Armor Centurion Mk. 5/1 RAAC
This vehicle has good armor, which more than compensates for its modest speed capabilities. The most well-armored part of the tank is the frontal projection of the turret, the thickness of which is 258 mm. By the way, it is able to survive being hit by shells even from level nine tanks. The thickness of the sides of the turret is 89 mm, which is quite enough to escape from shells that arrive tangentially.
The forehead of the body is also well reinforced. Its thickness is as much as 120.7 mm. But the lower frontal part of the Centurion is quite weak, only 76.2 mm. thick, but this is a characteristic feature of all British tanks. It is this that forces you to be extremely careful during a fight, and, if possible, to hide your lower part from your opponents.
The most exposed parts of the Centurion Mk. 5/1 RAAC can be considered the side parts of the case, the thickness of which is only 50.8 mm.
Centurion medium tank (UK)
The Centurion
medium tank was developed since June 1943 by AEC as a cruising tank under the designation A41. The production program adopted in August 1945 provided for the production of 800 tanks. The first 100, almost identical to the prototypes, were designated Centurion Mk.1 (A41′), the rest, equipped with a new cast turret, were designated Centurion Mk.2 (A41A). Tanks of this modification, starting with the 101st vehicle, began to be equipped with a new 20-pounder gun and they received the designation Centurion Mk.3. The first production Centurion Mk.1 tanks left the factory floor in February 1946. The Centurion tank was officially adopted by the British Army in 1947 as a medium gun tank. Serially produced by Leyland Motors and Vickers Limited, as well as by state arsenals (Royal Ordnance Factory) in the cities of Leeds and Woolwich. From 1945 to 1962, 4423 units were manufactured. Centurion tank fleet is that early production tanks were constantly upgraded to the level of later modifications. The basis of most of them is the Centurion Mk.3 modification, the most widespread of all those produced.
Centurion tanks were actively exported to Australia (143 units) and Holland (343). Denmark (226), Israel (1080), India (100). Jordan (293), Iraq, Canada. Kuwait (50). Lebanon (40), Singapore (63), Somalia (30), South Africa (300), Switzerland (300) and Sweden (350). As part of the armies of a number of these states, they were actively used in military conflicts. Australian "centurions" fought in Vietnam, Israeli, Jordanian and Iraqi ones participated in numerous Middle Eastern wars.
During operation in different countries, these tanks have repeatedly undergone modernization, mainly associated with the replacement of weapons, installation of powerful diesel engines, modern fire control systems, dynamic protection, etc.
The Centurion tank is made according to a classic layout with a rear-mounted engine and transmission compartment. In the front part of the hull of the tank of the most common modification, the Centurion Mk.3, there is a control compartment on the right, in which the driver sits, and on the left side there is ammunition, a box for storing property and a drinking water tank. In the roof of the control compartment there is a driver's hatch, in the covers of which two periscope observation devices are installed. In the fighting compartment, located in the middle part of the tank, the gunner and tank commander are located to the right of the gun, and the loader to the left.
On the roof of the tower on the right there is a commander's cupola with a hatch, along the perimeter of which beveled triplex blocks are installed. A periscope is installed in the turret roof, and the loader's hatch is located to the left of the commander's turret. To observe the terrain, the loader uses a periscope viewing device. The gunner has a periscope sight. In the rear part of the tower there is a round hatch closed with a lid. Batteries are installed under the floor of the fighting compartment.
All weapons are located in the tank turret. The radio station is located in the rear part of the tower, on the roof of which three whip antennas are installed. In the front part of the turret, one six-barrel 51 mm caliber grenade launcher is installed on the outside left and right of the movable armor for setting up smoke screens. On the sides of the tower there are boxes in which covers, camouflage nets, a tent, blankets, etc. are placed. At the rear of the tower there is a spare water tank with a capacity of 20.5 liters and cable reels.
