suspension modifications, greater fuel capacity and improved protection. A total of 187 built for Iran. Under the CFE reductions, most British Army Chieftain MBTs have either been sold off in a demiliterised state or reduced to scrap. Support vehicles based or built on the Chieftain chassis include the Chieftain ARV (FV4204 - for Iran, Jordan (undelivered Iranian vehicles) and the UK), the Chieftain AVLB (FV4205 - for the UK and Iran) and the Chieftain AVLB Mk 6 (11 converted from Mk 1 tanks in 1984-86 for the UK), the Chieftain MBT/bulldozer, the Chieftain MBT/Pearceson Trackwidth Mineplough and the Chieftain Armoured Vehicle Royal Engineers (CH ARVE - in two distinct conversion series for the UK, the first in 1986 of 12 interim vehicles and the second in 1991-94 of 48 production vehicles). Most Chieftain support vehicles will be replaced in the British Army by Challenger 1 MET conversions.
Specification: First prototype: 1959 First production: 1963-1985 (2265 built) Current users: Iran, Jordan, Kuwait, (most lost in Iraqi invasion) Oman (being replaced by Challenger 2), UK (most gun tanks now out of service). Crew: 4 Combat weight: Mk 3 54 100 kg; Mk 5 55 000 kg Ground pressure: Mk 3 0.84 kg/cm2; Mk50.91kg/cm2 Length, gun forwards: 10.8 m Width (over skirts): 3.5 m Height (without AA gun): 2.82 m Ground clearance: 0.51 m Max. road speed: 48 km/h Maximum range: 400-500 km Fording: unprepared 1.07 m Gradient: 60% Side slope: 40% Vertical obstacle: 0.91 m Trench: 3.15m Powerpack: Mk 3 - Leyland L60 diesel developing 720 hp and coupled to a SCG TNI2 semi-automatic transmission; Mk 5 - as Mk 3 but diesel engine uprated to 750 hp
Armament: (main) 1 x 120 mm gun (Mk 3 42 rounds, Mk 5 64 rounds); (ranging) 1 x 12.7 mm MG (not in UK vehicles; (coaxial) 1 x 12.7 mm MG (not in UK vehicles); (anti-aircraft) 1 x 7.62 mm MG; (smoke dischargers) 2 x 6
