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bsmart

I'm going to be at a family get together in New Jersy on Saturday and plan on escaping for a while and go 'Tank Hunting' I will be near the Chieftan in Delran so it is on my list.

Are there serial numbers on the exterior of Chieftans? Any other distinguishing marks?

Neil_Baumgardner

I know they are called "VRN"s - no idea what that stands for, except maybe Vehicle Registration Number...

Griffin's book, although often cited as innacurate, may say where it is. I can try to check it tonight...

Neil

L.Delsing · ***Power User*** Offline Joined: Feb 10, 2006 Posts: 960

I found a 3 digit number (172) on the front of the hull of the Chieftain in Saumur (France).

If this is the c/n I don't know,

Good luck!
regards,
Lesley

T13b1(be)

Well the VRN can been found at the inside off the hull on a small metal plate behind the turret basket on the firewall that divides the hull between the fighting compartment and the engine compartment.So it is possible that the turret has to be turned around.

Griffin's book inacurate, well that is something that is hard to believe he has been for a long time tank commander on the Chieftain so he will at least know about what he is talking .

Other marks on the exterior possible but don't know.
When the "hunting" is done is it possible to put some photo's of you're trofhy on the forum so that we can have a go on whitch type ( mark ) it is.

greetings

Neil_Baumgardner

Sorry, my mistake, got it confused with Munro's Centurion book:

www.com-central.net/in...c&start=15

Neil

Neil_Baumgardner

Here's the Chieftain in question. There's a fence around it, so it may be hard to find any external markings. But maybe "Ricky" will let you look inside if you ask...

Neil

Neil_Baumgardner

According to Griffin's book the VRN is on the inside as T13b1(be) said...

When I asked Rob some months ago about the tank he said he didnt know which of the "USA" tanks listed in his book is the Delran Chieftain.

The "USA" Chieftains he lists are:

VRN 00EB69 Originally a Mk 2 (Privately Owned)
VRN 02EB60 Originally a Mk 2 (Littlefield)
VRN 03EB80 Originally a Mk 2 (Five Star Vehicles, CA)
VRN 07FA17 Originally a Mk 3 (Privately Owned)

Jim Webster said the following when I posted these pics before:

"Interestingly enough I think it started life as a Mark 2 was converted to a Mark 6 (rebuilt to Mk 5 standard - it has the add-on full-width NBC pack) then mark 9 (IFCS added) and finally a Mark 10 (Stillbrew added)"

If true, that could indicate this is 00EB69... However, there's a good number of VRNs where the fate is note known, and could conceivably include other privately owned Chieftains in the USA...

Neil

bsmart

I've never been shy about envoking the 'official' Rolling Eyes

status of "Helping compile and verify a list of all 'monument tanks in the U.S." for 'The Register'

So far it has mainly been VFW, American Legion, and AMVets bartenders/ club officers but they have always been cooperative about etting me climb on them to get casting marks, etc.

Maybe I'll get lucky and someone at the store will know something

Ther are also some M60s and an M4 in the area i want to check on.

And yes I will try to get pictures. But I'm way behind in posting pics. I have some that JoeD sent me before Xmas that I haven't gotten posted yet

T13b1(be)

indeed a mark 10

If this Berlin camouflage is original it can perhaps also be a indication to find out witch of the VRN correspond to this Chieftain. ( the dragoon guards that where stationd in Berlin had acording my sources a total of 18 chieftains )

greetings

JeffStringer · ***Power User*** Offline Joined: Jan 24, 2006 Posts: 637

Speaking of the Chieftain, here's a neat link:

www.1420h.org/berlin-parade.htm

bsmart

I stopped by and talked to the owner of 'Rickeys' His name is actually Phil (His father started the store, but his name was Fred. :-))

Phil has a big folder on the beast, He has had it since 1995. It runs, but hasn't been run recently. He also said that he has open ATF permits to bring in several other Chieftans as well as other British AFVs. He said he just got a permit for a scorpion back. He has a supplier in the UK that he deals with. His fee is $300 for the paperwork and you actually negotiate with the folks in the UK. He said if you don't want to pay the $300 he will guide you through the process and you can do it yourself. Oh a Chieftan will set you back $60-70K.

A real nice guy. He is a member of the Ordnance Museum Foundation and the current paint job is not original but a repaint of the original. He worked with Dr Atwater at Aberdeen toget the paint right.

Oh he showed me the original vehicla maintence records with the VRN of 05FA91. It is a Mk 10