Chieftain and Challenger

[Weaver]

Just out of curiosity - what included in the Challenger 3 conversion? Anything external?

Yes, but it's all 'add-ons' not changes to the basic shape. The new commander's sight plus the smooth barrel jacket on the new gun will probably be the most visible ID features, as well as whatever active protection system they eventually selelct.

British Army website about it: https://www.army.mod.uk/news-and-events/news/2021/05/challenger-3-upgrade/




UPDATE: to the profound surprise of exactly nobody, they've chosen Rafael's Trophy system as the APS:
https://www.joint-forces.com/defence-equipment-news/44450-rafael-trophy-aps-selected-for-uk-challenger-3

[Weaver]

By my maths there are 224 Chally 2s in service, and they're only making 148 Chally 3s, which leaves 76 hulls spare. Might be off by a handful if there are some not-in-service vehicles lying around.

[Weaver]

As a what-if project, how about making the Chally 3 upgrade more radical, with an overhead or unmanned turret?

Jordan developed a turret for the Chally 1 called the Falcon which had the crew down in the turret basket and the gun and auto-loader overhead:




Or you could go for a completely unmanned turret with all three crew sat fixed in the hull, like the T-14 Armata:

[Gondor]

So as I have an odd bit of Armour in my stash, as usual part built 











Not the best quality and the turret is sitting slightly high due to both kit's having different size interlocking rings.

Now for the other way around











The last picture shows that there would be a problem with the M60 turret bustle catching on the engine deck which is not such a problem the other way around.

Both kits are Tamiya kits, the M60 is the U.S. Marines with Reactive Armour boxing which the Chieftain is so far on it's way to being upgraded from the Mk.5 to a Mk.10.

Gondor

[Logan Hartke]

Thanks Gondor! Looks like it could be made to work with a few modifications. I actually like the looks of both, but I think the Chieftain turret on M60 hull makes far more sense.

Cheers,

Logan

[Gondor]

Thanks Gondor! Looks like it could be made to work with a few modifications. I actually like the looks of both, but I think the Chieftain turret on M60 hull makes far more sense.

Cheers,

Logan

So do I

Gondor

[ysi_maniac]

I tryed to produce an APC Chieftain... but soviet aethetics kill me.

[Gondor]

Perhaps you should follow what the Israelis' did with the Centurion rather than trying to fit a Soviet body to the tank.

Gondor