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Chieftain Mk 3 |
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| GENERAL INFORMATION |
| Designations |
Chieftain Mark 3 |
| Manufacturer(s) |
Royal Ordnance and Vickers |
| Status |
Production completed. Phased out of service with UK. |
| Production Period |
1963-1978 (1) |
Production Quantity |
over 1600 (1) |
| Type |
MBT |
Crew |
4 |
| Length, overall |
10.8 m |
Length, hull |
7.5 m |
| Width, overall |
3.7m |
Height, overall |
2.9 m |
| Combat Weight |
54100kg |
Unloaded Weight |
51460kg |
| Radio, external |
n/a |
Communication, crew |
n/a |
| FIREPOWER |
| Main Armament |
120 mm L11A5 rifled gun |
Ammunition Carried |
53x120mm |
| Gun Traverse |
360 |
Elevation/Depression |
+20/-10 |
| Traverse Rate |
22/s |
Elevation Rate |
n/a |
| Gun Stabilization |
vertical/horizontal |
Rangefinder |
yes (2) |
| Night Vision |
yes |
Auto-Loader |
no |
| Secondary Armament |
7.62mm L8A1 MG (coaxial)
7.62 mm L37A1 MG (AA) |
Ammunition Carried |
6000x7.62mm |
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| MOBILITY CHARACTERISTICS |
| Engine |
Leyland L60 No 4 Mk 6A, 2-stroke, 6-cylinder (12 opposed pistons) multi-fuel (3) |
Transmission |
TN12 (6 forward, 2 reverse) |
| Horsepower |
730hp at 2100rpm |
Suspension |
Horstmann |
| Power/Weight Ratio |
13.5hp/t |
Track Width |
610mm |
| Speed, on road |
48 km/h |
Track Ground Contact |
4.8m |
| Fuel Capacity |
950 l |
Ground Pressure |
0.84 kg/cm2 |
| Range, on road |
400-500km |
Gradient |
60% |
| Fuel Consumption |
n/a |
Vertical Obstacle |
0.9m |
| Turning Radius |
n/a |
Trench Crossing |
3.1m |
| Ground Clearance |
0.51 m |
Fording |
1.1m |
| SURVIVABILITY FEATURES |
| Smoke Laying |
2 x 6 smoke dischargers mounted on each side of turret |
NBC Protection |
n/a |
| Armor Details |
Cast sections welded together. Considered best armored of all tanks developed in the 1950s and 1960s. |
| TECHNICAL DRAWINGS AND OTHER IMAGES |
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| NOTES |
(1) British Army production was completed in the early 1970s with about 900 vehicles.
(2) Originally fitted with 12.7mm L21A1 ranging machine gun over the main armament with 600 rounds of ammunition available. A laser rangefinder was retrofitted to the vehicles.
(3) Auxilliary engine provided. Coventry Climax H30 No 4 3-cylinder developing 23hp at 2000rpm. |
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