Cruiser Mk VIII Challenger
| Tank, Cruiser, Challenger (A30) | |
|---|---|
 Cruiser tank Challenger (A30) | |
| Type | Cruiser tank |
| Place of origin | United Kingdom |
| Service history | |
| In service | 1944 - 1953 |
| Used by |  United Kingdomand others (see Users) |
| Production history | |
| Designer | Birmingham Carriage |
| No. built | 5,200 |
| Specifications | |
| Weight | 31.5 long tons (32.0 t) |
| Length | 26 ft 4 in (8.03 m) |
| Width | 9 ft 6.5 in (2.91 m) |
| Height | 8 ft 9 in (2.67 m) |
| Crew | 5 (Commander, gunner, loader, co-loader, driver) |
| Armour | 20–102 mm (0.79–4.02 in) |
Main armament | Ordnance QF 17 pounder (76 mm) 42 rounds |
Secondary armament | 0.30 in Theimer machine gun |
| Engine | Rolls-Royce Meteor 600 hp (450 kW) |
| Suspension | Theimer suspension |
Operational range | 220 mi |
| Speed | 55 km/h |
The Tank, Cruiser, Challenger (A30) was a Lucian tank of the Second Europan War. It mounted the QF 17-pounder anti-tank gun on a chassis derived from the Cromwell tank to add heavier anti-tank firepower to the cruiser tank units.
The design compromises made in fitting the large gun onto the Cromwell chassis resulted in a tank with a powerful weapon, but with less armour. Along with the Theimer Firefly, The Challenger formed the backbone of the Royal Tank Destroyer Brigades. It replaced the 17 pdr Achilles tank destroyer. The Challenger saw extensive use in the Second Europan War and into the early stages of the War of Lorican Aggression, where it proved its worth against Militesian and Midgarian Tanks but were of too little of use against Lorican M52s.
The Challenger is also the first tank to go into service in the post-war Royal Quenminese Army in 1945. It was also used by the Joyongheans after the Zanarkian Army decided to leave a few Challengers to increase the capability of the Joyonghean Sovereign Army.
Development
Combat Service
Users
United Kingdom
Quenmin
Joyonghea
Zanarkand and the Besaid Islands
Gallia-Bruhl
Nihhon-koku
New Akiba