The FReeper Foxhole's TreadHead Tuesday - "Centurion" Main Battle Tank - Apr. 6th, 2004

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[SAMWolf]

Lord,

Keep our Troops forever in Your care

Give them victory over the enemy...

Grant them a safe and swift return...

Bless those who mourn the lost.
.

FReepers from the Foxhole join in prayer
for all those serving their country at this time.

...................................................................................... ...........................................

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British A41 Main Battle Tank,
"Centurion"

The A41 entered service with the British Army in 1949 and was the product of a long development program by AEC of Southhall, Middlesex. Initially designated as a "Cruiser" tank, production was undertaken by the Royal Ordnance Factory at Leeds, Vickers Limited at Eiswick and Leyland Motors of Leyland. Eventually, over 4,000 vehicles were manufactured and production ceased in 1962, with roughly half the Centurions exported to overseas customers. This design plan was a giant leap forward for the British Tank Design Team, incorporating a number of advanced armor concepts as well as adopting the best ideas found on other country's vehicles. For instance, this was the first British tank with a continuously sloping front glacis plate, similar to the German Panther tank. And, among other innovations, the Centurion was the first main battle tank in the world to utilize main gun stabilization in both elevation and azimuth. Like the US M26 Pershing tank, this vehicle was built to kill German Panther and Tiger tanks, and even though the Centurion was not ready for battle until after the end of WWII, the excellent design placed it well positioned to face the next major threat from the East. The days of puny 2pdr weapons in two-man turrets were gone forever.

The vehicle matured well over the years and many improvements produced a number of versions, or Marks.



All versions of the Centurion were built with an all welded steel hull and a cast turret (with the steel plate roof welded in place). The driver sits in the right front of the hull while the turret crew is composed of gunner and commander on the right side and loader on the turret left. The engine and transmission are located at the rear of the tank, isolated from each other and the crew compartment by bulkheads. In all, there have been some 25 different Marks of the Centurion, the last being the Mk. 13, an improved Mk. 10. Each Mk. is a modification of a previous model, and the nomenclature can become quite confusing.

Although the hull interior of the Centurion remained relatively unchanged throughout its design evolution, there are a number of differences between each Mark. The Mk.1 can be identified by the large 20mm Polstein gun placed in its own mount to the left of the original 17pdr Mk.6 with muzzle break used in the tank. The 20mm weapon took up a lot of space and was later determined to be too large for an anti-personnel weapon (recall that the US M26 Pershing was originally designed with a .50cal Browning as the coaxial, and this too was replaced with a smaller .30cal MG). The last of the 100 Mk.1 tanks replaced the Polstein with a Besa 7.92mm MG. The commander's cupola is non-rotating and the Mk.1 tanks also have an escape hatch at the back of the turret, off-set to the right.



The Mk.2 hull was up-armored with thicker plates and used a new turret formed from a one piece casting. The commander's cupola was fully rotating and contained nine episcopes and one binocular periscope. Instead of the Besa having its own mount beside the main weapon, the MG now was mounted coaxial in the gun mantlet. The gunner also had a periscopic sight in the turret roof at his position, and inside the turret the 17pdr was now stabilized in elevation and azimuth, the first production tank to be so equipped. The turret's rear escape hatch was also now centrally located in the bustle. The Mk.3 mounted the larger 20pdr (83.4mm) as its main weapon, but otherwise it was similar to the Mk.2. Most of the earlier Mk.2 Centurions were up gunned to become Mk.3's and the new tanks reached the troops in the early 50's. By 1951 all the Mk.2's had been upgraded to Mk.3 standard. Mk.4 tanks were planned to mount a 95mm howitzer in the turret in order to provide a close support gun tank, but this design was cancelled in 1949 before it reached production.



The next Mk. was, once again, an improved version of the previous Mk.3. The Mk.5 used the same 20pdr cannon but most were fitted with a fume extractor half way down the barrel (Type B barrel) to reduce fume blowback into the turret when the breech was opened as well as removing the need for the counter weight at the end of the barrel (Type A barrels). The coaxial Besa was then replaced with an M1919A4 .30cal Browning MG, in keeping with NATO standardization, and a second .30cal MG was mounted on the commander's cupola. The escape hatch on the back of the turret was also deleted on the Mk.5, in some cases you can see its outlines on those Mk.3 tanks that were upgraded to Mk.5 standard.

