{
  "id": "chieftain-mk-5",
  "name": "Chieftain MK 5",
  "aliases": [],
  "domain": "land",
  "country": "GBR",
  "category": "Main battle tank",
  "status": null,
  "fielded": 1975,
  "operators": [
    "GBR",
    "IRN",
    "JOR",
    "OMN"
  ],
  "prolif_count": 4,
  "summary": "The Chieftain originated from a British Leyland design of a new tank, dating as early as 1950, when the War Office requested a replacement for the Centurion, as the Medium Tank No 2. The Mk.4 were two prototypes with increased fuel capacity and other minor modifications.",
  "specs": [
    {
      "k": "crew",
      "v": 4,
      "src": [
        "weg-chieftain-mk-5"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "width_m",
      "v": 3.5,
      "src": [
        "weg-chieftain-mk-5"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "height_m",
      "v": 2.9,
      "src": [
        "weg-chieftain-mk-5"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "combat_weight_t",
      "v": 55,
      "src": [
        "weg-chieftain-mk-5"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "engine_name",
      "v": "Leyland L60",
      "src": [
        "weg-chieftain-mk-5"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "engine_hp",
      "v": 750,
      "src": [
        "weg-chieftain-mk-5"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "road_range_km",
      "v": 400,
      "src": [
        "weg-chieftain-mk-5"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "speed_road_kmh",
      "v": 48,
      "src": [
        "weg-chieftain-mk-5"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "speed_xc_kmh",
      "v": 30,
      "src": [
        "weg-chieftain-mk-5"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "",
      "label": "Suspension",
      "section": "mobility",
      "v": "Horstmann suspension",
      "src": [
        "weg-chieftain-mk-5"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "",
      "label": "Rate of fire (max)",
      "section": "armament",
      "v": "8-10 rds/min",
      "src": [
        "weg-chieftain-mk-5"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "",
      "label": "Maximum elevation",
      "section": "armament",
      "v": "+20 Deg",
      "src": [
        "weg-chieftain-mk-5"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "",
      "label": "Minimum elevation",
      "section": "armament",
      "v": "-10 Deg",
      "src": [
        "weg-chieftain-mk-5"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "",
      "label": "Fire control system",
      "section": "firecontrol",
      "v": "Fully Integrated Improved Fire-Control System (IFCS)",
      "src": [
        "weg-chieftain-mk-5"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "",
      "label": "Computerized FCS",
      "section": "firecontrol",
      "v": "Yes, Marconi 12-12P digital computer",
      "src": [
        "weg-chieftain-mk-5"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "",
      "label": "Thermal Sight Tank Commander",
      "section": "firecontrol",
      "v": "Yes",
      "src": [
        "weg-chieftain-mk-5"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "",
      "label": "Thermal Sight Gunner",
      "section": "firecontrol",
      "v": "Yes, the AFV No 36 Mk 1 periscope or L3A1.",
      "src": [
        "weg-chieftain-mk-5"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "",
      "label": "Tank Laser Sight Unit (TLSU).",
      "section": "firecontrol",
      "v": "Yes",
      "src": [
        "weg-chieftain-mk-5"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "",
      "label": "Hull Armor",
      "section": "protection",
      "v": "Welded RHA",
      "src": [
        "weg-chieftain-mk-5"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "",
      "label": "Turret Armor",
      "section": "protection",
      "v": "Cast and rolled steel",
      "src": [
        "weg-chieftain-mk-5"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "",
      "label": "Applique Armor",
      "section": "protection",
      "v": "Available, Stillbrew armour",
      "src": [
        "weg-chieftain-mk-5"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "",
      "label": "Explosive reactive armor",
      "section": "protection",
      "v": "Available",
      "src": [
        "weg-chieftain-mk-5"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "",
      "label": "NBC Protection",
      "section": "protection",
      "v": "Yes",
      "src": [
        "weg-chieftain-mk-5"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "",
      "label": "Smoke Equipment",
      "section": "protection",
