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Posted on 12/07/2004 12:10:32 AM PST by SAMWolf
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 are acknowledged, affirmed and commemorated.
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| Our Mission: The FReeper Foxhole is dedicated to Veterans of our Nation's military forces and to others who are affected in their relationships with Veterans. In the FReeper Foxhole, Veterans or their family members should feel free to address their specific circumstances or whatever issues concern them in an atmosphere of peace, understanding, brotherhood and support. The FReeper Foxhole hopes to share with it's readers an open forum where we can learn about and discuss military history, military news and other topics of concern or interest to our readers be they Veteran's, Current Duty or anyone interested in what we have to offer. If the Foxhole makes someone appreciate, even a little, what others have sacrificed for us, then it has accomplished one of it's missions. We hope the Foxhole in some small way helps us to remember and honor those who came before us.
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 The mainstay of the British Army of the 1960s and 1970s, the Chieftain mounts a long barreled 120mm cannon as well as 2 7.62mm machine guns, one coaxial and one anti-aircraft. The Chieftain solved the problem of ranging the main gun by using a ranging machine gun with similar ballistic characteristics as the cannon. When the machine gun rounds hit the target, the gunner could be reasonably assured that his cannon round will hit. The Chieftain succeeded the Centurion and was in turn replaced by the Challenger.  Early Chieftains and some later modified tanks mount the 50. Cal M2HB machinegun over the main gun as a ranging gun. Iran and Kuwait retained the .50 Cal MG. The HESH round is used for antitank chemical-energy (CE) antiarmor missions, and for HE effects against personnel and materiel. The Iranians claim to employ a snorkel system on Chieftain, for fording to 5 meters depth. A variety of fire control systems and thermal sights are available for Chieftain. At 324 Chieftains have been upgraded with the Barr and Stroud TOGS thermal sight system. The 1R26 thermal camera can be used with the 1R18 thermal night sight. It has wide (13.6°) and narrow (4.75°) fields of view, and is compatible with TOGS format. GEC Sensors offers a long list of sights including: Multisensors Platform, Tank Thermal Sensor, and SS100/110 thermal night sight. Marconi, Nanoquest, and Pilkington offer day and night sights for the Chieftain.  Charm Armament upgrade program, with the 120-mm L30 gun incorporated in Challenger 1, is available for Chieftain modification programs.  VARIANTS Mk 5: Final production variant, with a new engine and NBC system, modified auxiliary weapons and sights. Mk 6-11 are upgrades to earlier models, with addition of IFCS. Mk 12 added ROMOR (aka: Stillbrew) spaced armor boxes. Mk 11 and Mk 12 have Thermal Observation and Gunnery Sight (TOGS). A variety of support vehicles were developed from the tank. They include recovery vehicles, AVLB, dozer, mineclearer, air defense and 155-mm SP artillery systems. Chieftain AVRE MK I: In 1986, the 40 Army Engineer Support Group Workshops in Willich, Germany, converted 12 Chieftain gun tanks into Chieftain AVREs for use in BAOR. Chieftain AVRE MK II:In late 1989 Vickers Defence Systems was awarded a contract for the design, development and conversion of 48 Chieftain gun tanks into Chieftain Armoured Vehicle Royal Engineers. The 48 vehicle contract included two prototype vehicles and 46 production vehicles in two batches.  First two prototypes were completed in 1991 with production running until 1994. The conversion work utilised Chieftain MBT chassis provided from Army stocks. The vehicles have a new superstructure, a 10 tonnes capacity winch at the hull rear, an ATLAS hydraulic crane and top-mounted stowage platforms on which the engineer equipment is carried. Chieftain AVLB: The Chieftain AVLB is basically a Chieftain MBT chassis without a turret and fitted with a hydraulic system for laying and recovering a bridge. The vehicle can carry and lay either the No 8 or the No 9 Tank Bridge. A total of 51 AVLBs were built by Leeds, 37 for the UK Armed Forces and 14 for the Iranian Army. The No 8 Tank Bridge has an overall length of 24m and can span a gap of up to 23m. It is carried folded and launched over the front of the vehicle.  