The Tank Museum
Published 20 Mar 2026Chieftain. The world’s first main battle tank. An icon of the Cold War, it served the British Army for more than 30 years. Yet, it had something of a Jekyll and Hyde reputation. It was prized for having the best gun in the world but, for the British, it never fired a shot in anger. Loved by gunners. Loathed by mechanics. The Chieftain was often referred to as the best tank in the world as long as it broke down in the right place.
But was the gun truly as good as the stats make it out to be? And was the engine really that bad? It’s time to take a dive into the heart of the Iron Triangle to find out.
00:00 | Introduction
00:36 | Gun
03:44 | Engine
06:19 | Armour
11:07 | Just Deserts
13:53 | A Tragic HeroIn this film, join James Donaldson as he delves into the good, the bad, and the ugly sides of the Chieftain tank. With a great gun, revolutionary armour, and a misunderstood engine, Chieftain’s service with the British ensured the Cold War never turned hot. And hear from Chieftain veterans, Bob and Steve, as they share their experiences with this iconic tank.
This video features archive footage courtesy of British Pathé.
Want to learn more about the Chieftain? Here are some of the sources we used to make this film:
Chieftain Haynes Owner’s Workshop Manual, Taylor, 2016
Chieftain, Griffin, 2001
Chobham Armour: Cold War British Armoured Vehicle Development, Suttie, 2022
Tankograd – FV4201 Chieftain, Schulze, 2020Support The Tank Museum!
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Membership: / @thetankmuseum
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Workshops Channel: / @tankmuseumworkshop
March 21, 2026
The Complete Chieftain Tank
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