Centurion Tank

This Centurion Tank, No 169056 saw service from October 1970 to September 1971. While in service in the Vietnam War, it had the call sign “5Bravo” and an enemy RPG struck its barrel and wounded the driver in June 1971.

In 1968, Centurion Tanks were deployed to South Vietnam in support of the 1st Australian Task Force. Centurion Tanks provided fire support for the infantry up until late 1971 with a total of 58 tanks taking part in operations in South Vietnam.

The Centurion, introduced in 1945, was the primary British main battle tank of the post-Second World War period. It is widely considered to be one of the most successful post-war tank designs, remaining in production into the 1960s, and seeing combat in the front lines into the 1980s.

Centurion Tank

• Title:                     Bushmaster Protected Mobility Vehicle
• Manufacturer:      Thales, Bendigo
• Number Made:    1,200
• Weight:                12,400 kgs
• Engine:                 Caterpillar 3126E 7.2L six-cylinder turbocharged diesel
• Max Road Speed:  100 kph
• Range:                   800 kms
• Main Armament:  Forward Main Gun Ring with 5.56mm or 7.62 mm machine-gun
• Museum:              Australian War Memorial

Highlights of the National Museum of Australia

• LAV-25 Australian Light Armoured Vehicle
• Bushmaster Protected Mobility Vehicle
• Centurion Tank
• HMAS Brisbane (D 41) Gun Mount
• HMAS Brisbane – Bridge

Tour of Canberra Museums

• National Museum of Australia
• National Gallery of Australia
• Australian War Memorial
• National Portrait Gallery

~~~

“We sleep safely at night because rough men stand ready to visit violence on those who would harm us.”
– Winston Churchill

~~~

---

Photo Credit: GM