The No 9 Tank Bridge is 13.5m long and can span a gap up to 12m. It is carried horizontally and is swung vertically through 180° and laid in position in front of the vehicle. Chieftain Marksman : Chieftain hull fitted with Marksman air defence gun system Chieftain ARRV: This is essentially a Chieftain ARV fitted with a hydraulic crane that can lift a complete Challenger MBT power pack. ARRVs were conversions from existing ARVs. Other modifications include hydraulic track tensioners.  Chieftain Mk 6 AVLB: In March 1984, Vickers Defence Systems was awarded a contract by the UK MoD to convert 11 Chieftain Mk 1/4 gun tanks into Chieftain Mk 6 AVLBs. The user trials were completed by November 1985 and the first vehicles were handed over in June 1986 with final delivery made in September 1986.  The conversion work included removing the complete turret and replacing it with an armoured roof plate with a commander's hatch; fitting the launching mechanism on the hull and roof plate to maintain the same geometrical position as on production AVLBs and providing mounting points at the front of the hull for the Pearson Engineering Track Width Mine Plough system. For Operation Desert Shield/Desert Storm, a number of the Chieftain AVLBs of the Royal Engineers were used in the mineclearing role. Additional Chobham-type armour was fitted to the sides of the vehicle similar to that fitted to the Challenger 1 MBT. As well as the Pearson Engineering plough system fitted at the front of the hull they were also fitted with a device to detect and activate mines fitted with a magnetic fuze. The vehicles also towed a trailer-mounted Giant Viper mineclearing system. Khalid/Shir 1: In 1979 Jordan ordered 274 slightly modified Shirs under the designation of Khalid which were delivered from 1981. Khalid is essentially a late production Chieftain with major changes to the fire control system and powerpack which is based on the Shir 2 version developed for Iran before the revolution. The engine is a Rolls-Royce Condor V12 1200bhp diesel. The fire control system is a Marconi system incorporating a Pilkington PE Condor commanders day/night sight with a Barr & Stroud Laser rangefinder.  Germany purchased two chieftains for evaluation trials in the early 1970's, Their eventual fate is unknown. In 1971, Iran placed an order for approximately 707 Chieftain MBTs: the Mk 3/3(P) and Mk 5/3(P) plus a quantity of ARVs and bridgelayers, all of which were delivered by early 1978. Iran also took delivery of 187 improved Chieftains called the FV4030/1. In 1974, Iran ordered 125 Shir Iran 1 and 1,225 Shir Iran 2 MBTs for delivery from 1980 - but the order was cancelled in 1979 after the fall of the Shah and before deliveries could begin from Royal Ordnance Leeds  During fighting in the Middle East, Iraq captured between approximately 300 Chieftain MBTs from Iran, many of which were undamaged. In 1988, Iraq passed on to Jordan 90 Chieftains amongst a large quantity of military equipment. Contrary to well established rumour the Iraelis never had any Chieftains in service. Two Chieftain Mark 1/2 were sent to Israel as part of a sales drive but were withdrawn shortly before the outbreak of war. Late in 1988, Iraq gave Jordan a large amount of military equipment captured during the fighting with Iran. It included 90 Chieftains, 20 Scorpions, 60 M47 tanks, and 35 armoured personnel carriers.  Chieftains of the Kuwaiti Army engaged Iraqi MBTs, including T-72s, during the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait in the summer of 1990. In August 1981, Oman took delivery of 12 British Army Chieftain Mk 7/2C MBTs. Though they were on loan they were subsequently purchased by Oman together with 15 new Chieftains called the Qayd Al Ardh, or Mk 15, which were delivered between 1984 and 1985. These Chieftains are fitted with the BAE L20 sight which incorporates the GEC-Marconi/Ferranti Type 520 laser rangefinder.
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Morning stand watie.
Free Dixie!
Amen to that.
Thanks, StarCMC.
Man! Tthe fusalage sure thins down between the cabin and the tail!
In this morning's Daily Oklahoman, there was a letter in the opinion section who apparently wasn't happy with our choice to replace Don Nickles as our next US Senator.
I can tell you that had Brad Carson, The Democrat won our representation would have been very shoddy to say the least. What Oklahoma wants is someone who will work with everyone, not just those who vote for him or contribute to his political campaign.
The US Senate seats ar not for exclusive use to anyone political individual or group. This letter writer should remember that.
