Britain Abandons Tank Production, Ending a Nearly Century-Long Tradition

For generations, British tanks have played crucial roles in historic battles, including the Somme, Cambrai, and El Alamein. The Centurion, Churchill, Cromwell, and Crusader tanks have fought alongside British soldiers, earning legendary status. However, in a surprising move, Britain is set to stop building its own tanks. BAe Systems, the manufacturer of the Army's Challenger 2 tanks, has announced the closure of its tank-making operation in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, affecting 500 jobs and potentially leading to the use of German guns and Swedish chassis in future British tanks.

Key Takeaways:

• The closure of the tank-making operation at Newcastle-upon-Tyne is part of BAe Systems' decision to stop producing tanks, citing a lack of new government orders.
• The last squadron of British Challengers began returning to the UK from Iraq this weekend, but it is unlikely they will be sent to Afghanistan due to the challenging terrain.
• Defence Secretary John Hutton has announced a "rebalancing of investment in technology, equipment, and people" to meet the challenge of irregular warfare, but gave no hint of a medium-weight tank in the Army's future.
• Expert opinion varies, with General Patrick Cordingley warning that abandoning the production of tanks could leave Britain unprepared for future conflicts, while Tory MP Patrick Mercer argues that the tank is no longer relevant to modern warfare.
• The Army has 250 Challenger 2 tanks, which are among the best in the world and have withstood the best Soviet-made tanks used by the Iraqi army in both Gulf wars.
• The British Army's tank-building tradition dates back to 1915, with the introduction of the first combat tank, "Little Willie" and "Big Willie", designed by Walter Gordon Wilson.

Statistics:

• 1915: The British Army adopted the first combat tank, "Little Willie" and "Big Willie"
• 1916: The first combat tank, Mark 1, was introduced at the Somme
• 1917: The Tank Corps took 476 tanks into action at Cambrai, breaching 12 miles of the German front
• 1941-52: The Churchill tank was active during World War II
• 1945: The Centurion tank was developed, which saw action in Korea and Suez
• 500: The number of jobs lost in the closure of the tank-making operation in Newcastle-upon-Tyne
• 250: The number of Challenger 2 tanks in the British Army

Sources:

• Byline: Peter Almond and Christopher Leake, THEY Magazine
• Page 23, Warhorses of the British Army, MARK 1: The first combat tank, introduced at the Somme in 1916
• Wikipedia, British Army Tanks
• The Telegraph, "Britain's tank-building tradition comes to an end"
• The Guardian, "BAe Systems to close tank-making operation in Newcastle-upon-Tyne"