Black Night

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RANK 6 BRITAIN
Rooikat 105 PACK
uk_challenger_2_bn.png
GarageImage Black Night.jpg
Black Night
AB RB SB
11.7 11.7 11.7
Class:
Research:400 000 Specs-Card-Exp.png
Purchase:1 080 000 Specs-Card-Lion.png
Show in game

Description

The Challenger 2, Black Night is a rank VIII British medium tank with a battle rating of 11.7 (AB/RB/SB). It was introduced in Update "Wind of Change".

General info

Survivability and armour

Composite armour
Balanced protection against all types of ammunition
Smoke grenades
Creation of a smoke screen in front of the vehicle
ESS
Creation of a smoke screen in the direction of movement of the vehicle
LWS
Notifies about the vehicle's exposure to laser emissions
Armourfront / side / back
Hull130 / 38 / 50
Turret270 / 90 / 58
Crew4 people
Visibility88 %

Armour type:

  • Rolled homogeneous armour
  • Cast homogeneous armour (turret inner wall, hatches)
Armour Front (Slope angle) Sides Rear Roof
Hull 38 mm (79-82°) Upper glacis - Top
50 mm (60°) Upper glacis - Bottom
70 mm (28°) Lower glacis
60 mm Driver hatch
25+38 mm Top - Front
25+50 mm Top - Rear
38 mm (14°) + 4 mm Bottom
50 mm (30°) 38 mm (10°) Front glacis
20 mm Fighting compartment
25 mm (16-20°) Sides
10 mm Engine vents
Turret 50+50+38 mm (50°)
30 mm (0-52°) Gun mantlet
10+38 mm (7°) Front
20+38 mm (7°) Rear
20 mm (17°) + 38 mm (7°) 38 mm (8-15°) Front
38+10 mm Centre
25 mm (7°) Rear
Cupola 60 mm 60 mm 60 mm 44 mm

Notes:

  • Suspension wheels, tracks, and torsion bars are 20 mm thick.
  • Belly armour is 16 mm thick.
  • A 5 mm internal plate separates the crew from the engine.
  • Ammunition is surrounded by 5 mm casings
  • A 25 mm plate separates the driver from the crew compartment.
  • Additional composite armour is as follows:
Composite armour Front (Slope angle) Sides
Hull Upper
Kinetic: 420-1,000 mm
Chemical: 700-950 mm
Lower
Kinetic: 100-400 mm
Chemical: 350-570 mm
Turret Cheeks
Kinetic: 440-720 mm
Chemical: 780-1,000 mm
Internal Composite
Kinetic: 190-740 mm
Chemical: 300-1,000 mm

Mobility

Speedforward / back
AB66 / 42 km/h
RB and SB60 / 38 km/h
Number of gears8 forward
4 back
Weight62.5 t
Engine power
AB2 322 hp
RB and SB1 217 hp
Power-to-weight ratio
AB37.2 hp/t
RB and SB19.5 hp/t
Game Mode Max Speed (km/h) Weight (tons) Engine power (horsepower) Power-to-weight ratio (hp/ton)
Forward Reverse Stock Upgraded Stock Upgraded
Arcade 66 42 62.5 1,886 2,322 30.18 37.15
Realistic 60 38 1,076 1,217 17.22 19.47

