Caernarvon

Caernarvon

Centurion Mk 3

Conqueror

Caernarvon

Centurion Mk 3

Conqueror

Britain

V Rank

Battle rating:

AB	RB	SB
7.7	7.7	7.7

Class:

Heavy tank

Research:82 000

Purchase:240 000

Description

In 1949, work on the chassis for the new "Universal Tank" project was nearing completion. However, development of the gun and turret of what would later become the Conqueror was still yet to begin. In order to expedite testing and training, the new hull was fitted with the 20-pounder-equipped turret of the Centurion Mk 3, producing the FV 221 Caernarvon. Units were sent to the British Army of the Rhine, Bovington, Libya, and the Middle East for troop trials, identifying a number of issues with the chassis design. Once the Conqueror finally entered service in 1955, all Caernarvon units were re-equipped with the new turret and served until the Conqueror's replacement in the 1960s.

Introduced along with the initial British ground tree in Update 1.55 "Royal Armour", the Caernarvon is the heavier counterpart to the early Centurion series, featuring the same firepower and gun handling characteristics, alongside thicker armour and surprisingly adequate mobility for its size. The Caernarvon works well in a supportive, sniping role, utilising its highly penetrating and easy-to-aim cannon to disable opponents from afar, while minimising the chance of damage through the thick armour. However, it can also be effective in more urban brawls, taking advantage of the two-plane gun stabilizer, decent protection, and reasonable mobility, making the Caernarvon a very versatile vehicle for any location or situation.

General info

Survivability and armour

Smoke grenades

Creation of a smoke screen in front of the vehicle

Armourfront / side / back

Hull127 / 51 / 38

Turret152 / 89 / 89

Crew4 people

Visibility139 %

Armour type:

• Rolled homogeneous armour (hull, turret roof, cupola roof)
• Cast homogeneous armour (turret, cupola)
• Structural steel (side skirts, mudguards, storage boxes)

Armour	Front (Slope angle)	Sides	Rear	Roof
Hull	127 mm (60°) Upper glacis 76.2 mm (44°) Lower glacis	50.8 + 4 mm	38.1 mm Upper plate 20 mm (61°) Lower glacis	127 mm (30°) Front glacis 50.8 mm (0-7°) Driver compartment 18 mm Centre 8 mm Engine vent 8 + 18 mm (7°) Radiator vent
Turret	120 + 152 mm (cylindrical) Turret front - Centre 89-152 mm (5-11°) Turret front - Sides 100-152 mm (cylindrical) Gun mantlet 200 mm MG port	89 mm (5-9°)	89 mm Bustle 89 mm (17-22°) Turret base	50.8 mm (19°) Front 29 mm Centre 50.8 mm (4-32°) Peripheral edge
Cupola	152 mm (cylindrical) Base 29 mm (51-75°) Upper part	152 mm (cylindrical) Front half 90 mm (cylindrical) Rear half	90 mm (cylindrical)	29 mm

Notes:

• Suspension wheels and bogies are 20 mm thick while tracks are 30 mm thick.
• Steel boxes and side skirts located on the hull and turret sides add 4 mm of armour.

Mobility

Speedforward / back

AB37 / 13 km/h

RB and SB34 / 12 km/h

Number of gears5 forward

2 back

Weight61.0 t

Engine power

AB1 545 hp

RB and SB810 hp

Power-to-weight ratio

AB25.3 hp/t

RB and SB13.3 hp/t

Game Mode	Max Speed (km/h)		Weight (tons)	Engine power (horsepower)		Power-to-weight ratio (hp/ton)
	Forward	Reverse		Stock	Upgraded	Stock	Upgraded
Arcade	37	13	61	1046	1,545	17.15	25.33
Realistic	34	12		716	810	11.74	13.28

Modifications and economy

Repair costBasic → Reference

AB4 914 → 6 378

RB5 249 → 6 813

SB7 502 → 9 737

Total cost of modifications68 700

117 600

Talisman cost1 900

Crew training68 000

Experts240 000

Aces990

Research Aces620 000

Reward for battleAB / RB / SB

140 / 200 / 220 %

184 / 184 / 184 %

Modifications

Mobility	Protection	Firepower
Tracks Research: 4 800 Cost: 7 800 210 Suspension Research: 3 200 Cost: 5 200 140 Brake System Research: 3 200 Cost: 5 200 140 Filters Research: 4 500 Cost: 7 300 195 Transmission Research: 7 700 Cost: 13 000 340 Engine Research: 7 700 Cost: 13 000 340	Improved Parts Research: 3 100 Cost: 7 800 210 Improved FPE Research: 2 100 Cost: 5 200 140 Crew Replenishment Research: 4 500 Cost: 7 300 195	Horizontal Drive Research: 4 800 Cost: 7 800 210 Adjustment of Fire Research: 3 200 Cost: 5 200 140 84mm_britain_20pdr_APDS_ammo_pack Research: 3 200 Cost: 5 200 140 Elevation Mechanism Research: 4 500 Cost: 7 300 195 Smoke grenade Research: 4 500 Cost: 7 300 195 84mm_britain_Smoke_ammo_pack Research: 7 700 Cost: 13 000 340

