Light Tank Mark VIA

Location: RAAC Memorial & Army Tank Museum, Puckapunyal, VIC, Australia

Date: April 2011

Main identification points:

  • Mantlet fitting for Vickers, not BESA armament, therefore not VIC.
  • Return roller attached to hull, not forward bogie, so not a straight Mark VI, must be either VIA or VIB.
  • “Easiest” point of difference between Marks VI & VIA versus VIB are the armoured engine louvres – two separate louvres for VI & VIA, and one for the VIB.
  • Octagonal commanders cupola, not round, therefore Mark VIA as opposed to a Mark VIB.

And, of course, the nice close up of the vehicle data plate!!! Continue reading

Centurion Mark 5/1 ARN 169031

Location: RAAC Memorial & Army Tank Museum, Puckapunyal, VIC, Australia

Contributed by: Ron Puttee & Lindsay Sparkes

Date: January 1996

This series of images was taken in 1996 at Puckapunyal Army Base, Victoria Australia.

Centurion 169031 “Bewildered” is another Centurion with an interesting story. She is currently the gate guardian at Puckapunyal, and was part of the first shipment of Mark 3 vehicles received by the Australian Army in 1951/52, but did not serve in South Vietnam. Continue reading

Centurion Classroom Instructional Mountings (CIMs) Part 2

Location: RAAC Memorial & Army Tank Museum, Puckapunyal, VIC, Australia

Contributed by: Ron Puttee & Lindsay Sparkes

Date: January 1996

This series of images was taken in 1996 at the RAAC Memorial and Army Tank Museum, Puckapunyal Victoria, Australia.

Classroom Instructional Mountings (CIMs), as the name implies, were used for training crews in various drills under close supervision in a classroom setting. Continue reading