![]() ![]() It entered combat with the British Army in the Korean War in 1950 in support of the UN forces. ![]() Six prototypes arrived in Belgium less than a month after the war in Europe ended in May 1945. It was a very popular tank with good armour, mobility, and a powerful main armament.ĭevelopment of the Centurion began in 1943 with manufacture beginning in January 1945. The chassis was adapted for several other roles, and these variants have remained in service. Introduced in 1945, it is widely considered to be one of the most successful post-War tank designs, remaining in production into the 1960s, and seeing combat into the 1980s. ![]() The Centurion was the primary British Army main battle tank of the post- World War II period. Chieftain served with the British Army into the early nineties and enjoyed modest success on the export market in the Middle East.32.5 mi (52.3 km) cross country, 62.5 mi (100.6 km) on road (Marks 3, 5, and 6) This Mark 11 would have been built as a Mark 5, with an uprated engine, which was subsequently fitted with Improved Fire Control System (IFCS), Thermal Observation and Gunnery System (TOGS) and the additional Stillbrew armour on the turret front and around the driver’s hatch. Late production Chieftains were continually upgraded. The TN12 gearbox, offering six forward speeds and two reverse, includes a triple-differential steering system. Although essentially a diesel it was capable of running on a variety of fuels. It has six vertical cylinders containing twelve opposed pistons, working on the two-stroke principle. The engine was a Leyland design, developed from a pre-war German diesel aircraft engine. The gun uses a self-combusting, bagged charge in place of a brass cartridge case and the tank is powered by a multi-fuel engine. ![]() For example, in order to reduce height the driver lies in a reclining position and changes gear with his foot. However it also incorporated a lot of revolutionary design features, some of which did not work as well as expected. Britain’s Main Battle Tank for twenty years, Chieftain was one of the first true Main Battle Tanks, designed to replace both medium and heavy tanks in front line service. ![]()
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