Canadian Centurion tanks question

[Richard Coutts-Smith]

For most of the 90's I worked with Vietnam Vet, a gunner in the Centurion. As was the case then (and now?) many vets were reticent to talk about their service. My recollection of the few comments he made was:
They worked on a range of 60 miles with full fuel.
When under fire from tunnels in hillsides they would pump in round after round of canister as it was most effective.
The Cent. was not a suitable tank for the terrain/conditions.
(The most effective weapon he saw was a Bofors A/A used for ground defence.)
Suffered terribly from Tinnitus and later developed PTSD.
I thought I was doing the right thing and organised a ride in a Cent, he flatly refused (politely, he was a great bloke) to be involved...
I guess our love of the machinery can blind us to the human side on occasion, I still feel
guilty that I could not see his suffering.
Rich.

[Bruce Parker (RIP)]

Originally Posted by Richard Coutts-Smith

For most of the 90's I worked with Vietnam Vet, a gunner in the Centurion. As was the case then (and now?) many vets were reticent to talk about their service. My recollection of the few comments he made was:
They worked on a range of 60 miles with full fuel.
When under fire from tunnels in hillsides they would pump in round after round of canister as it was most effective.
The Cent. was not a suitable tank for the terrain/conditions.
(The most effective weapon he saw was a Bofors A/A used for ground defence.)
Suffered terribly from Tinnitus and later developed PTSD.
I thought I was doing the right thing and organised a ride in a Cent, he flatly refused (politely, he was a great bloke) to be involved...
I guess our love of the machinery can blind us to the human side on occasion, I still feel
guilty that I could not see his suffering.
Rich.

Humbling. But if we are doing what we do for the right reasons (and I think most of us are) it is to pay tribute to vets like this and what they went through. If nothing else it's to help tell their story to generations that would otherwise have no idea.

[David Dunlop]

What, if any, losses did the Australian Centurions experience in Vietnam?

David

[Ed Storey]

Does anyone know the fate of this Lahr Centurion Mk 11 Gate Guardian?

Lahr Centurion Mk 11.jpg

[James P]

All this talk about Centurions was me wondering if anyone has one section to spare for my little collection of track ?

[jdmcm]

I can help you out with that James, PM me

John

[Darrell Zinck]

Originally Posted by Ed Storey

Does anyone know the fate of this Lahr Centurion Mk 11 Gate Guardian?

Attachment 101400

Hi Ed

I am fairly certain the thw that one I posted of in Moncton is the Mk11 that was "guarding" Lahr.

regards
Darrell

[Ed Storey]

I agree, I just conducted a Google Maps recce and the street view images do show what appears to be Mk 11 in Moncton.

[Dan Martel]

All this Centurion talk got me to take another look at my copy of Don Dingwall's The Centurion in Canadian Service (2005) and noticed this quote:

"When the 105mm gun was installed in Centurions, regardless of nationality, the loader's hatch had to be turned 180 degrees and moved to the extreme outside edge of the turret roof, as the recoil of the L7 gun would almost certainly have removed the lower legs of the loader, even though the breech assemblies of the 20 pounder and the 105mm guns were virtually identical in size."

Two questions. First, how does one move a hatch on a tank turret roof? Cutting a new place for the hatch is one thing, but how do you fill in the space where the hatch once was? It's the "how do you fill in the turret escape hatch at the rear of the turret" problem all over again.

Second, wouldn't the loader be sitting inside the turret assisting the gunner during the operation of the gun, rather than standing half out of the turret waiting to lose his legs?

Once again, I turn to those with superior Centurion knowledge to me to answer my questions. How does one move a turret hatch and where is the loader during the operation of the 105mm gun.

Thank you, gentlemen,
Dan.

[Darrell Zinck]

Originally Posted by Ed Storey

I agree, I just conducted a Google Maps recce and the street view images do show what appears to be Mk 11 in Moncton.

Hi Ed

Oh, there is a Mk 11 there in Moncton alright (for now). No need for Google for that fact.

Based on photos and layout of each, I think they are the same one.

regards
Darrell