Tankopedia
Early Cold WarHeavyHeavy TankUnited Kingdom

Conqueror

In service 1955 - 1966

British heavy tank built to kill IS-3s at long range, retired as soon as Centurion could do the job.

Built byRoyal Ordnance Factory Dalmuir

Conqueror
Conqueror front-left 2017 Bovington — Morio, via Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0

Development history

The Conqueror existed for one purpose: to out-range Soviet heavy tanks with its 120 mm gun while Centurions handled the rest of the battle. It had a powered commander's cupola with independent ranging, but it was enormous, thirsty and mechanically strained. Once the Centurion received the L7 105 mm gun, the Conqueror had no reason to exist.

Variants

One canonical record, 3 recorded variants.

  1. Conqueror Mk I

    1955

    First production batch, limited numbers.

  2. Conqueror Mk II

    1956

    Revised commander's cupola and fighting compartment layout.

  3. Conqueror ARV

    1959

    Armoured recovery vehicle conversion that outlived the gun tanks.

Notable actions

  • British Army of the Rhine deployments 1955-1966