FV4401 Contentious
Encyclopedia
FV 4401 Contentious was a prototype British air-portable tank destroyer
of the early 1960s. At least one prototype was constructed and tested, although no production vehicles were built or saw service.
s. Prodigal would eventually give rise to the CVR(T)
series of British light tanks and related vehicles. The intention here was to produce an air-portable tank destroyer.
The vehicle's role was for a flexible strategic response to conflicts around the last vestiges of Empire. Despite the low intensity of such conflicts, it was assumed that the increasing supply of Soviet T-54 tanks to satellite state
s would require an anti-tank capability greater than previous light tank
s.
This was not seen as a substitute for a main battle tank
; one which would have to be heavily armed to deal with the massed and heavily armoured Soviet tanks of the Cold War. In particular, there was no attempt made at protection against the NBC
threat that was expected for any European conflict.
. This small hull necessitated a small crew, of only two, which in turn required an autoloader
, particularly for the heavy armament and ammunition in mind.
The gun chosen was the QF 20 pounder
(84 mm), already in use in the Centurion tank
, although now fitted with an autoloader. The mount was fixed in elevation
and had only a limited traverse. Most aiming relied on steering the entire tank on its tracks. Elevation used an unusual system, a hydraulic suspension system with independent height control of each wheel station. This allowed the entire tank chassis to be tilted back and forth. This system had already been demonstrated in the Swedish S-tank
. The chassis components were based on those of the Comet tank
, although with only four roadwheels rather than the Comet's five.
The prototype was completed and tested on the firing ranges of Kirkcudbright Training Area. This was only a boilerplate example: it was not only unarmoured, but the armour layout design had not been completed and the actual body of relatively high and vertical plates is unlikely to have been the shape, let alone the material, used for a final example. In particular, the petrol tanks were exposed and mounted above the track guards.
The vehicle was also tested at Lulworth
, in tests against a wheeled vehicle to test the virtues of both tracked and wheel arrangements for the Prodigal air-portable tank destroyer. The vehicle chosen was the Rhino, a six-wheeled skid-steered experimental chassis, powered by a Rolls-Royce Meteorite
engine. Drivers were instructed to drive in pursuit of targets, both fixed and moving, and to attempt to track them with a simple windscreen-mounted sight. The Rhinos steering was infamously difficult to control precisely and it was found that the tracked Contentious performed better.
As with the Centurion, Contentious was later up-gunned. Although first tested with the 84 mm 20 pounder, the Bovington example later gained a L7 105 mm gun
, a derivative of the 20 pounder. The replacement was relatively easy, as the 105 mm is largely a rebarrelled version of the 84mm and has a similar breech. Photographs of the prototype do show some change to the recoil cylinders between the two.
s, as used for the WOMBAT
, and fitted with seven-round revolver autoloaders. These were mounted on a swivelling mounting above a low boat-shaped hull with conventional suspension, crewed by a single commander / driver / gunner. The mounting could elevate conventionally. The autoloaders and their ammunition were carried in armoured boxes above the hull, with the reaction nozzles of the recoilless rifle protruding behind. Sighting for these recoilless rifles was to be the same M8C .50 spotting rifle
s, one for each barrel, as used with the WOMBAT.
Tank destroyer
A tank destroyer is a type of armored fighting vehicle armed with a gun or missile launcher, and is designed specifically to engage enemy armored vehicles...
of the early 1960s. At least one prototype was constructed and tested, although no production vehicles were built or saw service.
Project
Prodigal The vehicle was developed as part of Project Prodigal, as research into future armoured fighting vehicleArmoured fighting vehicle
An armoured fighting vehicle is a combat vehicle, protected by strong armour and armed with weapons. AFVs can be wheeled or tracked....
s. Prodigal would eventually give rise to the CVR(T)
Combat Vehicle Reconnaissance (Tracked)
The Combat Vehicle Reconnaissance —or CVR—is a family of armoured fighting vehicles s in service with the British Army and others throughout the world...
series of British light tanks and related vehicles. The intention here was to produce an air-portable tank destroyer.
