Chieftain Main Battle Tank Manual: 1966 to Present (Owners' Workshop Manual) Hardcover – 8 Sept. 2016

This is one of the best written books in the Haynes Workshop manual range. The book is well illustrated, superbly written and with an injection of good humour where required. The author does a superb job of laying out everything anyone needs to know about the development and service life of this superb tank. Having served alongside Chieftain during my tours in Germany I can certainly identify many of the points the author makes regarding Chieftain. From memory it was a cold tank, very dirty and very noisy when moving across country, not to mention the copious clouds of diesel smoke! It also had a fair turn of speed for such a heavy tank. I remember my APC 432 being overtaken by one on a road move along a German Autobahn. My vehicle was flat out at 50kph!The book certainly brought back many memories for me of life in BAOR during the Cold War. Chieftain was certainly the icon of BAOR and the author does the tank proud with this outstanding and very highly recommended book.

Having commanded a troop of these in the 1980's and working with this tank for many years during my military career the book brought back a lot of memories. It provides some very interesting information on this MBT and also combines the personal experinces which I could relate to. For ex-tankees this is a must to have in their library.

Following on from his very good book on Challenger 1, Dick Taylor gives us an even better volume on Challenger’s predecessor and parent, the Chieftain.Pulling on punches with regard to Chieftain’s undoubted faults, DT gives us excellent coverage of the vehicle, showing why it followed Centurion as the world’s best tank.The highly readable text is complemented by an outstanding selection of photographs, and clearly deserves five stars, though I’d have liked a brief set of conclusions.Nonetheless, this is an excellent addition to the Haynes series on tanks, more that deserving its place, and if I’d like more detail on one or two aspects, I’d need a heck of a lot thicker book.Very highly recommended.

Good information

Comprehensive coverage of Chieftain, with excellent photographs. Covers development, describes equipment and usage and service history.It's greatest weakness was its multi- fuel engine, its greatest strengths it's hard hitting gun and strong armour. The author draws on his service experience in the RAC to add illuminating insights.

Bought as christmas gift for my other half who is a cavalry vet. He didnt speak for couple of hours on xmas day with no critical narrative so that is a good sign.

very well written, lots of new information it i and may be could of wrote more about its combat use.

A superb book with so much information it's a great reference tool for modellers & enthusiasts alike. I particularly enjoyed the descriptions and listings of all the prototypes and developmental vehicles throughout the years. Can't fault it.