- Yes
- No
Introduction
The FV201, initially designated the A45, was conceived in 1944 amid World War II as an alternative development to the A43 Black Prince infantry tank. The Black Prince had been developed as a heavily armored vehicle equipped with a 17-pounder gun but was offensively outdated before it was complete, largely due to its non-existent speed and maneuverability, as well as its antiquated armour profile. In response, British Army officials, notably Director Royal Armoured Corps Raymond Briggs, advocated for a new tank that would incorporate elements from the more advanced A41 Centurion, which was being developed concurrently. Briggs and Brigadier William Blagden, Deputy Director General Fighting Vehicles, were both proponents of a “universal tank” concept that would merge the roles of infantry and cruiser tanks into a single platform capable of supporting various combat roles across the battlefield.
From 1945 to 1946, work on the A45 progressed as a series of prototypes, which eventually led to the formal re-designation of the tank under the newly introduced “FV” numbering system, classifying it as FV201. This designation aligned with a broader reorganization of the British military vehicle hierarchy. Early prototypes featured Centurion-inspired designs, including sloped frontal armour and a Centurion-style turret modified to eventually accommodate a 20-pounder gun. The FV201’s chassis was unique, with a longer hull, eight steel roadwheels, and an additional crew member, with proposals for variants wielding equipment such as flamethrowers and mine flails. Initial prototypes, like the FV201 P1, saw a variety of configurations and tests, including the P3, an amphibious version designed to float using a DD (Duplex Drive) flotation system.
Despite showing potential, the FV201 project faced setbacks, especially when a captured Soviet T-54 tank inspected during the 1956 Hungarian Uprising revealed that the FV201’s 20-pounder would be insufficient against newer Soviet armor. In light of this, British and American defense officials pivoted to developing heavier armaments, such as the 120mm L1 gun, and the FV201 project transitioned into the development of the FV214 Conqueror. The Conqueror retained key design elements of the FV201 but incorporated a larger turret, one less crew member, and other modifications. Although the FV201 itself did not reach active service, it significantly influenced British tank design, laying the groundwork for the Conqueror and serving as a transitional model between early post-war tanks and the main battle tank designs that followed.
This suggestion will focus on the FV201 ‘P3’, the third of the numbered prototypes. As mentioned above, this vehicle dons a floatation screen reminiscent of D-Day’s floating Shermans, serving as a testbed for the validity of the FV201 for amphibious operations. As well as this, the FV201 P3 wields the 20pdr cannon, the planned final armament of the FV201 series, in a turret that sits somewhere between the Centurion Mk 2 & 3.
The FV201 performed reasonably well in amphibious trials (it floated), but it fell short of its desired max speed, and it was found to be too wide for the UKs existing landing craft at the time, so if the UK were to adopt the FV201, they would be unsuitable for amphibious operations unless an entire new class of landing ships were developed.
In game, flotation screens have never really been implemented, so it could just be included as a toggle-able vis-mod, similar to the M1 KVT. Regardless, the vehicle remains a key part of British tank development which would be good to see in game.
Specifications
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