Basic Information

Name

Chieftain MK 5 British Main Battle Tank (MBT)

Designation

Chieftain MK 5

Alternate Designation

Chieftain MK 5

Equipment Type

Main Battle Tank (MBT)

Manufacturer

—

Date of Introduction

1975

Description

The Chieftain originated from a British Leyland design of a new tank, dating as early as 1950, when the War Office requested a replacement for the Centurion, as the Medium Tank No 2. The Mk.4 were two prototypes with increased fuel capacity and other minor modifications.

Ground Specifications

Crew 4

Engine Diesel (750 hp)

NBC Protection Yes

Range 400.0 km

Variants

FV4202 "40-ton Centurion" Test vehicle built by Leyland Motors using Centurion components to test reclining drivers position and mantlet-less turret proposed for FV4201. One built, 1956, official specification for FV4201 issued August 1958.

FV4201 P1 - FV4201 P7 Prototypes. Seven built, 485 hp L60 Mk 1 or 485 hp L60 Mk 4,initial vehicles had internal exhaust silencers, short hull. small diameter road wheels, weight 45 long tons, initial vehicles, 49.5 long tons for later vehicles, 1959-1962

Chieftain Mk.1 40 training vehicles for 1965–1966 with 585 hp L60 Mk 4 engine, strengthened TN12 gearbox, exhaust silencers moved to external armoured box on hull rear plate, larger 'Centurion' 31.6 inch diameter road wheels, re-positioned final drive and idler wheel assemblies, two-piece commander's hatch cover, rubber track pads fitted for road protection, resilient rubber coaming around engine rear decking to prevent damage from gun with gun depression when turret traversed to the rear, stowage rack added to left rear of turret, dummy stowage 'bin' on front glacis and canvas cover over turret nose to conceal ballistic shapes, [v] weight 50 long tons, Issued to 1 RTR and 5 RTR for troop trials. All Mk.1 to Mk.1/4 vehicles were subsequently to be based at Bovington Camp and Catterick Garrison. 11 short hull units converted to be CH AVLB Mk.6

Chieftain Mk.1/2 Upgrade of Chieftain Mk.1 to Chieftain Mk.2 standard, fitted with 650 hp L60 Mk 4A2 engine, training use only

Chieftain Mk.1/3 Upgrade of Chieftain Mk.1, fitted with 650 hp L60 Mk 5A engine, training use only

Chieftain Mk.2 First service model with 650 hp L60 Mk 4A2 engine, L11A2 or L11A3 main gun,[viii] NBC system fitted to rear of turret, revised turret stowage, one-piece commander's hatch cover, armour removed from searchlight cover, rigid flotation panels replaced by facility for deep wading, road speed 25 mph, range 250 miles, weight 51.5 long tons, first vehicles issued to 11th Hussars at Hohne in West Germany in early 1967, improved 650 hp L60 Mk 5A engine fitted 1969

Chieftain Mk.3 Improved 650 hp L60 Mk 6A engine with two-stage air cleaner, improved auxiliary generator (Coventry Climax A30), better stowage, new No. 15 Mk 2 commander's cupola, road speed improved to 30 mph, range increased to 310 miles, weight 53 long tons, 1970

Chieftain Mk 3/2 Fitted with 720 hp L60 Mk 7A, 1971

Chieftain Mk 3/3 Fitted with 720 hp L60 Mk 7A, Improved main gun range finding,provision for Barr & Stroud TLS (Tank Laser Sight) LF2 laser range finder, 1971

Chieftain Mk 3/G Chieftain Mk.3 with engine induction through fighting compartment. Prototype only

Chieftain Mk.3/3P Chieftain Mk 3/3 for Iran, 1973

Chieftain Mk 3/S Production version of Chieftain Mk 3/G with commander's firing control

Chieftain Mk.4 Chieftain Mk.3 with increased fuel capacity. Only two built.

Chieftain Mk.5/5P Chieftain Mk.5 for Iran, 1975. Engine later upgraded to 750 hp L60 Mk 10A, 1977

Chieftain Mk.5/2K Chieftain Mk.5 for Kuwait, 1975

Chieftain Mk.6 Chieftain Mk.2 upgraded to Chieftain Mk.5 standard, 1975 In 1975 all earlier Marks of tanks except Mark 1's were upgraded to Chieftain Mk.5 standard as part of the 1975 "Totem Pole" programme,[xvi] including addition of Clansman radios, fitting of TLS, fitment of Muzzle Reference System (MRS) [ upon replacement of L11A3 barrel with L11A5 barrel,[xviii] and fitment of 750 hp L60 Mark 8A. These vehicles were re-designated Chieftain Mk's.6 to Mk.8.

