Canadian Centurion tanks question

[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.

[David Herbert]

I agree Dan. The quote you give simply does not make sense. It is certainly possible to weld a plate into a hole and cut a new hole but there is very little scope for that as the turret roof of a tank is pretty well covered with stuff that has to be where it is and if the loaders hatch of a 20pdr Centurion did not cause problems, why would it with the 105 as it is only the tube and the ammo that is different.

David

[Ed Storey]

Perhaps the centre section of the turret was removed and reworked during upgrades?

Plan View - Centurion II and III.jpg

Plan View Centurion.jpg

127-8 FV 4011 Centurion Turret copy.jpg

[David Herbert]

No, those are two different turrets - from new. Almost everything is different in detail. The bins on the sides are superficially similar but actually the whole turret was redisigned.

David

[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