Although it is difficult to see due to the common use of bazooka shields to protect the suspension, a fifth return roller was added on both sides of the hull. You will also see many Mk.5 tanks with additional fuel tanks (jettisonable), either added to the rear of the hull or rolling along on a small Monowheel trailer behind the tank. The Centurion's cruising range was very limited for a modern battle tank of this period, and the additional fuel almost doubled the road range from 100km to 185km. From the Mk.7 on, and also on updated Mk.5's, an additional armored gas tank inside the engine compartment eliminated the need for the external fuel tanks.



The Centurion was one of the heaviest production tanks made by the British up to that point and, as with most new designs, there were teething troubles when pushing something this big around the battlefield. By the late 1950's, most ot the problems had been ironed out by company teams in the field and changes made back in the factories. The only lasting drawback of the Centurion was its slow top speed and the use of gasoline as fuel, both centered around the choice of powerplant. When the Chieftain began to replace the Centurion in front line units in 1967, both these deficiencies were supposed to be rectified as the designers emphasized ease of engine maintenance and more user friendly engine compartments.

Both the 20pdr QF and the 105mm L7 guns used in the Centurion were designed to fire new British super velocity armour-piercing shot, this projectile being an early form of armour piercing discarding sabot (APDS). Previous AP shot had been of the armour piercing, composite, rigid, or APCR type. These projectiles were made with a hard, high-density core in a soft, low-density jacket. Since the speed of the projectile is determined to some extent by its cross section size (or aerodynamic drag), the new APDS shot jacket was designed to drop away after leaving the gun barrel, leaving a smaller cross sectional projectile speeding along much faster--hence the name "super velocity". The APDS shot was first used in 1944 with the 57mm 6pdr guns, then it was made for the 17pdr, and finally produced for the 20pdr introduced in 1948. This same type of ammo was also fired from the Brit. 105mm L7 as used in the US M60, the German Leopard, and the Swiss Pz.61, as well as the Centurion.



The gun breech and block of both the 20pdr and 105mm L7 guns are identical. In fact, except for the barrels, the interior appearance of both the guns and mounts in the Centurion was just about identical and are difficult to identify by photos of just the turret interior. The 20pdr version fired the APDS Mk.1/Mk.3 at 4350/4700 feet per second, high explosive (HE) at a much slower 1975fps, canister rounds at 3000fps and smoke at 825fps. The rounds were fired from the gun by an electrically initiated cartridge and the recoil was approximately 12in.

There were actually four Mks. of barrel used in the British Centurion at various times, two early ones had threads machined at the end for the attachment of a muzzle weight to balance the breech heavy weapon. Later Marks had provisions for a fume extractor fixed approximately half way down the barrel, which also took care of the balance problem. The fume extractor utilizes ports in the barrel which allow pressure to build up in the fume extractor body as the round passes. This pressure is then released after the round exits the barrel and the resulting pressure pushes out most of the remaining smoke and debris behind the projectile. This way there is less smoke entering the turret when the breech is opened to accept the next round. The first barrel type with the muzzle tip weight is known as the "A Series" and the second with the fume extractor is the "B Series". The same 20pdr weapon was also used in the British Charioteer tank.


A British Centurion tank crosses the Imjin River during the Korean War.

The British first used their Centurions in battle during the Korean War in late '50 when 45 tanks, composed of Centurion Mk.3s and Churchill Mk.VIIs, arrived with the 8th Hussars and 7th RTR. These forces joined the 8th Army and its M24 Chafees, M4A3E8 Shermans, M26 Pershings and M46 Pattons. Unfortunately, they were just in time to join the general retreat from Chinese attacks back to the 38th Parallel and over to the south bank of the Han River. Although there were a number of limited battles fought in this last phase of the war, the Centurions rarely had a chance to have a go against North Korean or Chinese armour, playing instead a support role for infantry attacks, often as dug in artillery support. One of the first tank actions for the Centurion was actually a short fight against a Cromwell tank that had been captured by the Chinese and turned against its original owners. It was a short confrontation and the Cromwell was knocked out by the Centurion's second shot at 3000 meters.

