HC Deb 24 June 1975 vol 894 cc227-8
15. Mr. Pattie

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether the Chieftain tanks in service with BAOR will be retrofitted with the new Rolls-Royce diesel engine that is to be fitted to the Chieftain tanks to be supplied to Iran.

Mr. Robert C. Brown

The Army has no plans to re-engine its Chieftain tanks with Rolls-Royce engines.

Mr. Pattie

Does not the Minister agree that it seems to follow that we have not learnt from the German experience that it is important to have good engines in our tanks? Will he say how far the trilateral tests that have been going on are likely to affect the Anglo-German battle tank proposals?

Mr. Brown

I do not agree with what the hon. Gentleman has said. Even the experts do not agree on the precise size of engines for tanks. The tests are still going on and have yet to be evaluated.