Chieftain Mk.7 Chieftain Mk.3 and Chieftain Mk 3/S upgraded to Chieftain Mk.5 standard, 1975

Chieftain Mk.7C Chieftain Mk.3 upgraded to Chieftain Mk.5 standard for Oman

Chieftain Mk.8 Chieftain Mk.3/3 upgraded to Chieftain Mk.5 standard, 1975 In 1977 the engines of all vehicles were upgraded to the 750 hp L60 Mark 9A, followed by further upgrading with the 840 hp L60 Mark 11A or L60 Mark 12A [xxi] in 1978 as part of the 1977 "Dark Morn" and the 1978 "Sundance" programmes.

Chieftain Mk.9 Chieftain Mk.6 after completing all phases of "Totem Pole", 1979.

Chieftain Mk.10 Chieftain Mk.7 after completing all phases of "Totem Pole". Later upgraded with addition of Stillbrew Crew Protection Package to the turret front and turret ring, 1984–86

Chieftain Mk.11 Chieftain Mk.8 after completing all phases of "Totem Pole". Later upgraded with Stillbrew, 1984–86

Chieftain Mk.12 Chieftain Mk.5 after completing all phases of "Totem Pole". Later upgraded with Stillbrew, 1984–86

Chieftain Mk.12/13 Proposed further upgrades, cancelled when the Challenger 1 was introduced.

Chieftain 800 Chieftain with Chobham armour and new power train

Chieftain 900 Chieftain with Chobham armour, new power train, and Centaur fire control system

FV4204 ARV/ARRV Armoured Recovery Vehicle, Armoured Recovery and Repair Vehicle.

FV4205 AVLB Mk5 Bridge-laying vehicle

Chieftain AVRE (CHAVRE) Armoured Vehicle Royal Engineers, twelve early "Willich Chieftain AVRE" vehicles converted by 32 Armoured Engineer Regiment and 21 Engineer Base Workshop of the Royal Engineers, Willich, 1987, remaining 48 ex MBTs converted by Vickers Defence Ltd, 1991, to be a British Army combat engineering variant used by the Royal Engineers.

Chieftain Marksman Self-propelled anti-aircraft gun version, equipped with the Marksman twin gun turret.

Khalid /Shir (Lion) 1 Also known as "4030 Phase 2 Jordan". Jordanian with the running gear of the Challenger 1. In essence, this was a transition vehicle from the Chieftain to the Shir 2, which had been intended for Iran but was subsequently cancelled due to the 1979 Iranian Revolution. The vehicle chassis comprised the front half of a Chieftain hull, Chieftain running gear and the rear of a 4030/2 Chassis (Sloping Hull). This allowed the fitment in the engine bay of a Rolls-Royce CV12 engine producing 1200 bhp at 2,300 rpm.

Weapon Carriers The Chieftain chassis was adapted to mount air defence weapons ("Marksman" 2 x 35 mm cannon) and a 155 mm howitzer in a number of variants.

Shir 2 4030 Phase 3" Iranian variant. Visible external differences from Chieftain Mk.5 included a sloping rear hull, the removal of the searchlight from the left turret area and the refitting of storage baskets, the removal of the water channel from around the driver's hatch on the glacis, modification of the light clusters also on the glacis and the enlargement of the sight housing on the commander's cupola. Not delivered, the Shir 2 tanks became Challenger 1 tanks after reworking at ROF Leeds

Mobarez Tank Iranian upgraded version of Chieftain.

System

Alternative Designation Chieftain MK 5

Type Main Battle Tank

Family Chieftain Main Battle Tank Family

Crew 4 ea

Dimensions

Length (Overall) 10.8 m

Length (Hull) 7.5 m

Width 3.5 m

Height 2.9 m

Weight, Combat 55 tons

Automotive

Engine Name Leyland L60

Engine Type Diesel

Engine Power 750 hp

Gearbox TN12 gearbox

Maximum Range 400 km

Cruising Range 200 km

Speed, Maximum Road 48 km/h

Speed, Average Cross 30

Speed Maximum Swim Not Amphibious km/h

Steering System Merritt-Wilson differential steering system

Fuel Capacity 950 liters

Suspension Horstmann suspension

Communications

Primary Twin Clansman VRC 353 VHF Radio sets

Secondary 1 C42 1 B47 Larkspur VHF radios

Main Gun

System

Name 120 mm L11A5 Rifled Tank Gun

Type 120 mm

Max Rate of Fire 8-10 rds/min

Manufacturer Royal Ordnance Factories

Proliferation 3,012

Bore Evacuator Yes

Thermal Sleeve Yes

Weight 1,778 kg

Length (Total) 6.858 m

Length (Barrel) 6.6 m

Gun Recoil 370 mm

Breech Type semi-automatic cam

Maximum Effective Range 3,000 m

Maximum Elevation +20 Deg

Minimum Elevation -10 Deg

Ammunition (Option 1)

Type Armour-piercing fin-stabilized discarding sabot (APFSDS) L23

Caliber 120 mm

Muzzle Velocity 1,534 m/s

Basic Load 64 total of any 120mm projectile combination

Effective Range 3,000 m

Penetrator Monobloc tungsten alloy rod

Diameter 120 mm

Height 500 mm

Case Charge L8 combustible case charge

Note Average Projectile Load would consists of the following: 33 L26 APFSDS rounds, 13 L31A7 HESH, and 3 white L34 phosphorous smoke rounds.

