Centurion photos

[Mike Cecil]

Hi Dan,

The uparmour plate came as a war office kit with installation instructions. First: remove all the 'stuff' from the glacis, weld glacis, re-locate all the 'stuff' back into place. There were plenty of exceptions, however, depending on other requirements and installations, but in general, it was a straightforward process. The plate was to ensure a degree of frontal arc immunity to the Russian/Soviet APDS round fired by the T54.

The uparmour was only added to the upper sloping glacis plate.

There are a few visible traits: the plate is cut around the towing eye mounts, and there is a chamfering effect let into the top edge of the plate in front of the driver: these can often be readily seen from the front. From the side, the plate is thicker at the top edge, and sticks out a fraction (1.5 inches, I think).

Yes, a tank/heavy machinery Base Workshop could handle it: just so long as they had the arc welding capacity. In Australia, it was most often done at rebuild by Bandiana Area Workshop, or to tanks already rebuilt but held in storage at 1COD awaiting issue.

Mike C

[Dan Martel]

Mike,

Going back to the first post of this thread, here is the one supposedly depicting a Centurion engine change.

Closer inspection however, shows what I believe is a truck engine hanging from the block and chain, not a Meteor.

The tank appears to be a Mk 5/1 with a Type B barrel. There is something strange between the bin boxes on the left side of the turret, covering the ammunition loading hatch.

There's also the strange placing of the road wheel on the back of the 100-gal tank. Most photos from this time period (mid-60's) show the road wheel located on the rear of the turret where the track-link holders are.

It also looks like the infantry telephone is on the rear of the fuel tank, rather than the left side.

I'm sure the Centurion spent as much time in the field in this environment as it did on the ranges and in laager.

Cheers,
Dan.

[Grant Bowker]

The engines (one on the hook and one sitting on the crate) look small for truck engines as well. The layout of the small engines looks similar to the image of the charging set engine shown in the User Handbook for the Centurion Mks. 3 and 5 dated 1953. The attached diagram (PDF version 7 or later) is from that manual.

[Mike Cecil]

Dan,

I agree with Grant: the engine is the Auxiliary Generator engine - a Morris 4 cylinder side valve model USNMH Mk2 or Mk2/1. These assemblies required frequent changing in service.

The tank is not equipped with an armoured rear fuel tank, hence the infantry phone is still mounted on the rear louvre plate. Might this be a later Mk.7 hull? The spare road wheel is mounted on the same plate, hanging from the tow rope link mount: not unusual, as the carriage of spare roadwheels was not part of the original stowage design, but found to be necessary, hence the position varies quite a bit between units/vehicles.

The 'strange' item between the side bins appears to be one of the engine deck covers, raised and leaning against the side of the turret between the bins. It is hard to see for sure.

Mike C

[Keith Webb]

Wneh I was working at Hughes Auto Spares I recall a batch of new Ford 10 sidevalve motors which I was told were to do with Centurions. Did we substitute those in Australia?

They sold like hotcakes to guys with Prefects and early Anglias.

[Little Jo]

Hi Guys

Here is a photo I took of a Centurion that I am sure would be recognizable to MLU members in Victoria. Sorry no prize for a correct answer. The Centurion at Coomandook South Australia on the Dukes Highway is about an hours drive towards the Victorian Border form me.

Cheers

Tony

[Shane]

Little Jo.

What are they going to do with that tank? It looks great but would look so much better at my place the wife would love it

[matilda IIA]

Hi Mike and gents, Its the oil cooler standing between the turret bins, They hinge at the front
Kind regards

[Mike Cecil]

Matt,

Yes, of course it is! My error.... It also well illustrates why there are several reports of damage to oil coolers by rotating the turret without first checking that all was clear. In all cases, the offending 'rotator' was charged with 'negligence: member to pay' - an expensive lapse of concentration for a lowly Trooper.

Thanks, Matt: just shows that 'hand on' experience is priceless.

Mike C

PS: The feature article in MMI this coming issue is about the Australian Centurion Driver Training Tank, and Tim Vibert's example in particular.

[Dan Martel]

Originally Posted by matilda IIA

Its the oil cooler standing between the turret bins, They hinge at the front.

Matt,

I'm sure that you knew exactly what you meant when you wrote 'they hinge at the front.' Unfortunately my knowledge of the vehicle is not as great and I have to admit that I'm not really sure what you meant by your description. Below is a photograph of the rear deck of a standard Centurion. Using this as a frame of reference, was the oil cooler under one of those things on the rear deck between the turret and the engine cover? Are they some kind of access hatches? Did the hatches rotate forward or just come straight off? Did the oil cooler lift straight out, or rotate up on a hinge? Any information that you can provide would be greatly appreciated.

Cheers,
Dan

[Dan Martel]

Matt,

I think I've answered my own question. Below is a photograph of the cutaway Centurion tank at the museum in Bovington. From this angle the oil cooler, painted silver, with its front hinge can be clearly seen, as can the engine. Still curious about the what everything is on the rear deck of the vehicle.

Cheers,
Dan.

[Mike Cecil]

Dan,

The rear deck of a Cent consists of two sets of hinged covers: the forward set of five interlocking covers are the engine compartment covers, the rear set are the transmission covers.

Both sets must be lifted in the correct sequence (different for each set). The engine compartment covers hinge at the rear, and are lifted from the front, ie closest to the turret, hinging backwards over the transmission covers. The turret must be positioned in the correct part of the traverse for each engine cover in turn to be lifted. (The transmission covers hinge forwards, and are rested against the side of the turret when open).

The oil cooler is below the engine covers, slightly right of the Meteor engine centerline. It is hinged at the front, ie nearest the turret, to allow it to be rotated clear for access to other parts of the engine peripherals, but does not require disconnection from the oil lines (which connect at each side of the pivot point or 'hinge'). It pivots in an arc upwards, and as the image shows, can be lent against the turret between the bins if the turret is in the correct position.

Mike C

[jdmcm]

Resurrecting this old thread with a question. Did Canada ever use the long range hull with the bolt on 100 gallon tank like the Australians did?

Regards
John