Olifant (tank)

Olifant
Olifant Mk.2 Tank
TypeMain battle tank
Place of originUnited Kingdom/South Africa
Service history
In service1976–present
Wars
Production history
No. built224
Specifications
Mass57 long tons (58 t)[1]
LengthHull only 24 ft 9.5 in (7.557 m)[1]
With gun forward 32 ft 3 in (9.83 m)[1]
Width11 ft 1 in (3.38 m) with side plates
10 ft 9 in (3.28 m) without side plates[1]
Height9 ft 7.75 in (2.94 m)[1]
Crew4 (commander, gunner, loader, driver)

Armour51–152 mm (2.0–6.0 in)
Main
armament
Secondary
armament
Co-axial machine gun .30 cal
Engine

  • 650 hp (480 kW) at 2550rpm (Meteor)[1]
  • others up to 1,040 hp (780 kW) (Mk.2)
Transmission
  • 5-speed Merrit-Brown Z51R Mk. F gearbox (Mk.1)
  • automatic gearbox (Mk.1A, Mk.1B, Mk.2)
Suspension
Ground clearance1 ft 8 in (0.51 m)[1]
Maximum speed
  • 21.5 mph (34.6 km/h) (Mk.1)[1]
  • 35 mph (56 km/h) (Mk.1A, Mk.1B, Mk.2)

The Olifant (Afrikaans for Elephant) is the primary main battle tank of South Africa. It was developed from the British Centurion tank since 1976. These tanks were heavily redesigned and rebuilt by South Africa since 1976 with some help from Israel. The Olifant is considered the best indigenous tank design on the African continent. Although based on a Centurion tank hull, it has a locally produced gun, power pack, transmission, tracks, wheels and fire control system and thus, at least the Olifant Mk.2 can be seen as almost a new tank.

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i User Handbook for Tk.,Med.Gun,Centurion,Mk.3,5 and 6 (1965)