Cruiser Mk VIII, A27L, Centaur
| Diecast 1/72 Armor |
|---|
| Hobby Master |
HG3102: |
Developed at same time as Cromwell by Leland Motors to meet the same specifications as the Cavalier.1 Nearly identical except for engine, gearboxes, and transmission.
Was initially fitted with the Nuffield-Liberty engine as it was available.1,8 The Centaur was designed to have the Rolls Royce Meteor engine retrofitted when it was available.1,8 The Centaurs that were converted to Cromwells by installing Meteor engine becoming the Cromwell X8 then later Cromwell III.1
The first models were delivered towards the end of 1942.6
Centaur I:
Original production vehicle with 6 pdr.
Were ready in June 1942, and used for training.
Centaur III:
Aberdeen Tank Museum
Aberdeen Tank Museum
Aberdeen Tank Museum
Used 75 mm gun. Small numbers produced.
Centaur IV:
Imperial War Museum
Used 95 mm. 80 built with uprated engines.1
805 used by Royal Marines Armored Support Group in Normandy on D-Day.1,3 Were to be fired from the LCTs during the Normandy landings.8
Centaur OP8:
Used dummy gun and extra communication gear.1,3
Centaur AA8 Mk I:
Turret same as Crusader AA Mk II, but with Polsten AA gun.
Were initially used in Normandy campaign but were withdrawn as Allies had air superiority.
Centaur AA Mk II:
Turrest same as Crusader AA Mk III but with twin Polsten AA guns.
Centaur ARV8:
Turret removed and replaced with jib and winch.
Centaur Kangaroo:
Turret removed and used as personnel carrier.1
Centaur Dozer8:
Turret removed and winch, jib, and dozer attached.1 One per squadron in regiments with Cromwells. Used by Royal Engineers.1
| Centaur | Centaur I | Centaur II | Centaur III | Centaur IV | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | Commander, gunner, loader, driver, co-driver.2 51,2,3,8 |
54,7 | |||
| Physical Characteristics | |||||
| Weight | 63,600 lb2 24.75 tons5, 27 tons1, 27.5 tons3,6, 28.4 tons8 27,432 kg1, 28,849 kg8 |
63,600 lb4 28,849 kg4 35 tons7 |
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| Length w/gun | 20' 10"1,2,3,8 6.31 m5, 6.35 m1,8 |
20' 9"7, 20' 10"4 6.35 m4 |
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| Length w/o gun | |||||
| Height | 8'1, 8' 2"2,3,8 2.47 m5, 2.49 m1,8 |
8' 1"7, 8' 2"4 2.489 m4 |
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| Width | 9' 6"1,2,3,8 2.89 m5, 2.896 m1, 2.9 m8 |
9' 6"4, 9' 6.5"7 2.895 m4 |
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| Width over tracks | |||||
| Ground clearance | 16"7 | ||||
| Ground contact length | 147"7 | ||||
| Ground pressure | 14.7 psi7 | ||||
| Turret ring diameter | |||||
| Armament | |||||
| Main | 6 pdr (57 mm)1 or 95 mm howitzer1 6 pdr OQF2 |
6 pdr4,5,6,8 | 6 pdr5,6 | 75 mm3,4,5,6,7 | 95 mm5,6 95 mm howitzer2,3,4,8 |
| Secondary | |||||
| MG | 1 or 2: 7.92 mm Besa MG1,2,8 | 7.92 mm Besa MG, coaxial5 | 7.92 mm Besa MG, coaxial5 | 7.92 mm Besa MG, coaxial5 2: 7.92 Besa MG7 |
7.92 mm Besa MG, coaxial5 |
| Side arms | .303 cal Bren MG7 | ||||
| Quantity | |||||
| Main | 642 | 517 | 512 | ||
| Secondary | |||||
| MG | 4,9502 | 4,9507 | |||
| Side arms | 6007 | ||||
| Armor Thickness (mm) | 20 - 761,3 202, 762,5,8 |
20 - 764 | |||
| Hull Front, Upper | 2.5"@0°7 | ||||
| Hull Front, Lower | |||||
