The Chieftain Mk. 3 is not a Mk. 3

[Northstar98]

Hi everyone,

Very pleased with the new models that came with 2.7.1, it's great to see some new stuff (as well as a fairly comprehensive Leo 2 set).

However, I've noticed some things that seem odd with the Mk.3; it actually seems to be a Chieftain Mk.7/L (which is a Mk.3 upgraded to Mk.5 standards, and then further upgraded as part of 'Totem Pole'):

• The tank in DCS has a laser rangefinder (which should be LF2 TLS (or 'Tank Laser Sight')), which AFAIK is the small optic to the left of the gunners sight (EDIT: nope, this is for MRS). Looking inside Cheiftain_mk3.lua inside CoreMods-> tech -> TechWeaponPack -> Database -> vehicles -> Tanks states on line 89: "GT.WS[ws].laser = true;" so the laser rangefinder is present. Provisions for the laser rangefinder weren't added until the Mk. 3/3 - the Mk.3 wouldn't have had it.

This also coincides with the L21A1 ranging gun being deleted, and the installation of L11A5 with MRS (muzzle reference system, which I'm pretty sure coincides with the addition of TLS and the IFCS). L21A1 isn't present on the model, but the MRS system is - which makes sense if the tank is fitted with IFCS and LF2 TLS. The Chieftain Mk.3 would've had the L21A1 ranging machine gun (which isn't present on our tank) and would not've had L11A5 with MRS (which is present on our tank) and instead would've had the L11A3.

• The NBC pack is in line with the upgraded pack as fitted to the Mk.5 and subsequent tanks. The Mk.3's NBC pack is a lot different (I'm pretty sure a Mk. 3 without TLS or MRS, and with its initial NBC pack can be here (though from 41 seconds on, it switches to a later variant, with TLS, MRS and the upgraded NBC pack of the Mk.5 and onwards).
• In the encyclopaedia it gives an engine power of 760 hp; the Mk.3's L60 Mk 6A had 650 hp and the Mk. 7's L60 Mk 8A/9A/11A/12A all have 750 hp. The power is closer to the latter.
• In the Chieftain_mk3.lua it lists the AP ammunition as L23A1 APFSDS-T - the Mk.3 only had L15 APDS-T and various variants thereof. AFAIK, APFSDS projectiles came with the Chieftain Mk.5/4, starting in the mid 80s, by then the Mk. 3 had been upgraded to Mk. 7 and then once TLS was fitted (which ours has) to Mk. 7/L, which would've been compatible with L23A1 APFSDS-T.

In conclusion, we have either a Mk.7/L, Mk.8/L or Mk.9/L. If the current tank is intended to be based on the Mk. 3, then that would make it a Mk.7/L

Edited October 8, 2024 by Northstar98
Clarity, L221A1 -> L21A1