Vickers Mk.3
Summary
| Origin country | 🇬🇧 United Kingdom |
| Category | Main Battle Tank |
| Sub-type | Medium Main Battle Tank |
| Manufacturer | Vickers Defense Systems |
| Number built | 112 units |
Technical specifications
| Crew | 4 personnels |
| Range | 490 km |
| Mass | 38.7 tons |
| Height | 2.47 m (8.1 ft) |
| Width | 3.16 m (10.4 ft) |
| Length | 9.78 m (32.1 ft) |
| Max. speed | 60 km/h (37 mph) |
| Engine | Detroit Diesel 12V-71T 12-Cylinder Diesel Engine with 720 hp |
| Weapon 1 | 1 L7A1 105mm rifled barrel gun |
| Weapon 2 | 1 MAG 7.62mm coaxial machine gun, 1 7.62mm anti-aircraft machine gun |
Description
The Vickers Mk. 3 was introduced in 1975 as a development for the export market. Based on Design No. 51400 T, development of the variant commenced in 1974. It represented the final design in the Vickers main battle tank series to achieve export sales in numbers. The government of Kenya placed the initial production order for the vehicle in 1977.
The primary design modification from the earlier Mk. 1 involves the turret, which incorporates a cast front welded to a body of fabricated armor plate. The turret features a cast gun mantlet shaped to provide better resistance against armor-piercing projectiles than the flat mantlet of the previous version. The vehicle is armed with a 105 mm main gun. Technical changes from earlier models include an increased ammunition capacity of 50 rounds and an improved gun depression of -10 degrees below the horizontal.
The Mk. 3 is operated by several countries. Kenya received deliveries of the tank and armored recovery variants between 1979 and 1982. Nigeria acquired the tank along with armored recovery and bridge-laying variants between 1983 and 1995. Tanzania operates armored recovery versions of the platform. In operational service, Kenyan forces deployed the Mk. 3 during interventions in Somalia, including operations around Kismayo in 2012. Nigerian vehicles have seen combat in internal security operations, where some units were captured by Boko Haram before being destroyed or recaptured by the Nigerian Army.