Vickers MBT

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Image:Vickers MBT.jpg
Vickers MBT

The Vickers MBT was a series of Main Battle Tanks developed as a private venture by Vickers-Armstrongs for export.

Contents

[edit] The Mk 1

The mark one was designed to be a simple low cost but effective tank.[1]. The first prototype was completed in 1963.[1] It weighs 38,000kg carried a 105mm gun and had a top speed of 48km/h[1]. 70 tanks were sold to Kuwait and a large number of a modified version were made in India where the tank was called Vijayanta[1]. A Mk 2 version was planned, to be equipped with four Swingfire anti-tank missiles in addition to the main gun, but this did not enter production.[2]

[edit] The Mk 3

The prototype of the mark 3 was completed in 1975 and the tank was designed to meet the same requirements as the mark one while offering better performance.[3] Production started in 1978 and a number of tanks were sold to Kenya and Nigeria[3]. The tank is again armed with a 105mm main gun and has a top speed of 50km/h[3]. It has a combat weight of 40,000kg[3].

There was also a Vickers Marksman SPAAG version, equipped with the Marksman turret.

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b c d Gelbart, Marsh (1996). Tanks main battle and light tanks. Brassey’s UK Ltd. ISBN 185753168X. 
  2. ^ Ogorkiewicz, R M (1973). Vickers Battle Tank, Profile Publications, August 1973.
  3. ^ a b c d Gelbart, Marsh (1996). Tanks main battle and light tanks. Brassey’s UK Ltd. ISBN 185753168X. 

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