Chobham armour

Chobham armour. It is a type of composite vehicle armour developed in the 1960s at the Military Vehicles and Engineering Establishment in Chobham Common, Surrey. The revolutionary design represented a major leap in protective technology, moving beyond traditional steel plate to a complex, multi-layered arrangement of materials. Its introduction fundamentally altered the design and survivability of modern main battle tanks, influencing armoured vehicle development worldwide for decades.

History and development

The development program was initiated by the British Army in response to the increasing threat posed by newer generations of anti-tank guided missiles and high-explosive anti-tank warheads emerging during the Cold War. Key research was conducted at the Military Vehicles and Engineering Establishment, with significant contributions from scientists at the University of Cambridge and other research institutions. The project was highly classified, known under the codename **Burlington**, and its existence was not publicly acknowledged until the unveiling of the Challenger 1 and M1 Abrams tanks. The breakthrough lay in creating a non-metallic, ceramic-based composite that could disrupt the focused jet of a shaped charge far more effectively than steel alone.

Design and composition

The protective system is a complex composite, typically consisting of a layered matrix of ceramic tiles, often alumina or boron carbide, encased within a framework of metal matrix composite and backed by layers of aluminium alloy or steel. This assembly is then housed within a sealed container made from rolled homogeneous armour. The ceramic material is extremely hard, designed to shatter an incoming kinetic energy penetrator and diffuse the energy of a chemical energy jet, while the surrounding metal layers contain the spall and debris. The exact composition, arrangement, and spacing of these layers remain a closely guarded secret by nations like the United Kingdom and the United States.

Operational use and deployment

The technology first entered operational service with the British Chieftain (tank) in its later marks, but its most famous early applications were in the Challenger 1 and the American M1 Abrams. It was a defining feature of these NATO tanks during the late Cold War period. The armour saw its first major combat test during the Gulf War, where it proved highly effective against Iraqi T-72 tanks and various RPG-7 attacks. Subsequently, it has been integrated into other platforms including the Challenger 2, the Warrior (armoured vehicle) infantry fighting vehicle, and has been licensed or adapted for use on vehicles such as the German Leopard 2 and South Korean K1 88-Tank.

Effectiveness and performance

Its primary effectiveness is against shaped charge warheads, where it can reduce penetration by over 70% compared to conventional steel armour of the same weight. Testing, including live-fire trials at ranges like Shoeburyness, demonstrated exceptional resilience against weapons like the RPG-29 and older 9M14 Malyutka missiles. During the Gulf War and the Iraq War, crews reported surviving direct hits from Iraqi Army tank fire and rocket-propelled grenades with minimal damage. However, it is less effective against modern kinetic energy penetrators like depleted uranium long-rod penetrators, which led to the development of more advanced variants and supplemental systems like explosive reactive armour.

Variants and successors

The original concept has evolved into several classified generations. The British **Dorchester** armour, used on the Challenger 2, is a significantly advanced second-generation variant. The American adaptation, known as the **Special Armor** package on the M1 Abrams, incorporated layers of depleted uranium mesh for enhanced protection. Contemporary successors include advanced composite arrays like the British Chobham 2 and the German Advanced Modular Armor Protection system used on the Leopard 2A7. Research continues into new materials such as nanotechnology-enhanced composites and electromagnetic armour, seeking to counter ever-more powerful threats like top-attack missiles.

Category:Armour Category:Military vehicles Category:British inventions