The Chieftain Tank is among the most widely known of this current generation of battlefield weapons, and the most heavily armoured and armed fighting behicles operating anywhere today. It offers maybe not been without its detractors or experts, but and there is an operating debate by military commentators for several years past regarding the general merits of British Chieftain Tank compared with the key fight tanks of other great armed forces capabilities- the usa, Soviet Russia, France and western Germany - whose present equivalent designs afford a fasinating contrast with Chieftain in several key aspects.
The Chieftain, however, originated as a consequence of British tank expertise in World War II and after, and reflects the priorities which Uk tank guys felt to be the vital regards to firepower, security and flexibility. Uk tank development in World War II resulted in the famous Centurion, which first starred in 1945 in closing months regarding the war. The Centurion, together with the Soviet T-34/85, and German Panther, represented the culmination of thinking (arising from real experience) which pointed the necessity for a "universal" tank had, meanwhile, been disturbed by the look of the Soviet Josef Stalin II tank in 1945, with a robust 122mm weapon.
In the Immediate post-war years it became clear that Soviet Russia and her eastern European allies (later on the Warsaw Pact capabilities) posed the greatest hazard to Western European countries in any future conflict, which led, subsequently, to the creating of NATO. If war broke out, a lot of the original fighting at the very least would take place in Europe, particularly in Northern Germany, and Britain's armoured divisions had been either located in or earmarked for deployement to Germany. The backbone associated with Soviet armoured divisions in the 1950's had been the formidable JS-III as well as its T-1- derivative, both with the 122mm weapon, that could away shoot the 20 pdr. (84 mm)gun of the early solution versions of Centurion. To strengthen the firepower of the Centurion, therefore, the British developed an introduced a "heavy tank gun", the conqueror with a 120mm gun specifically to fit the Stalin. The Centurion at the moment had been classed as a "medium weapon tank". The Conqueror ended up being unsatisfactory in lots of ways; it was extremely heavy, noisy, relatively sluggish, and made a supplementary logistic obligation for fairly couple of cars. By 1066 the Conqueror was withdrawn from solution and an up gunned Centurion with 105 mm gun was at solution.
More significant still, however, had been that the British by now had a new tank in manufacturing, the Chieftain, that has been to restore both Centurion and Conqueror, with firepower superior to both. Initial studies for a brand new "medium tank weapon" to change these two tanks were only available in early 1950's and also by 1954 some definite proposals was indeed formulated by the British General Staff. It had been planned that this new car must not go beyond 50 tons in weight, must have a gun of 120mm calibre, low sloped superstructure, especially at the front end, and a new, compact V-8 motor rather than the Meteor engine associated with Centurion. It had been initially thought that the maximum calibre for the weapon would be no greater than 105mm, as a result of fat and size for the 120mm round in a car of relatively tiny size, buth this issue had been overcome by developing a 120mm round with bagged, instead of cased fees, as used in big calibre naval guns. Into the event, the 105mm weapon originated and suited to later markings of the Centurion, additionally the 120mm gun became simple for the newest design. The brand new tank was originally designated "Medium Gun Tank No.2 FV 4201" and the agreement for design work went along to Leyland Motors, who was simply main contractors for Centurion.
Some fairly radical design features were involved with FV 4201, quite independent of the proposed 120mm weapon. To offer a low sloped hull, it had been made a decision to dispense because of the traditional seated driving position and provide the drive a semireclining place, central in the hull front side. A sloped, faceted glacis, quite similar to compared to the Stalin tank, ended up being showcased in early design studies, though this evolved into a slimmer sloped and cast nose in final design. To provide the best ballistic shape to the turret it had been to have sloped, pointed front side, eliminating the wide mantlet of earlier in the day tanks. The well-tried Horstmann suspension, as found in the Centurion, would be to be retained. In order to test the feasibility of new requirements, Lelyland built an operating prototype in 1956, largely based on Centurion elements. Popularly referred to as "40 ton Centurion", but designated FB4202 and meant only for test purposes, this vehicle featured both a semi-reclining motorist place and a pointed cast turret front side. There was still much development work doing, however, particularly the requirement to develop a fresh motor capable of operating on a number of different forms of fuel in accordance with a fresh NATO policy choice introduced in 1957. Leyland came up with a new engine, the L60, that was a two swing with vertically opposed pistons, developed from a German compression ignition design. This work caused the entire programme to be delayed and further complicated, for the entire buttocks associated with the vehicle had to be re-designed to simply take the brand new engine, using the fat over the initially planned 50 tons in the process. Ironically, additionally, troubles with this engine hampered the vehicle despite it reached manufacturing and service status.
A finalised specification the FV4201 was drawn up in 1958, and a lumber mock-up ended up being ready by early 1959. By now the style agreement was in fact passed away from Leyland to Vickers-Armstrong, the speed requirement was risen to no more than 26 mph, with a range of 300 miles, and there is a rise in elevation and depression of the gun to improve the utmost and minimum ranges.
1st running model, without a turret, was prepared in belated 1959, and six prototypes with turrets were delivered for military trials in 1961-62. Different changes were introduced in early stages. The style originally had smaller road wheels than the Centurion, but this provided a ground clearance of only 17 ins, which proved too low. The issue had been overcome by reverting towards same road wheels since the Centurion, and increasing ground clearance to 22 ins in procerss. Rubber pads had been added to the songs to prevent harm to general public roadways, and the exhaust system ended up being much modified after some technical changes to stop the gearbox from overheating.
