UK has fewer tanks than Switzerland

Military experts warn of risks as UK in 57th place for vehicle numbers

- BEN TURNER

THE British Army now has fewer tanks than the peace-loving Swiss.

We have 213 tanks while neutral Switzerland, which has not fought in a war for 200 years, boasts 380.

Military experts warn our fleet is not enough - yet new Challenger 3 tanks are not due to enter service until 2027 or be fully operational until 2030.

Armoured vehicles have proved vital in modern conflicts such as the war in Ukraine, despite high-tech advances in military weapons.

Colonel Richard Kemp, a retired British Army officer, urged: "Tanks remain critically important. We must significantly increase our numbers." Britain ranks 57th globally for its tank stockpile, while Putin's Russia is at the top with 58 times more - a total of 12,566 tanks.