Academy Plastic Model Kit

British Army Challenger 1 Mk 3 (1/72) 13426

The Academy 1/72 scale Challenger 1 Mk 3 kit depicts Britain’s formidable Cold War-era main battle tank. Equipped with the 120mm L11A5 rifled gun (later upgraded to the L30A1), turret-mounted 7.62mm L8A2 and L37A2 machine guns, and protected by advanced Chobham composite armour, the Challenger 1 represented a major leap in British armoured design. This detailed model includes link and length track assemblies, precise turret and hull details, and a choice of three historically accurate markings from the Gulf War and later peacekeeping operations.

• 1/72 scale plastic model kit
• British Army Challenger 1 Mk 3 main battle tank
• Features L11A5 main gun and turret-mounted MGs
• Includes link & length tracks for realistic construction
• Choice of three marking options: Gulf War and post-war service

History

The Challenger 1 entered service with the British Army in 1983, incorporating Chobham armour—an advanced composite system that offered exceptional protection against both kinetic and chemical threats. The Mk 3 upgrade added passive armour plates and extra stowage bins for ammunition, further improving combat readiness. During Operation Granby in the Gulf War of 1991, the Challenger 1 earned a reputation for reliability and firepower, recording the longest confirmed tank kill in history at over 4,700 metres. Later, the tank also served in peacekeeping operations such as Bosnia in the mid-1990s. Though eventually replaced by the Challenger 2, the Mk 3 variant remains an important milestone in British armoured warfare and a proven combat vehicle of its era.

Note: This model kit requires assembly and painting. Glue, paints and tools are not included and must be purchased separately.