Armour in Canada: Centurion Tank

Centurion tank

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 4728205)

A Centurion tank lumbers through an old German town in Bavaria during Ex Reforger 74, adding contrast to an old barn and an older church in the background.

The Canadian Army took delivery of 274 Centurion Mk. 3 tanks between 1952 and 1953.  The Centurion had well-sloped armour, superior mobility andexcellent gun and fire control systems compared with its then existing contemporaries.  The first 21 Centurions were delivered to the Royal Canadian Dragoons in Germany in March 1952, where they served with the Canadian contingent of the NATO forces based there.  The Centurions were used for training in Canada in the late 1960s and early 1970s.  The Mk. 3 tanks were modified to Mk. 5 standard with the replacement of the co-axial Besa MG with a .30-calibre Browning MG.  Most of the Centurions in Canada retained 20-pounder main guns, while the Centurions in Europe were upgunned to the Mk. 6 standard with the L7 105-mm main gun and additional armour in 1962. The Centurions in service with 4 Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group (4 CMBG) in Germany were brought up to Mk. 11 standard in 1965 by fitting a .50-calibre Browning HMG aligned alongside the .30-calibre Browning MG, the fitting of a 100-gallon fuel tank on the rear hull plance, and the installation of infrared night-fighting gear.  Nine Centurion Armoured Recovery Vehicles (ARV) were purchased by Canada in 1954, and four armoured bridge-layers (ABL) in 1966.  Centurions ended their service in Germany on 2 June 1977, and in Canada as late as 1979 when Leopard tanks began to replace them.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 4301771)

HRH Princess Margaret visiting the 8th Canadian Hussars at Camp Gagetown, New Brunswick, 7 Aug 1958.  Trooper Ernie Budd is the mascot handler, Colonel S.V. Radley-Waters is behind her, the Centurion crew commander is Sergeant Ross Stoddart, and the British Officer is HRH Aide-de-Camp.  Princess Margaret spent part of three days in the Fredericton area towards the end of her six-week Canadian tour.  On her final day in the city, she attended a brief ceremony naming the multi-million dollar Trans-Canada Highway bridge "The Princess Margaret Bridge".

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 4694259)

A Centurion tank of "B" Squadron, Royal Canadian Dragoons, in support of "A" Company, 3 Mechanized Commando, crosses near Neustift, Germany, 1973.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 5394878)

A 56-ton Centurion tank from the Fort Garry Horse, armoured component of Canada's NATO brigade in Germany, churning up the ground as units of the 4th Canadian Infantry Brigade Group carry out Exercise "Keen Blade", a five-day tactical exercise involving the Canadian NATO land formation and units of the German 3rd Panzer Brigade, which was held in the Hannover area of northern Germany, 15 Oct 1963.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 4234065)

Royal Canadian Dragoons on a live firing exercise in Germany, c1958-59.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 4234064)

Royal Canadian Dragoons on a live firing exercise in Germany, c1958-59.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 4234064)

Exercise Certain Trek, South West of Wurzberg. Two Centurion tanks of the Royal Canadian Dragoons wait for the enemy to move up on them, 4-20 Oct 1975.

(Author Photo)

Centurion Main Battle Tank Mk 5, 20-pounder main gun.  New Brunswick Military History Museum, 5 Canadian Division Support Base Gagetown, New Brunswick.

(Author Photo)

Centurion tank, "Worthy", Armour School, 5 Canadian Division Support Base, Gagetown, New Brunswick.

(Author Photo)

Centurion Tank, Tilley Avenue, 5 CDSB Gagetown, New Brunswick.

(Author Photo)

Centurion Tank, "Ironsides", Oromocto, New Brunswick.

(Author Photo)

Centurion tank, previously located in front of the Moncton Armoury, now in front of the Armoury in Sussex.

(Author Photo)

Centurion tank, Riverview City Hall, Memorial Park, New Brunswick.

(8th CH Association Photo)

8th Canadian Hussars, Centurions on parade at Fort Beausejour, just west of Iserlohn in West-Central Germany, ca 1959-1962.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 4235688)

Centurion tanks, the Fort Garry Horse, on exercise at Camp Meaford, Ontario, 1964.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 4235689)

Centurion tanks, the Fort Garry Horse, on exercise at Camp Meaford, Ontario, 1964.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 4235690)

Centurion tanks, the Fort Garry Horse, on exercise at Camp Meaford, Ontario, with CC Don Young in the lead, 1964.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 4235750)

Centurion tanks, 8th Canadian Hussars (Princess Louise’s), on exercise in Germany, ca 1959-1962.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 4235213)

Centurion tank on exercise, Camp Gagetown, summer 1963.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 4235424)

Centurion tank on exercise, Camp Gagetown, summer 1963.

 (Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 4235505)

Centurion tank on exercise, Camp Gagetown, summer 1963.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 4235506)

Centurion tank on exercise, Camp Gagetown, summer 1963.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 42342260)

Centurion Main Battle Tank, Armour training, ca 1965.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 4746855)

Officer cadets at Royal Canadian Armoured Corps School prepare ammunition for loading into Centurion tank at Meaford Tank Range, 3 Aug 1967.

(Author Photo)

The author was transported on the back of this Centurion tank with other soldiers during a "Waincon" exercise at Camp Wainwright, Alberta in May 1975.

(Author Photo)

Centurion AVBL, CFR 67-10173.  This vehicle is on display on Champlain Ave., East of the Base Medical Centre.  Canadian Military Engineer Museum, 5 Canadian Division Support Base Gagetown, New Brunswick.

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