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Abbreviations


 

Armed Forces - a8a4 - CHAVRE (Chieftain Assault Vehicle Royal Engineers)

THE ROYAL ENGINEERS

 Chieftain Assault Vehicle Royal Engineers (CHAVRE)
- N
o Longer In Service

 

Chieftain Assault Vehicle Royal Engineers CHAVRE operating in Canada with IFOR markings

The CHAVRE had a crew of four. The Chieftain gun turret had been removed and replaced by an armoured 'penthouse', upon which the commander's cupola is situated. 

Mounted over the vehicle structure were two 'hampers', one at the front of the vehicle and one at the rear. These 'hampers' carried engineer stores such as trackway, fascines or general equipment. A typical 'hamper' load might have been 4 x rolls of Class 60 trackway or 3 x fascines.

At the front of the vehicle was a dozer blade or mine plough (either can be used) and at the rear there was a hydraulic winch capable of pulling 10 tons. In the centre of the vehicle was a crane capable of lifting 3.5 tons, with a telescopic jib that extends to five metres. A Giant Viper mine clearance explosive hose system could be towed, and the vehicle was armed with an LSW for local defence.

The MoD ordered 48 vehicles, which were delivered by the end of 1995. CHAVRE replaced the Centurion Mk 5 Assault Vehicle Royal Engineers that had been in service since the early 1960s.

The Chieftain AVRE and the Chieftain AVLB were replaced in  in 2004 by the Trojan Armoured Vehicle Royal Engineers (AVRE) and the Titan Armoured Bridge Launcher (AVLB).