Mr Dawe's Centurion.

[Phil Woollard]

Heavy work in 1/6 scale

[Phil Dawe]

The long turret bin has a three compartment housing inside at the left hand end which Stephen White included in his Aussie Cent detailing. Does anyone know what was contained in these compartments?

[Kevin Hunter]

Phil(s)

I have a couple of books with so called “stowage diagrams”. One such drawing, albeit purporting to be for a Mk 2, suggests the “long bin” held 3 thermos flasks, in addition to items such as blankets, groundsheets and greatcoats. I will email you a snap.

I came across a similar diagram for a Mk 7. The writing is unclear but the long bin stowage is similar to above. In this diagram it’s hard to see whether there were 3 or 5 “jars, thermos 1 qt”. It doesn’t seem logical that the equipment level would increase from 3 to 5 with same crew numbers.

Based on these diagrams, at least, it would appear the 3 receptacles you refer to might have held 2 pint thermos flasks.

Kevin

[Michael Cecil]

User handbook for Tank, Medium Gun, Centurion Mk 3,5 and 6 (1953) with amendments to 1965, shows the long bin containing:
12 blankets; 4 groundsheets, 4 greatcoats, and 3 'Jars, Thermos, 1qt'.

The earlier handbook for the Marks 1 to 3 lists the same contents.

Taking Kevin's post into account, it appears the War Office standardised listed 'by the book' stowage in that bin on the Centurion tank was near-constant through the various marks of Centurion tank.

Mike

[Mark Heaps]

That 'strange mounty thing' is the coolant header tank and filling point for the sight elevation control arm cooling system (or whatever its correct nomenclature is!). The elevation bracket pivots from the turret roof and is connected to the armament by a link bar. The link bar is a tube which is connected via piping to the coolant reservoir. It is to keep expansion/contraction of the link rod to a minimum due to variations in temperature and hence, minimise alterations to the armament-range gear relationship. Only applicable to tanks equipped with the RG.

Mike

Only disagree with one minor point "Only applicable to tanks equipped with the RG"

May have only been introduced and fitted to Centurions equipped with the RMG so comment is relevant and accurate for Centurion.
The temperature compensated link bar became more important later on in Chieftain when the RMG was phased out and a laser range-finder in the sight was introduced. With the RMG, the gunner could observe splash and correct Point Of Aim if needed and then confirm by firing the RMG again before firing Main Armament. With the absence of an RMG, a correct and constant gun / sight alignment becomes more important to ensure a first round hit with the Main Armament.
In 1985/86 the RMG electrical firing circuit was still being taught in REME although most Chieftains by then no longer had the RMG, having been fitted with the TLS ( Tank Laser Sight ). I can remember one cartoon on the classroom wall instructing us what to do if we could not get the RMG working or did not have a tank with us. Send the Recovery Mechanic out armed with a track pin to bash 3 times on the hull of the enemy tank, the crew would then immediately bail out and run to the rear expecting a 120mm round coming in.
As an ECE, my job with the link bar was to ensure the electrical pump worked, crew were responsible for monitoring and topping up fluid level, everything else was the responsibility of the Gunnfitter. If RMG was fitted, I was also responsible to ensure the electrical firing circuits for it worked.

[Mark Heaps]

User handbook for Tank, Medium Gun, Centurion Mk 3,5 and 6 (1953) with amendments to 1965, shows the long bin containing:
12 blankets; 4 groundsheets, 4 greatcoats, and 3 'Jars, Thermos, 1qt'.

The earlier handbook for the Marks 1 to 3 lists the same contents.

Taking Kevin's post into account, it appears the listed stowage in that bin was near-constant through the various marks of Centurion.

Mike

Maybe Stephen White can give some input here. With stowage, there are various options. As per documentation for hand over / take over, optimised for crew, and optimised for regiment, ( differed from the standard layout, not maybe as good for the crew, but allowed any crew member from the same regiment could jump from one tank to another and find what he needed )

[Phil Woollard]

Thanks for the replies guys!

The long bin is getting there, lots done despite an scheduled appointment with a tree surgeon who has quoted me £600 a day and that's for just him, I'm in the wrong business!

[Phil Woollard]

Bolting the stiffeners in position , there are around 50 nut and bolts sets in the long bin.
I presume the three sectioned stowage piece fitted to the left hand side of the long bin is for those thermos flasks?
Would anyone have pics of the thermos perchance? A 3d printed set would look great stowed in the bin.

[Phil Woollard]

Getting there with the coffin bin.

[Phil Woollard]

Just call me Mr solder.

[Phil Woollard]

Well but for some minor snagging and the webbing strapping these bins are done, they can sit over the weekend to cure the paint.

[Oliver Brüninghaus]

Hello Phil,

as always very informative, entertaining and above all an excellent build.

[Phil Woollard]

I shall try again lol. The webbing straps are now fitted to the long bin.

[Phil Woollard]

Lots done although it doesn't look like it.

[Phil Woollard]

Another afternoon in wooly woollards workshop.