A drive and tensioning unit for a scraper chain conveyor, in particular a face conveyor for drum cutter-loader mining apparatus, includes a telescopically configured machine frame having a machine frame base and a machine frame head, which is displaceable relative to the machine frame base by at least one hydraulic cylinder and has bearing recesses for supporting a chain drum shaft. Each hydraulic cylinder is supported at one end in a connecting joint on a side board of the machine frame head and at the other end in a connecting joint on a side wall of the machine frame base. The connecting joints include a recess in the side boards and the side walls and bearing brackets detachably anchorable in the recesses. Each of the recesses provided in the side boards and in the side walls are structurally identical.