The Official Armortek Forum - World leader in one sixth scale metal kits

"The Centurion won the faith of the Australian Army
following an atomic bomb test in 1953. A Centurion was
placed 500 yards from the detonation site and left with its
engine running. The shockwave heaved the tank 5ft and
the engine stopped – but only for want of fuel. Although it
showed cosmetic blast damage it was otherwise in good order
and was driven from the test area. This very tank, which is
the only tank known to have survived an atomic bomb, joined
other Centurions when the Australians deployed for the
Vietnam War in 1968."

I wonder if it survived Vietnam ?

Adrian.

Adrian

Not only does ARN 169041 survive but it plays an important part in the story of the Cent I've talked about on my thread. There is quite a good account of the nuclear trials here:

http://www.raeme.info/ops.php?op=armd&item=3

Col Filtness has various bits on the story scattered through his web sites, starting here:

http://centmbt.tripod.com/cent_mbt_page_10

Dennis will be pleased that the tank was transported using a Diamond T for part of the journey - so Dennis, how about booking you now for a recreation for the Open Day - not sure how we simulate the nuclear blast.

169041 was pretty well intact and running after the trial having survived being 500 metres from the epicentre.

169041 did indeed go to Vietnam and was hit and penetrated by an RPG-7 in May 1969, wounding the operator. It was repaired and continued as part of 4 Troop, B Sqn, Ist Armoured Regiment, and therefore was one of the seven tanks which took part in the Battle of Binh Ba, which I've talked about on my thread. It was the troop corporal's tank, callsign 24C, named "Sweet Fanny".

Incidentally, I've been reading a very good book titled "Vietnam Tracks" by Simon Dunstan. He says that after Binh Ba "No longer were the RAAC units derisively nicknamed "the Koala Bears" (not to be exported or shot at): and their contribution in Vietnam was out of all proportion to their four percent of the Army's manpower".

Regards

Stephen