IPMS Nederland - Walk around

: Laatste update: 12 maart 2020; 3798

Development of the British Centurion tank started in 1944 and first deliveries to the British Army was in 1949. It had a stabilized gun and had good terrain capabilities. Top speed of 35 km/hr and range of about 185 km was somewhat limited however. Also, the reliability was sometimes a problem. Crew was 4 and combat weight about 50.800 kgs with thickest armour about 76mm at the front. It was powered by a Rolls Royce V12 engine of about 650hp. The Centurion was important for Defense during the Cold War and more than 4,000 tanks were manufactured and exported as well to dozens of countries.

The Royal Netherlands Army (Koninklijke Landmacht) had received under MDAP about 658 Centurion tanks. They were used from 1953 until 1985 and it had a 4 man crew. The Mk.3 and Mk.5 had initially a 20 ponder canon and Besa machinegun. The engine was a Rolls Royce Meteor with 650 hp. The Centurions were modernized throughout their service life. Some 343 mk.5 Centurions got a 105 mm canon and 0.3 Browning machinegun. Two types of gun barrrels were used, with or without gas extractor.

Several tanks were special vehicles like the Mk2. ARV recovery vehicle.

Centurion Bergingstank (mk.2 ARV recovery vehicle)

This is a recovery vehicle with a 31 ton winch and was used by the Royal Netherlands Army. With number KX-06-77 it was first at the OCTD at Soesterberg but now is on display in the new National Military Museum (NMM) at the former Soesterberg airbase, The Netherlands.

Photographed July 2015 by Meindert de Vreeze (C) Copyright IPMS Nederland

Centurion mk 5 /2

This is a Centurion mk 5 with the modernized 105mm canon and 7.62mm / 0.3" machinegun. Seen at the Cavalerie museum at the Bernhard Kazerne, Amersfoort (NL).

Photographed July 2017 by Meindert de Vreeze (C) Copyright IPMS Nederland