The Chieftain Tank is among the best known regarding the present generation of battlefield tools, and is one of the most heavily armoured and armed fighting behicles operating anywhere today. It's perhaps not been without its detractors or experts, but and there's been an operating debate by army commentators for quite a while past regarding general merits for the British Chieftain Tank weighed against the main battle tanks of other great army capabilities- the usa, Soviet Russia, France and western Germany - whoever present equivalent designs afford a fasinating comparison with Chieftain in a lot of key aspects.
The Chieftain, however, was created as a result of British tank experience in World War II and after, and reflects the priorities which British tank males felt become the vital terms of firepower, protection and mobility. Uk tank development in World War II led to the famous Centurion, which first appeared in 1945 into the closing days regarding the war. The Centurion, as well as the Soviet T-34/85, and German Panther, represented the culmination of thinking (arising from actual experience) which pointed the necessity for a "universal" tank had, at the same time, been disturbed by the appearance of the Soviet Josef Stalin II tank in 1945, with a robust 122mm gun.
Into the Immediate post-war years it became clear that Soviet Russia and the woman eastern European allies (later on the Warsaw Pact capabilities) posed the greatest danger to Western European countries in any future conflict, which led, afterwards, toward installing of NATO. If war broke down, much of the initial combat at the very least would occur in European countries, notably in Northern Germany, and Britain&39;s armoured divisions had been either located in or earmarked for deployement to Germany. The backbone of Soviet armoured divisions in 1950&39;s was the formidable JS-III and its own T-1- derivative, both with all the 122mm weapon, which could away shoot the 20 pdr. (84 mm)gun of this early service variations of Centurion. To bolster the firepower for the Centurion, consequently, the British developed an introduced a "heavy tank gun", the conqueror with a 120mm gun especially to match the Stalin. The Centurion currently ended up being classed as a "medium gun tank". The Conqueror was unsatisfactory in many ways; it had been very hefty, noisy, fairly slow, making an extra logistic obligation for relatively few automobiles. By 1066 the Conqueror was withdrawn from solution and an up gunned Centurion with 105 mm weapon was in solution.
More significant nevertheless, but was your British by this time had a fresh tank in manufacturing, the Chieftain, which was to restore both the Centurion and Conqueror, with firepower more advanced than both. Initial studies for a new "medium tank gun" to replace those two tanks were only available in early 1950&39;s and also by 1954 some definite proposals was formulated by the British General Staff. It absolutely was prepared that the latest automobile shouldn't go beyond 50 tons in weight, needs a gun of 120mm calibre, low sloped superstructure, particularly at the front, and a brand new, compact V-8 engine as opposed to the Meteor motor associated with Centurion. It had been originally thought your maximum calibre regarding the weapon will be no higher than 105mm, because of the weight and size of 120mm round in a car of reasonably little size, buth this issue was overcome by developing a 120mm round with bagged, in the place of cased charges, as utilized in big calibre naval weapons. Inside occasion, the 105mm weapon was created and fitted to later on markings of this Centurion, as well as the 120mm gun became feasible for the newest design. This new tank was originally designated "Medium Gun Tank No.2 FV 4201" and contract for design work visited Leyland Motors, who was simply main contractors for Centurion.
Some fairly radical design features had been involved with FV 4201, quite in addition to the proposed 120mm weapon. To offer the lowest sloped hull, it was made a decision to dispense with all the conventional seated driving place and provide the drive a semireclining section, central in the hull front. A sloped, faceted glacis, quite just like that the Stalin tank, was showcased in very early design studies, though this developed into a slimmer sloped and cast nose in the final design. To provide the very 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 system, as used in the Centurion, would be to be retained. So that you can test the feasibility of this new demands, Lelyland built an operating model in 1956, mainly predicated on Centurion components. Popularly known as the "40 ton Centurion", but designated FB4202 and meant just for test purposes, this automobile showcased both a semi-reclining motorist position and a pointed cast turret front side. There clearly was nevertheless a great deal development work doing, however, notably the need to develop a brand new engine effective at operating on various kinds of fuel according to a brand new NATO policy decision introduced in 1957. Leyland created a fresh engine, the L60, that has been a two stroke with vertically compared pistons, developed from a German compression ignition design. This work caused your whole programme become delayed and further complicated, for the entire buttocks of car had to be re-designed to just take the latest motor, using the fat above the initially planned 50 tons in the process. Ironically, additionally, troubles with this particular engine hampered the vehicle even after it reached manufacturing and solution status.
A finalised specification the FV4201 ended up being drafted in 1958, and a wood mock-up was prepared by very early 1959. By now the design agreement was passed away from Leyland to Vickers-Armstrong, the speed requirement was in fact risen up to at the most 26 mph, with a range of 300 miles, and there clearly was an increase in level and depression of this weapon to enhance the utmost and minimal ranges.
Initial running prototype, without a turret, had been ready in belated 1959, and six prototypes with turrets were delivered for military trials in 1961-62. Various changes were introduced in early stages. The design originally had smaller road wheels compared to the Centurion, but this offered a ground approval of just 17 inches, which proved too low. The problem had been overcome by reverting toward same road wheels whilst the Centurion, and increasing ground approval to 22 inches in the procerss. Rubber pads were added to the songs to stop damage to public roadways, additionally the exhaust system was a great deal modified after some technical modifications to prevent the gearbox from overheating.
