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Britain's Cruiser Mk VIII⁹, A27L⁹, Centaur⁹

Cruiser Mk VIII, A27L, Centaur:	Cruiser Mk VIII, A27L, Centaur III: Aberdeen Tank Museum	Cruiser Mk VIII, A27L, Centaur III: Aberdeen Tank Museum	Cruiser Mk VIII, A27L, Centaur III: Aberdeen Tank Museum
Cruiser Mk VIII, A27L, Centaur IV: Imperial War Museum	Cruiser Mk VIII, A27L, ARV:	Cruiser Mk VIII, A27L, Centaur AA Mk II:	Cruiser Mk VIII, A27L, CS:
Cruiser Mk VIII, A27L, dozer:

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.^1,8,9 The Centaur was designed to have the Rolls Royce Meteor engine retrofitted when it was available.^1,8,9 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.^6,9

Production

• Centaur: 1942-45: 950¹
  • Production: 1942 - 1945¹
• Centaur III:
  • Production: 1942⁷
  • Manufacturer: Leyland Motors Ltd.⁷

Variants

• Centaur I⁹: Original production vehicle with 6 pdr.⁹ Were ready in June 1942, and used for training.
• Centaur III: Used 75 mm gun. Small numbers produced.
• Centaur IV: Used 95 mm. 80 built with uprated engines.¹ 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Mk I⁹: Turret same as Crusader AA Mk II, but with Polsten AA gun.⁹ Were initially used in Normandy campaign but were withdrawn as Allies had air superiority.
• Centaur AA Mk II⁹: Turret same as Crusader AA Mk III but with twin Polsten AA guns.⁹
• Centaur ARV^8,9: Turret removed and replaced with jib and winch.⁹
• Centaur Kangaroo⁹: Turret removed and used as personnel carrier.^1,9
• Centaur Dozer^8,9: Turret removed and winch, jib, and dozer attached.¹ One per squadron in regiments with Cromwells.⁹ Used by Royal Engineers.¹

Usage

France

Ninety of the Centaur Mk IVs had 95 mm howitzers installed and a stronger engine and were used in France after the Normandy invasion.⁹

Sources:

1. 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
2. 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
3. Tanks of the World, 1915-1945, Peter Chamberlain, Chris Ellis, 1972
4. The Encyclopedia of Weapons of World War II, Chris Bishop, 1998
5. -
6. Tanks of World War II, Duncan Crow, 1979
7. Tank Data 2, Aberdeen Proving Grounds Series, E. J. Hoffschmidt and W. H. Tantum IV, 1969
8. The Illustrated Guide to Tanks of the World, George Forty, 2006
9. World War Two Tanks, George Forty, 1995