The Centurion was a great export success story for the British, with nearly half the vehicles manufactured sold over seas. At one time or another the Centurion was used by Australia, Canada, Denmark, Egypt, India, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Libya, the Netherlands, Kuwait, South Africa, Sweden and Switzerland. Each country altered the basic vehicle to fit their needs, but most Mks. can be identified the same way as the basic British types, by weapon types and turret configurations.



The Israelis accepted a number of Centurion Mk.3 and Mk.5 tanks from the British in 1959, and these heavy tanks were gradually modified over the years of service with the IDF to suit their special needs. One improvement was the replacement of the 20pdr weapon with the better British 105mm L7(M68) gun, beginning in 1962. This refit took place rapidly as guns became available, and by the time of the 1967 war most of the 250 Israeli Centurions had been re-gunned. The second major improvement took additional time and is a more interesting story. After the Six Day War, not only did the Israelis require additional Centurions to make up for their losses, but it became increasingly apparent that the Meteor engine should be replaced with a diesel unit. As the supply of Centurions from England had all but dried up, the IDF searched elsewhere and found a number of used Centurions for sale in the Netherlands.

In 1968 Holland had begun converting over to the Leopard 1 MBT and their Centurions were then on the surplus list. The tanks were just what the Israelis were looking for and they were sold to them as "scrap". These Centurions had been upgraded a few years before with the addition of Continental AVDS-1790-2a diesel engines, which doubled the range and increased the top speed from 21mph to 27mph. These vehicles were then used as templates to modify the original IDF Centurions as more diesels became available. The new rear decks are quite different from the normal Mk.3/5 Centurion configuration. The Dutch engine decks resembled those of the US M48 and M60 tank series, probably because these parts were available through NATO agreements, and the IDF simply mirrored this design. When viewed from the side, the new engine deck rises up from the rear of the vehicle to clear the taller diesel inside, continues across the engine, and then drops down again before reaching the turret. The cooling gratings are also very different, with five vertical rows of louvers covering the deck near the rear hull plate.


Unfortunately, this scene was typical in Centurion units during the early days. Engine failure was too common (as far as the tank crews were concerned) and total engine replacement was a long and laborious job. Here we see the turret had to be rotated 90 degrees to the left or right in order to raise the engine deck panels, and the air intake louvers are clearly visible under the individual panels. A new replacement Meteor engine is seen hanging from a gantry crane off the front of a repair halftrack.

Because these engine refinements were based on US designs, similar box air filters were used and mounted on the fenders to either side of the deck. The box air filters are sometimes the only clearly seen identifying characteristic on the diesel engined Israeli tanks as very few photographs taken from over the rear of the vehicles have been published. They are easy to spot as the Meteor engined Centurion has rounded exhaust mufflers in this same position. The newly configured Centurions are sometimes called "Ben-Gurions" when modified this way, and the two in this photo illustrate both the new gun and some of the engine deck modifications. Notice the large box air filters on the fenders, behind the other stowage boxes, and the gentle rise of the middle of the engine deck. The 105mm gun barrel is just a tad longer and bigger bored than the 20pdr Type B, but the best identifier is the off-center bore evacuator with squared ends. There have been a number of other engine and drive train changes made by various user countries over the years as they attempted to keep the big Centurions running effectively.

Many historians consider the Centurion design a turning point for British tank design and the first glimpse of what they would emphasize in their battle tanks for a number of years. The Centurion was very thickly armoured and carried one of the best guns of the day, both of which the British considered more important at that time than mobility. Up until recently, this philosophy has continued in British designed main battle tanks, improved mobility appearing with the Challenger MBT.

[SAMWolf]

Centurion Tank, The Backbone of Aussie Armour

In 1943, after a succession of unfortunate tank designs the British War Office commissioned a new specification calling for a tank with durability, reliability, a weight of 40 tons and the ability to withstand a direct hit from the German 88mm gun. Six prototypes were developed before the end of World War 2, but arrived to late to take part in the war on German soil.


Australian Infantry hitch a lift on a British Centurion tank, Korea, June 1951

It was soon recognised that the weight restrictions had to be lifted as the original specification could not be achieved within the 40 ton weight limitation.

