Centurion tank
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The Centurion was the primary British main battle tank of the post World War II period, and was a successful tank design, with upgrades, for many decades. The chassis was also adapted for several other roles.
Manufacture of the Centurion began in January 1945, and six prototypes arrived in Belgium soon after the war in Europe ended in May 1945.[1] The Centurion served in more wars than any other western tank.[citation needed] It first entered combat with British forces in the Korean War in 1950, in support of the UN forces. The Centurion later served in the Indo-Pakistani wars of 1965 and 1971, successfully fighting US supplied Pakistani M47s, then with the Royal Australian Armoured Corps in Vietnam. It was sold to Israel who used Centurions in 1967, 1973, and during the 1975 and 1982 invasions of Lebanon. It became one of the most widely used tank designs, equipping armies around the world, with some still in service until the 1990s. As recently as the 2006 Israel-Lebanon conflict the Israel Defense Forces employed heavily modified Centurions as armoured personnel carriers and combat engineering vehicles.
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[edit] History
In 1943 the Department of Tank Design was asked to produce a new design for a heavy cruiser tank under the General Staff designation A41. After a series of fairly marginal designs in the A series in the past, and bearing in mind the threat posed by the German 88 mm gun, the War Office demanded a major revision of the design requirements, specifically: increased durability and reliability, a maximum weight of 40 tons and the ability to withstand a direct hit from the German 88 mm gun.
Tank Design responded by extending the long-travel 5-wheel suspension used on the Comet with the addition of a sixth wheel and an extended spacing between the second and third wheels. The Christie suspension with internal vertical spring coils was replaced by a Horstmann suspension with external horizontal springs. The hull was redesigned with welded sloped armour, and featured a partially cast turret mounting the highly regarded 17 pounder main gun and a 20 mm Polsten cannon. With a Rover-built Rolls-Royce Meteor engine, a version of the Rolls-Royce Merlin, the new design would have excellent performance.
Shortly after the programme commenced, it became clear that the requirement to withstand 88 mm artillery would be impossible to meet within the permitted weight. The original specification had been set so that the A41 could be carried on the existing Mark I and Mark II transport trailers, which were limited to a 40-ton load. The War Ministry decided it would be wiser to build new trailers than hamper what appeared to be a superb design. Even before prototypes of the original 40-ton design were completed, the design of a heavier version was well under way. The new version carried armour equal to the heaviest infantry tanks, and cross-country performance was superior to even the early cruiser tanks. The A41 was the first British tank that could "do it all", leading to the new designation universal tank.
Prototypes of the original 40-ton design, the Centurion Mark I, had 76 mm of armour in the front glacis, thinner than the then current infantry tank designs such as the Churchill which had 101 mm, but the glacis plate was highly sloped and so the effective thickness of the armour was very high—a design feature shared by other effective designs such as the German Panther tank and Soviet T-34. The turret was extremely well armoured at 152 mm. The tank was also extremely mobile, and easily outperformed the Comet in most tests. The uparmoured Centurion Mark II soon arrived, featuring a new 118 mm-thick glacis and side and rear armour increased from 38 mm to 51 mm. Only a handful of Mk I's had been produced when the Mk II replaced it on the production lines. Full production began in November 1945 with an order of 800[2] with production lines at Leyland, the Royal Ordnance Factories at Leeds and Woolwich, and Vickers at Elswick. The tank entered service in December 1946 with the 5th Royal Tank Regiment.[3]
Soon after the Centurion's introduction, Royal Ordnance finished work on the extremely powerful 20 pounder (84 mm)[4] tank gun. By this point the usefulness of the 20 mm Polsten had been called into question, so it was replaced with a BESA machine gun in a completely cast turret. The new Centurion Mark III also featured a fully automatic stabilization system for the gun, allowing it to fire accurately while on the move, dramatically improving battlefield performance. Production of the Mk 3 began in 1948.[5] The Mk 3 was so much more powerful than the Mk 1 and Mk 2 that the earlier designs were removed from service as soon as new Mk 3s arrived, and the older tanks were then either converted into the Centurion ARV Mark 1 armoured recovery vehicle for REME use or upgraded to Mk 3 standards. Improvements introduced with the Mk 3 included a more powerful version of the engine and a new gunsight and gun stabiliser.[5]
The 20 pounder gun was used only for a short time before the Royal Ordnance Factories introduced the now famous 105 mm L7 gun. All later variants of the Centurion, from Mark 5/2 on, used the L7. A total of 24 variants and sub-variants were produced.