I think we the voters of Oklahoma made the right decision to send Tom Coburn to the Senate.
We picked up three-quaters of an inch or rain yesterday. we had to unplug the computer several times due to thunder and lightning.
There were some t-storm warnings issued for the Wichita Falls Texas area.
Our IE browser hung on us in our first trip to the Internet yesterday morning. We thankfully didn't have to reboot the computer but we did have to restart the IE broswer.
How's it going for you, Snippy?
Historically armor has required infantry support at all times. Infantryment I have talked to do not relish the memory of those times when they provided that support. Infiltration attacks by elite enemy troops and steady enemy mortar fire make for a long night. A short life and not a merry one. A miracle to survive such stuff.
Read once about a Sherman operation in Korea. American troops required replacement every day, but one unit stayed and got the job done for the three worst nights - a Legion Etranger outfit, almost all ex Waffen SS. They took 80% casualties without morale breaking down.
The Israelis are still using Centurion hulls and running gear, for example in the construction of "heavy APCs".
Good article on heavy apcs from "Armor" magazine:
http://www.knox.army.mil/center/ocoa/ArmorMag/ma01/2deployvssurvive01.pdf.
Centurion heavy apc "Nakpadon" page, excellent site:
http://www.israeli-weapons.com/weapons/vehicles/engineer_vehicles/nakpadon/Nakpadon.html
The Dims are still melting down about the election, aren't they?
The Foxhole sure is fun for us military history geeks.
I got a kick out of the BBC article where the reporter was surprised the interior of a tank can be cramped and hot. Reporters can be so clueless.
There are thoughts and applications for M-113 armor improvement, this first in production and costing, they say, $75,000 (very cheap) while stopping 23 mm Russian Armor Piercing Capped, single charge shaped charges like RPG7 or Sagger, while adding only 2 tons. 
The well known Blazer armor M-113 test vehicle,
I doubt whether they'll ever get over it.(LOL)
Just typical behavior by the left leaving their signs out even though the election's over.(LOL)
Today's classic warship, USS Baldwin (DD-624)
Gleaves class destroyer
Displacement. 1630 t.
Lenght. 348'3"
Beam. 36'1"
Draft. 17'5"
Speed. 35 k.
Complement. 276
Armament. 4 5", 6 .50cal mg, 10 21" tt.
USS Baldwin (DD 624) was launched 14 June 1942 by Seattle-Tacoma Shipbuilding Co., Seattle, Wash.; sponsored by Mrs. Ida E. Crawford, daughter of Acting Master's Mate Baldwin; commissioned 30 April 1943, Lieutenant Commander G. Knuepfer in command, and reported to the Atlantic Fleet.
Between 13 August 1943 and 25 January 1944 Baldwin made three trans-Atlantic convoy escort crossings to Casablanca, French Morocco. She also acted as a fire support, patrol, and escort vessel during the invasions of Normandy (5 June-15 July 1944) and southern France (13 August-25 September). She sustained slight damage from two small caliber shells off Normandy 6 June. Between 21 January and 27 February 1945 Baldwin escorted USS Quincy (CA-71) carrying President Roosevelt to the Yalta Conference.
Upon her return to the United States Baldwin carried out patrol and plane guard duties off the east coast until July 1945, when she departed for the Pacific. Between August 1945 and January 1946 she acted as flagship for the minesweeping operations off the Korea and China coasts.
Returning to the east coast in January 1946, Baldwin served with the Atlantic Fleet until placed out of commission in reserve at Charleston SC, 20 June 1946.
Though she had no further active service, Baldwin suffered a notable accident at sea in mid-April 1961, when she broke loose while under tow between Reserve Fleet facilities and went ashore off Montauk Point. Though refloated a few weeks later, she was not worth repairing. USS Baldwin was stricken from the Navy list at the beginning of June and scuttled at sea on 5 June 1961.
Baldwin received three battle stars for her World War II service.
Ensign Red Shirt! Run away!
Nice, but they could place there something more Polish than castle in Malbork built by Teutonic Knights :)
http://www.zamek.malbork.pl/
Even with all the new technology, armor is still pretty much blind when it comes to seeing infantry waiting in ambush.
LOL! I was wondering if anyone was gonna post a Rube Goldberg contraption.
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