The early vehicles were equipped with a 17 pounder main gun and a 20mm Polsten cannon. They also featured frontal, glacis plate armour to deflect shot, a partially cast turret and Horstmann suspension.

Dinner is served beside a centurion tank of the 8th Hussars on the south bank of the Han River in December 1950.

However, modifications to the original design were quickly made and the changes resulted in the adoption of a 20 pounder, fully stabilised, main gun and the replacement of the 20 mm cannon by a Besa mg (thus allowing the turret to be fully cast). These changes resulted in the Mk 3 version of the vehicle. NB: It was reputed that the performance of the 20 pounder gun (when firing APDS) was twice that of the 88mm gun of the German, Royal Tiger Tank.

In order to maintain its combat effectiveness, continuing modifications have led to numerous changes to main gun armament (e.g. 105 mm), fire control equipment, infra-red driving aids, engines (particularly diesels) and semi-automatic transmissions.

A British Centurion Mk. 3 tank making its way up a steep hillside, with flooded rice paddies in the valley below, 1951

The Centurion was Britain's first attempt to produce a universal tank and do away with divisions between Infantry Tanks (e.g. Matilda) and Cruiser Tanks (e.g. Covenanter). The original design was rapidly changed in the light of performance reports and led to the production of the Mk 2.

Further modifications resulted in the production of the Mk 3. This mark introduced the 20 pounder gun and the fully cast turret, plus a number of engine modifications. In this form, the Centurion first saw action in Korea in 1951 and soon proved itself to be the best performing tank in this theatre of operations. Particularly notable was its excellent cross country performance.

Two Centurion tanks of 3 Troop, 'B' Squadron, the 8th Hussars occupying a ridge as they seek enemy targets on the opposing hills, 1951

In operations around the Imjin River in Korea, two Centurions had to be hastily abandoned and to prevent them from falling into enemy hands it became necessary to destroy them. Despite being pounded by armour-piercing shot from a range of 50 m. neither tank caught fire and both were subsequently recovered and repaired.

Constant modifications and upgradings enabled the Centurion to remain at the fore-front of tank technology. The design of the vehicle was such that it could easily be up-gunned and re-engined and it was to later prove itself in numerous tank engagements in the Middle-East and India.

Australian Service History

The first purchaser of the Centurion was Australian Army in 1950, however the initial consignment was transferred to the 8th King's Royal Regiment, Irish Hussars at the outbreak of the Korean War. This Regiment was re-equipped with the Centurion and was employed to support the Commonwealth contingent fighting with the United Nations forces.

An Iroquois helicopter from 9 Sqn RAAF in close support of Centurion tanks in South Viet Nam.

It was not until February 1952 that Centurions arrived in Australia where they entered service with 1st Armoured Regiment. The tanks were off-loaded at Sydney and delivered by train to Puckapunyal, Victoria.

The Australian Centurions were Mk. 3's and these were equipped with 20 pounder guns and the 7.92 Besa mg's were replaced with .30 cal. Browning mg's. The tank training area around Puckapunyal proved a severe testing ground for the Centurion, in particular its suspension system, yet it proved to be a most robust vehicle.

Troops Of 1st Australian Armor Regiment In Front Of Australian Centurion Tank receive briefing at Vung Tau.

With the growing commitment to the Vietnam War in the 1960's, a number of Centurions were modified in 1967 at 3rd Base Workshops, Bandiana, Victoria for employment with the 1st. Australian Task Force serving in Phuoc Tuy Province. The tanks were modified to Mk. s/i (Australian) standard by the addition of applique armour on the glacis plate, .50 cal. ranging gun, No 4 RCP sight and infra-red night fighting equipment for the commander, gunner and driver.

In February 1968, C Squadron of 1st. Armoured Regiment, reinforced by a Special Equipment Troop of bridge-layers and tank-dozers and integral to the RAEME (Royal Australian Electrical and Mechanical Engineers) support, was committed to enhance the combined arms nature of the Task Force.