The characteristics of FV4201, afterwards known as the Chieftain Main Battle Tank, have not changed greatly since its first look, though there has been a few detail changes. The outstanding function for the car is, naturally, its L11 120 mm gun. This can fire APDS (armour piercing discarding sabot), and HESH/HE (high explosive squash head/high explosive) ounds with fees inbagged form. Fire-resistant stowage is given to the bagged costs. A ranging machine gun is fitted integral aided by the main armament, and is linked to the sight with graticule marks scaled the appropriate forms of ammo. Fast sight correction can be done by direct observation for the rangin machine gun hits in the target. This basically easy optical ranging technique was initially developed for later markings of Centurion, and its particular reputation as a "foolproof" and accurate system is further improved into the Chieftain, and contains offered Uk tank gunners a "the best" record, with a good chance of a primary struck utilizing the very first round away - crucial factors when ammunition capacity in the tank is restricted, and when the possible enemy could have superior variety of tanks. For indirect fire the conventional kind of ranging drum and elinometer are employed. A contra rotating cupola with hand traverse enables the commander to choose and indicate the targets rapidly, and a sight for this gunner's sight allows the commander to aim the weapon from the cupola place. A GP machine gun is equipped on cupola and certainly will be aimed and fired remotely with the cupola closed down. The commander's primary binocular sight is equipped in rotating an element of the cupola because of the fixed area of the cupola containing nine periscopes to offer an all-round view. The gun is stabilised in elevation as well as the turret is stabilised in azimuth, so that the weapon are fired with a high degree of precision whilst the automobile is going. There is a light projector in a package regarding the left side associated with the turret, providing either white light or intra-red light for evening fighting, the device being linked for level with all the gunner's sight enables the commander to aim the gun from the cupola place. A GP device gune is fitted towards the cupola and certainly will be aimed and fired remotely with the cupola shut down. The commander's main binocular sight is fitted inside rotating the main cupola with all the fixed area of the cupola containing nine periscopes to provide an all-round view. The weapon is stabilised in level plus the turret is stabilised in azimuth, so your gun are fired with a top degree of accuracy while the car is going. There is certainly a light projector in a box regarding remaining part of this turret, providing either white light or infra-red light for evening combat, the device being connected for level using the gunner's sight. The gunner therefore the commander have actually optical infra-red converters for his or her places, additionally the commander's spotlight may be fitted with an infra-red filter. The driver's reclining position is flanked by battery pack and ammunition stowage, in which he has a periscope behind his hatch. You will find old-fashioned steering levers with epicyclic gearbox and Merritt differential transmission. Transmission is automated with foot pedal gearchange selector. The superstructure overhangs the tracks to give the required turret ring radius. Both the hull and turret fronts are complex castings, additionally the hull front side is stated to own offered some dilemmas in casting whenever manufacturing first began.
Development of the Chieftain as it entered manufacturing is best seen by summarising the different models: Chiftain Mk. We: About 40 of those vehicles were built, mostly for extensive troop studies and training. After test service with 1st and 5th RTR, the kind had been cleared for service in 1963. A distinguishing function ended up being the split hatches to your cupola much like those on subsequent forms of Centurion.
Chieftain MK. 2: This is the definitive manufacturing variation which first went into service (with the 11th Hussars) in 1967. It had a one piece cupola hatch and unique air flow equipment regarding the turret backside make it possible for the automobile to use closed down in nuclear and biologival warfare conditions. The armour plating in the light projector had been paid off, circular stowage paid off, and snorkel wading gear had been supplied in the place of a floatation kit initially envisaged. This kind saw extensive service in late 1960's and early 1970's, as well as, the Chieftain rapidly replaced the Centurion once the British Army's main battle tank once manufacturing ended up being under method. Unique purpose models- a recovery automobile, AURE, and bridgelayer have showed up.
Chieftain Mk 3: This variation appeared in 1969 and had a much better auxiliary generator and information improvements to the motor. The L60 motor proved complex, and successive markings of this Chieftain experienced the motor slowly uprated to offer the entire created power output. A greater cupola, and modified internal stowage were other changes.
Chieftain Mk 3/3: This saw a big step forward, because the fire control arrangements were modified so that an enhanced laser sight for the gunner may be fitted.
Chieftain Mk 5: First announced in 1970, it was the main enter service inside mid 1970's. Further engine customizations bring the power production around 750bph, with consequent enhancement in efficiency, and revision associated with ammo stowage arrangements enabled 64 rounds to be stowed. Splash dishes were added regarding glacis.
The Chieftain has been contrasted, inevitably, using the French AMX-30, the West German Leopard, plus the United States M60A1. Each one of these tanks have rate and flexibility superior to the Chieftain and tend to be lighter in weight. They likewise have the 105 mm weapon and tend to be inferior compared to the Chieftain in firepower and armour. Whether mobility or firepower will likely be the most crucial to quality in any European major war has yet to be placed towards test, but the pace associated with the technology in armoured warfare is relentless. The Soviets are making big progress with fin-established ammo (inside their T-62 and brand new T-72 battle tanks) additionally the Israeli-Arab "Yom Kippur" war of October, 1973 showed the very first time your primary battle tank ended up being extremely susceptible to tactical anti-tank missiles skillfully used. It could be, consequently, that the Chieftain may be the final regarding the old-fashioned form of tank into the type where it's been accepted for many years past. Whatever the future, however, Chieftain remains a fantastic and effective fighting car. It has been ordered by the Iranian Army and contains interested numerous others, although the great cost of one of those cars limits their supply.
