The FV4201 Chieftain was the primary main battle tank (MBT) of the United Kingdom from the 1960s into the 1990s. Introduced in 1967, it was among the most heavily armed MBTs at the …

The Chieftain was a development of the legendary Centurion, which introduced the world to the MBT concept in 1945, dominated the battlefield in the Middle East and imposed its main gun …

May 9, 2024 · Detailing the technical specifications, development, and operational history of the Chieftain MBT Main Battle Tank including pictures.

In its inception, the Chieftain was the most powerful western main battle tank in existence until it was replaced by the equally excellent German Leopard 2 series in the 1980s.

Nov 16, 2025 · From the earliest days of armored warfare, British tank designers earned a reputation for thinking differently. The Chieftain MBT was no exception: it diverged so sharply …

The British Chieftain Tank was the first true Main Battle Tank & had the biggest main gun in NATO. It was replaced in Army service by the Challenger 2 MBT.

Sep 25, 2015 · Summary: Developed in the late 1950s, the Chieftain had a computerized fire-control system and stabilized main armament. It was phased out of British Army service in 1996.

The Chieftain was first shown to the public in 1961. An additional six prototypes were built between July 1961 - April 1962 and in May 1963 the Chieftain was accepted for service with …

The FV4201 Chieftain was the primary main battle tank (MBT) of the United Kingdom from the 1960s into 1990s. Introduced in 1967, it was among the most heavily armed MBTs at the time, …

The FV4201 Chieftain was an MBT (Main Battle Tank) used by the British army from the late 1960s all the way into the 1990s. It set a standard in NATO for MBTs by introducing …