Centurion vs Chieftain / Shir

British tank, entering service in 1946, saw use in the Korean War and multiple Middle Eastern conflicts.
Profile of Centurion
Origin country 🇬🇧 United Kingdom
Category Main Battle Tank
Type Heavy Main Battle Tank
Manufacturer Royal Ordnance Factory
Number produced 4,423 units
Estimated unit price $0.3 million
British main battle tank, 1056 units built, designed for high crew survivability.
Profile of Chieftain / Shir
Origin country 🇬🇧 United Kingdom
Category Main Battle Tank
Type Heavy Main Battle Tank
Manufacturer Royal Ordnance Factory
Number produced 1,056 units
Estimated unit price $-- million
Combat weight 51.0 tons â—‰
Maximum speed 34 km/h â—‰
Operational range 100 km â—‰
Length 9.83 m â—‰
Width 3.38 m â—‰
Height 2.94 m â—‰
Crew 4 (commander, gunner, loader, driver)
Engine Rolls-Royce Meteor 4B
Main armament 1 L7A1 105mm rifled barrel (70 shells) gun
Secondary weapon 1 M-2HB 12.7mm machine gun (600 rounds)
Combat weight 55.0 tons â—‰
Maximum speed 48 km/h â—‰
Operational range 500 km â—‰
Length 9.99 m â—‰
Width 3.50 m â—‰
Height 2.90 m â—‰
Crew 4
Engine Leyland L60 Diesel Engine with 750 hp
Main armament 1 L11A5 120mm rifled barrel gun
Secondary weapon 1 L8A1 7.62mm coaxial machine gun

Performance Radar Chart

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is faster, the Centurion or Chieftain / Shir?
The Chieftain / Shir is faster with a maximum road speed of 48 km/h compared to the Centurion's 34 km/h.
Which has longer operational range, the Centurion or Chieftain / Shir?
The Chieftain / Shir has a longer operational range at 500 km compared to the Centurion's 100 km.
Which is heavier, the Centurion or Chieftain / Shir?
The Chieftain / Shir is heavier at 55.0 tons combat weight compared to the Centurion's 51.0 tons.
Which is larger, the Centurion or Chieftain / Shir?
The Chieftain / Shir is longer at 9.99 meters compared to the Centurion's 9.83 meters.
How many crew members do the Centurion and Chieftain / Shir require?
The Centurion requires a larger crew of 4 (commander, gunner, loader, driver) compared to the Chieftain / Shir's 4 crew members.
Which has been built in greater numbers, the Centurion or Chieftain / Shir?
The Centurion has been produced in greater numbers with 4,423 units compared to 1,056 units of the Chieftain / Shir.
What are the main armaments of the Centurion and Chieftain / Shir?
The Centurion is armed with 1 L7A1 105mm rifled barrel (70 shells) gun while the Chieftain / Shir carries 1 L11A5 120mm rifled barrel gun as its main armament.