FV214 Conqueror

The FV214 Conqueror proved to be too large, heavy and difficult to maintain
for its own good.

Designation: FV214 Conqueror
Classification Type: Heavy Tank
Country of Origin: United Kingdom
Initial Year of Service: 1955

The British-produced Conqueror was designed to be fielded in conjunction
with the hugely successful Centurion Main Battle Tank (still in service in
many parts of the world today) in post-war Europe. The system was classified
as a heavy tank and charged with long-range fire support on the battlefield,
wielding it's large-caliber 120mm rifled main gun.

As heavy tanks go, the Conqueror (from the official designation of FV214),
was derived from a series of universal chassis design that was to make up
the future of British armored forces. To go along with the mammoth chassis,
the base Centurion turret - in full - was mounted to make the Conqueror in
essence, a heavy gun tank version of the Centurion itself. With production
covering a mere three years, few Conqueror forces were fielded in any
quantitative value alongside Centurion groups.

The Conqueror maintained several benefits over the Centurion as a whole, but
was sorely lacking in other areas of major importance. The Conqueror's long
range main armament of 120mm pattern, along with 39 projectiles, was a
definitive advantage over the 105mm Centurion tank. A coaxial 7.62mm and a
commander's mounted 7.62mm machine gun complimented the Conqueror's main
gun. Additionally, as with most heavy tanks, armor was another inherent
benefit and the Conqueror did not disappoint in that area. Unfortunately,
the system's sheer size, lack of mobility cost/troubles of maintaining the
complex system would limit both production and fielding of the Conqueror.

In all, just about 200 Conquerors were ever produced. With the vision of a
universal family of chassis being unfulfilled, the design produced just two
notable additions in the form of an Armored Recovery Vehicle and a heavy
self-propelled anti-tank weapon system. The Conqueror would not see the
production successes of its predecessor, the Chieftain, but it would
nevertheless find a footnote in the history of British armored warfare.

Variants:
FV214 "Conqueror" - Official Production Model Series
FV219 ARV Mk 1 - Armored Recovery Vehicle based on the FV200 chassis.
FV215b - Heavy Self-Propelled Anti-Tank Gun based on the FV200 chassis.

Specifications:
Dimensions:
Length: 37.99ft (11.58m)
Width:13.09ft (3.99m)
Height: 10.99ft (3.35m)
Performance:
Speed: 21mph (34km/h)
Range: 96miles (155km)

Structure:
Accommodation: 4
Weight: 71.7 US Short Tons (65,000kg)
Systems:
NBC Protection: None
Nightvision: None
Power:
Engine(s): 1 x 12-cylinder pertrol engine generating 810bhp.

Armament & Ammunition:

1 x 120mm main gun
1 x 7.62mm coaxial machine gun
1 x 7.62mm machine gun (commander's cupola)

Ammunition:
35 x projectiles