Date: April 2006
This series of images shows a completely bare Centurion turret shell, as used on the Centurion Mark II onwards. Continue reading
Early Centurion Turret – Part 1
Category Archives: Australia
Light Tank Mark VIA
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
M1A1 Abrams Arrives in Australia
Background
On Thursday, 21 September 2006, the Wallenius Wilhelmsen Line Roll On-Roll Off ship “Talisman” arrived at Melbourne’s Webb Dock, and unloaded the first of the Australian Army’s new M1A1 Abrams Main Battle Tanks and M88A2 Hercules Armoured Recovery Vehicles. Continue reading
Centurion Mark 5/1 ARN 169108 (Vietnam Modifications)
Contributed by: Shane Lovell
Date: January 1996
This series of images was taken at a private collection.
Centurion 169108 is one of perhaps only two vehicles surviving with South Vietnam modifications in place, the other being ARN 169017. Continue reading
Centurion Mark 5/1 ARN 169110
Contributed by: Dean Ansell
Date: August 2006
This series of images was taken in August 2006 at the Long Tan Commemoration Ceremony held at the Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT. Continue reading
Centurion Mark 5/1 ARN 169017 (Vietnam Modifications) – Part 2
Contributed by: Mark Tucker
Date: January 1998
This series of images was taken in 1998 at Holsworthy Army Base, Sydney Australia.
Centurion 169017 has an interesting history and is one of perhaps only two vehicles surviving with South Vietnam modifications in place. Subsequent to these images being taken, 169017 was relocated north to 1 Brigade in Darwin where it remains on duty as a gate guardian. Continue reading
Australian Centurions in a Nutshell
…and in Vietnam too!
Background
The release of the AFV Club Royal Australian Armoured Corps Centurion Mk 5/1 (Vietnam Version) has been a wish fulfilled for many modellers, worldwide. We understand that this is the first in a large range of Centurion variants to be released by AFV Club, in both mainstream, full production and limited edition versions.
Therefore it is worthwhile to give an overview of Centurion gun tank variants, then drill down to put the Australian versions in context, and further, to see just what makes an Australian Vietnam variant – with lots of reference images, of course. Continue reading
Centurion Mark 5/1 ARN 169017 (Vietnam Modifications) – Part 1
Contributed by: Ron Puttee & Lindsay Sparkes
Date: January 1996
This series of images was taken in 1996 at Holsworthy Army Base, Sydney Australia.
Centurion 169017 has an interesting history and is one of perhaps only two vehicles surviving with South Vietnam modifications in place. Subsequent to these images being taken, 169017 was relocated north to 1 Brigade in Darwin where it remains on duty as a gate guardian. Continue reading
Centurion Mark 5/1 ARN 169031
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
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