Chieftain ARRV (Armoured Repair and Recovery Vehicle)
This vehicle went into service as an ARV on 1 September 1976 although it was originally a Chieftain Main Battle Tank and built in 1965. All the ARVs were built at Vickers in Newcastle and were based on the hull of a main battle tank which had been scrapped. It therefore shares all of its main automotive components with the main battle tank and the parts are interchangeable. Its function was to repair and recover broken down and stuck or bogged tanks whilst in a hostile area. It is equipped with armour of a similar thickness to a main battle tank to withstand attack although its only gun was a 7.62mm GPMG. It was equipped with 2 winches with the main one having a 30 ton pull which could be increased to 90 tons with the use of snatch blocks. To keep the tank stationary when winching another out, it has a blade across the front which is driven into the ground at 45 degrees to act as ground anchor. This vehicle was upgraded to an ARRV with the addition of the hydraulic crane in 1982 and was then used to change engines in the field, a spare engine being carried on a frame on top of the engine decks. This proved to be especially useful with the introduction of the Challenger 1 when the entire engine and transmission assembly could be changed in 1½ hours. The museums vehicle probably saw service in the first Gulf War as it was full of sand when acquired.