Centurion ARN 169073 Callsign 31A. this vehicle exhibits many of the standard features of Australian centurions used in South Vietnam:

• damaged / cut of track guards
• removal of the end of exhaust pipes
• two spare wheels normally carried on the glacis
• search light stowed
• coils of barbed wire
• lots of plastic water jerry cans

Such was the effectiveness of this armoured combat team, that many repairs, including major tasks, were performed in the field. This practice astounded a number of American Units which were content to recover vehicles to rear maintenance areas or to simply write-off battle damaged vehicles.

Despite considerable scepticism of many observers and senior Army personnel, the Centurion proved particularly effective at fighting in the paddy-fields and jungle areas of Vietnam.

Preparation for Operation Wilton

They proved their worth on many occasions, notably in the defence of Fire Support Bases Coral' and Balmoral', during the Tet offensive of 1968, in fighting around Binh Ba and in a number of offensive operations in Phuoc Tuy Province. (NB: A good account of the Centurions involvement in Vietnam is provided in the book, "The Battle of Coral" by Lex McAuley).


Centurion Dozer Tank

By 1971, when the tanks were finally withdrawn, all three Squadrons of 1st. Armoured Regiment had served in South Vietnam, with C Squadron having served twice.


Centurion receiving aid and an engine change. The truck is an Australian M546 5 ton wrecker. Note the centurion has the spare wheels on the glacis plate. This Centurion has not yet lost its front track guards, signifying it has only been in country for a short time or not yet tracked through the jungle / bamboo.

During 1955 the 1/15 RNSWL was introduced to the Centurion Tank and these were later to become its main fighting equipment. By 1965 a home training tank was taken on charge at Lancer Barracks and given the name Assegai. A further tank was received later and by 1968 three tanks were located at the Barracks. Prior to the delivery of these vehicles, all training and instruction was conducted at the Armoured Centre, Puckapunyal.


A Centurion Bridgelayer. The 60 foot (20 metre) bridge is carried in a single piece and launched in a up and over manner, unlike the newer Leopard Bridgelayer which Iaunches its bridge horizontally

The Regiment was involved in infantry/tank cooperation training with the 5th and 7th Battalions, Royal Australian Regiment prior to their departure to Vietnam. In 1971, the role of the Regiment was changed the that of a Cavalry Regiment and was re-equipped with M113A1 Armoured Personnel Carriers. The Centurions were phased out of service at that time.


A Centurion Armoured Recovery Vehicle Mark 2, mounting a 0.30 inch Browning machine gun on the commander's cupola.

In all, the Australian Army purchased 131 Centurions including six ARV's Mk. 2, four Bridge-layers and four Tank-dozers. An interesting conversion undertaken by the Armoured Centre, Puckapunyal was the Driver Training Tank, this was achieved by removing the turrets from conventional tanks and fitting a lightweight enclosed structure fitted with a number of seats for trainee drivers. The Centurion was eventually phased out of military service in 1977.

[SAMWolf]

Sho't - Centurions in Israeli Service

Within the scope of the Middle-East arms race, Israeli weaponry was always inferior in both qualitative and quantitative aspects. We acquired Sherman tanks and AMX-13 tanks (not really tanks but rather light tank destroyers), while the Arabs obtained, with no problems, new and modern tanks from both east and west. We were forced to be satisfied with "junk": old and inoperable tanks, second world war vintage Shermans, British Centurions and American M48's (Magach). Not a single country agreed to sell new tanks to us. It is still not clear why some countries did allow us to occasionally buy new and modern means of battle, such as jet fighter planes, but persisted in their refusal to sell us new tanks.


Six-day War (1967)
Centurion tank crew in the Negev

Given the need, we were forced to learn the technologies of armor, in order to rehabilitate the obsolete metal hulks, which we had purchased through programs of rebuilding, regunning and engine replacements.

The race between ourselves and the Arabs now became a direct confrontation between new Western and Soviet MBT's fielded by the Arab armies and old, rebuilt and improvised tanks fielded by Israel.


Six-day War (1967)
Israeli armoured unit of Centurion tanks mounted with 105 mm guns in the Negev.

In the 1960's the Arabs were about to obtain T-62 tanks from Soviet Russia. This was the most modern operational Main Battle Tank (MBT) of its time, equipped with a high-powered 115mm cannon. It. was clear that no improvisations or rejuvenation to tanks of the 1940s and 1950s would suffice to ensure the continued security, and indeed the existence, of the State of Israel.


