Centurion
The Centurion Tank was the main British tank of the post war period, also being purchased by the Australian Army from 1951 and by many other armed forces. Prototype Centurions had been built by the end of WWII.
Power is provided by a V12 Rolls Royce Meteor petrol engine, derived from the Merlin aircraft engine. The Centurion is supported by six pairs of road wheels on each side, each track also passing over a rear drive sprocket, a front idler wheel and four double and two single guide rollers. The road wheels are rubber tyred and are mounted on swing-arms fitted with coil springs and shock absorbers (dampers). Australian Centurion Tanks served in Vietnam from 1968 until 1971. The Centurion remained in service in Australia until 1977 when replaced by the Leopard Tank.
Centurion Mk3 - Mk5 1953
- Crew: driver, gunner, radio operator, commander
- loa: 7552mm (hull), width: 3378mm, height: 2940mm
- grnd clearance: 508mm, trench crossing 3350mm
- weight: 50,800kg (unladen)
- Meteor Mk 4B, 27L, petrol, 12-cyls (V12), twin carburettors, 2-valves/cyl, ohv
A 4-cyl charging engine is also fitted- bore: 137.17mm, stroke: 152.4mm, c.r.: 7.0:1
- power: 650bhp at 2550rpm, torque: 1550lb-ft at 1600rpm
- transmission: 5m (+ 2 rev'), clutch: triple plate
- Max speed: 35kph
- Main armament: 83.4mm 20-pounder
