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| Iraq bombing damages British tank | |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| A British Challenger 2 tank has been badly damaged by a roadside bomb in Iraq, leaving the driver seriously injured, the Ministry of Defence said. | |
| A spokesman said the tank had been on routine duties in a western district of Basra when it was hit on 6 April. | A spokesman said the tank had been on routine duties in a western district of Basra when it was hit on 6 April. |
| It is believed to be the first incident where a Challenger tank has been breached by such an attack. | It is believed to be the first incident where a Challenger tank has been breached by such an attack. |
| The driver of the Challenger has now been sent back to the UK for further medical treatment. | The driver of the Challenger has now been sent back to the UK for further medical treatment. |
| An MoD spokesman said the Challenger tank was "well armoured but in an operational theatre it's not the case that you can have absolute protection". | An MoD spokesman said the Challenger tank was "well armoured but in an operational theatre it's not the case that you can have absolute protection". |
| We have always said that a big enough bomb will defeat any armour and any vehicle MoD spokesman | We have always said that a big enough bomb will defeat any armour and any vehicle MoD spokesman |
| He said: "This was not in any way new technology - the device involved was the same type of shaped charge that we have seen used very regularly. | He said: "This was not in any way new technology - the device involved was the same type of shaped charge that we have seen used very regularly. |
| "No-one has ever said Challenger tanks are invincible. | "No-one has ever said Challenger tanks are invincible. |
| "We have always said that a big enough bomb will defeat any armour and any vehicle, and the Americans have lost many tanks in Baghdad." | "We have always said that a big enough bomb will defeat any armour and any vehicle, and the Americans have lost many tanks in Baghdad." |
| He added that the attack also left one of the other three tank crew with minor injuries. | He added that the attack also left one of the other three tank crew with minor injuries. |
| BBC defence correspondent Paul Adams said the Challenger was generally used on the ground only in situations where the Army felt the need to make "a big statement". | BBC defence correspondent Paul Adams said the Challenger was generally used on the ground only in situations where the Army felt the need to make "a big statement". |
| Main tank | Main tank |
| The Challenger 2 is the UK's main battle tank, and its key function is to destroy enemy tanks. | The Challenger 2 is the UK's main battle tank, and its key function is to destroy enemy tanks. |
| It has a good reputation for reliability, although it has experienced significant problems during military exercises in desert conditions. | It has a good reputation for reliability, although it has experienced significant problems during military exercises in desert conditions. |
| The UK has almost 400 Challenger 2s, some of which have been used in Bosnia and Kosovo and have a four-man crew. | The UK has almost 400 Challenger 2s, some of which have been used in Bosnia and Kosovo and have a four-man crew. |
| In addition to its Advanced Armour Technology, the Challenger 2 also has a nuclear, chemical- and biological attack-resistant compartment for the crew. | In addition to its Advanced Armour Technology, the Challenger 2 also has a nuclear, chemical- and biological attack-resistant compartment for the crew. |
| Professor Michael Clarke, from King's College's Defence Studies centre, said the Challenger 2 tank's armour was usually "inviolable". | Professor Michael Clarke, from King's College's Defence Studies centre, said the Challenger 2 tank's armour was usually "inviolable". |
| He said: "Most of the things on a battlefield are not much of a threat to a tank, usually. | He said: "Most of the things on a battlefield are not much of a threat to a tank, usually. |
| "This is worrying, because if there are many of these sorts of very heavy penetrative improvised explosive devices around in the area then no vehicle is safe." | "This is worrying, because if there are many of these sorts of very heavy penetrative improvised explosive devices around in the area then no vehicle is safe." |