Design work for the Mk 7 was completed in 1953 with production beginning soon afterwards.[6]
The Centurion was used as the basis for a range of specialist equipment, including engineering variants with a 165 mm demolition gun (AVRE-Armoured Vehicle Royal Engineers).[7] It is one of the longest-serving designs of all time, serving as a battle tank for the British and Australian armies from the Korean War (1950-1953) to the Vietnam War (1961-1972), and as an AVRE during Operation Desert Storm in January-February 1991.[7]
About 4,423 Centurions were produced between 1946 and 1962,[8] consisting of thirteen basic marks of the Centurion tank.
[edit] Korean war
On 14 November 1950 the British Army's 8th King's Royal Irish Hussars, equipped with three squadrons of Centurion Mk 3 tanks landed in Pusan.[9] Operating in sub-zero temperatures, the 8th Hussars learnt the rigours of winter warfare: their tanks had to be parked on straw to prevent the steel tracks from freezing to the ground, and engines had to be started every half hour, with each gear being engaged in turn, to prevent them from being frozen into place.[10] During the Battle of the Imjin River Centurions won lasting fame when their tanks covered the withdrawal of the 29th Brigade, with the loss of five tanks.[11] Centurions were also involved in the second Battle of the Hook where they played a significant role in repelling Chinese attacks.[11] In a tribute to the 8th Hussars, General John O'Daniel, commanding the US 1st Corps, stated: "...In their Centurions, the 8th Hussars have evolved a new type of tank warfare. They taught us that anywhere a tank can go is tank country: even the tops of mountains."[12]
[edit] Vietnam War
Tanks used by the allied forces in the Vietnam War were the M551 Sheridan, US 90 mm (medium) Gun Tank[13] M48A3 Patton, M24 Chaffee and 76 mm (light) Gun Tank[13] M41 Walker Bulldog light tank, and the Australian Centurions.[14]
In 1967 the Royal Australian Armoured Corps' (RAAC) 1st Armoured Personnel Carrier (APC) Squadron transferred to "A" Squadron, 3rd Cavalry Regiment in Vietnam. Although they successfully conducted combat operations in their areas of operation(s) (AOs), reports from the field stated that their light-armour (M-113 ACAVs) were unable to force their way through dense jungle[15] limiting their offensive actions against enemy forces. The Australian government, under criticism from Parliament, decided to send a Squadron of Australian Centurion tanks to South Vietnam.[15] The 84 mm-gunned[14] Australian Centurions of 'C' Squadron, 1st Armoured Regiment landed in the Republic of South Vietnam on 24 February 1968.
After the battles at firebases Coral and Balmoral in May 1968 a third Centurion troop, which included two tankdozers, was formed. By September 1968 'C' Squadron was brought to its full strength of four troops, each equipped with four Centurion tanks. By 1969, 'B' Squadron, 3rd Cavalry; 'A' Squadron, 1st Armoured Regiment; 'B' Squadron, 1st Armoured Regiment; and 'C' Squadron, 1st Armoured Regiment, had all made rotations through South Vietnam. Originally deployed as 26 Centurion tanks, after three and a half years of combat operations, 58 Centurions had served in country; 42, of which 6 were beyond repair, suffered battle damage, and two Centurion tank crewmen had been killed in action.[15]
[edit] Middle East
In the 60's the British needed money in order to complete the development of their new tank, the Chieftain, with its 120mm cannon. In view of their financial constraints they proposed a "package deal". According to this deal, Israel would buy hundreds of obsolete Centurion tanks. The UK would allow Israel to participate in the final stages of Chieftain development, would sell Israel Chieftains, and would help Israel build, in Israel, an assembly line for Chieftains. Israeli cooperation with the British lasted for about three years. After the Six-Day War, 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.
The formerly British Centurion was renamed "Sh'ot" (Scourge) by the Israelis and upgraded to meet their demands in modern warfare. When the Six-day War (1967) broke out, the IDF had 293 Sh'ot 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.
The Israeli version of the Sh'ot earned its legendary status during the Battle of "The Valley of Tears" on the Golan Heights in the 1973 Yom Kippur War. There little more than 100 Sh'otim of the 77th Armor Brigade defeated the advance of some 500 Syrian T-55s and T-62s. The Sh'ot became emblematic of Israeli armour prowess.
