British Conqueror Heavy Tank Overview
The British Army’s FV214 Conqueror was a post‑World War II heavy tank built to counter the Soviet IS‑3. Weighing about 66 tonnes, it featured a 120 mm L1A1 gun and two Browning machine‑guns. A Rolls‑Royce Meteor gasoline engine produced roughly 850 hp, giving a top speed of around 34 km/h.
The crew of four—driver, commander, gunner and loader—operated the tank from a turret with an independently rotating commander's cupola equipped with a rangefinder. First accepted in 1955, the Conqueror was mainly stationed with the British Rhine Army in West Germany, but its great size and limited mobility led to a short service life.
Only a handful of vehicles were produced before the type was retired, marking the last heavy tank to serve with the British Army.
Entities: British Army · Conqueror tank · FV214 · FV214 Conqueror · Rolls‑Royce Meteor · Rolls‑Royce Meteor engine · Soviet IS‑3 · Soviet IS‑3 heavy tank · West Germany
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how well corroborated each claim is across sources.
- [● 3 SOURCES] The Conqueror crew consisted of four members: driver, commander, gunner and loader. (Crew configuration)
- [● 3 SOURCES] The Conqueror was developed after World War II in response to the Soviet IS‑3 heavy tank. (British defense analysis)
- [● 3 SOURCES] The tank featured an independently rotating turret cupola with a range‑finder, allowing the commander to acquire a new target while the gunner was engaging another. (Design description)
- [● 3 SOURCES] The tank's top speed was about 34 km/h. (Performance figures)
- [● 3 SOURCES] The tank was designated FV214 by the British military. (British Army records)
- [● 3 SOURCES] The main gun of the Conqueror was a 120‑mm L1A1 cannon. (Vehicle specifications)
- [● 3 SOURCES] The British Conqueror heavy tank weighed 66 tonnes. (Tank Museum)
- [● 3 SOURCES] The Conqueror used a Rolls‑Royce Meteor gasoline engine delivering roughly 850 hp. (Technical data sheet)
- [● 3 SOURCES] It was armed with a 120 mm L1A1 gun.
- [● 3 SOURCES] The Conqueror weighed approximately 66 tonnes.
- [● 3 SOURCES] The tank used a Rolls‑Royce Meteor gasoline engine delivering about 850 hp.
- [● 3 SOURCES] The crew consisted of four members: driver, commander, gunner, and loader.