| Hull Sides, Upper | 1.8"@0°7 | ||||
| Hull Sides, Lower | |||||
| Hull Rear | 1.2"@0°7 | ||||
| Hull Top | |||||
| Hull Bottom | |||||
| Turret Front | 3"@0°7 | ||||
| Turret Sides | 2.2"@0°7 | ||||
| Turret Rear | |||||
| Turret Top | |||||
| Engine (Make / Model) | Nuffield Liberty1,2,5,8 Liberty3,6 |
Nuffield Liberty Mk V4 Mk V Liberty7 |
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| Bore / stroke | |||||
| Cooling | Water7 | ||||
| Cylinders | V-128 | V-127 | |||
| Capacity | |||||
| Net HP | 3955 | 3857 | |||
| Power to weight ratio | |||||
| Compression ratio | |||||
| Transmission (Type) | Merrit-Brown | Merritt-Brown type7 5 forward, 1 reverse7 |
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| Steering | Controlled differential, hydraulic7 | ||||
| Steering ratio | |||||
| Starter | |||||
| Electrical System | |||||
| Ignition | |||||
| Fuel (Type) | Gasoline8 | Gasoline7 | |||
| Octane | |||||
| Quantity | 116 gallons7 | ||||
| Road consumption | 1.5 mpg7 | ||||
| Cross country consumption | |||||
| Performance | |||||
| Traverse | 360°2 | 360°7 Power and manual7 |
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| Max speed | 26.7 mph1, 27 mph2,3,8 43 kph1, 43.5 kph8, 45 kph5 |
22 mph7, 27 mph4 43.4 kph4 |
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| Cross country speed | 16 mph2 | 16 mph4 25.7 kph4 |
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| Road radius | 164.57 miles1, 165 miles2,8 265 km1, 266 km8 |
165 miles4,7 265 km4 |
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| Turning radius | |||||
| Elevation limits | -12° to +20°7 | ||||
| Fording depth | 3'2 | 3'4, 4' 6"7 0.914 m4 |
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| Trench crossing | 7' 6"2 | 7' 6"4, 8'7 2.286 m4 |
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| Vertical obstacle | 3'2 | 3'4,7 0.914 m4 |
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| Climbing ability | 25° slope7 | ||||
| Suspension (Type) | Improved Christie.2 | Christie type torsion arm7 | |||
| Wheels each side | 5 | 57 | |||
| Return rollers each side | |||||
| Tracks (Type) | Steel, dry pin7 | ||||
| Length | |||||
| Width | 14"2 | 14"7 | |||
| Diameter | |||||
| Number of links | 1267 | ||||
| Pitch | 3.9"7 | ||||
| Tire tread | Rubber7 | ||||
| Track centers/tread | 8' 1.75"2 | 97.75"7 | |||
| Production | 1942-45: 9501 | 1942: Leyland Motors Ltd.7 |
Sources:
- The Encyclopedia of Tanks and Armored Fighting Vehicles - The Comprehensive Guide to Over 900 Armored Fighting Vehicles From 1915 to the Present Day, General Editor: Christopher F. Foss, 2002
- British and American Tanks of World War Two, The Complete Illustrated History of British, American, and Commonwealth Tanks 1933-1945, Peter Chamberlain and Chris Ellis, 1969
- Tanks of the World, 1915-1945, Peter Chamberlain, Chris Ellis, 1972
- The Encyclopedia of Weapons of World War II, Chris Bishop, 1998
- Jane's World War II Tanks and Fighting Vehicles The Complete Guide, Leland Ness, 2002
- Tanks of World War II, Duncan Crow, 1979
- Tank Data 2, Aberdeen Proving Grounds Series, E. J. Hoffschmidt and W. H. Tantum IV, 1969
- The Illustrated Guide to Tanks of the World, George Forty, 2006
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