Canadian Centurion tanks question

[jdmcm]

No Mike, that tank is owned by my friend Mark, he has re-done it again as an ersatz Abrams for use in film work. I am working on a different project at the moment, currently on the down low. But would be great if you are in the neighborhood to stop in at the shop for a visit.

Regards
John

[eddy8men]

cent is a great tank to drive. i'm sure you'll enjoy it but the fuel bill might make your eyes water

[Mike Cecil]

Apologies for my erroneous assumption, John, but now I have two reasons/people to visit in your neck of the woods.

Mike

[Malcolm Towrie]

Hi, I'm a volunteer "fixer" at the Ontario Regiment Museum in Oshawa, Ontario. We have a project to get one of our Canadian Cent's up and running this year. Not pristine, but running. We just bought a nice Mk 4b engine for it.
I'm a newbie at this so I have been trying to figure out what Mk of Cent we have. It has the armoured fuel tank on the back, a 20 lbr gun, but it it doesn't appear to have the voltage regulator box in the hull for the engine-mounted generator. I have searched on what the various Mks are but it's confusing. Can anybody help me with what we have here?

Malcolm

[Mike Cecil]

Hi Malcolm,

A couple of questions to assist with the ID:

Does it have the additional armour plate welded to the upper glacis plate?
Is the co-ax mounting for a .30 cal Browning MG?
Is there a hatch or a welded plate on the rear of the turret?

Regards

Mike

[Malcolm Towrie]

Mike,
I can see no evidence of a layer of armour welded over the original upper glacis plate.

I have attached photos of the co-ax mount and the rear of the turret. Hopefully, those will answer your other two questions.

Malcolm

20180720_152954.jpg

20180720_153219.jpg

20180720_153229.jpg

[Ed Storey]

Two questions:

1. Have you asked the Ontario Regiment Museum which Mark of Centurion it is and if so what have they said?

2. Is there any evidence inside of a brass plate with the vehicle's serial number, this will be two numbers-two letters-numbers and what is it?

[Mike Cecil]

Hi Malcolm,

I'm a bit puzzled by your images, as the interior shot appears to show a .50 RG and .30 Co-ax combination MG mount, which would indicate the main armament would be a 105mm, rather than a 20-pdr. Do you have any images of the front of the turret and main armament, please? The turret is also fitted with a rear basket to hold the searchlight normally fitted along with the Infra-Red equipment.

A Centurion:
(1) with 20-pdr, without up-armouring, and fitted with a long range rear fuel tank, and a co-ax of a .30 cal, would be Mk.5 LR.
(2) with 105mm, and as above, would be a Mk.5/2 LR
(3) with 105mm, , fitted with 50 RG, , IR sights and searchlight and as above, would be a Mk11 LR

I'm not aware that Canada ever fitted the .50 RG to tanks equipped with the 20-pdr main armament - as far as I know, Australia was the only Centurion operator with that particular combination.

Regards

Mike