Centurion photos

[Philip Moseley]

Well I used to drive one of those Centurion ARV back the the early 80s
they were brought out of war reserve due to base overhaul on the chieftain ARVs But had fun taking the engines clutch and transmissions final drives and TA wheels Brings back memories
Hard to believe the Rolls Royce meteor 27 liter Engine was in the Spitfire
but a terrible job changing the plugs

[Mike Cecil]

Hi Phillip,

That would be the Rolls Royce Merlin in the Spitfire.

The Centurion had the much-modified Merlin called the Meteor, made by Rover.

100 man hours was the listed engine change time for a Cent Mk.5/1, though a competent crew with incentive (like whizzing bullets) could change it in only a few in the field.

Mike C

[Dan Martel]

Great photo of the Fort Beausejour tank lines, Jason. I count 45 Centurions in the picture, which would put the date it was taken sometime between 1957 and 1962. The regiments stationed there during those dates were The Royal Canadian Dragoons followed by the 8th Canadian Hussars (Princess Louise's).

Note that some of the gun barrels don't have a fume extractor, while not all have a counter-weight on the muzzle. Finally none of the vehicles have been painted in a camouflage pattern.

Again, great photo.

Cheers,
Dan.

[Mike Cecil]

Very nice image.

20 pounder (Tank) Type A barrels had a counterbalance at the muzzle, while Type B barrels (introduced about 1956) had a fume extractor and a 'muzzle swelling'. Balancing the Type B barrel involved welding weights to the topside of the fume extractor.

There was also a Type C barrel.

All three were interchangeable, but fitting a Type B barrel also involved changes to the depression stop rail around the rear deck, and to the barrel travelling clamp.

Mike C

[Dan Martel]

Mike,

Thanks for the info. So, what does the Type C barrel look like? Extractor, no extractor, muzzle shape? I have no idea.

Also, what is a 'depression stop rail around the rear deck?' I think I know what that might be, but aren't quite sure.

Actually, I would be interested any details which you may have on the Centurion. Modifications and such.

Cheers,
Dan.

[Mike Cecil]

Hi Dan,

Don't know much about the Canadian use of Centurion: suggest Don Dingwall's 'The Centurion in Canadian Service' from Service Publications is a fine start.

The Depression Stop Rail was a hard rubber, raised edge around the outer edge of the rear deck to prevent the main armament from fouling the steel deck during traverse. It had to be modified to prevent the B type barrel fume extractor from preventing depression during traverse, and when placing the barrel into the gun crutch.

Mods to Centurions, as issued from the British War Office, fill volumes. Simon Dunstan is documenting them all, in a mammoth piece of work that he intends to publish eventually.

Mike C

[Mike Cecil]

Dan,

Sorry, forgot to say: the Type C barrel had a short counterweight at the muzzle, combined with either a mid-barrel counterweight or fume extractor. It was bored in the barrel for the gas ports, but not necessarily fitted with the fume extractor. If fitted with the mid-barrel counterweight, the gas ports were fitted with threaded plugs. The Type C was sort of a Type A and B all rolled into one.

Type A counterweight (muzzle), to be balanced, had an additional length added to the counterweight tube.

Mike C