Page 5.
Puckapunyal Gunnery Range old Centurion wish I could find out the number
Another destroyed Centurion
Would also like to know the number of this one.
They have done some damage to them.
This cut down frame behind the cupola on the turret top holds .30 cal ammo liners for the crew commanders Machine Gun, also a small radio on the left hand side (separate compartment) for contacting the Infantry as the old one on the rear was not much good in Vietnam. This is a command tank as the Ammo rack is a short one and the third antenna is shown there. These items were only on Command tanks
This is the normal Rack, full size you can see the extra section to the right of where the Radio fits.
Note the clip in the centre and the right hand side, behind the frame and the turret edge
this is to hold the .30 cal machine gun when not in use
One of the mod's done to the main gun when the tanks were sold
I f you could procure a round this would stop you firing it.
Also the fact the barrel had a steel plug welded into it, the firing pin was removed and the breech block welded shut.
Even in the field the house work still had to be done
A RPG entry hit on the drivers windscreen bin on 169005, it exited out the side bin.
Note the empty .30 cal cases from the crew commanders flex .30 cal.
The arrow shows the exit point. It entered the windscreen bin and went through the two side bins
The biggest rising sun I have ever seen at Cowra Museum NSW
A good cutaway showing the placement of the loading bin beside the drivers compartment and also the under floor storage bins
A cutaway of the drivers compartment, showing pedals, handbrake , gearstick and steering levers
Right hand side of drivers compartment. The lever in the centre of picture is the "Strangler lever" or choke.
Below are two gauges known as Hour meters for the man motor and Aux Gen motor
Drivers dash panel
Main power switch, ignition switch and starter button, plus fuse switches.
This is the under floor of the turret, note the ammo bins
These are accessible by travesing the turret to a certain point,
hoping no one else moves the turret while your hands are down there.
But the operator can lock it in position
This is the front ammo compartment which is beside the drivers left
again accessible from a certain turret position
This is the left hand side of the Centurion rear - note the flat strip of steel between the lifting lug and the Medical / phone compartment
This is the left mount for the 100-gallon Aux. fuel tank, not all have the fuel tank
They were in short supply.
This is the windscreen fitting on the Hong Kong and U.K. Tanks, quite a fancy fitting with screw down fittings
This is the Australian fitting, just clip in and lock very basic but then they were not used very often, never, in my time
Refuelling in South Vietnam - The Jerry cans everyone is sitting on, carry water not fuel.
Note the stretcher behind the water cans - the carry cage has ration boxes
I hope you have been enjoying my web page and there is a lot more to come
So far you have been viewing a taste of what my CD named STEEL THUNDER is like
Its a story of my search for the Centurions with a lot of photos. There is a second CD of photos only
There is also an update which is now for sale plus a second CD of photos and video's
The search through out Australia and overseas to trace the 142 Centurions brought by the Australian Army. 124 Centurions were located
Lots of text and information. Over 2000 photos and pictures.
Did you serve on one of these? Lots of photos from Vietnam.
Steel-Thunder and second CD of photos Both for $30
Steel- Thunder upgrade and second CD of photos and video's Both for $30
Postage $3 (Within Australia)
To purchase ph: 03 5781 1312
All Prices are Aust. Dollars