British Mark 10 Chieftain Tank

This FV4201 Chieftain is a Mk. 10 variant that was reportedly produced in 1980 and was subsequently featured on the end pages of 1986’s Encyclopedia of the Modern British Army by Terry Gander before it was imported to the US. It was subsequently refurbished by Midwest Military Equipment of Washington, Missouri, before it was acquired by the selling dealer in 2023. The tank is finished in matte black and is powered by a 19-liter Leyland L60 vertically opposed six paired with a Merritt-Brown TN12 semi-automatic transmission with six forward gears and two reverse gears. Equipment includes a rotating turret, a de-milled 120mm gun, smoke grenade launchers, a search light, and crew hatches. A FASS Fuel system has been fitted, and replacement batteries were installed in preparation for the sale. This Chieftain Mk. 10 is now offered in Washington, Missouri, with a bill of sale.

The FV4201 Chieftain was introduced in 1967 and served as the United Kingdom’s primary main battle tank through the 1990s. The Mk. 10 variant was introduced in the 1980s and featured a Stillbrew non-explosive reactive armor package on the front turret and turret ring that utilized layers of rubber sandwiched between steel plating to mitigate the impact of projectiles. This example was repainted in black prior to the selling dealer’s acquisition. Equipment includes a rotating turret, a de-milled 120mm gun, a machine gun mount, smoke grenade launchers, a search light, and crew hatches.

The track system on each side of the vehicle features steel treads, rear drive and front idler sprockets, and six roadwheels. The suspension is a coil-sprung Horstmann-style setup, and steering and braking are both utilized by tillers actuating external hydraulic discs on either side.

The interior features blue-painted surfaces, and it accommodates a crew of four. Turret controls, a fire suppression system, radio equipment, periscopes, and storage racks remain in the tank. Areas of corrosion can be seen in the gallery. 

The driver is positioned in a semi-recumbent seating position in the left-front section of the hull. Instrumentation consists of a 50-mph speedometer, a 4k-rpm tachometer, and auxiliary gauges. The five-digit odometer shows 35 miles.

The 19-liter Leyland L60 vertically opposed six-cylinder engine was rated at approximately 850 horsepower, and it has been outfitted with a FASS Fuel system. Replacement batteries were installed in preparation for the sale. Power is sent to the drive sprockets via a Merritt-Brown TN12 semi-automatic transmission with six forward gears and two reverse gears.

Key Facts:

• 35 Miles Shown, TMU
• Turbocharged 19-Liter Leyland L60 Vertically-Opposed Six(760 hp)
• Merritt-Brown TN12 Semi-Automatic Transmission
• Black Paint
• Blue-Painted Crew Compartment
• Steel Treads
• Disc Brakes
• Rotating Turret
• Machine Gun Mount
• Smoke Grenade Launchers
• Search Light
• Accommodations for Four Crew Members
• L11A5 120mm Rifled Gun(de-miled)/ Turreton
• 57.2 tons