Tankopedia
Early Cold WarTank DestroyerUnited Kingdom

FV4101 Charioteer

In service 1954 - 1960s in UK service; later in export use

Surplus Cromwell hulls fitted with a big two-man turret and the Centurion's 20-pounder gun, a cheap way to put a modern anti-tank weapon into Territorial Army units.

Built byRobinson and Kershaw

FV4101 Charioteer
FV4101 Charioteer, Vadim Zadorozhny Technical Museum — Alan Wilson, via Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 2.0

Development history

After 1945 Britain had hundreds of Cromwells whose 75 mm guns were useless against Soviet armour, and a shortage of money for new tanks. The Charioteer conversion cut away the Cromwell turret and fitted a tall, thinly armoured turret carrying the 20-pounder that armed the Centurion. The result was fast, well armed and very vulnerable, which suited its doctrine: dug-in anti-tank defence rather than manoeuvre. Around two hundred were converted from 1954 and issued mainly to Royal Armoured Corps territorial regiments. Exports followed to Austria, Finland, Jordan and Lebanon, where some were still in position during the Lebanese civil war.

Variants

One canonical record, 2 recorded variants.

  1. Charioteer Mk VI

    1954

    Standard conversion of the Cromwell hull with the 20-pounder turret.

  2. Charioteer Mk VII

    1956

    Improved stowage and commander position for export customers.

Notable actions

  • Lebanese Civil War