designs which were developed around the same time as the Challenger Mk III.
Initial models of the Challenger Mk III were powered by a fuel cell system similar to those mounted on the early Leopard III models although top speed was less in the British design. Top speed was 70 kph on roads and about 55 kph when traveling off-road. Still, this speed is greatly improved over the Challenger Mk II Main Battle Tank. Range is greatly improved with the fuel cell system having a range of around 800 kilometers but is still less than German and American tanks using fuel cell systems. The fuel cells operate by pulling the electrons off of an H2 molecule, splitting it into 2H+ molecules and 2 electrons. The electrons pass through the "load" (engines, weapons, avionics, etc.) creating current and powering the systems. Meanwhile, the 2H+ molecules pass from the anode to the cathode through the electrolyte. At the other "end", the electrons then recombine with the 2H+ molecules and Oxygen (from the air) and are release as water from the rear of the vehicle. The upgraded version, introduced in the middle of the Twenty-Forties, replaced the fuel cell system with a high efficiency fusion reactor. While top speeds were not improved, the fusion reactor gave the tank virtually unlimited range. Armor on the Challenger was not up to the standards of later designs but was still much improved compared to earlier tanks. It is lighter armored than the German Leopard III tank but is heavier armored than the American M1A5 Abrams tank. As a result of the high tech alloys and composites used in the construction, the new tanks were virtually immune to corrosion, resist general wear, and have an extremely long life expectancy. Like most new tanks, the Challenger Mk III mounted a variety of advanced electronics and was also NBC and EMP protected. Still, it does not have the full systems of later tanks and robot vehicles.
When the tank first rolled from the factory, it was armed with a 140 mm standard cannon. Instead of spending a huge amount on developing a new British 140 mm cannon, the cannon mounted the same cannon which was developed for the German Leopard III tank and the same cannon was also mounted on the American M1A5 Abrams tank. The cannon had been designed at the end of the Twentieth Century and did not require huge development costs. Payload was cut down compared to the 120 mm rounds carried on the Challenger II design but the British tank still carried more rounds than the American and German tanks armed with the 140 mm cannon. Instead of having a separate loader, an auto-loader system was developed and the tank crew was reduced from four to three. Similar modifications were made to the tank designs of the Germans and Americans. The upgraded version of the Challenger III replaced the 140 mm standard cannon with a 140 mm electro-thermal cannon along with the fusion reactor require to provide power to fire the main cannon. The 140 mm electro-thermal cannon has a similar range and velocity to the standard cannon but payload was increased. This cannon was also mounted on the German Panther tank but the Americans decided to develop a new 150 mm electro-thermal cannon with a much higher velocity for their new Jackson Main Battle Tank. Some British tank crews wanted a slightly larger version of the Challenger III armed with the new American cannon and carrying improved armor over the Conqueror. Unlike the American M1A5 Abrams and German Leopard III tanks, the British tank mounted mini-missile launchers on the turret. This gave the tank a considerable defensive punch although payload was limited. For secondary weapons, the tank initially mounted two 7.62 caliber machine-guns, one which was mounted Coaxial with the main gun and the other fired by the commander. Like other medium machine guns, the weapon was found to be completely inadequate even though new ammo had been developed for the weapons. Due to some bad experiences with liquid propellant weapons, it was decided that conventional weapons would be retained but the top medium machine-gun was replaced by a 12.7 mm heavy machine-gun. The coaxial medium machine-gun could not be replaced without a major redesign and was retained until replaced by a pulse laser. In the final years of production, both cannons were replaced by pulse laser weapons on fusion powered tanks even though they have shorter range than the heavy machine-gun. As well, fusion powered versions of the Challenger already in service had their machine-guns replaced by pulse lasers. The mount was small enough to take the place of the coaxial machine-gun without redesigning the mount. Fuel cell system simply did not produce enough power to support the energy weapons and most retained the heavy machine-guns. Many post Rifts crews have replaced the machine-guns with rail guns and/or energy weapons and simply use energy clips to power the weapons. For self defense, two banks of smoke dispensers are mounted on the tank. In addition to smoke grenades, a variety of other specialized aerosols including tear gas grenades, prismatic aerosol grenades, radar decoying grenades, and thermal decoy grenades.
