| Hobby Master 1/72 Ground Power Series HG3506 Centurion Mk. 5/I, Australia (RAAC) 169108 "The Very Diabolical" C Squadron, 1 Armoured Regt, Vietnam 1971 |
Authentic Detailing
Pre-Painted by professionals
Accurate paint colors
Markings Tampo (pad) applied
Fully Assembled
Die-Cast Model
True to Scale (1:72)
Turret turns and main gun elevates
Metal turret and main gun
Realistic tracks
Pre-Painted by professionals
Accurate paint colors
Markings Tampo (pad) applied
Fully Assembled
Die-Cast Model
True to Scale (1:72)
Turret turns and main gun elevates
Metal turret and main gun
Realistic tracks
| THESE ARE PRE-PRODUCTION PICTURES, NOT THE FINAL PRODUCT |
The Centurion tank was a late entry into WWII as a means to counter the German Tigers
and Panthers. In 1950 the Australian Army purchased 127 Centurions of which 4 were
bridge-layers. However with the outbreak of the Korean War all Centurions went to
British regiments involved in the conflict. As a result the RAAC (Royal Australian
Armoured Corps) received its first Centurion tanks in February 1952. Of the 127 tanks 96
were allotted to the 1st Armoured Regiment and the remaining 21 were strictly for
training and not to leave the country. Initially they were Mk. IIIs but were later the 92
belonging to the 1st Regiment were modified to full Mk. V standards. The upgrade saw
the addition of supplementary armor on the glacis plate, the main gun system improved,
a 50 calibre Browning ranging machine gun and an infrared night fighting equipment. In
addition a 100-gallon armored fuel tank was attached to the rear hull plate but it soon
was realized they were a fire hazard if hit by a shell or bullet. More modifications were
carried out in the filed. The side skirts were removed because mud and debris would
build up and the track guards were replaced with heavy gauge steel plate. They also
welded the storage racks to the back of the turret to carry ammunition or radio equipment
so the tank could communicate with the infantry soldier. The four 1st Regiment bridge-
laying tanks received the additional armor. The Centurions remained in RAAC service
until 1977 when they were replaced by the Leopard.
The first half of the tanks from the regiment’s C Squadron arrived in Vietnam in February
1968. It wasn’t until August that the second half of the Centurions arrived. Until 1971 the
1st Regiment dozer tanks worked at clearing mines while on several occassions the
Centurions were called upon to defend Australian fire support bases against enemy
attacks. Some operations saw the regiment’s tanks providing enoromous fire-power to
hold back Viet-Cong forces when trapped infantry platoons were located and rescued.
The 1st Regiment had three squadrons, A, B and C with the first two each doing a one
year tour of duty in Vietnam and C Squadron doing two. In 1971 the Australian
government began a reduction in their commitment to the Vietnam War and gradually
began a withdrawal that saw C Squadron return home in September that year. During its
tour of duty in Vietnam 1st Armoured Regiment was involved in many altercations
including some very historic battles such as Fire Support Bases (FSB) Coral and
Balmoral in May 25 – 30 1968, Long Dien August 21 – 22 1968, Hat Dich February 16
1969, Binh Ba June 6 and 7 1969, Long Hai February 17 – 18 1970.
and Panthers. In 1950 the Australian Army purchased 127 Centurions of which 4 were
bridge-layers. However with the outbreak of the Korean War all Centurions went to
British regiments involved in the conflict. As a result the RAAC (Royal Australian
Armoured Corps) received its first Centurion tanks in February 1952. Of the 127 tanks 96
were allotted to the 1st Armoured Regiment and the remaining 21 were strictly for
training and not to leave the country. Initially they were Mk. IIIs but were later the 92
belonging to the 1st Regiment were modified to full Mk. V standards. The upgrade saw
the addition of supplementary armor on the glacis plate, the main gun system improved,
a 50 calibre Browning ranging machine gun and an infrared night fighting equipment. In
addition a 100-gallon armored fuel tank was attached to the rear hull plate but it soon
was realized they were a fire hazard if hit by a shell or bullet. More modifications were
carried out in the filed. The side skirts were removed because mud and debris would
build up and the track guards were replaced with heavy gauge steel plate. They also
welded the storage racks to the back of the turret to carry ammunition or radio equipment
so the tank could communicate with the infantry soldier. The four 1st Regiment bridge-
laying tanks received the additional armor. The Centurions remained in RAAC service
until 1977 when they were replaced by the Leopard.
The first half of the tanks from the regiment’s C Squadron arrived in Vietnam in February
1968. It wasn’t until August that the second half of the Centurions arrived. Until 1971 the
1st Regiment dozer tanks worked at clearing mines while on several occassions the
Centurions were called upon to defend Australian fire support bases against enemy
attacks. Some operations saw the regiment’s tanks providing enoromous fire-power to
hold back Viet-Cong forces when trapped infantry platoons were located and rescued.
The 1st Regiment had three squadrons, A, B and C with the first two each doing a one
year tour of duty in Vietnam and C Squadron doing two. In 1971 the Australian
government began a reduction in their commitment to the Vietnam War and gradually
began a withdrawal that saw C Squadron return home in September that year. During its
tour of duty in Vietnam 1st Armoured Regiment was involved in many altercations
including some very historic battles such as Fire Support Bases (FSB) Coral and
Balmoral in May 25 – 30 1968, Long Dien August 21 – 22 1968, Hat Dich February 16
1969, Binh Ba June 6 and 7 1969, Long Hai February 17 – 18 1970.
| Specifications for the Centurion Classification – Medium tank Country of origin – United Kingdom Crew: 4 Performance Engine - Rolls Royce Meteor V12 liquid-cooled gasoline engine Speed (max) - 34 km/h Dimensions Length - 7.6 m Height - 3.01 m Width - 3.39 m Weight - 52 t Glacis armour - increased by 44 mm to 120 mm at 57o Armament 1 X 20 pdr gun 1 X .50-calibre machine-gun 2 X .30-calibre Browning machine-guns |
| 1st Armoured Regiment color patch and motto Paratus - "Ready" |
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