Yom Kippur War (1973) Israeli Centurion tank moving up to the reinforce the armour in the battle-zone

At that time, in 1966, Britain came forward with a dramatically historic proposal. The British needed money in order to complete the development of their new tank of the future, the Chieftain, with its 120mm cannon. This tank was designed to be the strongest and most modern in the west. In view of their financial constraints they proposed a "package deal". According to this deal, we would buy hundreds of obsolete Centurion tanks. They, in exchange, would allow us to participate in the final stages of Chieftain development, would sell us Chieftains, and would help us build, in Israel, an assembly line for Chieftains. This was seen as an ideal solution to the unacceptable predictions regarding the middle-eastern armor balance from both quantitative and qualitative points of view.

Our cooperation with the British lasted for about three years. Two prototypes of the Chieftain tank were delivered to Israel. Israel invested heavily in the improvement and final development of the Chieftain in close cooperation with British officers and engineers, who worked with us in Israel.


The second stage of the IDF evacuation from Lebanon (1985), After the Operation "Peace For Galilee" (1982). Centurion with ERA crossing the border into Israel.

However, Arab states intervened. They threatened Britain with sanctions, with pulling their monetary reserves out of British banks, and other actions. Demonstrations were held in Arab capitals and British embassies were attacked. In November 1969 Britain withdrew from its Chieftain deal with Israel.

Sho't are Israeli Centurion Mk 3 and Mk 5 re-gunned with an 105mm gun. They either have the original 7.62 mm calibre on the commanders cupola or have it replaced by a 12.7 mm calibre HMG and american radios are fitted. When the Six-day War (1967) broke out, the IDF had 293 Sho't tanks that were ready for combat of total 385 tanks. During the war Israel captured 30 Centurion tanks from Jordan, when Jordan had only 44 Centurion tanks.



Sho't Kal are Israeli Sho't re-engined with an american diesel engine AVDS-1790 and added new transmission CD850 so that there is spares compatibility with other Israeli tanks like the M48 and M60 (Magach). When the Yom Kippur War (1973) broke out, the IDF had 1000 Sho't Kal tanks, half of its total amount of tanks.

The big difficulty with the Shot is that as it has been in service so long, none is currently in its original configuration. Later in their operational lives Sh'ot Kal were prepared for the installation of ERA but most never actually had it fitted. The Shot-Kal Mk. D [also named “Brak-Or” (‘lightning light' in Hebrew)] is tank is equipped with a thermal ‘sleeve' on the gun tube, IS-10 smoke discharges and full BLAZER reactive add-on armor suit.



Today in 3.10.2002 the Centurion tanks retired from the IDF, after this tanks were in reserve forces (in late 1980's) because the Magach and Merkava (Mk1, Mk2, Mk3) tanks replace them in the battle field. But with the entry of Merkava Mk4 tanks the Centurion tanks were retired from the IDF.

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Puma



Centurion tanks were converted to armored personnel carriers for the Israeli Combat Engineer Corps. The Puma's role is to provide protection and fire support for the Engineers as they clear paths through minefields.

Puma equiped with RAFAEL Overhead Weapon Station which is armed with a 7.62 mm M240 machine gun. This can be aimed and fired from within the vehicle in complete safety. Both day and night [image intensification] sights are provided.

Puma equiped with anti-mine systems as the Carpet.

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Nakpadon



In 1993, the conflict in the Lebanon took to the development of the Nakpadon, improved version of the NagmaShot and Nagmachon. It had shield still more that the Nagmachon, mainly against mines and missiles anti-car. The protection against mines saved many lives. The Nakpadon can take 10 troops more and it's equipped with four machine guns, external. Due to great armored protection, it is weighs 55 tons, being the VBI weighed already constructed. To compensate the weight, the engine 750 diesel AVDS of hp was changed by a AVDS used 1790-sa of 900 hp in the Merkava Mk 1. The Nakpadon is equipped machine guns, MAG of 7,62 mm and grenade launchers.