Armaments

Main armament

84 mm 20pdr OQF Mk.I cannon

Two-plane stabilizer

Reduces the swing of the gun in two planes while moving

Ammunition65 rounds

First-order8 rounds

Reloadbasic crew → aces

8.1 → 6.3 s

Vertical guidance-10° / 20°

84 mm 20pdr OQF Mk.I					Turret rotation speed (°/s)					Reloading rate (seconds)
Mode	Capacity	Vertical	Horizontal	Stabilizer	Stock	Upgraded	Full	Expert	Aced	Stock	Full	Expert	Aced
Arcade	65	-10°/+20°	±180°	Two-plane	16.18	22.40	27.20	30.08	32.00	8.19	7.25	6.68	6.30
Realistic					11.90	14.00	17.00	18.80	20.00

Ammunition

The AP round is good to knock out crew members as it creates spalling. The solid shot does usually more damage inside enemy tanks than the APDS but its penetration power is lesser. When using APDS, target ammo racks (which it will easily set off). Know the weak spots on most vehicles s well as the crew's and modules' positions as you don't have rounds with explosive filler. The APDS shot can penetrate any Panthers' UFP, and also the Ferdinand's and Ho-Ri's frontal armour.

Penetration statistics
Ammunition	Type of warhead	Penetration @ 0° Angle of Attack (mm)
		10 m	100 m	500 m	1,000 m	1,500 m	2,000 m
Shot Mk.1	APCBC	232	229	216	201	187	173
Shot Mk.3	APDS	384	380	363	343	324	306
Shell Mk.1	HE	15	15	15	15	15	15

Shell details
Ammunition	Type of warhead	Velocity (m/s)	Projectile mass (kg)	Fuse delay (m)	Fuse sensitivity (mm)	Explosive mass (TNT equivalent) (kg)	Ricochet
							0%	50%	100%
Shot Mk.1	APCBC	1,000	9.1	-	-	-	48°	63°	71°
Shot Mk.3	APDS	1,430	3.22	-	-	-	75°	78°	80°
Shell Mk.1	HE	600	7.5	0.2	0.1	1.13	79°	80°	81°

Smoke shell characteristics
Ammunition	Velocity (m/s)	Projectile mass (kg)	Screen radius (m)	Screen deploy time (s)	Screen hold time (s)	Explosive mass (TNT equivalent) (g)
20pdr Shell SS Mk.1	250	9.3	9	5	20	50

Ammo racks

Ammo racks of the Caernarvon

Full ammo	1st rack empty	2nd rack empty	3rd rack empty	4th rack empty	5th rack empty
65	63 (+2)	61 (+4)	53 (+12)	45 (+20)	37 (+28)
6th rack empty	7th rack empty	8th rack empty	9th rack empty	Visual discrepancy
29 (+36)	9 (+56)	5 (+60)	1 (+64)	No

Notes:

• Shells are modelled individually and disappear from the rack after having been loaded in the breech.
• Racks 8 and 9 are first stage ammo racks. They total 8 shells and get filled first when loading up the tank.

Machine guns

7.92 mm BESA machine gun (coaxial)

Ammunition3 600 rounds

Belt capacity225 rounds

Reloadbasic crew → aces

10.4 → 8.0 s

Fire rate600 shots/min

7.92 mm BESA
Mount	Capacity (Belt)	Fire rate	Vertical	Horizontal
Coaxial	3,600 (225)	600	N/A	N/A

The small calibre of the BESA machine gun makes it largely ineffective against all armoured vehicles but the ones with an open compartment. It still can be used to ping targets as a rangefinding help or to mow down minor obstacles blocking your line of sight.

Usage in battles

Arcade Battles

In Arcade Battles, it is recommended to take mostly APDS shells, because the gameplay is much more reactive and it's more important to penetrate an enemy vehicle wherever you hit - because you don't have time to aim, or the enemies are very fast-moving due to increased horsepower.

In terms of game strategies, the Caernarvon is very versatile (almost MBT-like). You can get into sniping positions and rain shells on all enemies that enter your line of sight (or target the more armoured vehicles such as the Ferdinand and the Ho-Ri Production, which are impenetrable to many tanks around 6.7); you can also serve as a breakthrough tank, not because of armour, but because of speed and the stabilizer which allows you to shoot on the move at enemies that dare block your path; or, you can flank, although that role is often taken by much faster vehicles such as Ru 251, BMP-1 and R3.

To succeed in Arcade, you must learn to use your advantages, most notably the stabilizer and the APDS round. For example, whenever you are in a stand-off with a non-stabilized tank - get into cover, and when they try to drive out to hold your angle, you can also drive out and shoot them, because your gun will be ready to fire faster than theirs, even though they started driving out of cover before you.

