The FV 4201 Chieftain was the Main battle tank of the United Kingdom during the 1960s and 1970s. It was one of the more competitive tanks of its time, having a powerful main gun and armour. The Chieftain also introduced a supine (lying backwards) driver position, enabling a heavily sloped and reduced height hull.
The first Chieftain model was introduced in 1967, and has since been delivered to at least six countries, including Iran (where it was named the "Mk5(P)), Kuwait, Oman, Jordan. The largest of the foreign sales was to Iran, which took delivery of around 1,000 Mk5Ps before the 1979 revolution. Further planned deliveries of the more capable 4030 series were cancelled at that point. So the tank's main combat experience was in the Iran-Iraq war of 1980-88.