The vehicle's role was for a flexible strategic response to conflicts around the last vestiges of Empire. Despite the low intensity of such conflicts, it was assumed that the increasing supply of Soviet T-54 tanks to satellite state
Satellite state
A satellite state is a political term that refers to a country that is formally independent, but under heavy political and economic influence or control by another country...
s would require an anti-tank capability greater than previous light tank
Light tank
A light tank is a tank variant initially designed for rapid movement, and now primarily employed in low-intensity conflict. Early light tanks were generally armed and armored similar to an armored car, but used tracks in order to provide better cross-country mobility.The light tank was a major...
s.
This was not seen as a substitute for a main battle tank
Main battle tank
A main battle tank , also known as a battle tank or universal tank, is a tank that fills the heavy direct fire role of many modern armies. They were originally conceived to replace the light, medium, heavy and super-heavy tanks. Development was spurred onwards in the Cold War with the development...
; one which would have to be heavily armed to deal with the massed and heavily armoured Soviet tanks of the Cold War. In particular, there was no attempt made at protection against the NBC
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
threat that was expected for any European conflict.
Contentious This required a particularly lightweight vehicle, which restricted the possibility of a conventional tank with a conventional turret. The path chosen was that of a low-profile open hull with a semi-fixed gun, similar to the layout of the wartime Alecto
Alecto (SPG)
The Alecto was an experimental self propelled gun developed by the British during the Second World War but terminated with the end of the war in Europe.-Development:...
. This small hull necessitated a small crew, of only two, which in turn required an autoloader
Autoloader
An autoloader or auto-loader is a mechanical aid or replacement for the personnel that load ordnance into crew-served weapons, such as tanks and artillery...
, particularly for the heavy armament and ammunition in mind.
The gun chosen was the QF 20 pounder
Ordnance QF 20 pounder
The Ordnance QF 20 pounder was a British 84 mm tank gun introduced in 1948 and used in the Centurion tank and the Charioteer tank destroyer...
(84 mm), already in use in the Centurion tank
Centurion tank
The Centurion, introduced in 1945, was the primary British main battle tank of the post-World War II period. It was a successful tank design, with upgrades, for many decades...
, although now fitted with an autoloader. The mount was fixed in elevation
Elevation (ballistics)
In ballistics, the elevation is the angle between the horizontal plane and the direction of the barrel of a gun, mortar or heavy artillery. Originally, elevation was a linear measure of how high the gunners had to physically lift the muzzle of a gun up from the gun carriage to hit targets at a...
and had only a limited traverse. Most aiming relied on steering the entire tank on its tracks. Elevation used an unusual system, a hydraulic suspension system with independent height control of each wheel station. This allowed the entire tank chassis to be tilted back and forth. This system had already been demonstrated in the Swedish S-tank
Stridsvagn 103
The Stridsvagn 103 , or S-Tank , was a Swedish post-war main battle tank. It was known for its unconventional turret-less design, with a fixed gun traversed by engaging the tracks and elevated by adjusting the hull suspension...
. The chassis components were based on those of the Comet tank
Comet tank
The Tank, Cruiser, Comet I was a British cruiser tank that first saw use near the end of World War II. It was designed to provide greater anti-tank capability to Cromwell tank squadrons. It was armed with a 77mm HV, a derivative of the 17 pounder, with the result it was one of the few British...
, although with only four roadwheels rather than the Comet's five.
The prototype was completed and tested on the firing ranges of Kirkcudbright Training Area. This was only a boilerplate example: it was not only unarmoured, but the armour layout design had not been completed and the actual body of relatively high and vertical plates is unlikely to have been the shape, let alone the material, used for a final example. In particular, the petrol tanks were exposed and mounted above the track guards.
The vehicle was also tested at Lulworth
Lulworth Military Range
Lulworth Military Range is a military firing range located between Wareham and Lulworth in Dorset, England. It is owned by the Ministry of Defence and is part of the Armoured Fighting Vehicles Gunnery School....