Model Type: Vickers Defense Systems "Challenger III" Main Battle
Tank
Vehicle Type: Main Battle Tank
Crew: Three (Driver, Gunner, and Commander).
M.D.C. by Location:
| [1] Tractor Treads (2): | 100 each | |
| [2] Turret: | 300 | |
| Conventional 140 mm smooth-bore gun (Fuel Cell Version): | 100 | |
| Electro-Thermal 140 mm smooth-bore gun (Fusion Version): | 120 | |
| [3] Coaxial 7.62 Medium Machine Gun (1): | 10 | |
| [3] Commander 7.62 Medium Machine Gun (1, Early Versions): | 10 | |
| [3] Commander 12.7 mm Heavy Machine Gun (1, Replaces earlier weapon): | 20 | |
| [3] Coaxial LMG-60 Automatic Pulse Laser (1, Later Fusion Versions): | 50 | |
| [3] Commander LMG-60 Automatic Pulse Laser (1, Later Fusion Versions): | 50 | |
| Mini Missile Launchers (4, turret): | 30 each | |
| Smoke Dispenser (2): | 20 each | |
| [2] Reinforced Crew Compartment: | 100 | |
| [4] Main Body: | 520 |
Notes:
[1] Depleting the M.D.C. of a tread will immobilize the tank until
it is replaced. Replacing a tread will take 1D6x10 minutes by a trained
crew (2 replacements are carried on board) or three times as long by the
inexperienced. Changing the tread is only advisable when the vehicle is
not under attack.
[2] The turret IS manned by the crew, notably the commander and the
gunner. Destroying it knocks out the weapons, although a ammunition fire/explosion
will blow out of the top of the turret, since it is designed with blow-out
panels. Since the commander and the gunner are separated from both ammo
and cannon they are not endangered until the reinforced crew compartment
is also destroyed. without otherwise damaging the vehicle. This makes the
tank very survivable, and it can retreat and have a new weapon's turret
fitted relatively quickly.
[3] These are small and difficult targets to strike, requiring the
attacker to make a "called shot," but even then the attacker is -4 to strike.
[4] If all the M.D.C. of the main body is depleted, the vehicle is
completely shut down and is unsalvageable.
Speed:
Ground: 43.5 mph (70 kph) maximum road speed; 34.2 mph (55 kph)
off-road. The vehicle is designed to traverse virtually all terrain and
can climb at up to a 60% grade although at a much slower speed (About 10%
of maximum road speed). It can also climb barriers and ford trenches. The
vehicle can also handle side slopes of up to 30%.
Underwater: Can be equipped with snorkel to run underwater down
to 15 feet (4.6 meters)
Maximum Range: Fuel Cell Models: 497.2 miles (800 km)
Nuclear Models: Effectively Unlimited (5 years.)
Statistical Data:
Height: 8.2 feet (2.5 meters) to top of turret.
Width: 11.8 feet (3.6 meters)
Length: Main Body: 27.6 feet (8.4 meters) and with Gun
Forward: 42 feet (12.8 meters).
Weight: 75.5 tons (68.5 metric tons) fully loaded.
Power Source: Fuel Cell System or Nuclear fusion turbine (Must
be refueled every five years, otherwise effectively unlimited)
Cargo Capacity: Minimal, enough for equipment with crew
Black Market Cost: Fuel Cell Models: 2,500,000 Credits
to built. Nuclear: 8,250,000 Credits to build. Add 250,000 if mounting
pulse lasers. Each model usually costs double to triple that to buy one
today. If fitted, any extra weapons systems will add to the cost of the
tank; Challenger IIIs are sometimes found very heavily modified, though
the main cannon is seldom replaced.
Weapon Systems:
Sensory Equipment
[ Rifts® is a registered trademark owned by Kevin Siembieda and Palladium Books Inc.]
By Kitsune (E-Mail Kitsune).
Copyright © 2003, Kitsune. All rights reserved.
