Challenger vs. Panther: Britain's Forgotten Tank-Destroyer in Action - Teaching Tactics

The A30 Challenger was a British tank-destroyer from the Second World War that combined the mobile chassis of the Cromwell cruiser tank with the potent 17-pounder anti-tank gun to create a stopgap counter to heavy German armor like the Panther and Tiger tanks. This episode of Teaching Tactics covers the rare A30 Challenger in detail featuring unique footage of the last surviving example in the Overloon War Museum.
Part one focuses on the theory behind the tank, including a chapter on doctrine that covers the development of British cruiser tanks and how these evolved through combat experience against increasingly sophisticated German tanks and the influx of new American tanks like the versatile M4 Sherman, a chapter on design that looks at the unique features of the Challenger and how these gave it a decisive edge over the Cromwell when it came to facing the German Panther tank, a chapter on organization that looks at the intended role of the Challenger as a specialist tank-hunter alongside the more numerous Cromwells in the Armoured Reconnaissance Regiment of the late-war British Armoured Division, and a chapter on tactics that reconstructs the actual combat use of the Challenger and Sherman Firefly based on eyewitness accounts and a real-world example.
The second part delves into the practical application of the Challenger and Cromwell by thoroughly reconstructing the tank battle at the village of Son in the Netherlands during Operation Market Garden, where the 15/19 The King’s Royal Hussars clashed with Panther tanks of the German 107th Panzer Brigade. After providing some background information on Market Garden, the Hussars, German armored brigades, the battlefield and the first skirmishes, the next chapter will cover the battle step-by-step using primary sources and on-site footage of the exact locations today. Once the Challengers have played their decisive role by knocking-out two German Panthers, the final chapter follows the daring counterattack of Weatherby Force that put the Cromwell tank in its element by driving deep into the German flank at the village of Nederwetten.

Teaching Tactics by DigitalBattlefieldTours is a documentary series covering the development and application of 20th century military tactics. Teaching Tactics combines in-depth analysis with a highly visualized presentation to provide an approachable yet comprehensive guide to military tactics. All DigitalBattlefieldTours productions are created by Ivo van der Spoel.

BONUS CONTENT

COPYRIGHTED MATERIALS
DBT has performed its due diligence in tracing the rightful claimants of the copyrighted materials used in this production. Materials whose claimants could not be contacted have been used in accordance with the ‘fair use’ principle. Rightful claimants of these materials are invited to contact DBT.

Acknowledgements:
- Listed in the video introduction under the header ‘visual materials’.

SOURCES
- Listed in the Part I&II introductions under the headers ‘sources’.

ABRIDGED CHAPTER TIMESTAMPS
00:00 Introduction
04:40 Doctrine
49:20 Design
01:35:30 Organisation
01:46:40 Tactics
02:01:36 Part I Takeaways
02:08:40 Background to the Battle
02:44:00 Tank Battle at Son
03:24:22 Weatherby Force
03:46:16 Conclusion

[DigitalBattlefieldTours]

Detailed Chapter Timestamps:

Part I. Theory
Doctrine
04:40 What is a Tank?
07:44 Cruiser Tank Origins
19:17 Tank Firepower Dilemma
24:25 Cromwell Adoption and Impressions
33:05 German Doctrine leading to the Panther
40:14 Allied Up-Gunning
45:45 Doctrine Conclusion

Design
50:06 Challenger Development Timeline
01:00:55 Features – Mobility
01:02:55 Features – Protection
01:07:44 Features – Firepower
01:13:45 Challenger Interior
01:19:14 Combat Comparison – Mobility
01:22:02 Combat Comparison – Guns vs Armor
01:32:12 Design Conclusion

Organisation
01:36:38 Commonwealth Armoured Division
01:40:50 Armoured Reconnaissance Regiment
01:45:48 Organisation Conclusion


Tactics
01:46:40 Early-War Cruiser Fundamentals
01:50:12 Late-War Sherman Troop Tactics
01:54:40 Challenger vs. ‘Tanks’ at Liessel
01:59:34 Tactics Conclusion

Key Takeaways
02:01:36 Takeaway – Flexible Firepower
02:03:48 Takeaway – Room for Improvement
02:05:44 Takeaway – Divergent Firepower Difficulties
02:07:24 Takeaway – Panther Problem

