Conqueror Tank Mk1 in the foreground & Centurion Mk3 in the background

The British Conqueror Tank FV214 was the last of the Heavy Tanks built by the British. Built to support the medium Centurion Tank with its 120mm main gun, it was built-in 2 Marks (Mk).

Both Mk shared the same hull and turret, but with minor modifications.

The Mk2 had a revised upper frontal glacis plate welds, a single Drivers sight, revised electrical cabling to the headlights and different exhaust.

Despite the Mk1 hull also being used for the FV221 Caernarvon, the vehicle proved unpopular with British Tank Crews (as did the early Centurions) and had a limited service life.

However, it was the first British Tank to feature a Hunter Killer capability, a feature that would later be used to distinguish a 3^rd Generation Main Battle Tank.

Entering production in 1955, a total of Twenty Mk1 and 165 Mark 2 Conquerors were built, including conversions of Caernarvon Mk II’s. Production continued until 1959 and served with the British Army from 1955 to 1966. A few examples of both Mk1 and Mk2 tanks remain in museums in the UK, America and Russia.

Conqueror Tank Identifying the Mk1 & Mk2

: Conqueror Tank Mk1 and Mk2 Differences

: Conqueror Tank Mk1 and Mk2 Differences

: Conqueror Tank Mk1 and Mk2 Differences

: Conqueror Tank Mk1 and Mk2 Differences

: Conqueror Tank Mk1 and Mk2 Differences

The Conqueror Mk1 and Mk2 are very similar with small changes between the two. You can spot the Mk1 as it has the following differences:

The Driver has x3 vision blocks on the Mk1 sitting on top of the upper glacis plate, the Mk2 has x1 which is sunk into the front glacis plate
The electrical cabling for the headlights on the Mk1 runs along the top of the glacis plate and is not contained in any trunking. The Mk2 uses trunking on the right side of the glacis and then runs horizontally behind the headlights on the glacis plate
Due to the changes in the Drivers station the upper plate welding, shape and slope changes
On the Mk1, the exhaust is x2 narrow protruding pipes with a thin curved shield. On the Mk2 the exhaust is fully under a new thicker shield and a single vent
The Conqueror used the L1 120mm main gun. The initial model fitted on the first production Mk1 was the L1A1. This had no proper fume extractor. The L1A2 was the second model of the gun and had a fume extractor in the center of the barrel

Conqueror Tank Firepower

Main Gun

The Conqueror used the American M56 120mm main gun as used on the M103 Heavy Tank. This was designated the L1 and manufactured in two versions, the L1A1 (with no fume extractor) and L1A2, which had a fume extractor.

The L1 used a 2-part ammunition. The bag charge (propellent) was contained in a brass shell. This was loaded into the breach after the projectile was first loaded. This was either a Armour-Piercing Discarding Sabot (APDS) or High Explosive Squash Head (HESH).

Fire Control System

: Conqueror Tank Mk1 – Commanders Sub Turret Rear at Bovington Tank Musuem

: Conqueror Tank Mk2 – Commanders Sub Turret Front Imperial War Museum Duxford

The Gunner was equipped with the No.10 Mk1 periscope as his primary sight. The Commander had a sub-turret that traversed independently of the main turret. This enabled him to detect and track enemy targets independently of the Gunner. He could then press a button that would lay the L1 gun on to the target ready for the Gunner to engage. He could then move on to detecting the next target.

This is refered to by modern standards as a “Hunter Killer capability”. This system was called the “Gun Control Equipment” on the Conqueror.

Conqueror was taken into service with known defects on the FCS and GCE part of this. One fault was that of the FCT “twitching” after line up. The War Office felt the faults were acceptable and the tank was issued, mods to GCE were carried out to rectify the issues, but the only real Conquerors that did as it said on the tin were the 7 Mk2/1H, these were deemed to work 100%.

Conqueror Tank Protection

Conqueror Tank Armor Thickness

The Conqueror was an all steel construction. This was thickest at the front as shown in the diagram and would further rely on sloping the steel to increase its thickness.

Conqueror Tank Mobility

The Conqueror was powered by a 810hp Rolls-Royce Meteor M120 engine and Horstmann suspension. The Drive Sprocket is at the rear of the hull and Idler Wheel at the front. It has x8 Road Wheels and x4 Return Rollers.

Despite its weight as a heavy tank, its mobility and speed was good enough for it to keep pace with the lighter medium Centurion Tanks it was tasked to provide anti-tank support for against the Soviet Joseph Stalin IS-3 heavy tank.

Conqueror Tank Layout

: Conqueror Tank Mk1

: Conqueror Tank Mk1

: Conqueror Tank Mk1

: Conqueror Tank Mk2

: Conqueror Tank Mk2

: Conqueror Tank Mk2

The Driver was located on the right side of the hull. The Gunner was located on the right side of the turret and the Loader (Operator) was located on the leftside, with the breach in-between them. Located behind the breach was a mechanical ejection system for the empty brass shell.

The explosive 120mm ammunition (HESH and charges) was spread below the turret ring in the hull. The APDS was mounted along the left side of the turret wall. The Loader also operated the radios mounted at the rear of his station.

Located in the turret bustle (rear) was the Commanders sub-turret with its own large hatch.

Conqueror Tank Spaced Armor Trials Vehicle

To assess the future armor requirements of a “future heavy tank” (potential successor to Conqueror) the Conqueror was subject to several trials against different current and in development ammunitions. This was not intended as an upgrade for the Conqueror.

To get accurate results of the improvements of the future tanks armor, added armored plates were mounted across the hull and turret front, fixed with tubular spacing’s doubling up as spaced armor.

Conqueror Tank Specifications

Firepower
Main Gun	120mm Rifled L1A1 or L1A2 Elevation -7 to +15
Secondary Weapons	x1 coaxial 7.62mm MG, x1 7.62mm MG or x1 .30 MG
Ammunition Storage	x35 120mm, x? 7.62mm, x? .30
Mobility
Engine	810hp Rolls-Royce Meteor M120
Transmission	Manual (5 forward/ 2 reverse gears)
Top Road Speed	35 km/h
Road Range	161 km
Fuel Capacity	? Litres
Vertical Obstacle	?
Water Capability	?
Trench Crossing	?
Gradient	60%?
Side Slope	30%?
Dimensions
Length Gun Forward	11.58m
Length Hull	7.72m
Width	3.98m
Height	3.35m (Inc Sub-Turret)
Ground Clearance	0.5m
Weight	64,000kg aka 64 tonne combat
Protection
NBC Protected	No
Armor Type	Steel/Slope
Active Protection Systems	No
Crew
Commander	Yes
Gunner	Yes
Loader	Yes
Driver	Yes
Additional Crew	—
Troops Carried	n/a