Hobby Master 1/72 Ground Power Series HG3102 British Centaur C.S. MK.IV Cruiser Tank MK.VIII, A27L 95mm Howitzer RMASG 1st Armoured Support Rgt. 2nd Battery, "H" Troop, Normandy, France, 1944
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Authentic Detailing
Pre-Painted by professionals
Accurate paint colors
Markings Tampo (pad) applied
Fully Assembled
Die-Cast Model
True to Scale (1:72)
Weathering and insignias
Turret turns
Main gun elevates
Metal chassis, turret and main gun
Realistic tracks
Tracks turn but are held down by a pin to replicate real track droop
HG3102
Centaur C.S. MK.IV, British Cruiser Tank MK.VIII, A27L 95mm Howitzer
On D-day while in landing craft the Royal Marines Armored Support Group 1st Armored
Support Regiment, 2nd Battery, H Troop Centaurs fired at beach obstacles and bunkers
and ashore provided infantry fire support. The white degree markings around the turret
made it possible for shipboard spotters using binoculars to align the 95mm Howitzer with
a target even if it was obscured by dense smoke. Disregarding orders to remain on the
beaches the RMASG moved inland to support troops. Several weeks later with beaches
secured the Centaurs were withdrawn to England.
HG3102
Centaur C.S. MK.IV, British Cruiser Tank MK.VIII A27L 95mm Howitzer
The Rolls Royce Meteor engine that the Cromwell was designed around wasn’t yet
available so Liberty engines were installed and the tank became a Centaur. This engine
was so poorly made that with any speed it shook itself apart so it was kept for training.
Still not a Meteor but upgraded engines were placed in about 80 Centaurs and used very
successfully by the Royal Marines Armored Support Group on D-Day. Their 95mm
Howitzer was used to destroy beach obstacles and pillboxes.
Specifications
Vehicle Type: Centaur C.S. (Close Support) MK.IV, British Cruiser Tank MK.VIII, A27L 95mm Howitzer WD # T185363
Manufacturer: WD # : T185363 – T186510 Centaur C.S. MK.IV (CS tanks by John Fowler & Co.)
Production: English-Electric – 156 Harland & Wolff - 125 John Fowler & Co. – 529 with 80 being 95mm Leyland Motors – 643 LMS Railway Co. – 45 Morris Motors – 138 Nuffield M&A – 150 Ruston-Bucyrus – 35 Total 1821
Crew: 5
Weight: 28 tons
Length: 6.4 m / 21 ft
Width: 2.91 m / 9 ft 6 in
Height: 2.44 m / 8 ft
Armor: Turret – front 15 cm / 5.9 in, side 12 cm / 4.7 in, rear 12 cm / 4.7 in Hull – front 18 cm / 7 in, side 8 cm / 3.1 in, rear 6 cm / 2.36 in
Armament: 1 x 95mm Mark I Howitzer (51 rounds) 1 x 7.92mm Besa Mk.II Machine Guns (Besa Mk 2 coaxial) - 4,950 rounds
Powerplant: Nuffield Liberty 395 hp
Fuel: Gasoline – 530 liters / 140 US gal
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THESE ARE PRE-PRODUCTION PICTURES NOT THE RETAIL VERSION
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