The tank's turret is equipped with an 83.8 mm (20-pound) rifled gun with an initial speed of an armor-piercing projectile of 1020 m/sec and a sub-caliber projectile of 1325 m/sec. A 7.92 mm machine gun is paired with the cannon. The tank's gun is made without a muzzle brake. The anti-aircraft machine gun is not installed on the tank. Accuracy of firing from a tank on the move is ensured by installing a weapon stabilizer in two guidance planes. The vertical pointing angles of the tank's gun are: elevation angle +20° and declination angle -10°. The gun's vertical and horizontal aiming mechanisms are electrically driven. The ammunition load is 65 rounds for the cannon and 3,600 rounds for the machine gun. The tank turret is cast. Its mass when assembled with weapons is about 13 tons. The diameter of the turret ring is about 2300 mm.
The power compartment is located in the rear of the tank behind the fighting compartment. The partition separating the fighting compartment from the power compartment has a hatch that facilitates access to the engine.
Centurion tank is equipped with a liquid-cooled Meteor 12-cylinder petrol engine, developing power up to 650 hp. at 2550 rpm. Gasoline tanks are located inside the hull on both sides of the power compartment. To the left of the main engine is an 8 hp auxiliary engine. a generator driving rotation, used to power consumers of electrical energy and charge batteries when the main engine of the tank is stopped.
The engine cooling radiators are located horizontally above the power transmission. They can rotate and take a vertical position, providing access to transmission units. From the engine to the drive wheels, power is transmitted through a clutch, a Merritt-Brown type power transmission, which is a mechanical five-speed gearbox, made in one unit with a differential rotation mechanism, and final drives. The power transmission provides the tank with five forward gears and two reverse gears. The number of turning radii is equal to the number of gears. The minimum turning radius is B/2. The final drive of the tank is a simple two-stage gearbox.
The tank's suspension uses blocking of two dual road wheels in one bogie with horizontally arranged buffer springs and shock absorbers. The tank hull is suspended on six such trolleys.
An intercom is used for internal communication between crew members. To communicate between the tank crew and the infantry directly interacting with the tanks, a telephone is installed on the rear plate of the tank hull.
The fender shelves are equipped with entrenching tools and boxes for spare parts, tools, food, portable kitchens, tarpaulins, ropes, etc.
The Centurion tank is a milestone vehicle in British tank building. It began the British departure from the concept of dividing tanks into infantry tanks (designed to support infantry operations) and cruiser tanks (designed for independent operations in operational depth as part of armored formations). For the first time in English tank building, an attempt was made to optimally combine powerful armor protection, strong weapons and fairly high mobility.
Modifications Centurion Mk.1 (A41*) - the first production version. The tower is cast, with a welded roof. Frontal armor of the turret - 127 mm, Combat weight - 46.7 tons. Dimensions: 9035x3374x2821 mm. Armament: 17-pounder Mk 6 cannon, 7.92 mm coaxial Besa machine gun; ammunition 74 rounds, 3375 rounds. Rolls-Royce Meteor IV engine with 650 hp; Merritt-Brown Z51R manual transmission; suspension - balanced spring, Horstmann type. Crew 4 people. Centurion Mk.2 (A41A) - large cast turret with 152 mm frontal armor, new commander's cupola. Combat weight 48 tons. Meteor IVA engine. Centurion Mk.3 is a Centurion Mk.2 with a 20-pounder Mk I cannon. Combat weight is 49.3 tons. In addition to the newly produced vehicles, most Centurion