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

afvinteriors.hobbyvista.com ^

[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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[snippy_about_it]

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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.

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[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.