Challenger loss in Iraq

[hedgehog]

Recently read a post on here saying that no Challenger tanks were lost in Iraq. Found this pic on a russian website. Since both tracks are missing I don't think it's a mechanical breakdown. Anybody have any extra info ie. when where, how?
Thanks

http://www.aeronautics.ru/img/img006/coalition_hardware_losses_iraq/web_gal/hardware/gallery/pages/challenger_001.htm

[96B]

Were there not friendly fire incident(s) involving the Challenger?

[ogukuo72]

Could it be that this picture was taken at a service depot, and the tank is being refitted with new tracks? It is pretty unusual for BOTH tracks to vanish without any other visible damage to the chasis.

[Royal]

One CHII was lost in a 'blue on blue' near Basra. This is not that vehicle (I've seen the photos). Whether this is a maint area and they are track bashing, or it has stripped/thrown both tracks, or even whether it's a photo from Ex Saif Sariah I don't know.

[SOG]

thats very interesting quality of video and a VERY interesting website.

[Kingpin]

I may be wrong but i thought that 2 challengers were damaged in this incident.

[marktigger]

nope only one and it was kept under wraps

[Ngati Tumatauenga]

Two tanks, part of the Queens Royal Lancers, were engaging pockets of Iraqi troops near a bridge over the Qanat Shat Al Basra canal to the west of the city.Nearby UK troops had been observing a group of Iraqi soldiers through Thermal sights, ( it was after midnight local time) and reported the target as an enemy bunker position. It was in actual fact a challenger 2 sited hull down on the sky-line, with its crew working on top of the turret. Two rounds of HESH at 4,000 yards blew the turret off the Challenger, killing two of the crew and seriously wounding the other two. Both tanks were fitted with visual identification systems in working order, but clear visual contact had not been possible with the destroyed tank because of its hull down position.

[Royal]

Ngati is quite correct, other than a slight error in the distances involved.

[Dave.mil]

The Picture is a bit strange because even doing a track change you would not remove both tracks at the same time unless there was another vehicle available to pull the track back on. The incident highlights one of the points I brought out in another post, Seeing great distance with thermal is not a problem identifying is. There are so many variables that affect a thermal picture that it is not something that is easy to train for. However if a decent friend or foe system or battlefield management system had been fitted these incidents would be reduced. But as I learned if you are sat in 60 tons of armour and it is not a threat and you your not sure don't fire.