Mk.2 tanks were upgraded to the level of the Centurion Mk.3 in 1951-1952. Centurion Mk.4 (A41T) is a support tank armed with a 95mm Mk IV howitzer. Combat weight 45.6 tons. Not mass-produced. Centurion Mk.5 is a coaxial Browning M1919A4 machine gun with a 7.62 mm capibra. An anti-aircraft turret for the M1919A4 machine gun is mounted next to the commander's hatch. The gun's ammunition capacity is 64 rounds. A significant number of Centurion Mk.3 tanks were upgraded to the Centurion Mk.5 level. Centurion Mk.5/1 ( FV 4011 ) is a Centurion Mk.5 with additional 45 mm thick frontal armor protection. Combat weight 50 tons. Centurion Mk.5/2 is a Centurion Mk.5 with a 105 mm L7A1 cannon. The initial speed of an armor-piercing sub-caliber projectile is 1470 m/s. The Centurion Mk.6 is the Centurion Mk.5 - with additional armor protection and a 105 mm L7A1 cannon. Ammunition capacity 68 rounds, Combat weight 51 tons. Centurion Mk.6/1 is a Centurion Mk.6 with an IR receiver. The Centurion Mk.6/2 is a Centurion Mk.6 with a Browning M2HB 12.7mm sighting machine gun. Centurion Mk.7 ( FV 4007 ) - 20-pounder Mk I cannon with an ejection device for purging the barrel bore, coaxial and Browning M1919A4 anti-aircraft machine guns of 7.62 mm caliber. Ammunition 63 rounds, 4500 rounds. Additional armored fuel tank in the rear of the hull. Advanced fire control system. Combat weight 50 tons. Centurion Mk.7/1 ( FV 4012 ) - Centurion Mk.7 with additional armor protection. Centurion Mk.7/2 - Centurion Mk.7 with 105 mm L7A1 cannon, Centurion Mk.8 - new cast gun mantlet, rotating commander's cupola. Meieor IVB engine. Combat weight 50.8 tons. Centurion Mk.8/1 - Centurion Mk.8 with additional armor protection. Centurion Mk.8/2 - Centurion Mk.8 with a 105 mm L7A1 cannon. Centurion Mk.9 ( FV4015 ) - Centurion Mk.7 with additional armor protection and a 105 mm L7A1 cannon. Ammunition 70 rounds. Combat weight 51 tons. Centurion Mk.9/1 - Centurion Mk.9 with IR sight. Centurion Mk.9/2 - Centurion Mk.9 with a Browning M2НВ sighting machine gun in 12.7 caliber. Centurion Mk.10 ( FV 4017 ) - Centurion Mk.8 with additional armor protection and a 105 mm L7A1 cannon. Centurion Mk.10/1 - Centurion Mk.10 with IR sight. Centurion Mk.10/2 - Centurion Mk.10 with a Browning M2НВ sighting machine gun of 12.7 mm caliber. Centurion Mk.11 - Centurion Mk.6 with IR sight and Browning М2НВ- sighting machine gun Ammunition 68 rounds, 700 12.7 mm and 4250 7.62 mm rounds, Centurion Mk.12 - Centurion Mk.9 with IR Priel and Browning М2НВ machine gun Centurion Mk.13 - Centurion Mk.10 with IR sight and Browning М2НВ sighting machine gun,
The “centurions” received their baptism of fire during the Korean War. 45 Centurion Mk.3 tanks of His Majesty's own 8th King's Royal Irish Hussars took part in the fighting. Subsequently, tanks of this type were used by the British Army only in the Middle East. So. for example, on November 5, 1956, Centurion Mk.5 tanks of the 6th Royal Tank Regiment landed in Port Said as part of an Anglo-French group. At the turn of the 1960s, Centurions were used by British troops in police and counter-guerrilla operations in the south of the Arabian Peninsula. Since 1967, they began to be removed from service with the British Army and replaced with Chieftain main battle tanks.
The last war in which the British Centurion took part was the fighting in the Persian Gulf area. The Corps of Royal Engineers' AVRE and Mk2 ARV combat vehicle and Royal Marines' BARV combat vehicle were used in Operation Desert Storm.
Currently, modernized Centurion are in service in Jordan (Tariq - 90 units), Singapore (12, with 6 tanks based in Brunei, and another 6 in Taiwan) and South Africa (167 Olifam Mk.1A and Mk.1B ). In the Israel Defense Forces, only various combat and special vehicles based on the Centurion tank are used to a limited extent.