Ammunition (Option 2)

Type APFSDS L26 (CHARM 1)

Caliber 120 mm

Muzzle Velocity INA m/s

Maximum Effective Range 2,100 m

Penetrator Monobloc tungsten nickel copper long rod

Case Charge L14A1 or L14A2

Basic Load 64 total of any 120mm projectile combination

Variant APFSDS L27A1 (CHARM 3).

Ammunition (Option 3)

Type HESH L31

Caliber 120 mm

Muzzle Velocity 670 m/s

Basic Load 64 total of any 120mm projectile combination

Maximum Effective Range 8,000 m

Coaxial Weapon System

System

Name FN MAG 7.62mm General Purpose Machine Gun

Type 7.62mm General Purpose Machine Gun

Manufacturer Fabrique Nationale (FNH / FNH UK) and U.S. Ordnance

Proliferation More than 1 Million

Max Rate of Fire 650-1,000 rds/min

Weight 11.8 kg

Length (Total) 1,263 mm

Length (Barrel) 630 mm

Width 118.7 mm

Height 263 mm

Action Gas-operated long-stroke piston, open bolt

Effective Firing Range (Bipod) 800 m

Effective Firing Range (Tripod) 1,800 m

Maximum firing range 3,500 m

Feed system Non-disintegrating DM1 or disintegrating M13 linked belt

Sights Folding leaf sight with aperture and notch, front blade

Ammunition

Type Rifle

Caliber 7.62 mm

Cartridge 7.62×51mm NATO

Muzzle Velocity 840 m/s

Basic Load 6,000

Loader's Weapon System

System

Name FN MAG 7.62mm General Purpose Machine Gun

Type 7.62mm General Purpose Machine Gun

Manufacturer Fabrique Nationale (FNH / FNH UK) and U.S. Ordnance

Proliferation More than 1 Million

Max Rate of Fire 650-1,000 rds/min

Weight 11.8 kg

Length (Total) 1,263 mm

Length (Barrel) 630 mm

Width 118.7 mm

Height 263 mm

Action Gas-operated long-stroke piston, open bolt

Effective Firing Range (Bipod) 800 m

Effective Firing Range (Tripod) 1,800 m

Maximum firing range 3,500 m

Feed system Non-disintegrating DM1 or disintegrating M13 linked belt

Sights Folding leaf sight with aperture and notch, front blade

Ammunition

Type Rifle

Caliber 7.62 mm

Muzzle Velocity 840 m/s

Basic Load 6,000

Fire Control

Name Fully Integrated Improved Fire-Control System (IFCS)

Computerized FCS Yes, Marconi 12-12P digital computer

First-Round Hit Probability (Stationary Targets) 3,000 m

First-Round Hit Probability (Moving Targets) 2,000 m

Thermal Sight Tank Commander Yes

Commander's Cupola Traverse Range 360 Deg

Thermal Sight Gunner Yes, the AFV No 36 Mk 1 periscope or L3A1.

Periscopes Nine AFV No 40 Mk 2 observation periscopes

Main Gun Stabilization INA

Radar and Defense System GEC-Marconi Radar and Defence Systems

Search Light Defence Control Systems Division, IR/white-light searchlight

Search Light Range (IR Mode) 1,000 m

Search Light Range (White Light Mode) 1,500 m

Tank Laser Sight Unit (TLSU). Yes

No 70 Telescopic Sight Yes, for the Gunner

Gun Control System all-electric gun control system is a Marconi Fighting Vehicle Gun Control Equipment (FV/GCE) No 7 Mk 4

Protection

Hull Armor Welded RHA

Turret Armor Cast and rolled steel

Applique Armor Available, Stillbrew armour

Explosive Reactive Armor Available

Active Protection System INA

Mine Clearing INA

Self-Entrenching Blade Available

NBC Protection Yes

Smoke Equipment Yes, on each side of the turret there is six electrically-operated 66 mm smoke grenade dischargers.

IR Detector Yes

Fire Suppression System FIREWIRE automatic fire-detection system

Air Ventilation and Filtration System Yes

Image Sources

Notes https://weaponsandwarfare.com/2015/09/25/chieftain-mark-v-mbt-part-i/; https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chieftain_%28tank%29;