Centurion Mark 3

Designed before the end of the Second World War, the Centurion is often believed to be the epitome of the tank. 

The Centurion is one of the most important tanks in the history of the British AFV and is one of the most significant post-war Western tanks. Introduced in the spring of 1945, a small number of the Beach Armoured Recovery Version (BARV) served with the British forces during the Iraq war of 2003, 58 years later!

The Centurion was designed as a result of the British Army’s experience of the fighting in the North African deserts between 1940 and 1942. During combat a single tank might have to engage enemy infantry, artillery, anti-tank guns and tanks. Such a tank needed a dual-purpose gun, capable of firing both high explosive shells and armour piercing projectiles, and must have sufficient armour to withstand enemy anti-tank and tank guns.

The Centurion went on to have 13 marks, and many specialist variants. It fought in twelve wars, from the Korean War to the Gulf War. The vehicle statistics below relate to the Mark 3.