TACTICAL AND TECHNICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF THE TANK Centurion Mk.13 COMBAT WEIGHT, t: 51.8. CREW, people: 4. OVERALL DIMENSIONS, mm: length - 9854, width - 3390, height (on the turret roof) - 3009, ground clearance - 510. ARMAMENT: 1 L7A2 cannon 105 mm caliber, 1 coaxial Browning M1919A4 machine gun 7 caliber, 62 mm, 1 Browning M1919A4 anti-aircraft machine gun of 7.62 mm caliber, 1 Browning M2NV sighting machine gun of 12.7 mm caliber, 12 installations for launching smoke grenades of 51 mm caliber. AMMUNITION: 64 rounds, 4750 rounds of 7.62 mm caliber, 600 rounds of 12.7 mm caliber. WEAPONS STABILIZER: two-plane. AIMING DEVICES: gunner's periscope sight with variable magnification, commander's periscope sight. ARMOR, mm: hull front - 118, side - 51, stern - 38, turret - 30...152. ENGINE: Rolls-Royce Meteor IVB, 12-cylinder V-shaped four-stroke carburetor liquid cooled; power 650 hp at 2550 rpm. TRANSMISSION: Merritt-Brown Z51R. consists of a double-disc main dry friction clutch, a five-speed mechanical gearbox, a planetary turning mechanism with double power flow, and two-stage final drives. CHASSIS: six double rubber-coated support rollers on board, four double and two single rubber-coated support rollers, a rear drive wheel with removable ring gears (lantern engagement), a guide wheel; suspended suspended with coil springs and hydraulic shock absorbers; tracks with an open joint 610 mm wide. MAX SPEED, km/h: 34, POWER RESERVE, km: 190. OBSTACLES OVERCOME: climb angle, degrees. - thirty; ditch width, m - 3.35; wall height, m - 0.91; ford depth, m - 1.45. COMMUNICATIONS: radio station and intercom.
Equipment
Every tank has its drawbacks. Some of them can be compensated for by additional equipment, but, unfortunately, not all. In the case of the Centurion Mk. 5/1 RAAC no add-ons will help increase the maximum damage dealt in one shot. But let’s not dwell on this, and let’s see what equipment can be used to increase the efficiency of the tank:
- Anti-fragmentation lining. With its help, you can significantly reduce the damage that high-explosive shells can cause.
- Rammer. Increasing the rate of fire has never hurt anyone.
- Stabilizer. This is a must have if you want to improve your shooting accuracy on the go.
Perhaps this is all you need if you decide to fight with the Centurion Mk. 5/1 RAAC.
Advantages and disadvantages
Since a detailed analysis of the general characteristics of the tank and its weapons is left behind, to improve the perception of information, especially regarding guns, it is worth systematizing everything, highlighting the main strengths and weaknesses of the Centurion Mk. 7/1. Pros: • Variability of weapons; • Good DPM of the pre-top gun; • Powerful alpha strike of the top gun; • Decent accuracy in both cases (scatter, convergence, stabilization); • Good dynamics and maneuverability; • Comfortable vertical aiming angles; • Best visibility on the level. Cons: • Strong gold dependence and weak alpha strike for the pre-top gun; • Poor damage per minute for the top gun; • Limited maximum speed; • Large dimensions of the tank; • Mediocre booking.
How to play Centurion Mk. 5/1 RAAC
The main task of a premium tank is to bring maximum income. Therefore, given the low speed of the vehicle, it would be more correct to choose a convenient position away from the epicenter of the battle. From there you can inflict good damage on your opponents without straining. Moreover, the Centurion Mk. The 5/1 RAAC has a highly accurate gun and this will not be too difficult for it.
If we talk about teamwork, then the main task of the tank is to provide cover for the allies. If you want more thrills, you can go into the thick of battle, but only as part of a team. You shouldn't be left alone with your opponents. This greatly increases the Centurion's chances of being dismantled very quickly.
Most of all the Centurion Mk. 5/1 RAAC will appeal to those who like to collect equipment. Because, despite the good performance characteristics, the small one-time damage of the tank will not be to everyone’s taste. But ultimately, it’s up to you whether to purchase this tank or not, especially since you have already become familiar with all its features.
