The Challenger 2 ATDU is the ultimate evolution of the Challenger 2 design. Its designation stands for Armoured Trials and Development Unit. The purpose of the Armoured Trials and Development Unit is – as its name suggests – to test various upgrades for British armored vehicles. It is based in Bovington (along with the famous Tank Museum) and is staffed by approximately 80 people.

One project the ATDU was involved in was testing upgrades to the Challenger 2 Main Battle Tank. To that end, they used a test-bed Challenger 2 vehicle commonly known as Megatron. The Tier 10 Challenger 2 ATDU model is based on the Megatron and features several upgrades to the original design that were proposed or trialed.

The upgrades to the Challenger 2 armor tested by ATDU are extensive and include the latest iteration of its thick Dorchester armor (named after its place of manufacture) as well as the Explosive Reactive Armor kit fitted to its sides. The vehicle retains its rear anti-HEAT cage armor from previous versions.

However, the most radical changes proposed and tested on the vehicle focused on its firepower. The loader position was replaced by an automatic loading system. Several 120mm automatic loading systems were designed, built and tested for the Challenger 2. Two made by Fairey are currently to be found at the Bovington Tank Museum. Both bustle-fed and carousel automatic loaders were considered.

120mm automatic loader mechanism by Fairey

In this configuration, the gunner (previously seated more to the right) would also become the loader and would be seated on the left side of the turret, which is why the loader's hatch was kept. This in turn was the root of another, perhaps less obvious, problem: what to do with the former Challenger loaders? Fortunately for them, the installation of an automatic loader to all Challenger 2s was never approved.

The 140mm gun program is another case in point. It was actually built and tested on a Chieftain and would fit the Challenger 2 turret, but it was never tested on the Challenger 2 by the ATDU. The entire concept of fitting a 140mm gun onto an existing MBT had multiple drawbacks and ultimately it was decided that the gun was expensive and unnecessary anyway – after all, the Challenger 2 performed admirably against older Soviet vehicles.

Perhaps the biggest issue with this concept was the size of the shells and the fact that the turret would become too cramped for the massive 140mm rounds.

A comparison between a 120mm and 140mm round

To make such a caliber viable would require the installation of an automatic loading mechanism for the Challenger 2, or at least a loading assistant. The 140mm automatic loading mechanism was indeed designed in great detail, but it was never built (beyond a mock-up). A prerequisite of its installation would be a major overhaul of the rear turret part, the redesign of which was also part of the 140mm autoloader concept.

The Challenger 2 ATDU is not an official British military name, but it represents the nature of Armored Warfare as a carrier of experimental technologies. While Armored Warfare does take place in the future, we decided to base the ultimate Challenger 2 evolution on this vehicle, since ATDU is the unit testing all advanced technology for the Challenger 2.

A Challenger 3 concept exists as well, but that project never passed beyond the early mock-up stage and is unlikely to be revived given British military budget constraints, making the experimental Challenger 2 based on ATDU testing more realistic.

ATDU's Megatron can be seen every year during the world-famous Tankfest event at Bovington, where the crew show it with pride.

In Armored Warfare

The Tier 10 Challenger 2 ATDU Main Battle Tank is the most well-armored vehicle of Armored Warfare. When it comes to sheer protection, few other MBTs even come close to this hulking behemoth. While the raw armor thickness is comparable to other tanks, the armor layout and the presence of an ERA kit, cage armor and two Armor retrofit slots makes this vehicle extremely hard to damage, let alone bring down completely.

With two engines to choose from, the mobility of the Challenger 2 is not bad either and firepower is on par with other tanks as well. Unlike the Armata with its two viable cannon options, the Challenger 2 ATDU requires the 140mm gun upgrade to be truly competitive, a small drawback to compensate for its excellent protection levels.

In skilled hands the Challenger 2 ATDU is all but unstoppable and usually requires a flanking maneuver to penetrate its weaker sides and rear. The key to its successful use is to rely on its extremely thick frontal armor while keeping the sides and rear safe from fast vehicles such as the SHINX or PL-01. However, even when outmaneuvered, the Challenger 2 ATDU can put up quite a fight and can rightfully be considered one of the most powerful vehicles on the battlefield.

