Page 3.

 

169037

This tank is in excellent condition and has full MK 5 Gear. Its an ex Vietnam tank and was involved in quite a few conflicts

 

 

Its now owned by the Dorrigo Steam Train  Museum in NSW. They paid top money for it but got what they wanted and today would be considered cheap. 

 

 

They intend to use it with the flat cars they own that were originally used to move the Centurions around by train. The figure was around the $30,000 mark and they raised the money in a couple of weeks. Its a really dedicated group and I am making a point of going there as soon as I can. I believe the collection of trains and related items would be one of the best in the world.

 

 

 

169008 This a range Target at Singleton Gunnery Range NSW

She has been burnt out as can be seen.

 

 

 

169009 in New Zealand This is at an airplane and toy museum. It was brought by them from Australia.

 

169010 Taken at Watsonia in Melbourne, an old photo see the side plates are still fitted. These were removed in Vietnam as they clogged the tracks with mud and jungle vines. At Puckapunyal we did remove them in winter due to the mud but they were replaced in the summer. 169010 was also at Duntroon, Canberra for sometime at their museum but was sold about ten years ago to a private owner.

169027 Housed at Yalta near Mildura. The local Vietnam Veterans are trying to buy this one.

I believe it has not run for about twelve years. In which case the motor at least will be useless.

The Centurion is fitted with rubber seals around the bore's and two things will make them go hard and crack, causing water to enter the dry sump. In short time the motor will rust and seize. One is the use of the wrong coolant which lubricates the seals. And as most I have seen are running with just water in the coolant tank, they are in trouble. The second cause of failure is not getting very much use (Here I mean about ten miles a day everyday, they need a lot of use!) Hence the seals crack. So if you are thinking of buying a Centurion be prepared to do the service and work on them, and use them or they will give up pretty quick. The Vietnam Vet crews will tell you. They did there service every night, rain, mud or lack of sleep made no difference. Don't do the service and the cent will let you down----They did it!

 

169030 is housed at the School of Military Engineering at Moorbank NSW

There is more on this tank in later pages

 

 

169034 This one is also at the Puckapunyal museum still having the side plates and an "A" Barrel

 

 

169035 Belongs to Ron Schneider - Horsham 

She is a runner and goes well

 

This is the only MK 3 I saw, it belongs to a Robert Parker in Seymour Victoria 

I was incorrect in this as Bruce Cameron was able to clear up for me, 

if the BESA CO-AX  was replaced by the .30 cal it became a MK 5. I do now believe there are no more MK 3's in Australia

A point of interest, three private Centurions are owned by different people named Parker??

Another point of interest. Every tank that went to Vietnam, Returned to Australia.

 

169039 is still owned by Tim Vibert, the chap that originally purchased the lot from  the Army

Its now stored on a property in NSW

 

 

Turret Pressure Valve

 

 

 

 

 

As an early fitting, it did fill with water. Note fitting on the right. This was a 2" mortar, on MK 3 tanks This is the second one only I have seen, the other one is on 169040. These items turn and are fired from inside. Now no longer used, so these two must be old turrets!!

 

 

 

Simple modification

 

 

Another modification     

South Vietnam - a fuel truck catches fire

 

 

 

Sure makes the call "make smoke" have some meaning

 

 

Considering the 500 gallons of fuel the damage was confined to the truck

 

 

Not much left. I was told that it was taken out and buried.

It was later dug up, as some people wanted to see that the small arms were accounted for. They did not bother to look just said "Rebury it" and walked away.