United Kingdom-Centurion tank _ small fish

¡Ô background as early as 1943 and July/August, the United Kingdom War Office as a A-41 Xunyang tanks and one, more heavy infantry tank developed key performance indicators, this two-tank use Luo · Robert company developed the Meteor engine, Xunyang tank by the United Kingdom is responsible for the development of tank design Bureau (this is also the first time the Design Bureau bear tank design task), it is usually combined with the prime contractor for minor subsystems. United Kingdom military subsequently production tasks to the Middlesex's AEC company, AEC firms producing the United Kingdom during World War II army equipment best heavy trucks. Nevertheless, the AEC company in the manufacture of tanks and armored vehicles and production experience is limited, so they'll come up with new Xunyang tank is a little catch duck shelves. But in the tank design Bureau, AEC firms remained at the end of 1943 began manufacturing A-41 Xunyang tanks full size model, and in 1944, the complete manufacturing process. Due to prior dynamic system have been identified, the major design problems are concentrated in the fire system. United Kingdom army within the tank gun of choice on the differences. At that time, the United Kingdom best tank gun is Firefly tanks and A-30 Challenger heavy tank equipment 17 lb (77 mm) gun, the gun was in the United Kingdom found Germany tanks on the armor thickness has been strengthened, the original 6-pound gun (57 mm) is far from being able to meet the needs of development after the war. At the end of 1942, heavy cannons start massive 17 pounds of equipment United Kingdom Royal Artillery Regiment. Since Germany tank forces in North Africa the advantages on the battlefield, the first batch of 100 doors 17 lb cannon on production was quickly sent to North Africa, the United Kingdom the army needs so urgently, 17 lb Cannon even no suitable tractor, had had to use the 25-pound howitzer of towing vehicle to tow anti-tank guns 17 lbs. Completed the last formal amendment 17 points in liangchanxing 1943 on the next line, for the first time participated in the battle of Italy. 17 lb Cannon fired power penetrator, but when the gun in other munitions use great limitations; part of the United Kingdom the army that another 95 mm howitzer performance is good, considering it the power to launch high-explosive ammunition is satisfactory, but as anti-tank use would be out of the question. In addition, there is a development of the tank for Comet 17 lb spool tank gun, despite its muzzle velocity and energy in General, but it is just the first two artillery of compromise. Army internal differences has not gap, AEC firms had to use comparison validation scheme, in 15 vehicles A-41 prototype installed 17 lb Cannon, the remaining five installed 17 lb spool gun (95 mm howitzer originally prepared for the installation to another tank chassis, but in the end nothing). Controversy over the main battle weapons, secondary weapon is not the end of the debate also continues on. Some people want A-41 tank can be equipped with 20 mm cannon, strengthening of antiaircraft fire; while the other is to support the technology mature 7.92 mm machine gun. Issue focus: Although Cannon's more powerful, but the rate of fire machine gun and fire suppression capabilities and flexible, continuous, and ammunition better accounted for by less space. In addition, designers and even should install a gun turret rear wadis or disputed. In fact since 17 lb Cannon gun rack is very long, A-41 turret which are not in the tail of the machine and equipment to accommodate the turret of the 5 members (gunner) space. While the equipment is actually tail machine gun turret tank times from multiple legacy full firepower concept, in the course of argument, since the tail of the machine gun was found if the equipment, there is no local installation of smoke grenade launchers, and smoke grenade launchers on the importance of tank warfare goes without saying that the controversy on the tail of the machine gun finally resolved. But what about A-41 tank should be equipped with cannon or machine gun debate finally also adopt the compromise solution — 15 car Pack 17 pounds of prototype tank gun and gun installed on the machine gun, coaxial and of the remaining 10 tanks or equipment machine gun, or the left side of the turret gun rack mounted cannon. But Boer Karsten Cannon after many tests have failed to pass the test, so the cannon programme was cancelled. A-41 tanks installed BESA machine gun. Complete the design of A-41 tank accepted the Commission's review of the United Kingdom to tank, and successfully passed the assessment. The original programme only after small modifications that declared design stereotypia. A-41 tank full heavy 43 tons, 9.75 m