The Chieftain Tank is one of the most widely known of the current generation of battlefield tools, and is one of the most greatly armoured and armed fighting behicles in service anywhere today. It's not been without its detractors or critics, but and there has been a running debate by military commentators for quite a while past in the general merits regarding the British Chieftain Tank weighed against the primary fight tanks of other great army abilities- the United States, Soviet Russia, France and West Germany - whose current equivalent designs afford a fasinating contrast with Chieftain in several key aspects.
The Chieftain, but originated as a consequence of British tank expertise in World War II and after, and reflects the priorities which British tank males felt to be the essential regards to firepower, protection and mobility. Uk tank development in World War II led to the famous Centurion, which first starred in 1945 in the closing months 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 need for a "universal" tank had, at the same time, been disrupted by the look 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 abilities) posed the greatest hazard to Western European countries in any future conflict, and also this led, subsequently, towards establishing of NATO. If war broke away, much of the initial combat at least would take place in Europe, notably in Northern Germany, and Britain's armoured divisions were either located in or earmarked for deployement to Germany. The backbone of Soviet armoured divisions within the 1950's had been the solid JS-III and its T-1- derivative, both with the 122mm gun, which could out shoot the 20 pdr. (84 mm)gun associated with the early service variations of Centurion. To strengthen the firepower associated with Centurion, for that reason, the British developed an introduced a "heavy tank gun", the conqueror with a 120mm gun particularly to match the Stalin. The Centurion currently was classed as a "medium weapon tank". The Conqueror ended up being unsatisfactory in lots of ways; it had been very hefty, noisy, reasonably slow, making an extra logistic obligation for relatively few cars. By 1066 the Conqueror was withdrawn from solution and an up gunned Centurion with 105 mm weapon was at solution.
More significant still, however, was that the Uk by this time had a brand new tank in production, the Chieftain, which was to replace the Centurion and Conqueror, with firepower superior to both. Initial studies for a new "medium tank gun" to change these two tanks started in early 1950's and also by 1954 some definite proposals have been developed by the British General Staff. It had been in the offing that this new vehicle cannot meet or exceed 50 tons in weight, should have a weapon of 120mm calibre, low sloped superstructure, particularly at the front end, and a brand new, compact V-8 engine instead of the Meteor motor of this Centurion. It had been initially thought that the maximum calibre of the gun will be no greater than 105mm, as a result of the weight and size associated with the 120mm round in a car of reasonably little size, buth this problem was overcome by developing a 120mm round with bagged, in place of cased charges, as found in big calibre naval weapons. Inside occasion, the 105mm gun was developed and fitted to later markings regarding the Centurion, together with 120mm gun became feasible for the new design. The new tank was initially designated "moderate Gun Tank No.2 FV 4201" together with agreement for design work visited Leyland Motors, who was simply main contractors for Centurion.
Some fairly radical design features had been tangled up in FV 4201, quite apart from the proposed 120mm gun. To give a low sloped hull, it had been chose to dispense with the conventional seated driving place and give the drive a semireclining place, central in the hull front side. A sloped, faceted glacis, quite much like compared to the Stalin tank, was showcased in very early design studies, though this developed into a flatter sloped and cast nose into the last design. To give the greatest ballistic form to the turret it had been to have sloped, pointed front, 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. To be able to test the feasibility associated with the brand new requirements, Lelyland built an operating prototype in 1956, mostly predicated on Centurion elements. Popularly referred to as "40 ton Centurion", but designated FB4202 and meant only for test purposes, this car showcased both a semi-reclining motorist position and a pointed cast turret front. There clearly was nevertheless a great deal development work to do, but particularly the requirement to develop a new engine effective at running on a number of different forms of fuel in accordance with a fresh NATO policy choice introduced in 1957. Leyland created a brand new engine, the L60, which was a two stroke with vertically opposed pistons, developed from a German compression ignition design. This work caused the whole programme become delayed and further complicated, for the entire tail associated with vehicle must be re-designed to just take the new motor, taking the fat over the originally scheduled 50 tons along the way. Ironically, also, troubles with this particular motor hampered the automobile even with it reached production and solution status.
A finalised specification the FV4201 ended up being drafted in 1958, and a timber mock-up ended up being prepared by early 1959. By now the look agreement was passed from Leyland to Vickers-Armstrong, the rate requirement have been increased to a maximum of 26 mph, with a variety of 300 miles, and there was an increase in elevation and depression associated with the gun to boost the most and minimal ranges.
The initial running prototype, without a turret, ended up being ready in late 1959, and six prototypes with turrets were delivered for army trials in 1961-62. Different modifications were introduced early on. The look originally had smaller road wheels than the Centurion, but this gave a ground clearance of just 17 ins, which proved too low. The situation was overcome by reverting to your exact same road wheels since the Centurion, and increasing ground approval to 22 ins inside procerss. Rubber pads were included with the songs to avoid damage to public roadways, as well as the exhaust system had been much modified following some technical modifications to stop the gearbox from overheating.