      "v": "Yes, on each side of the turret there is six electrically-operated 66 mm smoke grenade dischargers.",
      "src": [
        "weg-chieftain-mk-5"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "main_armament",
      "v": "120 mm L11A5 Rifled Tank Gun",
      "src": [
        "weg-chieftain-mk-5"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "armament",
      "label": "Secondary armament",
      "v": "FN MAG 7.62mm General Purpose Machine Gun",
      "src": [
        "weg-chieftain-mk-5"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "range_max_km",
      "v": 8,
      "src": [
        "weg-chieftain-mk-5"
      ],
      "conf": "medium",
      "label": "Maximum firing range",
      "note": "Longest-range ammunition listed"
    }
  ],
  "payloads": [
    {
      "name": "Armour-piercing fin-stabilized discarding sabot (APFSDS) L23",
      "role": "120 mm ammunition",
      "src": [
        "weg-chieftain-mk-5"
      ],
      "conf": "medium",
      "caps": {
        "Muzzle velocity": "1,534 m/s"
      },
      "qty": "64 total of any 120mm projectile combination"
    },
    {
      "name": "APFSDS L26 (CHARM 1)",
      "role": "120 mm ammunition",
      "src": [
        "weg-chieftain-mk-5"
      ],
      "conf": "medium",
      "caps": {
        "Muzzle velocity": "INA m/s"
      },
      "range_km": 2.1,
      "qty": "64 total of any 120mm projectile combination"
    },
    {
      "name": "HESH L31",
      "role": "120 mm ammunition",
      "src": [
        "weg-chieftain-mk-5"
      ],
      "conf": "medium",
      "caps": {
        "Muzzle velocity": "670 m/s"
      },
      "range_km": 8,
      "qty": "64 total of any 120mm projectile combination"
    }
  ],
  "variants": [
    {
      "name": "FV4202 \"40-ton Centurion\"",
      "text": "Test vehicle built by Leyland Motors using Centurion components to test reclining drivers position and mantlet-less turret proposed for FV4201. One built, 1956, official specification for FV4201 issued August 1958.",
      "src": [
        "weg-chieftain-mk-5"
      ]
    },
    {
      "name": "FV4201 P1 - FV4201 P7",
      "text": "Prototypes. Seven built, 485 hp L60 Mk 1 or 485 hp L60 Mk 4,initial vehicles had internal exhaust silencers, short hull. small diameter road wheels, weight 45 long tons, initial vehicles, 49.5 long tons for later vehicle",
      "src": [
        "weg-chieftain-mk-5"
      ]
    },
    {
      "name": "Chieftain Mk.1",
      "text": "40 training vehicles for 1965–1966 with 585 hp L60 Mk 4 engine, strengthened TN12 gearbox, exhaust silencers moved to external armoured box on hull rear plate, larger 'Centurion' 31.6 inch diameter road wheels, re-positi",
      "src": [
        "weg-chieftain-mk-5"
      ]
    },
    {
      "name": "Chieftain Mk.1/2",
      "text": "Upgrade of Chieftain Mk.1 to Chieftain Mk.2 standard, fitted with 650 hp L60 Mk 4A2 engine, training use only",
      "src": [
        "weg-chieftain-mk-5"
      ]
    },
    {
      "name": "Chieftain Mk.1/3",
      "text": "Upgrade of Chieftain Mk.1, fitted with 650 hp L60 Mk 5A engine, training use only",
      "src": [
        "weg-chieftain-mk-5"
      ]
    },
    {
      "name": "Chieftain Mk.2",
      "text": "First service model with 650 hp L60 Mk 4A2 engine, L11A2 or L11A3 main gun,[viii] NBC system fitted to rear of turret, revised turret stowage, one-piece commander's hatch cover, armour removed from searchlight cover, rig",
      "src": [
        "weg-chieftain-mk-5"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "art": "tank",
  "image": {
    "file": "chieftain-mk-5.jpg",
    "thumb": "chieftain-mk-5-thumb.jpg",
    "credit": "Frank G. Poster",
    "license": "Public domain",
    "url": "https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:British_Chieftain_Tanks_at_Canadian_Army_Trophy_Competition_in_1979.jpg",
    "title": "File:British Chieftain Tanks at Canadian Army Trophy Competition in 1979.jpg"
  },
  "verified": null,
  "changelog": [
    {
      "date": "2026-10-10",
      "change": "Entry created from the Worldwide Equipment Guide (ODIN), bulk import"
    },
    {
      "date": "2026-10-10",
      "change": "Added photo (Public domain)"
    }
  ],
  "url": "https://www.defensepedia.com/systems/chieftain-mk-5.html",
  "sources": {
    "weg-chieftain-mk-5": {
      "title": "Chieftain MK 5 British Main Battle Tank (MBT)",
      "publisher": "U.S. Army TRADOC G-2 Worldwide Equipment Guide (ODIN)",
      "url": "https://odin.t2com.army.mil/WEG/Asset/Chieftain_MK_5_British_Main_Battle_Tank",
      "published": "2026-03-20",
      "tier": 1,
      "checked": "2026-10-10"
    }
  }
}