Was the Centurion a good tank?
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Was the Centurion a good tank?
The Centurion began life in 1943 as a proposed cruiser tank, but one that incorporated the harsh lessons of World War II. It had to be reliable, have good armor and mount a high-velocity cannon. The Centurion was a better tank than its contemporaries, the American M-48 Patton and Soviet T-54 and T-55.
How many Centurion tanks were made?
4,423 Centurions
Between 1946 and 1962, 4,423 Centurions were produced, consisting of 13 basic marks and numerous variants. In British Army use it was replaced by the Chieftain….Centurion (tank)
| Centurion | |
|---|---|
| No. built | 4,423 |
| Specifications | |
| Mass | 51 long tons (52 t) |
| Length | Hull: 25 ft (7.6 m) Overall: 32 ft (9.8 m) with 20pdr |
What engine is in a Centurion tank?
The heaviest armoured vehicle that had ever been produced in Britain, it weighed 50 tons, was built from 3.5in (88mm) thick steel armour-plate, carried a 3.7in (94mm) calibre gun firing a 20lb (9kg) shell and housed a modified Rolls-Royce Merlin engine — the same one that powered the Spitfire and Lancaster — which gave …
What happened to Australian Centurion tanks?
The last Centurion was withdrawn from Vietnam in August 1971 and from frontline service two months later as the Australian Army began its transition to German-built Leopard tanks.
Who made Centurion tanks?
The British
The British developed the Centurion because of the Second World War since their tanks were generally disappointing. In 1943, the British War Office issued a requirement for a new tank that could withstand a direct hit from German 88mm anti-tank guns, while its gun had to be able to penetrate German tanks’ armour.
Where was the Chieftain tank built?
Chieftain MBT (Main Battle Tank) MK 2/3 FV 4201 02 EB 05 was originally built by Vickers Armstrong, at their Elswick works in Newcastle as a FV4201 Chieftain MBT (Main Battle Tank) Mk2. It would be rebuilt into Mk2XY, Mk 6 and Mk 9 standard during its service life.
What replaced the Centurion tank?
The Centurion served alongside the Conqueror Heavy Tank until 1966 and was eventually replaced in British Army service with the Chieftain Main Battle Tank, which entered service in 1966.
Has Australia ever made a tank?
It was the first tank to be built with a hull cast as a single piece, and the only tank to be produced in quantity in Australia. The few Sentinels that were built never saw action as Australia’s armoured divisions had been equipped by that time with British and American tanks.
What is the difference between a centurion and a chieftain?
Chieftain had an NBC protection system which Centurion lacked. An infantry telephone was fitted to the rear of the tank to facilitate communication with infantry. The initial Fire-control system (FCS) was the Marconi FV/GCE Mk 4. A .50-inch (12.7 mm) ranging gun was mounted above the main gun (with 300 rounds available).
What was the purpose of the Chieftain main battle tank?
In the late 1940s with the threat of the Soviet T-54/T-55 and the rumored T-62 in mind, designers at Leyland had intended the Chieftain Main Battle Tank to replace both the Centurion Medium Tank and the Conqueror Heavy Tank. The resulting tank was an accommodation among firepower, speed, and agility.
Why was the chieftain so successful?
The Chieftain was an evolutionary development of the successful cruiser line of tanks that had emerged at the end of the Second World War. Its predecessor, the Centurion main battle tank (MBT), is widely considered to be one of the most successful of post-war MBT designs.
How did the Centurion compare to other tanks of the Cold War?
The Mk 5 featured the legendary British L-7 105-millimeter cannon, probably the best tank gun of the Cold War. The Centurion was a better tank than its contemporaries, the American M-48 Patton and Soviet T-54 and T-55. The Patton was faster, had a better combat fuel range, and was more maneuverable,…