Vickers Main Battle Tanks

dy031101 · December 08, 2008, 06:20:42 PM

Once again, this thread is to provide a place where questions and answers can be posted by everyone able and willing.

I'll start with my question. During a random brain-storming, the random topic of the day being a well-protected 105mm-gun turret that can be used by all members of Patton medium tank family, I came across webpages for the Vickers MBTs on JED website.

Mk.4/Valiant and Mk.7 appear more to be in the class of Challenger and Leopard 2, and my brain-storming concerns not only the lighter M48 and M60 but also the even smaller M46 and M47...... then there's the Mk.5 entry on the list.

http://jedsite.info/tanks-victor/victor/vickers-mbt_series/mk5/mk5.html

It is described as a "redesigned lighter version", "a joint project between Vickers and the USA's FMC corporation to produce a light tank with the protection and firepower of a main battle tank." Supposedly, it weighs only 20 tons and is easily air-transportable by the likes of C-130, but I cannot find any information on it outside of JED site.

Does anyone have any info on this Vickers Mk.5 MBT? When was it first built? The exact armament fit? How well is the turret protected? How large is it compared to M47? And any pictures that offer all-around view of the tank would be greatly appreciated (the single photo on JED has only the front view).

Thanks in advance.

rallymodeller · December 08, 2008, 11:12:16 PM

Here's a scale hint: the powerpack and suspension are the same as fitted to the M2/M3 Bradley. There are more pictures of it in the Squadron/Signal M551 Sheridan In Action book. It was built for the Us Army Armored Gun System competition to find a replacement for the Sheridan.

IIRC it ran into unacceptable weight growth when it ran into the same armour problem as the Bradley: the aluminum armour was too light. Uparmouring it made it too heavy to be airlifted by C-130, let alone be air-dropped; air-dropping was one of the requirements of the AGS competition.

rallymodeller · December 08, 2008, 11:16:33 PM

I sit corrected. Apparently the program is still alive; the tank was type-classified as the M8 Buford AGS. Looks a lot different now...

PanzerWulff · December 09, 2008, 01:54:15 AM

Until I saw the pics for a minute I thought you were talking about one I recently saw on the military channel.it is under development and only weighs 18 tons and only has a crew of 3,the amazing thing is it's mostly "Plastic" Composite armor that has so far held up to weapons up to the abrams 120mm

I like the look of the Vickers and the M8 Buford they look like mean little buggers for their size
"Panzer"

Rafael · December 09, 2008, 12:22:47 PM

Any 3-view or diagrams of that Mark 5?

Rafa

dy031101 · December 09, 2008, 12:39:16 PM

Quote from: Rafael on December 09, 2008, 12:22:47 PM
Any 3-view or diagrams of that Mark 5?

I'm interested in one, too, for playing mixing-and-matching with M46/47/48/60 hull drawings.

kengeorge · December 09, 2008, 05:42:40 PM

Morning,
I'm afraid I only have a side view of the Vickers Mk.5, an not a 3 view.
dy031101, I have blanks for M47, M48A5 and M60A1, if you need more.
Thanks
Ken

dy031101 · December 09, 2008, 06:14:27 PM

Quote from: kengeorge on December 09, 2008, 05:42:40 PM
I'm afraid I only have a side view of the Vickers Mk.5, an not a 3 view.

Thank you so much!

Quote from: rallymodeller on December 08, 2008, 11:16:33 PM
Apparently the program is still alive; the tank was type-classified as the M8 Buford AGS. Looks a lot different now...

Despite similarities in concept, I never drew the connection......

======================================================================

A question about the older Mk.3 and Mk.3M: is the turret of the Mk.3M a new-build or just a stock Mk.3 turret fitted with applique armour packs (in a manner similar to that of the later Israeli Sabra)?

kengeorge · December 09, 2008, 07:20:36 PM

Morning,
dy031101, just got your E-mail! No, neither my 4 view of the M48A5 does not have the M48A5K side skirts, or the one I found just now onhttp://www.globalsecurity.org/military/systems/ground/m48.htm
Another is this; http://www.primeportal.net/tanks/shchang/m48a5k_photos.htm A good few photos of the M48A5K.
Hope these are OK for you.
Ken

kengeorge · December 10, 2008, 02:35:23 PM

Evening,
dy031101, here are your Leopard 2 blanks you asked for.
Hope these are OK.
Ken

dy031101 · December 10, 2008, 08:03:50 PM

Does the Vickers Mk.5 use an autoloader like the XM8 or does it employ a human loader?

kengeorge · December 11, 2008, 06:45:25 PM

Morning,
dy031101,RE,M36-Sorry I don't have any blanks, as far as I know isn't the M36 just an up gunned M10? Substitute the 76mm for a 90mm. And no I don't seem to have any M10 blanks either.
Not sure if you requested the M47, but here it is anyway.
Wish I could help you more.
Ken

dy031101 · May 26, 2009, 08:10:54 AM

From the thread revival that I did to the Pershing/Patton thread, Weaver mentioned a Vickers MBT with Swingfire missiles.

Is this the one?

Are the launchers mounted on the turret or on the hull? (I couldn't tell from the angle.)

Hman · May 26, 2009, 02:31:10 PM

Quote from: dy031101 on May 26, 2009, 08:10:54 AM
From the thread revival that I did to the Pershing/Patton thread, Weaver mentioned a Vickers MBT with Swingfire missiles.

Is this the one?

Are the launchers mounted on the turret or on the hull? (I couldn't tell from the angle.)

The launchers are mounted on the the rear of the turret.

Weaver · May 26, 2009, 02:36:18 PM

Quote from: Darren on May 26, 2009, 02:31:10 PM
Quote from: dy031101 on May 26, 2009, 08:10:54 AM
From the thread revival that I did to the Pershing/Patton thread, Weaver mentioned a Vickers MBT with Swingfire missiles.

Is this the one?

Are the launchers mounted on the turret or on the hull? (I couldn't tell from the angle.)

The launchers are mounted on the the rear of the turret.

Yep - they sit on either side of the turret bustle and elevate for launch.