Characteristics

Tier: 10

10 Class: Main Battle Tank

Main Battle Tank Hitpoints: 3520

3520 Crew: Commander, Gunner, Driver

Commander, Gunner, Driver Base Camouflage: 0.05

0.05 Viewrange: 360 meters

Armor (Hull)

Hull Armor Type: Depleted Uranium Composite Armor

Depleted Uranium Composite Armor Hull Armor Modifiers: 2.05 vs. AP, 3.0 vs. HEAT, 2.05 vs. HE

2.05 vs. AP, 3.0 vs. HEAT, 2.05 vs. HE Hull Armor Thickness vs. AP: 861/779/164

861/779/164 Hull Armor Thickness vs. HEAT: 1260/1140/240

Armor (Turret)

Turret Armor Type: Depleted Uranium Composite Armor

Depleted Uranium Composite Armor Turret Armor Modifiers: 2.05 vs. AP, 3.0 vs. HEAT, 2.05 vs. HE

2.05 vs. AP, 3.0 vs. HEAT, 2.05 vs. HE Turret Armor Thickness vs. AP: 953/933/359

953/933/359 Turret Armor Thickness vs. HEAT: 1395/1365/525

Firepower

Main Gun (Stock): 120mm L30A1

Loading: Automatic Loader

Automatic Loader Caliber: 120mm

120mm Reload Time: 8.57 seconds

8.57 seconds Aim Time: 2.9 seconds

2.9 seconds Accuracy: 0.10

0.10 Gun Depression: +20/-10 (frontal), -2 (rear)

+20/-10 (frontal), -2 (rear) Turret Traverse: 28.56 deg/s

Ammunition for 120mm L30A1 Armor Piercing (Kinetic) Name: L27A1 Category: AP (Stock)

AP (Stock) Penetration: 596

596 Damage: 619

619 Damage per Minute: 4333

4333 Velocity: 1200 m/s Name: Experimental Tungsten Round Category: AP (Upgrade 1)

AP (Upgrade 1) Penetration: 626

626 Damage: 650

650 Damage per Minute: 4550

4550 Velocity: 1200 m/s High Explosive Name: L31 Category: HESH (Stock, deals less damage but has a chance to wound crew and destroy internal modules at non-penetrating hits)

HESH (Stock, deals less damage but has a chance to wound crew and destroy internal modules at non-penetrating hits) Penetration: 42

42 Damage (Penetrating): 501-612

501-612 Damage (Non-Penetrating): 83-408

83-408 Area of Effect: 0.6 meters

0.6 meters Velocity: 500 m/s Name: Improved HESH Category: HESH (Upgrade 1, deals less damage but has a chance to wound crew and destroy internal modules at non-penetrating hits)

HESH (Upgrade 1, deals less damage but has a chance to wound crew and destroy internal modules at non-penetrating hits) Penetration: 45

45 Damage (Penetrating): 527-644

527-644 Damage (Non-Penetrating): 88-429

88-429 Area of Effect: 0.6 meters

0.6 meters Velocity: 500 m/s

Main Gun (Upgraded): 140mm Experimental Cannon

Loading: Automatic Loader

Automatic Loader Caliber: 140mm

140mm Reload Time: 9 seconds

9 seconds Aim Time: 2.9 seconds

2.9 seconds Accuracy: 0.11

0.11 Gun Depression: +20/-8 (frontal), -2 (rear)

+20/-8 (frontal), -2 (rear) Turret Traverse: 28.56 deg/s

Ammunition for 140mm Experimental Cannon Armor Piercing (Kinetic) Name: Prototype APFSDS Category: AP (Stock)

AP (Stock) Penetration: 730

730 Damage: 747

747 Damage per Minute: 4980

4980 Velocity: 1200 m/s High Explosive Name: Prototype HESH Category: HESH (Stock, deals less damage but has a chance to wound crew and destroy internal modules at non-penetrating hits)

HESH (Stock, deals less damage but has a chance to wound crew and destroy internal modules at non-penetrating hits) Penetration: 55

55 Damage (Penetrating): 756-924

756-924 Damage (Non-Penetrating): 126-616

126-616 Area of Effect: 0.6 meters

0.6 meters Velocity: 500 m/s

Mobility

Stock Engine: 8 Alpha Hybrid Engine CR2

Acceleration to 32 km/h: 7.3 seconds

7.3 seconds Maximum Speed: 59.4 km/h

Upgraded Engine: MTU 833 Diesel Engine

Acceleration to 32 km/h: 7.0 seconds

7.0 seconds Maximum Speed: 59.4 km/h

Mobility Upgrades:

Improved Suspension (improves handling on rough terrain by 10%)

Vehicle Integrated Control Unit (Improves the vehicle’s acceleration on soft or difficult terrain up to a maximum of 7.5%)

Technology

Stock Technology:

Challenger 2 ATDU Technology

Technology Upgrades:

Smoke Grenades (allows the vehicle to use one smoke grenade discharge)

Thermal Sight (increases effectiveness of spotting through foliage by 30%)

Improved FCS (reduces aim time by 20%)

Common Battlefield Applications Toolset (increases the view range of the vehicle by 40 meters)

Retrofits

Armor Retrofit Slot

Armor Retrofit Slot

Universal Retrofit Slot

Firepower Retrofit Slot

Proven Upgrades