Centurion Breech Closing Speed

[Mike Cecil]

Tim,

The mark of tank would not make a difference in this case. The Gun, 105-mm Tank L7A1 and the Ordnance QF 20-pdr Tank Mk.1 use the same breech ring and breech block, so the mechanism is common through all Marks of Centurion from Mk.3 to Mk.13. (Mk.1 & 2 used a 17-pdr.). I vaguely remember that this tank is a Mk.5 or Mk.5/2, but Malcolm will know for sure.

Mike

[Malcolm Towrie]

Tim,
As Mike will remember, there’s a long thread about the mark of this Cent on this forum. It’s a Canadian Mk 5/2, but that bears no comparison to the British mark numbering. It’s actually closer to a Mk 11.
The gun mounted is non-standard for either of those marks, it’s a 20 lbr, probably retrofitted later in its life to replace a 105.
Malcolm

[Tim Bell]

Originally Posted by Mike Cecil

Tim,

The mark of tank would not make a difference in this case. The Gun, 105-mm Tank L7A1 and the Ordnance QF 20-pdr Tank Mk.1 use the same breech ring and breech block, so the mechanism is common through all Marks of Centurion from Mk.3 to Mk.13. (Mk.1 & 2 used a 17-pdr.). I vaguely remember that this tank is a Mk.5 or Mk.5/2, but Malcolm will know for sure.

Mike

Mike

My question was not related to the breech closing speed.

I am more interested in what model of Loader Safety switch is fitted on this variant and how that operates.

As you correctly point out Mk1 and 2 used the 17pdr - the functionality of which is very similar to the 17pdr Mk4 and Mk7 found on the firefly... which is where my interest is.

Cheers

Tim

[Niels V]

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Yqfb8PzPAfc Have a look here at around 15:50 and 20:30

[Mike Cecil]

Excellent footage, Niels, thanks for posting it. Unusual to see such long and clear internal footage of loading, etc.

Tim, the thread was about the breech closing speed, so that's what I thought you must have been thinking of with your question about Mark.

The Cent Mks 3 to 11 equipped with 20-pdr or 105-mm guns fire electrically-primed ammunition and use an electrical firing circuit with a break switch that is opened as the gun recoils, and closed manually by the loader once the round is loaded. You can see the loader in the Youtube video per Niels link, throwing the switch lever after each round is loaded. The switch has a GEC manufacturing prefix, so I assume General Electric.

Mike