Original Centurions had 20 pounder main guns, these were quickly upgunned to the British 105 mm L7. The base vehicles went through a number of both major and minor modifications culminating in the Sho't with blazer package seen in the 1982 invasion of Lebanon and retired with honour during the 90's. The biggest modifications were the upgrade of the engine, sights and blazer packages.
The engine has been changed to a more efficient diesel engine, fire control has been modernized, armour has been thickened, and an improved ammunition layout allows more to be carried. An improved fire extinguishing system, better electrical system and brakes, and an increased fuel capacity complete the modifications. The Sho’t can be distinguished from the Centurion by its raised rear deck, to accommodate the bigger engine. 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.
Many different variants were bought by Israel over the years from many different countries. Many components of this would find their way into the Merkava.
[edit] Nuclear Tests
An Australian Army Mk 3 Centurion Type K, Army Registration Number 169041, was involved in a nuclear blast test at Emu Field in Australia in 1953 as part of Operation Totem 1. Built as number 39/190 at the Royal Ordnance Factory, Barnbow in 1951 it was assigned the British Army number 06 BA 16 and supplied to the Australian Commonwealth Government under Contract 2843 in 1952.[16]
It was placed less than 500 yards (460 m) from the epicentre and left with the engine running. Examination after detonation found it had been pushed away from the blast point by about 5 feet (1.5 m) and that its engine had stopped working only because it had run out of fuel. Antennas were missing, lights and periscopes were heavily sandblasted, the cloth mantlet cover was incinerated, and the armoured side plates had been blown off and carried up to 200 yards (180 m) from the tank.[16] Remarkably the tank could be driven from the site. Had it been manned the crew would probably have been killed by the shock wave.
169041, subsequently nicknamed The Atomic Tank, was later used in the Vietnam War and is now located at Robertson Barracks in Palmerston, Northern Territory. Although other tanks were subjected to nuclear tests, 169041 is the only tank known to have withstood atomic tests and subsequently gone on for another 23 years of service, including 15 months on operational deployment in a war zone.[17]
[edit] Variants
[edit] UK variants
- FV 3802
- Self-propelled 25-pdr artillery prototype based on Centurion—engine at rear as in gun tank—no production
- FV 3805
- Self-propelled 5.5in artillery prototype, again based on Centurion—engine at front—no production
- FV 4004 Conway
- "FV 4004 Self-propelled gun, 120 mm, L1 gun, Mk 3" prototype based on Centurion 3 with a larger calibre 120 mm L1 gun. To be an interim design until Conqueror tank entered service. One built
- FV 4005
- experimental 180 mm gun with concentric recoil and auto-loader mounted on Centurion - 183 mm version also built, with hand loading and conventional recoil. Known as FV 4005 Stage 1: gun in limited traverse open mount and FV 4005 Stage 2: gun in enclosed mount.
- FV 4007 Centurion Mk 1, 2, 3, 4, 7, 8/1, 8/2
- FV 4011 Centurion Mk 5
- FV 4012 Centurion Mk 7/1, 7/2
- FV 4015 Centurion Mk 9
- FV 4017 Centurion Mk 10
- A41 [20 mm]
- Centurion prototype with coaxial Polsten cannon
- A41 [Besa]
- Centurion prototype with coaxial BESA MG—later fitted with experimental CDL
- FV 4202 40 ton Centurion
- Used to develop various concepts subsequently used in Chieftain
- Centurion [Low Profile]
- Variant with Teledyne Low-profile Turret
- Centurion [MMWR Target]
- Cobbled together radar target tank.