The faculties of this FV4201, afterwards known as the Chieftain principal Battle Tank, haven't changed significantly since its very first appearance, though there have been a few detail modifications. The outstanding function associated with the automobile is, needless to say, its L11 120 mm weapon. This may fire APDS (armour piercing discarding sabot), and HESH/HE (high explosive squash head/high explosive) ounds with costs inbagged type. Fire-resistant stowage is given to the bagged fees. A ranging machine weapon is fitted integral because of the primary armament, and is linked to the sight with graticule markings scaled for the appropriate types of ammunition. Fast sight modification is achievable by direct observation regarding the rangin machine gun hits on the target. This fundamentally simple optical ranging strategy was first 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 given Uk tank gunners a "first rate" record, with a decent chance of a direct hit with all the first round away - important considerations when ammunition capability in tank is restricted, when the prospective enemy could have superior variety of tanks. For indirect fire the traditional style of ranging drum and elinometer are employed. A contra rotating cupola with hand traverse enables the commander to choose and suggest the targets quickly, and a sight linked to the gunner's sight enables the commander to aim the weapon from cupola place. A GP device gun is fitted towards cupola and certainly will be aimed and fired from another location with the cupola shut down. The commander's primary binocular sight is equipped inside rotating part of the cupola because of the fixed part of the cupola containing nine periscopes to offer an all-round view. The weapon is stabilised in level together with turret is stabilised in azimuth, so your weapon may be fired with a top level of accuracy even while the vehicle is moving. There is certainly a light projector in a field regarding left part associated with the turret, offering either white light or intra-red light for night fighting, the machine being linked for elevation using the gunner's sight enables the commander to aim the weapon from the cupola place. A GP machine gune is equipped on cupola and may be aimed and fired from another location with the cupola closed down. The commander's main binocular sight is fitted in rotating an element of the cupola aided by the fixed an element of the cupola containing nine periscopes to give an all-round view. The gun is stabilised in elevation as well as the turret is stabilised in azimuth, so the gun are fired with a high level of precision while the automobile is going. There is certainly a light projector in a package in the remaining part associated with the turret, providing either white light or infra-red light for evening fighting, the device being linked for elevation using the gunner's sight. The gunner therefore the commander have optical infra-red converters because of their sights, together with commander's limelight are fitted with an infra-red filter. The driver's reclining place is flanked by battery and ammunition stowage, and he has a periscope behind their hatch. You will find conventional steering levers with epicyclic gearbox and Merritt differential transmission. Transmission is automatic with base pedal gearchange selector. The superstructure overhangs the songs to provide the necessary turret ring radius. The hull and turret fronts are complex castings, plus the hull front is stated to have offered some issues in casting when production first started.
Growth of the Chieftain as it joined production is better seen by summarising the many models: Chiftain Mk. We: About 40 of these vehicles had been built, largely for extended troop trials and training. After test service with first and 5th RTR, the type ended up being cleared for solution in 1963. A distinguishing feature was the split hatches to your cupola similar to those on later kinds of Centurion.
Chieftain MK. 2: This was the definitive production variation which first went into solution (with the 11th Hussars) in 1967. It had a one piece cupola hatch and special ventilation gear regarding turret rear to enable the car to use closed down in nuclear and biologival warfare conditions. The armour plating regarding the light projector was reduced, round stowage reduced, and snorkel wading gear had been provided in the place of a floatation kit initially envisaged. This kind saw substantial service within the belated 1960's and early 1970's, as well as, the Chieftain rapidly replaced the Centurion due to the fact British Army's primary battle tank when manufacturing was under means. Unique purpose models- a recovery automobile, AURE, and bridgelayer have actually showed up.
Chieftain Mk 3: This version appeared in 1969 and had a better auxiliary generator and information improvements towards engine. The L60 engine proved complex, and successive marks of the Chieftain experienced the engine gradually uprated to provide the entire designed energy output. A better cupola, and modified internal stowage had been other modifications.
Chieftain Mk 3/3: This saw a big step of progress, for the reason that the fire control arrangements were modified to make certain that an advanced laser sight the gunner could be fitted.
Chieftain Mk 5: First announced in 1970, this was the main enter service inside mid 1970's. Further motor adjustments bring the power production up to 750bph, with consequent improvement in functionality, and revision associated with the ammunition stowage arrangements enabled 64 rounds to be stowed. Splash dishes happen added regarding the glacis.
The Chieftain has been contrasted, inevitably, utilizing the French AMX-30, the West German Leopard, additionally the US M60A1. These tanks have actually rate and flexibility more advanced than the Chieftain and are also light. They likewise have the 105 mm weapon and tend to be inferior incomparison to the Chieftain in firepower and armour. Whether mobility or firepower would be the most crucial to high-quality in virtually any European major war has yet become put towards test, however the speed of this technology in armoured warfare is relentless. The Soviets have made big progress with fin-established ammo (within their T-62 and new T-72 battle tanks) and Israeli-Arab "Yom Kippur" war of October, 1973 showed for the first time your primary battle tank ended up being really susceptible to tactical anti-tank missiles skillfully employed. It may possibly be, therefore, that the Chieftain will be the last for the traditional form of tank into the kind by which it's been accepted for quite some time past. Whatever the future, but Chieftain continues to be a thrilling and powerful fighting car. It was ordered by the Iranian Army and has now interested numerous others, although great cost of just one of those vehicles limits their supply.
