Tanks rise to the challenge at 'finest' firing range (From Western Telegraph)

Tanks rise to the challenge at 'finest' firing range

The mighty Challenger II tank, unrivalled in combat during the Gulf War, is being put through its paces on Castlemartin Range Soldiers from the Queen's Royal Lancers are on a two-week training exercise at what is regarded as Europe's finest firing range for armoured fighting vehicles.

Sixteen Challenger II tanks, each weighing 70 tonnes and with an individual price tag of £15 million, are involved in the exercise.

Lieutenant Colonel Charles Fattorini, commanding officer of the Queen's Royal Lancers, said the tanks had proved themselves as the premier armoured fighting vehicle during the conflict in Iraq. "They performed extremely well under all types of conditions,'' he said.

Designed to repel enemy anti-tank weapons, the tanks enabled soldiers to access towns in Iraq to ensure accurate direct firing.

Colonel Johnny Rogers, commandant at Castlemartin Range, said the facilities at Castlemartin were ideal for this particular training exercise, designed to prepare the regiment as the Joint Rapid Reaction Force's Lead Armoured Task Force.

"This is the only range in the country which can offer facilities for the training of units on this scale,'' he said.

The Challenger IIs were shipped from Germany and were due to disembark at the Port of Pembroke. But when the captain approached the Port it became clear that the ship was too large to dock and had to be diverted to Swansea.

This meant the tanks had to be transported down the M4, creating a minor headache for the police.

The training exercise coincides with the start of a four-week trial at Castlemartin Range by the Air Warfare Centre, designed to enhance the protection of systems on air frames.