Cdn Centurion Mk XI

John OReilly · #1 23-02-04, 20:22

While I recently aquired Barry Beldam's new book on the Centurion, I am still left wondering about the attachment point for the IR searchlight and the dimensions and a pic(please) of the 100gal extended armoured fuel tank.Any help would be very appreciated. TIA John

Don Dingwall · #2 24-02-04, 03:02

I may have the dimensions of a fuel tank, but presently it's somewhere in my sedimentary filing system.

I have dozens of Cdn. Cent pics--and more manual references than I know what to do with--I've attached a few here.

Don Dingwall · #3 24-02-04, 03:08

Oh, I also meant to mention that, without trying to sound TOO anal, British Mark designations changed from Roman to Arabic numerals after the war.

Here's another.

Don Dingwall · #4 24-02-04, 03:10

Here's the other view of the mounting bar.

Don Dingwall · #5 24-02-04, 03:11

Too quick on the trigger on the previous post.

John OReilly · #6 24-02-04, 09:44

Thanks Don, greatly appreciated. John

Tony Smith · #7 24-02-04, 11:11

Shane Lovell (who has posted on this forum before, see http://www.mapleleafup.org/forums/sh...&threadid=1496) has put out a great book on Australian Centurians in the Vietnam era. Many of the modifications to Canadian Centurions were of British origin and also applied to Australian Cents, too.
Contact Shane for a copy of his book, but I'll show a couple of detail pics here.

Tony Smith · #8 24-02-04, 11:12

And another:

Tony Smith · #9 24-02-04, 11:15

And one more:

Philliphastings · #10 24-02-04, 20:54

Hello,

I owned and restored Australian Centurion 169-129 in the late 1990's and fitted a new out of the box Philips-Usffa searchlight assembly (which like the vehicle itself came from Tim Vibert)

The mounting bar is attached by two (or maybe it was three?) large HT bolts which tap into the gun mantlet plate itself. The mantlet cover sould go on over the support bar as there is provision to zip the cover over the large end of the bar when the searchlight is stowed away to keep the mantlet weather and dustproof.

All the parts were still in their tropic proof packaging and I had, for a time the only fully IR capable Centurion in private hands in the country...

What fun it was to acquire cow 'targets' at midnight in the top paddock after midnight.

Cheers

Phill Hastings

John OReilly · #11 24-02-04, 21:28

Don,Tony,Philip, thanks very much for the pics and info.I know Don is planning a book on the Cdn Centurion,but in the spirit of you can never too much referance material,I will be contacting Shane at your suggestion Tony. Thanks again. John

Don Dingwall · #12 24-02-04, 22:44

I was fortunate enough to receive an early copy of Shane Lovell's book--it is quite simply the best reference produced on Centurions of any country since Dunsatn in 1981. Even if you are not into Aussie Cents, this book will explain in detail a lot of the intricacies of Centurions.

John OReilly · #13 25-02-04, 00:12

Thanks Don,
I've already emailed Shane concerning obtaining a copy of his book.That said,I'm still looking forward to yours.Any idea of it's release date?
John

Don Dingwall · #14 25-02-04, 02:28

Dunno yet John. I'm only the writer!

My publisher and I recently raided the CF Photo Unit last week, and we will be settling on a few more photos soon. Shouldn't be long now though.

Contact Servicepub.com for more details.

In the meantime, you, or anyone else for that matter, can contact off-board for more images and details of Cdn. Mk. 11's anytime.

HTH
Don

Moderator Note: Your email address has been removed to hide it from the spammers' spiders. Anyone can contact you through the system by accessing your profile at the bottom. Far more secure that way!

John OReilly · #15 25-02-04, 04:37

Thanks Don,appreciate the offer and if I run into a glitch,you can depend on hearing from me.John

#16 28-02-04, 08:45

Quote:

Originally posted by John OReilly

Far as I know, Cent CES kit included a tyre pump. It has two applications if anyone would like to take a guess. . . . . . . . . .

R.

Philliphastings · #17 28-02-04, 15:25

Uses for the tyre pump in a Centurion include:.