- Centurion Marksman
- Fitted with Marksman air defence turret
- Centurion Ark aka FV 4016
- Assault Gap Crossing Equipment (Armoured ramp carrier)
- Centurion ARV Mk I
- Armoured Recovery vehicle
- Centurion ARV Mk II
- Armoured Recovery Vehicle with superstructure
- Centurion AVLB
- Dutch armoured vehicle laying bridge
- Centurion AVRE 105
- Combat Engineer Version armed with 105 mm gun
- Centurion AVRE 165
- Combat Engineer Version armed with 165 mm gun
- Centurion BARV
- Beach Armoured Recovery Vehicle
- Centurion Bridgelayer aka FV 4002
- Class 80 bridgelayer
- Centurion Mk 1
- 17pdr armed version
- Centurion Mk 2
- Fully cast turret
- Centurion Mk 3
- Fitted with 20pdr, 2 stowage positions for track links on glacis
- Centurion Mk 4
- Projected close-support version with 95 mm CS howitzer
- Centurion Mk 5
- Browning machine guns fitted to coaxial and commander's cupola mounts, stowage bin on glacis
- Centurion Mk 5/1 aka FV 4011
- Increased glacis armour, two coax machineguns: one Browning .30 & one Browning.50 caliber for ranging the 84mm (20 pounder) main gun
- Centurion Mk 5/2
- Upgunned to 105 mm
- Centurion Mk 6
- Upgunned and uparmoured Mk 5
- Centurion Mk 6/1
- Mk 6 fitted with IR equipment
- Centurion Mk 6/2
- Mk 6/1 fitted with ranging gun
- Centurion Mk 7 aka FV 4007
- Revised engine decks
- Centurion Mk 7/1 aka FV 4012
- Uparmoured Mk 7
- Centurion Mk 7/2
- Upgunned Mk 7
- Centurion Mk 8
- Resilient mantlet and new commanders cupola
- Centurion Mk 8/1
- Uparmoured Mk 8
- Centurion Mk 8/2
- Upgunned Mk 8
- Centurion Mk 9 aka FV 4015
- Upgunned and uparmoured Mk 7
- Centurion Mk 9/1
- Mk 9 with IR equipment
- Centurion Mk 9/2
- Mk 9 with ranging gun fitted
- Centurion Mk 10 aka FV 4017
- Upgunned and uparmoured Mk 8
- Centurion Mk 10/1
- Mk 10 with IR equipment
- Centurion Mk 10/2
- Mk 10 with ranging gun fitted
- Centurion Mk 11
- Mk 6 fitted with IR equipment and ranging gun
- Centurion Mk 12
- Mk 9 fitted with IR equipment and ranging gun
- Centurion Mk 13
- Mk 10 fitted with IR equipment and ranging gun
- FV 4010 aka Heavy Tank Destroyer G.W. Carrier
- Malkara Anti Tank Guided Missile launcher vehicle
[edit] UK specialist variants
- FV 4003 Centurion Mk 5 AVRE 165
- (1963) - AVRE (Armoured Vehicle Royal Engineers) vehicle with 165 mm demolition gun and a hydraulically-operated dozer blade or a mine plough. Can carry a fascine bundle or a roll of metal Class 60 Trackway; and tow the Giant Viper mine-clearance equipment or a trailer for another fascine. This variant had a five man crew. The vehicle was used in the Gulf War/Operation Desert Storm (1991).
- Centurion Mk 12 AVRE 105
- - Ex-Forward Artillery Observer vehicles converted to AVRE role.
- FV 4019 Centurion Mk 5 Bulldozer
- (1961) - Centurion Mk V with a dozer blade identical to that of the Centurion AVRE. One such tank was usually given to every Centurion-equipped squadron.
- FV 4016 Centurion ARK
- (1963) - Armoured Ramp Carrier. Can span a gap of up to 75 feet, can bear up to 80 tons.
- FV 4002 Centurion Mk 5 Bridgelayer
- (1963) - Mk 5 chassis with a No 5 Tank Bridge. The bridge can be launched in less than two minutes, can span a gap of 45 feet and can bear up to 80 tons.
- FV 4013 Centurion ARV Mk 1
- (1952) - Based on Mk 1 / Mk 2 hull. Turret replaced by a superstructure housing a winch driven by a 72 hp Bedford QL truck engine. About 180 units were built, some of them were used in the Korean War. After 1959 were used as training vehicles only.
- FV 4006 Centurion ARV Mk 2
- (1956) - Mk 1 / Mk 2 / Mk 3 hull with turret replaced by a superstructure housing a winch. The winch is powered by an auxiliary engine and is capable of pulling of up to 90 tons using a system of blocks. Armed with single .30 inch machine gun on the commander's cupola.
- FV 4018 Centurion BARV (1963)
- Beach armoured recovery vehicle. The last Centurion variant to be used by the British Army. As of 2003, one vehicle was still in use by the Royal Marines. Now being replaced by the Hippo based on Leopard 1 chassis.
[edit] Non-UK variants
- Olifant
- Centurion tanks modernised by South Africa, considered the best indigenous tank design on the African continent.[18]
- Semel (1974): 810 hp fuel-injected petrol engine, three-speed semi-automatic transmission.
