Chieftain Tank - Variants

Variants

Chieftain Mk 1

40 training vehicles for 1965–1966. Issued to 1 RTR and 5 RTR for troop trials.

Chieftain Mk 2

First service model with 650 hp engine.

Chieftain Mk 3

Extra equipment fitted giving rise to several sub-marks. New cupola.

Chieftain Mk.5

Final production variant, with upgrades to the engine and NBC protection system.

Chieftain Mk.6-9

Incremental upgrades to earlier Marks of tanks, including addition of Clansman radios.

Chieftain Mk.10

Mark 9 upgrade, addition of Stillbrew Crew Protection Package to the turret front and turret ring.

Chieftain Mk.11

Mark 10 upgrade, searchlight replaced with the Thermal Observation and Gunnery System (TOGS), manufactured by Barr and Stroud.

Chieftain Mk.12/13

Proposed further upgrades, cancelled when the Challenger 2 was introduced.

Chieftain 900

Chieftain with Chobham armour

FV4205 AVLB

Bridge-laying vehicle

FV4204 ARV/ARRV

Armoured Recovery Vehicle, Armoured Recovery and Repair Vehicle.

Chieftain AVRE

Armoured Vehicle Royal Engineers, 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.

Chieftain Mineclearer

Mine-clearing development.

Chieftain Sabre

Twin 30 mm AA turret.

Khalid (also designated 4030P2J - P = Phase & J = Jordan)/Shir (Lion) 1

Jordanian / Iranian variant with running gear of the Challenger 1. Basically this was a transition vehicle from the Chieftain to the Shir 2 which had been intended for Iran but was subsequently cancelled. The Shir 2 tanks became Challenger 1 tanks after reworking at ROF Leeds. 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 CV8 engine.

Weapon Carriers

The Chieftain chassis was modified to mount air defence weapons ("Marksman" 2 x 35 mm cannon) and a 155 mm howitzer in various modifications.

Shir 2

Iranian variant. Visible external differences from the Chieftain Mk.5 included a sloping rear hull, Removal of the Searchlight from the left turret area and storage baskets refitted, water channel removed from around drivers hatch on the glacis plate, modified light clusters also on the glacis plate, Larger sight housing on commanders cupola.

Mobarez Tank

Iranian upgraded version of the Chieftain.