1. inflation of the pneumatic turret ring seal, for fording and amphibious operations - and -

2. Inflation of the crew's life vests ?

3. Inflation of the crew's air mattresses ?

4. Inflation of crew's coloured party balloons upon conclusion of a (nother) long tactical exercise ?

5. Inflation of the crew commander's blow up doll ?

Clearly the items 2-5 are guesses but of item 1 I am confident.

Cheers

Phill Hastings

Philliphastings · #18 28-02-04, 15:27

The pump would also be useful for clearing blocked fuel and hydraulic lines...

Cheers

Phill Hastings

#19 29-02-04, 08:02

Quote:

Originally posted by Philliphastings
Uses for the tyre pump in a Centurion include:.

1. inflation of the pneumatic turret ring seal, for fording and amphibious operations - and -

Clearly the items 2-5 are guesses but of item 1 I am confident.

Cheers

Phill Hastings

Well done indeed !!

Item 1 is correct and the one that most people miss. The other application being the tyre on the mono-wheel, detach-o-matic, fuel trailer.

I have a reference here to the Aussie operation of Cents in Vietnam; barging through the jungle they apparently managed just 15gpm, but then RR petrol engines always did have a prodigious appetite for fire-water.

Rather than 27L, my 6.5L RR product encased in Alvis metal-work only manages 2mpg running light on the road and I can well imagine that a 4 ton load in heavy going could well reverse mpg to gpm.

R.

Philliphastings · #20 01-03-04, 08:16

I used to occasionally offer tank rides around the farm with mine - a somewhat mechanically tired Centurion Mk5 (Aust) ARN 169-129 Armaggeddon. I would supply the first jerrycan full of fuel for start-up, warm-up and run-up to operating condition and would request the passengers to provide the second jerrycan for two laps of the paddock and back home across the creek crossing, with virtually none to spare by the time it was parked back in the machinery shed !

Very thirsty but the most fun I will probably ever have in my lifetime...

Cheers

Phill Hastings

NebLWeffah · #21 08-08-06, 01:06

Hello:
Does anyone have more detailed pics of the inside of the top hatch of the external 100 gal tank? I'm building a model of a Centurion using AFV Club's Centurion Mk 5 kit and I'm converting it to a Canadian service Mk 11 LR. I was going to pose the hatch open and need detail of the 'stuff' inside and associated connections etc. Was there a through-hull fitting for the fuel line from the tank to the vehicle or was it an external line?

I'm new here and this is my first post....hi everyone!!

cheers
Bob

Chris Johnson · #22 09-08-06, 01:05

This image might help you a bit, but I don't have a shot of the inside of the cover, only the outside.

Cheers,

Chris

Chris Johnson · #23 09-08-06, 01:07

... and this would be the exterior of the armoured access cover to the fuel tank.

Cheers,

Chris

NebLWeffah · #24 09-08-06, 16:06

Thanks Chris - exactly what I was looking for. I'm assuming the tube is the fuel line leading from the tank into the fitting on the vehicle?

Bob

Darrell Zinck · #25 10-08-06, 01:49

Hi Bob

Here's a shot or two of the one outside the Gym at Moncton Garrison. PM me your email address and I'll send you more (and bigger) shots.

I'll have a go with a socket wrench tomorrow as I don't think it welded closed.

regards
Darrell

Darrell Zinck · #26 10-08-06, 02:36

Another

Darrell Zinck · #27 10-08-06, 02:37

The tank itself:

NebLWeffah · #28 10-08-06, 05:29

PM on it's way Darrell - thanks
Bob

Darrell Zinck · #29 10-08-06, 20:53

Hi Bob

Ok, I went to the tank on my lunch-break with my socket set but could not pry it open. The combat-locks are frozen. I soaked them down with penetrant and will try again tomorrow.

I'm pretty sure I'll get it open but you may have to wait a few more days until I can get you pics of the interior of that hatch.

I'll still send the other exterior shots I have to your email address as per your PM.

Thanks for your patience.

regards
Darrell

NebLWeffah · #30 20-08-06, 03:58

Thanks Darrell

I have a copy of Don's book and I'm waiting for Barry Beldam's book to arrive but in the meantime, does anyone have any pictures of the front of the large IR searchlight without the cover on? I tried to google it but not not knowing the manufacturer or many other details, I couldn't find anything.

thanks:
Bob