Centaur - British Armour

[Haridimos]

Congrats from my turn Kevin!

The two post-war photos you've posted on Saturday shows Greek Army's Centaurs as you now.
The year is 1957 and the place called Amyndaio, near the border with Yugoslavia. (now FYROM).

Centaur_Amyndaio_1957 d.jpgCentaur_Amyndaio_1957 b.jpgCentaur_Amyndaio_1957 g.jpgCentaur_Amyndaio_1957 e.jpgCentaur_Amyndaio_1957.jpg

[kevin powles]

Hi, Thanks for the positive comments guys, I have obtained today a full set of NOS shock absorbers a NOS drivers seat and most of the suspension bump stops NOS.

All the wheel bearing for this tank appear to be still available to.

Has anyone got an original or copy of the Centaur Chilwell 62/660 ILLUSTRATED PARTS BOOK?.

kevin.

[Roddy de Normann]

Kostas -

Are there any Greek records available today listing what the Greek Army bought or was given in the way of tracked vehicles ? When did they get such kit and what did they get ?

Would such lists have the former UK census numbers ?

Roddy

[Haridimos]

Hi Roddy,

I will post what is known about the Centaurs in Greek service later in the day, editing this post.

I have a surprise for Kevin also!

kostas.

[Roddy de Normann]

Kostas -

Great, really look forward to that...

Roddy

[Luke R]

Found some spares for sale.

http://www.milweb.net/webverts/60853/

Luke

[Haridimos]

Originally Posted by Roddy1011

Kostas -

Are there any Greek records available today listing what the Greek Army bought or was given in the way of tracked vehicles ? When did they get such kit and what did they get ?

What we know today is that the British Army donated fifty two (52) Centaurs to the Greeks the first months of 1946 in order to complete the equipment of the latter with british materials and to use all these against the communist rebels at a second fase. Of cource, training on Centaurs was awarded to British istructors. The tanks formed three squadrons.

1. Here, Major V.J. Senior (L) and his assistant Major "Q" Kirby (R) in front of a Sherman ARV M-32 and a Centaur.
2. Before a military parade at Athens, Oct 1947.
3. Centaurs at the training campus, at Attica 1947. At left, maybe a Lynx.

centaurs 1947 _IPMS 1992 british trainers majors Senior-Beaver.jpgcentaurs 1947 _IPMS 1992 at Zappeion before parade.jpgcentaurs 1947 _IPMS 1992 c1.jpg

[easo]

What is the difference between a Centaur and a Cromwell?

There is a Cromwell here in Pucka that looks very much the same as your Centaur.

http://www.armytankmuseum.com.au/i-vd.htm

Regards Easo

[tankbarrell]

Originally Posted by easo

What is the difference between a Centaur and a Cromwell?

Centaur is A27L with a Liberty engine.
Cromwell is A27M with a Meteor engine.

There are usually other differences but these are related to when it was built rather than model specific.

i.e. F type hull with the drivers side escape hatch is only found on Cromwell because Centaur production had ceased by the time it was introduced.

The engine installation is designed to be interchangeable between the two though fan drives, clutch and oil cooler and filter are also different. The switchbox allows for either coil or magneto igntion as required.

[eddy8men]

hi kev

you've probably seen the cavalier for sale on milweb which would pretty much give you everything you need for your centaur but you would then be left with a stripped cavalier hull and there in lies the problem with buying one historic tank to fix another, what to do with the spare one !
whatever you decide good luck with it, when it's done you'll have the only running mk1 centaur in the world. a very worthwhile project.

rick

[Roddy de Normann]

Kostas -

Thanks for the details and great pics...I will see if I can find anything in the National Archives at Kew next time I am there...

[Haridimos]

Kevin,

I'd just let you know that there are two (!) Centaurs turrets at the War Museum of Athens in static desplay ..

Well... It won't be a bad idea to offer them an exchange or a swap with something else... but I don't have anything in mind ...

CENTAUR turret left 2012 rsz_.jpgCENTAUR turret right 2012 rsz.jpg

[eddy8men]

there are a few centaurs in portugal aswell.

download this from the excellent shaddock sites. http://the.shadock.free.fr/Surviving_Cruiser_Tanks.pdf

[kevin powles]

Hi, Is that not the same gun turret taken from another angle?. Rick, I think that Cavalier has different running gear to a Centaur, hubs, swing arms etc so would yield very little useful parts, I think it needs to go to Bovington for restoration with the turret staying with it as I understand they have another Cavalier there. At the moment I think it's the 'missing link' in there British Cruiser tank restored collection.

Kevin.

[kevin powles]

Pulled the tracks out of the molasses after 3 years of being submerged.....ekk😳, then just pressure wash off.

[jdmcm]

Three years! man you have more patience than me! They look great now! Are you going to continue with the restoration Kevin?

Regards
John

[RichardT10829]

Best to POR them post rinse, that way they won't flash rust on you