Modifications and economy

Repair costBasic → Reference
AB4 401 → 6 949 Sl icon.png
RB4 274 → 6 748 Sl icon.png
SB5 413 → 8 547 Sl icon.png
Total cost of modifications295 200 Rp icon.png
474 000 Sl icon.png
Talisman cost3 100 Ge icon.png
Crew training310 000 Sl icon.png
Experts1 080 000 Sl icon.png
Aces2 200 Ge icon.png
Research Aces1 280 000 Rp icon.png
Reward for battleAB / RB / SB
150 / 190 / 210 % Sl icon.png
250 / 250 / 250 % Rp icon.png
Modifications
Mobility Protection Firepower
Mods new tank traks.png
Tracks
Research:
12 000 Rp icon.png
Cost:
18 000 Sl icon.png
300 Ge icon.png
Mods new tank suspension.png
Suspension
Research:
12 000 Rp icon.png
Cost:
18 000 Sl icon.png
300 Ge icon.png
Mods new tank break.png
Brake System
Research:
12 000 Rp icon.png
Cost:
18 000 Sl icon.png
300 Ge icon.png
Mods new tank filter.png
Filters
Research:
26 000 Rp icon.png
Cost:
40 000 Sl icon.png
640 Ge icon.png
Mods new tank transmission.png
Transmission
Research:
17 000 Rp icon.png
Cost:
26 000 Sl icon.png
420 Ge icon.png
Mods new tank engine.png
Engine
Research:
17 000 Rp icon.png
Cost:
26 000 Sl icon.png
420 Ge icon.png
Mods tank tool kit.png
Improved Parts
Research:
3 600 Rp icon.png
Cost:
18 000 Sl icon.png
300 Ge icon.png
Mods extinguisher.png
Improved FPE
Research:
3 600 Rp icon.png
Cost:
18 000 Sl icon.png
300 Ge icon.png
Mods tank reinforcement uk.png
Crew Replenishment
Research:
26 000 Rp icon.png
Cost:
40 000 Sl icon.png
640 Ge icon.png
Mods engine smoke screen system.png
ESS
Research:
17 000 Rp icon.png
Cost:
26 000 Sl icon.png
420 Ge icon.png
Mods new tank horizontal aiming.png
Horizontal Drive
Research:
12 000 Rp icon.png
Cost:
18 000 Sl icon.png
300 Ge icon.png
Mods tank ammo.png
120mm_britain_Smoke_ammo_pack
Research:
12 000 Rp icon.png
Cost:
18 000 Sl icon.png
300 Ge icon.png
Mods tank ammo.png
120mm_britain_L26_APDSFS_ammo_pack
Research:
12 000 Rp icon.png
Cost:
18 000 Sl icon.png
300 Ge icon.png
Mods tank cannon.png
Adjustment of Fire
Research:
12 000 Rp icon.png
Cost:
18 000 Sl icon.png
300 Ge icon.png
Mods smoke screen.png
Smoke grenade
Research:
12 000 Rp icon.png
Cost:
18 000 Sl icon.png
300 Ge icon.png
Mods thermal sight.png
NVD
Research:
12 000 Rp icon.png
Cost:
18 000 Sl icon.png
300 Ge icon.png
Mods new tank vertical aiming.png
Elevation Mechanism
Research:
26 000 Rp icon.png
Cost:
40 000 Sl icon.png
640 Ge icon.png
Mods counterMeasures.png
LWS/LR
Research:
17 000 Rp icon.png
Cost:
26 000 Sl icon.png
420 Ge icon.png
Mods tank ammo.png
120mm_britain_L27_APDSFS_ammo_pack
Research:
17 000 Rp icon.png
Cost:
26 000 Sl icon.png
420 Ge icon.png
Mods art support.png
Artillery Support
Research:
17 000 Rp icon.png
Cost:
26 000 Sl icon.png
420 Ge icon.png

Armaments

Laser rangefinder
Reduces the error and increases the maximum measurable distance of the rangefinder
Night vision device
Improves visibility by enhancing natural light or active illumination.
Thermal imager
Allows to see thermal radiation in the infrared range day and night

Main armament

Two-plane stabilizer
Reduces the swing of the gun in two planes while moving
Ammunition50 rounds
First-order4 rounds
Reloadbasic crew → aces
6.5 → 5.0 s
Vertical guidance-10° / 20°
Main article: L30A1 (120 mm)
120 mm L30A1 Turret rotation speed (°/s) Reloading rate (seconds)
Mode Capacity Vertical Horizontal Stabilizer Stock Upgraded Full Expert Aced Stock Full Expert Aced
Arcade 50 -10°/+20° ±180° Two-plane 29.5 40.9 49.6 54.9 58.4 6.50 5.75 5.30 5.00
Realistic 18.4 21.7 26.4 29.1 31.0

Ammunition

Penetration statistics
Ammunition Type of
warhead
Penetration @ 0° Angle of Attack (mm)
10 m 100 m 500 m 1,000 m 1,500 m 2,000 m
Shot L23A1 APFSDS 396 394 387 376 367 357
Shell L31A7 HESH 152 152 152 152 152 152
L26 APFSDS 493 491 487 481 474 468
L27A1 APFSDS 564 562 557 551 545 538
Shell details
Ammunition Type of
warhead
Velocity
(m/s)
Projectile
Mass (kg)
Fuse delay
(m)
Fuse sensitivity
(mm)
Explosive Mass
(TNT equivalent) (g)
Ricochet
0% 50% 100%
Shot L23A1 APFSDS 1,535 3.89 N/A N/A N/A 78° 80° 81°
Shell L31A7 HESH 670 17.1 0.1 4 6,560 73° 77° 80°
L26 APFSDS 1,650 4.1 N/A N/A N/A 78° 80° 81°
L27A1 APFSDS 1,650 4.1 N/A N/A N/A 78° 80° 81°
Smoke shell characteristics
Ammunition Velocity
(m/s)
Projectile
Mass (kg)
Screen radius
(m)
Screen deploy time
(s)
Screen hold time
(s)
Explosive Mass
(TNT equivalent) (g)
L34 670 17.1 20 5 25 50