The traits associated with FV4201, afterwards referred to as Chieftain Main Battle Tank, never have changed greatly since its first look, though there has been a few information changes. The outstanding function of this vehicle is, obviously, its L11 120 mm weapon. This can fire APDS (armour piercing discarding sabot), and HESH/HE (high explosive squash head/high explosive) ounds along with costs inbagged form. Fire-resistant stowage is given to the bagged costs. A ranging machine gun is equipped integral utilizing the primary armament, and is for this sight with graticule markings scaled for the appropriate forms of ammunition. Fast sight correction can be done by direct observation regarding the rangin machine gun hits regarding the target. This fundamentally easy optical ranging strategy was initially developed for later marks of Centurion, as well as its reputation as a "foolproof" and accurate system is further enhanced into the Chieftain, and has now offered British tank gunners a "the best" record, with a good possibility of a direct struck aided by the first round away - crucial factors whenever ammunition capability in tank is restricted, when the potential enemy might have superior variety of tanks. For indirect fire the standard sort of ranging drum and elinometer are utilized. A contra rotating cupola with hand traverse enables the commander to pick and indicate the goals quickly, and a sight from the gunner&39;s sight enables the commander to aim the weapon through the cupola position. A GP machine gun is equipped on cupola and certainly will be aimed and fired remotely with the cupola shut down. The commander&39;s main binocular sight is equipped in rotating part of the cupola because of the fixed an element of the cupola containing nine periscopes to provide an all-round view. The gun is stabilised in level therefore the turret is stabilised in azimuth, so your gun may be fired with a top degree of accuracy whilst the car is moving. There clearly was a light projector in a package regarding the left part of this turret, offering either white light or intra-red light for evening combat, the system being connected for level using the gunner&39;s sight allows the commander to aim the weapon from cupola place. A GP machine gune is fitted toward cupola and certainly will be aimed and fired from another location with the cupola closed down. The commander&39;s primary binocular sight is equipped inside rotating area of the cupola with the fixed part of the cupola containing nine periscopes to provide an all-round view. The gun is stabilised in level and the turret is stabilised in azimuth, so the gun could be fired with a higher level of precision whilst the automobile is moving. There was a light projector in a field on remaining part of this turret, providing either white light or infra-red light for night fighting, the system being connected for elevation because of the gunner&39;s sight. The gunner and also the commander have optical infra-red converters because of their sights, and commander&39;s limelight can be fitted with an infra-red filter. The driver&39;s reclining place is flanked by battery and ammo stowage, in which he has a periscope behind their hatch. You will find main-stream 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. The hull and turret fronts are complex castings, and the hull front is said to own offered some issues within the casting when production first started.
Development of the Chieftain as it joined production is best seen by summarising the many models: Chiftain Mk. I: About 40 of these cars were built, mostly for extended troop trials and training. After test solution with 1st and 5th RTR, the kind was cleared for solution in 1963. A distinguishing function had been the split hatches to the cupola just like those on subsequent types of Centurion.
Chieftain MK. 2: This is the definitive manufacturing version which first went into solution (with the 11th Hussars) in 1967. It had a one piece cupola hatch and unique air flow equipment regarding the turret backside allow the automobile to use closed down in nuclear and biologival warfare conditions. The armour plating regarding the light projector ended up being paid off, round stowage paid off, and snorkel wading equipment was provided instead of a floatation kit originally envisaged. This sort saw substantial solution in the late 1960&39;s and early 1970&39;s, and even, the Chieftain rapidly replaced the Centurion because the British Army&39;s main battle tank as soon as production ended up being under way. Special function models- a recovery vehicle, AURE, and bridgelayer have actually appeared.
Chieftain Mk 3: This variation appeared in 1969 and had a better auxiliary generator and information improvements on motor. The L60 engine proved complex, and successive marks associated with the Chieftain have experienced the motor slowly uprated to provide the entire designed energy output. A better cupola, and modified interior stowage were other modifications.
Chieftain Mk 3/3: This saw a huge advance, for the reason that the fire control plans had been modified to ensure that an enhanced laser sight the gunner is fitted.
Chieftain Mk 5: First announced in 1970, this is the main key in solution in mid 1970&39;s. Further motor customizations bring the power output up to 750bph, with consequent improvement in overall performance, and modification associated with the ammo stowage plans enabled 64 rounds become stowed. Splash dishes were added on glacis.
The Chieftain has been contrasted, inevitably, aided by the French AMX-30, the West German Leopard, therefore the United States M60A1. Every one of these tanks have rate and mobility more advanced than the Chieftain and are also much lighter. There is also the 105 mm weapon and are also inferior incomparison to the Chieftain in firepower and armour. Whether mobility or firepower is supposed to be the key to supreme quality in any European major war has yet to be placed on test, but the rate regarding the technology in armoured warfare is relentless. The Soviets are making big progress with fin-established ammunition (within their T-62 and new T-72 battle tanks) therefore the Israeli-Arab "Yom Kippur" war of October, 1973 revealed for the first time your main battle tank ended up being really susceptible to tactical anti-tank missiles skillfully used. It might be, for that reason, that the Chieftain will be the last associated with old-fashioned form of tank within the form which it's been accepted for quite some time previous. Whatever the future, however, Chieftain continues to be a thrilling and effective combat automobile. It is often purchased by the Iranian Army and contains interested many others, although the great cost of 1 of the cars limits their access.
