Two soldiers dead after shell explodes inside tank

A SECOND soldier died yesterday after a shell exploded inside a tank during a live firing exercise.

A crew of four were in the 20-year-old Challenger 2 battle tank on Wednesday afternoon when it is thought their ammunition became stuck in the gun mechanism and detonated.

All four members of the Royal Tank Regiment were airlifted to hospital after the incident at the Castlemartin range in Pembrokeshire, West Wales. One died shortly after the explosion and the second last night.

The two other soldiers are said to be in a critical condition. The Ministry of Defence has ordered a 48-hour ban on the use of tank ammunition during live firing exercises and ordered an investigation.

It is not clear whether the ammunition had been loaded wrongly or if the equipment malfunctioned. No other vehicles were involved.

The Challenger 2’s main weapon is a 120 mm rifled tank gun and a 7.62mm chain gun.

The regiment, based in Tidworth, Wiltshire, has three squadrons, Ajax, Badger and Cyclops, each equipped with 18 Challengers.