Originally Posted by
Thrust Augmentation
I think it may have to do with past doctrine where UK tanks up to Challenger 2 were more tied up with infantry support (where HESH is superior) than their counterparts which were / are aimed more at the tank on tank scenario.
Actually the doctrine throughout the BAOR days Centurion / Conqueror / Chieftain / Challenger 1 / Challenger 2 was primarily tank vs tank - not infantry support.
The doctrine was to deploy to prep-prepared positions covering killing zones and attempt to destroy Soviet tanks at a rate between 5-10:1.
To achieve this, the Commander is able to swivel his sighting and target designation cupola - independent of where the turret / main gun is pointing - and store future targets so that, as soon as the Gunner has fired at the current target, at the press of a button the turret rapidly traverses onto the next designated target. The requirement was for the main gun to be capable of destroying all then current MBTs at a range of 2,000 metres.
Infantry support was more of a thing post DESERT STORM / GRANBY to recently and probably switching back to tank vs tank (or equally important) in the design of Challenger 3.
All explained in this excellent video from experts at the UK Tank Museum.