Part II. Practice
02:08:40 Part II Introduction and Sources
02:11:14 Background – Market Garden
02:14:02 Background – 15/19 Hussars
02:22:18 Background – 107 Panzer Brigade
02:31:20 Background – Terrain Analysis
02:34:40 Background – Opening Moves
02:38:14 Battle Plans

Tank Battle at Son
02:51:45 Son Battlefield Analysis
02:58:00 B-Squadron duels with Panthers
03:11:56 C-Squadron outflanks a Panther

Weatherby Force
03:26:00 Force Structure
03:43:24 Weatherby Force Observations

Conclusion
03:46:45 Narrow Scope Conclusion
03:51:46 Intermediate Scope Conclusion
03:56:12 Broad Scope Conclusion
04:05:04 Closing Remark

[alexanderlarsen]

One of my absolute favorite Youtubers; thank you for not cutting any corners, giving us a foundational understanding of the weird British "tank destroyers"!

[Alelip]

My god. Free and unsponsored ? what the fuck. This is a treasure trove for tank lovers!

[kcnmsepognln]

"Comprehensive" doesn't begin to describe your work here!

When I read the title I was expecting the typical, technical review (armour, gun, speed etc etc); then I saw the length of the video...

What we actually have is that technical review (that in itself is a superb piece), bookended by an outstandingly thorough analysis of the conception and development of the Challenger and an equally thorough example of its actual use in combat.

And despite the length of your film and the density of information, your choice and use of media (first-hand accounts, contemporary photos, annotated maps and video taken on location) left me feeling that I am now the second most informed person on the subject (after yourself, of course).

Kudos!

[ddraig]

The best, most informative tank video I've seen on YouTube.

[papaaaaaaa]

4 Hours, jeez Louise, what a bunch of work for you, thanks for that.

And now, lets start the journey!

[HankD]

Brilliant detail, brilliant analysis. Loved every moment of this. And absolute delight- thank you.

[theironlemon_]

4 hour video on the British army? What a treat. Dank u wel!

[larsdejong]

Took me a while to finish, as there is so much to unpack. But hats of to you sir, you are single-handedly raising the reputation of Dutch historians. It's excellent.

Not only in regards to the Challenger and the evolution of British armor doctrine due to combat experience and the adoption of the Sherman, but also in regards to a battle that I had never heard of. In Dutch literature, this engagement is criminally underrated, despite featuring a full-on combined arms battle on our soil, AND taking place as part of the most famous allied operation in the Netherlands.

This makes the long wait totally worth it.

[TuanAnhLeIV]

A 4 hours treat on my favorite faction of the war it will take me days to go through all this. Thank you and please keep up the serie.

[elkrumb]

Man what an amazingly interesting video, it’s a crime this channel is so underrated

[nomisekul]

An hour and a half in, and I'm really enjoying this. I'm sending it to my nerd gang so we can discuss it. I wonder if the lessons learned from the challenger influenced the Comet?

[ddraig]

Great to see a video about this rare and little known British tank/tank destroyer. There is another Challenger at the Bovington tank museum but it's a wreck awaiting restoration.

[VamseeBhrugubanda]

You work is gold-dust. Thank you for taking the enormous time and effort to make each of these masterpieces.

[bobthebomb]

Wow, this must have taken an age to produce.
Unfortunately I did not look at the run time, initially seeing 40 minutes. I will have to return later but so far.... This is an excellent piece of work. Mightily impressed.

[ComfortsSpecter]

Incredible Vibe

Beautiful Oration


Goodest work My Man

Four Hours of Quality

[bilgerat]

Awesome work. Very comprehensive and skilfully produced.

[TheFightingCanuck]

While I wont be able to finish this in one go, I am really looking forward to this. The video seems to cover all of the things I had really wanted to see regarding the Challenger, particularly its use in combat. As there is also not a lot regarding the armoured battle at Son, this fills that gap too. It was just talked about on WW2TV and I was curious to learn more, I have only seen one other video mentioning it. Congrats on the finished project. Fingers crossed we might one day see the Challenger at Bovington properly restored, I think its earned its place there.

[madz]

Well documented and researched, good job !

[kirabodaniel-connell]

Ah, I missed this channel, its a good day indeed/