- Yes
- No
Introduction
In the early 1970s, Iran sought to modernize its armoured forces, primarily with western equipment, and turned to Britain for MBTs. After acquiring over 700 Chieftain tanks and various support vehicles, Iran placed an order for an improved version called the FV4030/2, or Shir 1, based on the Chieftain Mark 5. Designed for Iran’s harsh terrain, and hoping to fix some of the Chieftains rather publicised faults, the FV4030/2 featured an upgraded powertrain, including a 1200hp Rolls-Royce CV12 engine and David Brown TN37 transmission. The tank retained the Chieftain’s 120 mm rifled gun and cast armour, but received hydropneumatic suspension as well as an upgraded Marconi FCS. By 1977, 3 prototypes had been built and tested successfully in Britain, and delivery was scheduled to begin in 1980, with 125 FV4030/2 tanks and over 1,200 FV4030/3 (Shir 2) models on order.
The Islamic Revolution in February 1979 abruptly ended the program, as the new regime canceled all Western military contracts. Production at Leeds was halted just as manufacturing was ramping up, leaving Britain with partially completed tanks, significant financial losses, and a 5-year shortage of manufacturing work before the next major project, the MBT-80, would be ready for production. The FV4030/2, designed to be a stepping stone to the more advanced FV4030/3, was left without its intended operator. British authorities scrambled to repurpose the tanks, eventually striking a deal with Jordan to supply 274 reconditioned FV4030/2 tanks under the new name “Khalid.” Jordan requested modifications, including a Perkins V12 engine and upgraded fire-control systems, but the tank largely remained conceptually the same.
Despite the FV4030/2 never reaching Iran, its development contributed significantly to British tank evolution. Having a somewhat powerful and moderately reliable engine, it essentially encapsulates what the Chieftain should have been from the start, without the multi-fuel debacle. Lessons learned from the FV4030/2 and FV4030/3 designs also fed directly into the Challenger 1 program, which replaced the MBT-80 program in an effort to keep British tank manufacturers and component suppliers employed. Though the Shir 1 never materialised, besides a few prototypes, its legacy persisted through the Challenger tanks that would define British heavy armour to the modern day.
In game, the FV4030/2 would serve as an excellent tech tree counterpart to the premium Khalid, representing the peak of the Chieftain design, until the Chieftain 800/900/2000 show up.
Specifications
Spoiler
General
- Engine: Rolls-Royce CV12 26-litre diesel
- Power Output: 1,200 hp (895 kW)
- Transmission: David Brown TN37 (4 forward gears, 3 reverse)
- Suspension: Hydropneumatic (hydrogas)
- Weight: 55 tons (combat)
- Hull Length: 7.52 m
- Hull Width: 3.5 m (with skirts)
- Height: 2.9 m
Armament
- Main Gun: L11A5 120 mm rifled gun
- Ammunition types: HESH, Smoke, APDS, APFSDS
- Secondary Armament:
- 7.62 mm MG coaxial
- 7.62 mm MG on commander’s cupola
Protection
- **Standard Chieftain Mk 5
Crew
- 4
Mobility
- Max Speed: 48 km/h
- Range: Up to 500 km on road (internal fuel)
Images
Sources
Spoiler
Janes Armour and Artillery 1979-1980, Pages 61-63
Shir-1 Main Battle Tank (1974)
Chieftain Tank | The British Chieftain was the first Main Battle Tank