- Olifant Mk 1 (1978): 750 hp diesel engine, semi-automatic transmission.
- Olifant Mk 1A (1985): Retains the fire control system of the original Centurion, but has a hand-held laser rangefinder for the commander and image-intensifier for the gunner.[18]
- Olifant Mk 1B (1991): Torsion bar suspension, lengthened hull, additional armour on the glacis plate and turret, V-12 950 hp diesel engine, computerised fire control system, laser rangefinder.[18]
- Olifant Mk 2: redesigned turret, new fire control system. Can mount LIW 105 mm GT-8 rifled gun or 120 mm smooth bore gun.
- Sho't
- An Israeli designation of the Centurion.
- Sho't Meteor: Centurion Mk 5 tanks with the original Meteor engine purchased in 1959.
- Sho't Kal Alef/Bet/Gimel/Dalet: Modernised Centurion tanks with 105 mm gun from 1963, a new powerpack (the Continental AVDS-1790-2A diesel engine and the Allison CD850-6 transmission). Entered service in 1970; by 1974 all Israeli Centurions were upgraded to Sho't Kal (Mk 13 armour) and had a pintle mounted .50 cal HMG. Subvariants indicate upgrades received by Sho't Kal tanks during their operational life, including a new turret rotating mechanism, a new gun stabiliser, a new fire-control system and preparations for the installation of the Blazer ERA.
- Nagmashot / Nagmachon / Nakpadon
- Israeli heavy armoured personnel carriers based on Centurion tank's chassis.
- Puma
- Israeli combat engineering vehicle on Centurion tank chassis.
- Eshel ha-Yarden
- a quadruple tubular launcher for 290 mm ground-to-ground rockets mounted on Centurion tank chassis. The project was cancelled after a single prototype was built. Both this vehicle and an earlier version based on Sherman chassis are often referred to as MAR-290.
- Tempest
- Operated by Singapore, modernised with Israeli assistance, similar to Israeli variant, with diesel engine and new main gun, and possibly reactive armour. "Tempest" is the English translation of "Sho't".
- Stridsvagn 81
- Swedish Army designation for its 240 Mk 3 Centurions (20 pdr gun) with Swedish radios, etc.
- Stridsvagn 101
- Swedish Army designation for its 110 Mk 10 Centurions (105 mm gun) with Swedish radios, etc.
- Stridsvagn 101R
- Swedish Army designation for Stridsvagn 101 upgraded in early 1980s with laser range finder, etc.
- Stridsvagn 102
- Swedish Army designation for Stridsvagn 81 upgunned in early 1960s to 105 mm.
- Stridsvagn 102R
- Swedish Army designation for Stridsvagn 102 upgraded in early 1980s with laser range finder, etc.
- Stridsvagn 104
- Swedish Army designation for 80 Stridsvagn 102 modernised in early 1980s with laser range finder and diesel engine, etc. (along the same lines as the Israeli Shot Kal).
- Stridsvagn 105
- Swedish Army designation for Stridsvagn 102R upgraded with new suspension, etc. Prototype only.
- Stridsvagn 106
- Swedish Army designation for Stridsvagn 101R upgraded with new suspension, etc. Not built.
- Bärgningsbandvagn 81
- Swedish Army designation for Centurion ARV.
[edit] Operators
Australia Replaced by Leopard 1.
Austria Fixed in bunkers.
Canada Replaced by Leopard C1. Many of the tanks were sold to Israel who converted them to diesel. Some are still in use as variants.
Denmark Replaced by Leopard 1.
Egypt Replaced by T-55s, T-62s, M60A3s and M1A1s. ref
India Retired
Iraq Retired
Israel Gun tanks retired, many hulls converted to Nagmachon APCs, Nakpadon ARVs or Puma CEVs.
Jordan Chassis re-used for the modern Temsah APC[19]
Kuwait Retired
Lebanon
The Netherlands Replaced by Leopard 1
New Zealand Retired without replacement.