Ammo racks

Full
ammo
1st
rack empty
2nd
rack empty
3rd
rack empty
4th
rack empty
5th
rack empty
6th
rack empty
Visual
discrepancy
50 __ (+__) __ (+__) __ (+__) __ (+__) __ (+__) __ (+__) __

Machine guns

Ammunition4 000 rounds
Belt capacity2 000 rounds
Reloadbasic crew → aces
10.4 → 8.0 s
Fire rate600 shots/min
Ammunition1 700 rounds
Belt capacity100 rounds
Reloadbasic crew → aces
10.4 → 8.0 s
Fire rate650 shots/min
7.62 mm L37A2
Mount Capacity (Belt) Fire rate Vertical Horizontal
Pintle 1,700 (100) 650 -10°/+25° -90°/+50°
7.62 mm L94A1
Mount Capacity (Belt) Fire rate Vertical Horizontal
Coaxial 4,000 (2,000) 600 N/A N/A

Usage in battles

Describe the tactics of playing in the vehicle, the features of using vehicles in the team and advice on tactics. Refrain from creating a "guide" - do not impose a single point of view but instead give the reader food for thought. Describe the most dangerous enemies and give recommendations on fighting them. If necessary, note the specifics of the game in different modes (AB, RB, SB).

Pros and cons

Summarise and briefly evaluate the vehicle in terms of its characteristics and combat effectiveness. Mark its pros and cons in a bulleted list. Try not to use more than 6 points for each of the characteristics. Avoid using categorical definitions such as "bad", "good" and the like - use substitutions with softer forms such as "inadequate" and "effective".

Pros:

  • Has a highly effective APS (Active Protection System) which can defend against the majority of weapons
  • It has 20 smoke grenades with 4 uses
  • The Black Night has modern thermal systems equipped in the gunner view and commander view with a high resolution
  • It comes equipped with a laser warning system which can give an idea of where an enemy might be attacking from

Cons:

  • It only has two 7.62 mm machine guns which are only capable of spotting enemies
  • The engine is rather weak leading to poor acceleration and mobility
  • Large weak spots in armour and poor placement of ammo and charges in the tank limit the survivability

History

The Black Night demonstrator was BAE System's bid for the Challenger 2 Life Extension Programme contract, prior to the forming of the Rheinmetall BAE Systems Land (RBSL) joint venture company in July 2019.

The Black Night was fully unveiled in October 2018 and showed a focus on improving the technology of the vehicle, with a Safran PASEO panoramic Commander Primary Sight, a generation 3 Leonardo thermal imaging system (still mounted in the housing above the main gun), a laser warning system, the Iron Fist Hardkill Active Protection System, regenerative braking in the turret ring, and a new fire control system. The armour and firepower were retained from the base Challenger 2, as was the powerpack.

Rheinmetall's proposal was revealed in January 2019, featuring the Rh 120 mm L/55 gun (L55A1 in British use) and a completely new turret. When RBSL was formed, an internal decision was made in favour of Rheinmetall's design, which was seen again at DSEI 2019, putting the Black Night proposal to rest. The MoD confirmed the signing of a £800M (~$1.1B at the time) contract with RBSL for Challenger 3 using Rheinmetall's design on 7th May 2021.

Media

Excellent additions to the article would be video guides, screenshots from the game, and photos.

See also

External links

Paste links to sources and external resources, such as:

  • topic on the official game forum;
  • other literature.


Britain medium tanks
Valentine  Valentine I · Valentine IX · Valentine XI
Cromwell  Cromwell I · Cromwell V · Cromwell V (RP-3)
Cromwell derivatives  Challenger · Avenger · Comet I · Comet I "Iron Duke IV" · Charioteer Mk VII
Centurion  Centurion Mk 1 · Centurion Mk.2 · Centurion Mk 3 · Centurion Mk.5 AVRE · Centurion Mk 10 · Centurion Action X · FV4202
Vickers MBT  Vickers Mk.1 · Vickers Mk.3 · Vickers Mk.7
Chieftain  Chieftain Mk 3 · Chieftain Mk 5 · Chieftain Mk 10
Challenger 1  Challenger Mk.2 · Challenger Mk.3 · Challenger DS
Challenger 2  Challenger 2 · Challenger 2 (2F) · Challenger 2 TES · Challenger 2 OES · Challenger 2E · Challenger 2 Black Night
Challenger 3  Challenger 3 TD
Australia  A.C.I · A.C.IV · Centurion Mk.5/1
South Africa  Olifant Mk.1A · Olifant Mk.2 · TTD
India  Vijayanta · Bhishma TWMP
Israel  ▄Sho't Kal Dalet
Jordan  Khalid
Sweden  ▄Strv 81 (RB 52)
USA  Grant I · Sherman II · Sherman Firefly · Sherman IC "Trzyniec"