, in tests against a wheeled vehicle to test the virtues of both tracked and wheel arrangements for the Prodigal air-portable tank destroyer. The vehicle chosen was the Rhino, a six-wheeled skid-steered experimental chassis, powered by a Rolls-Royce Meteorite
Rolls-Royce Meteorite
The Rolls-Royce Meteorite, also known as the Rover Meteorite was a V8 petrol or diesel engine of capacity, and was derived from the Rolls-Royce Meteor. In essence it was two-thirds of a V12 Meteor, and it shared the Meteor's 60° vee angle...
engine. Drivers were instructed to drive in pursuit of targets, both fixed and moving, and to attempt to track them with a simple windscreen-mounted sight. The Rhinos steering was infamously difficult to control precisely and it was found that the tracked Contentious performed better.
As with the Centurion, Contentious was later up-gunned. Although first tested with the 84 mm 20 pounder, the Bovington example later gained a L7 105 mm gun
Royal Ordnance L7
The Royal Ordnance L7 is the basic model of Britain's most successful tank gun. The L7 was a 105 mm L/52 rifled design intended for use in armoured fighting vehicles...
, a derivative of the 20 pounder. The replacement was relatively easy, as the 105 mm is largely a rebarrelled version of the 84mm and has a similar breech. Photographs of the prototype do show some change to the recoil cylinders between the two.
Twin recoilless design
A further design for the Prodigal requirement used a pair of the 120 mm recoilless rifleRecoilless rifle
A recoilless rifle or recoilless gun is a lightweight weapon that fires a heavier projectile than would be practical to fire from a recoiling weapon of comparable size. Technically, only devices that use a rifled barrel are recoilless rifles. Smoothbore variants are recoilless guns...
s, as used for the WOMBAT
L6 Wombat
The L6 Wombat, was a 120 mm calibre recoilless anti-tank rifle used by the British Army. They were used until anti-tank guided missiles such as Vigilant and MILAN took their place....
, and fitted with seven-round revolver autoloaders. These were mounted on a swivelling mounting above a low boat-shaped hull with conventional suspension, crewed by a single commander / driver / gunner. The mounting could elevate conventionally. The autoloaders and their ammunition were carried in armoured boxes above the hull, with the reaction nozzles of the recoilless rifle protruding behind. Sighting for these recoilless rifles was to be the same M8C .50 spotting rifle
Spotting rifle
A spotting rifle is a small-calibre rifle used as a sighting device for artillery. The ballistics of the spotting rifle are matched to those of the artillery piece, so that if a shot from the spotting rifle lands on the target, it may be assumed that the main weapon will also do so.- Anti-tank...
s, one for each barrel, as used with the WOMBAT.
Comparable vehicles
- M56 ScorpionM56 ScorpionThe M56 Scorpion was an unarmored American self-propelled anti-tank gun, which featured a 90mm M54 gun with a simple blast shield, and unprotected crew compartment...
- M50 Ontos
- ASU-57ASU-57The ASU-57 was a small, lightly constructed Soviet assault gun specifically designed for use by Soviet airborne divisions. From 1960 it was replaced by the ASU-85.-Development history:...
- Type 60 Self-propelled 106 mm Recoilless GunType 60 Self-propelled 106 mm Recoilless GunThe is a light anti-tank vehicle developed by Japan in the late 1950s. It mounts two M40 106 mm recoilless rifles as its main armament.- Development :...
- Stridsvagn 103Stridsvagn 103The Stridsvagn 103 , or S-Tank , was a Swedish post-war main battle tank. It was known for its unconventional turret-less design, with a fixed gun traversed by engaging the tracks and elevated by adjusting the hull suspension...
S-tank
Survivors
- The prototype, UXM127, is on display at the Bovington Tank MuseumBovington Tank MuseumThe Tank Museum is a collection of armoured fighting vehicles in the United Kingdom that traces the history of the tank. With almost 300 vehicles on exhibition from 26 countries it is the second-largest collection of tanks and armoured fighting vehicles in the world.The Musée des Blindés in France...
in Bovington, UK.