Adding troop seats and machinegun positions on both sides and fore and rear. A commander's position was added behind the front machinegun position. This results in a heavily armored APC. The driver's position remains, and troops and commander exit through a large four-part hatch on the top where the turret used to be. The Nakpadon is usually equipped with ERA.

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Nagmachon



The IDF began looking around their armour graveyards for more refits. The most obvious choice was the large selection of Centurion tanks falling apart and rusting away. These were rebuilt with a new engine and named the Nagmachon. It made its first appearance in the Lebanon Conquest, upsetting many Arabs who found their AT missiles bouncing off the APC's thick hide.

The turret is removed and the space replaced by troop seats, a raised superstructure, and hatches. Machineguns ring the superstructure, and the engine is replaced with a smaller, more efficient design, allowing a small door in the rear of the vehicle.

The Nagmachon can be attached with serveral devices in the front, including mine-breaching devices such as Nochri anti-mine system. The Nagmachon is very noteable due to the elevated pillbox turret installed on it. The pillbox turret is elevated armoured cabine with shooting-slights and 7.62 mm machine guns, enabling the troops inside to shoot soft targets without being exposed to enemy's fire.

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NagmaSho't



NagmaShot is conversion by Israel using the hull of an Centurion Sho't tanks in 1970's. It was used in the southern Lebanon security zone. NagmaShot is armored personnel carriers for the Israeli Combat Engineer Corps. I think this was the first Israeli conversion of the Centurion tank.

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M-72



In 1986, Israel converted some of its older Centurion tanks to carry a turret mounting a 155mm howitzer. There were only a few of these conversions, however, as a decision was made to concentrate on the development of a new self-propelled howitzer, the Slammer. Those that were converted were placed in reserve status and then reactivated in early 1998.

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MAR-290
(Centurion Chassis)



The MAR-290 is an Israeli four-tube 290 mm MRL with a range of 40 km, mounted on a Centurian tank chassis. It can fire its full complement of missiles, each of which weigh 600 kg on launch, in about 10 seconds, and can reload in about 10 minutes.

In early 2000, the IDF launched a $50 million project along with Israel Military Industries to improve the accuracy of the 48 MLRS systems from the United States. Israel is also said to deploy the indigenous MAR 290 rocket system.

Another conversion of redundant Sherman hulls was the use as a self-propelled rocket launcher. A locally-developed 290mm artillery rocket was used for this purpose.

Additional Sources:

mailer.fsu.edu
www.41herstel-hohne.studio-7.nl
anzacsteel.hobbyvista.com
www.jodyharmon.com
www.diggerhistory.info
www.tankmuseum.com
www.israeli-weapons.com
www.national-army-museum.ac.uk
www.army.mil
www.mheaust.com.au

[SAMWolf]

Manufacturers: Leyland Motors, Leyland, England; Royal Ordnance, Leeds and Woolwich, England; Vickers-Armstrong, Elswick, England.

Development of the A41 Centurion took place during the closing stages of the Second World War. Six prototypes were shipped to Germany, but they arrived too late to play any part in the allied victory. Production commenced shortly after the end of hostilities (with the vehicles eventually entering full-scale service in 1949) and continued until 1962, by which time 4423 had been built.

Britain’s first post-war tank has a distinguished record of service in several wars, despite weaknesses which are strikingly obvious today. The 650hp Rolls-Royce petrol engine was very thirsty, without compensating by providing a good maximum speed — and then there’s the question of the fuel’s dangerous flammability. The result was a woeful maximum speed of 34km/h and an operating range of well under 200km: compare this with its diesel-engined successor, the Chieftain, which managed over 400km per tankful at an almost impressive 48km/h. Some Centurions were provided with an armoured monowheel trailer carrying additional fuel, which boosted range if not manoeuvrability or the crew’s peace of mind.

The main gun of early Centurions was a three-inch 17-pounder. On the Mk III vehicle, this was replaced by a 3.28" 20-pounder. Most (but not all) later models used a fully stabilised 105mm L7 series gun.

At the time of writing, some derivatives of the Centurion were still in service — in Denmark, Isreal, Jordan (the Tariq derivative), Singapore, South Africa and Sweden. Predictably, most have new diesel power-packs.