Realistic Battles

In Realistic Battles, most players prefer to take out the solid shot, because it has the potential to damage many more components while maintaining decent penetration values. However, you should take your time to aim this shot, because it will not penetrate some tougher enemies (e.g. Ferdinand, Ho-Ri Production, or IS-3/IS-4), or take some APDS rounds with you.

When playing the Caernarvon in Realistic Battles, try to play a supportive role. You don't know where the enemies are, and your armour will not save you from an ambush, so rely on your teammates to lead the way. Here, the sniping strategy is much more viable, because your round velocities are very high, making aiming over 1 km much easier, moreover 10 degrees of depression allow you to play in hilly areas and take pot shots at unsuspecting enemies (especially the Soviet tanks, who lack gun depression). You can still push forward with your team because your stabilizer still allows you to take much more accurate reactive shots (or when on the move).

To succeed in Realistic, you must use cover and let your teammates take the shots. Usually, you will be able to return fire to avenge a teammate, and most of the time you get the kill, due to easy gun handling.

Pros and cons

Pros:

• The Caernarvon is like a beefed up Centurion Mk 3
  • Same armament as the Centurion Mk 3, has a very good stock round and access to APDS, no learning curve
  • Upper front plate is extremely strong - it has 127 mm thickness at a 60° angle
  • Hull roof and most of the turret roof is 51 mm thick, so it will sustain heavy tank HE
• Gun reloads a bit faster than enemies with the same calibre
• Fast turret and hull traverse
• Good acceleration
• Brake system is very responsive
• Access to gun stabilizer
• Extremely strong gun mantlet
• Armour profile on the turret face is inconsistent - enemies think twice before firing

Cons:

• Although it is designated as a heavy tank, the Centurion turret sabotages its armour and it will be destroyed almost on autopilot by anyone familiar with the Centurion weakspots (almost everybody at this point)
• Lower glacis is still a weak spot, roof still can be breached by artillery tanks
• Large ammo rack behind LFP (can be removed by bringing less than 34 shells)
• APDS shot has little post-penetrative spalling
• No explosive filler in any regular shells
• Weak side armour, should not be exposed in any way when engaging an enemy
• Top armour covering the engine is still only 8 mm
• HEATFS shells can often easily penetrate the armour, even from the front

History

Development

In 1944, General Staff started a project called A45 Infantry Support Tank, which started around the same time as the development of the A41 Centurion cruiser tank. This project, after the war, was redesignated from a typical "Infantry Tank" and instead focused on a new role of a "Universal Tank" design in the form of the FV 200 series. The "Universal Tank" concept was to design a vehicle that would have a mobility comparable to that of cruiser tanks, but with the armour and firepower of heavy tanks. The FV 200 series designation was adopted and was to serve as a line of vehicles that used the same hull and chassis in different roles like armour recovery vehicles and self-propelled guns. The first tank of this series was to be the FV 201, which would be 55 tons and had the 20-pounder gun.

In 1949, a new requirement for the project called for the use of a 120 mm gun, possibly in response to the reveal of the Soviet IS-3 heavy tank in the Berlin Victory Parade in 1945. This new requirement would delay the initial deadlines for the tank as no gun of that calibre had been developed yet. As a interim development before such a gun could be made, the FV 201 hull was mounted with a turret from a Centurion Mk.2, which had a 17-pounder gun. This Centurion turret mated FV 201 tank was designated the FV 221 Caernavon, with a Mark I for the 17-pounder. The later combination of the Centurion Mk 3 turret instead of the Mk.2 upped the armament of the tank to the more powerful 20-pounder gun, this version named the Mark II. About 21 units of the Caernarvon Mark II was made in this method.

Successor

The Caernarvon, powerful as it was at the time period, was intended to fulfill the role of the new "Main Battle Tank" concept in the FV 200 series. However, the success of the lighter Centurion cruiser tank made it apparent that the Centurion was more capable in that role than the heavier and less mobile Caernarvon. Thus, this role was not given to the Caernarvon and its design was used instead for further chassis development for future tank development. In 1955, the basis of the Caernarvon was built into the first Conqueror tank. Several Caernarvon Mk.II's were rebuilt into Conqueror Mk. 2 standards in between 1958 and 1959.

Media

Skins

• Skins and camouflages for the Caernarvon from live.warthunder.com.

Videos

Heavyweight Brits discusses the Caernarvon at 5:02 - War Thunder Official Channel

T34 vs Caernarvon - War Thunder Official Channel

Best Combo #2 discusses the Caernarvon at 2:00 - War Thunder Official Channel

Caernarvon - How To Master It - Tank Review - Napalmratte

See also

Vehicles equipped with the same chassis

• Conqueror

Other vehicles of similar configuration and role

• T34

External links

• [Wikipedia] Conqueror (tank)
• [Tanks Encyclopedia] Tank, Medium Gun, FV221 Caernarvon