Singapore 63 Centurion Mk3 and Mk7s bought from India in 1975 and more from Israel in 1993-4, all upgraded to Israeli standard with new main guns and diesel engines [20]
Somalia
Somaliland[21] Originally supplied to Somalia
South Africa In service as the indigenously developed and upgraded Mk1A/B and Mk2 Olifant[22][23]
Sweden Replaced by Stridsvagn 122
Switzerland Replaced by Leopard 2
United Kingdom Retired
[edit] Combat history
- Cold War - United Kingdom, Canada, Denmark, Netherlands, Sweden
- Korean War - United Kingdom
- Suez Crisis - United Kingdom
- War of 1965 - India
- Six Day War - Israel, Jordan
- The Troubles - United Kingdom
- Liberation of Bangladesh/War of 1971 - India
- Yom Kippur War - Israel, Jordan
- Vietnam War - Australia
- Angolan Civil War - South Africa
- Operation Motorman - United Kingdom, 165 mm AVREs with dozer blades were used to destroy barricades set up by the IRA in Northern Ireland, the 165 mm demolition guns were pointed to the rear and covered up
- Falklands War - United Kingdom, single Centurion BARV
- Gulf War/Operation Desert Storm - United Kingdom as Centurion AVRE's
[edit] See also
- Permanent arms economy
- Military funding of science
- Military-industrial complex
- Military Keynesianism
- Arms control
[edit] References
[edit] Notes
- ^ Dunstan & Sarson, Centurion, p. 8
- ^ Munro, Centurion, p. 40
- ^ Munro, Centurion, p. 46
- ^ Starry, Mounted Combat in Vietnam, p. 113
- ^ a b Munro, Centurion, p. 48
- ^ Munro, Centurion, p. 62
- ^ a b Dunstan & Sarson, Centurion, p. 36-37
- ^ Dunstan & Sarson, Centurion, p. 22
- ^ Dunstan & Sarson, Centurion, p. 16
- ^ Dunstan & Sarson, Centurion
- ^ a b Munro, Centurion, p. 158-162
- ^ Dunstan & Sarson, Centurion, p. 17
- ^ a b Hunnicutt, Patton
- ^ a b Starry, Mounted Combat in Vietnam
- ^ a b c Dunstan, Vietnam
- ^ a b Cecil, M: Classic Military Vehicle October 2004 Issue 41, pages 43-46. Kelsey Publishing Group, 2004.
- ^ "Australian Centurions in preservation, many photographs". Steel Thunder Original Two. http://the-original-steel-thunder-2.synthasite.com/page-5.php.
- ^ a b c Trewhitt, Philip (1999). Armoured Fighting Vehicles. 96: Dempsey-Parr. ISBN 1-84084-328-4.
- ^ "Temsah" (photo). military-today.com. http://www.military-today.com/apc/temsah.htm.
- ^ Tim Huxley, Defending the Lion City: The Armed Forces of Singapore p.131
- ^ C.F.F.Foss, Jane's Main Battle Tanks p.186
- ^ ARG. "Olifant Mk.1B Main Battle Tank". Military-Today.com. http://www.military-today.com/tanks/olifant_mk1b.htm. Retrieved 2009-08-01.
- ^ ARG. "Olifant Mk.2 Main Battle Tank". Military-Today.com. http://www.military-today.com/tanks/olifant_mk2.htm. Retrieved 2009-08-01.
[edit] Bibliography
- Dunstan, Simon (1982). Vietnam Tracks-Armor in Battle 1945-75. Osprey Publications. ISBN 0-89141-171-2..
- Dunstan, Simon; Badrocke, M. & Sarson, P. (2003). Centurion Universal Tank 1943-2003. Osprey Publishing (New Vanguard 68). ISBN 1-84176-387-X.
- Hunnicutt, R. P. (1984). Patton: A History of the American Main Battle tank. 1. Presidio Press. ISBN 0-89141-230-1.
- Miller, David (2001). The Illustrated Directory of Tanks of the World. Salamander Books Ltd. ISBN 0-7603-0892-6.
- Munro, Bill (2005). The Centurion Tank. Crowood Press. ISBN 1861267010.
- Royal Armoured Corps Tank Museum (1973). British Tanks 1946-1970. Wareham, Dorset: The Museum. OCLC 221053350.
- Starry, Donn A. General (First printed 1978-CMH Pub 90-17.). Mounted Combat in Vietnam. Vietnam Studies. Department of the Army. http://www.history.army.mil/books/Vietnam/mounted/index.htm.
[edit] External links
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Centurion tank |
- Centurion armour/technical data
- British Imperial War Museum
- Centurion
- Australian Centurions
- Redoubt Fortress Museum Home of an example of a Mark III Centurion Tank
- Dutch Cavalry Museum has 2 Centurion tanks in its collection.
- Olifant Mk1B details on Army-technology.com.
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