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Technical specifications

• Engine: Rolls-Royce Mk IVB 12-cylinder liquid-cooled petrol producing 650hp at 2550rpm
  
• Maximum speed: 34km/h
  
• Fuel capacity & range: 1037l, 190km
  
• Armament: 105mm main gun, 7.62mm MG coaxial, 12.7mm RMG, 7.62mm MG (commander’s cupola), 2x6 smoke grenade dischargers
  
• Combat weight: 51.82t
  
• Length: 7.823m excluding gun (9.854m gun forwards)
  
• Width: 3.39m
  
• Height: 3.009m
  
• Armour: max. 152mm
  
• Crew: four

[SAMWolf]

Veterans for Constitution Restoration is a non-profit, non-partisan educational and grassroots activist organization. The primary area of concern to all VetsCoR members is that our national and local educational systems fall short in teaching students and all American citizens the history and underlying principles on which our Constitutional republic-based system of self-government was founded. VetsCoR members are also very concerned that the Federal government long ago over-stepped its limited authority as clearly specified in the United States Constitution, as well as the Founding Fathers' supporting letters, essays, and other public documents.

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Tribute to a Generation - The memorial will be dedicated on Saturday, May 29, 2004.

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Actively seeking volunteers to provide this valuable service to Veterans and their families.

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Iraq Homecoming Tips

~ Thanks to our Veterans still serving, at home and abroad. ~ Freepmail to Ragtime Cowgirl | 2/09/04 | FRiend in the USAF

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The FReeper Foxhole. America's History. America's Soul

Click on Hagar for
"The FReeper Foxhole Compiled List of Daily Threads"

[snippy_about_it]

FALL IN to the FReeper Foxhole!



It's TreadHead Tuesday!


Good Morning Everyone

If you would like added to our ping list let us know.

[SAMWolf]

Good Morning Snippy. Sorta cool being in the same time zone ain't it?

[snippy_about_it]

Yep, pretty neat! Now it's time for bed though. ;-)

Good night Sam.

[Support Free Republic]

Donate Here By Secure Server

[Iris7]

Howdy SAM, Miss Snippy,

Looks like I am the first here today! Slick.

I have affection for the old Centurion. Always liked the stowage bins wrapped around the turret, gets all of the junk out of the turret, which allows the turret to be smaller and for a given weight to have thicker armor. Thick armor is good.

The 17 pounder with APDS was a fine anti-tank weapon, and the 20 pounder of the Mk.3 even better. In Korea the Brits were the envy of all the lads because with the Cent they could destroy a T34/85 with one shot at any range, see it, kill it, and shooting back at a Cent was a foolish "effusion of blood" (as Bedford Forrest used to say), since the Cent was indestructible when attacked from the front.

The Centurion Mk3 with APDS would have made scrap out of any number of King Tigers from a hull down position. No comparison, the Cent was much better. Even the rotten Leyland engine was not worse than the Tiger Two's. Well, not TOO much worse!

[Aeronaut]

Good morning Snippy.

Burnelli GX-3 (1929)

[E.G.C.]

Good morning, Snippy and everyone at the Freeper Foxhole.

[The Mayor]

Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for You are with me. —Psalm 23:4

Death separates us for a time; Christ will reunite us forever.

[Colonel_Flagg]

Good morning, friends!

Tuesday rocks. Fun to read about a cool piece of machinery like the Centurion. I hope your trip finished well, snippy?

[Soaring Feather]

Good morning everyone in the FOXHOLE!
Threadhead Tuesday!!

[SAMWolf]

Morning Iris7. Looks like all of you are taking turns being first ones in lately.

It was about time the Brits finally got away from their Crusier/Infantry tank philosophy. It would have been interesting to see the Centurian and Pershing in action against the Panzers. The Western Allies finally had tanks that could match the German heavies.

[SAMWolf]

Morning Aeronaut.

That looks like soemthing out of the 20/30's pulp Science Fiction magazines.

[SAMWolf]

Morning E.G.C.

[SAMWolf]

Hi Mayor. Coffee always tastes better on a slightly chilly morning

[Aeronaut]

Hey Sam.

[SAMWolf]

Morning Colonel Flagg.

It's nice to be getting back into the "normal" routine and not worrying about finding internet access.