long, it appears that Cromwell and other Xunyang tanks to shame. A-41 tank was officially named the United Kingdom army Centurion, United Kingdom Royal ordnance factory located at Woolwich and Nottingham's factory began production of the tank. Subsequently, the Centurion tanks of volume production tasks to Victor-Armstrong Co., Leyland Motor Corporation and United Kingdom Royal ordnance factories armories of Leeds. In April 1945, these manufacturers delivered 6 prototype tank. In General, the new equipment must go through a long and rigorous testing. At this point, World War II has a close, United Kingdom Army decided to direct the Centurion tanks equipped with to armored forces and are subject to combat troops to participate in the fighting in Germany, the combat environment examination, this action is called "actions" pickets. In 1945, May 14, 6 Centurion leave United Kingdom travelled to Belgium Antwerp port Southampton, at this point, the war closed end two weeks time, the United Kingdom's actual inspection plans fell through. But United Kingdom army still decided to let the Centurion in continental Europe, accepted the long March. Leave Antwerp 5 days, 6 travelling Centurion tank first 650 kilometres travelled to the United Kingdom on March 7th Armored Division Division. From then until the end of July, this 6 tanks successively visited United Kingdom Embassy in Germany and southern European countries almost every branch of the armored forces, they are very popular. The only criticism of the sound coming from the tank driver, Centurion tank belonging to heavy vehicles, but the direction control and shift without power, the pilot is a very strenuous physical work. In 1945, through inspection of A-41 Xunyang tank design stereotypia and officially released to manufacturing, military numbers for Centurion MK1-, major manufacturers is Leeds Royal Armouries, Ayers Victor of Gdansk, limited publicSecretary, engine from trilland engine company. Four years later, in 1949, the Centurion officially delivered to the United Kingdom the army. 1945-1962 years United Kingdom total production Centurion 4423 of various types of main battle tank cars (late model of bicycle production costs GBP 50000), MK1-100 vehicles, MK2-250 vehicles, MK3-2833 vehicles, MK5-221 vehicles, MK7-755, MK8-108 a, MK9 type 1 and type 155 vehicles MK10, of which more than 2500 vehicles exported to Egypt, Israel, Iraq, Jordan, India, Canada, Denmark, Lebanon, Kuwait, Netherlands, South Africa, Sweden and Switzerland and Australia and other countries. ◆ Overall performance Centurion has a total of 13 models, MK5-after each model has two variants. Is the huge model of numerous family. But the Centurion series tank carbody basic no major changes, the body in order to weld the structure, the two diaphragm before and after the body is divided into 3 parts. Front storage compartment on the left is, ammunition and equipment box, right to the cockpit. Body in order to fight in the rear of the cabin and the engine compartment, this is the typical traditional tank cabin layout. The pilot has 1 to turn on dual-fan cover, fan cover one periscope. Cone-shaped casting turrets on welding roofed armor plate, turrets and artillery total weight 13 tons, the turret ring diameter 2300 mm. Driver control tower on the right side of the turret roof armor is loading on the left hand access hatch (it and complement-mouth have seriously disrupted the turrets of sealing and protection capability, this design in the 50 's increasing emphasis on tank-three properties of the background was discarded), turret with armor on both sides of the external stowage compartment, aft has 1 shelf. Driver control tower can manually by the driver 360 ° rotation, the Tower has 1 double open hatch, 1 belt trajectory generation of Peris-collimator and seven Peris viewers, the driver location can install 1 infrared searchlights. Loading hand hatch has 1 double fan off around the hatch cover and Peris 1-viewers. Early Centurion MK1/2 tank is equipped with 1 door 17 lb (77 mm) gun, this is to kill the late WWII armored as standard, with the development of the times, 17 lb Cannon has become increasingly not adapt to the rapid post-war tank armor. Centurion from MK3-began to 1 door with ventilation equipment for 20 lb Cannon (83.4 mm), with the amount of hair, 65-, which are known for their initial wail 914 m/s at the beginning of shrapnel, and wail 1432 m/s tracer APFSDS rounds and initial wail 601 m/s of grenades, greatly enhanced firepower. Centurion MK5 tank installed a nominee Cannon — L-7105 mm rifled gun, it was officially opened United Kingdom Army main battle tank "rifle line". L-7105 mm gun can launch tracer APFSDS rounds, the effective range of 1800 meters, when broken bullet fired the effective range is 3000-4000 m, skilled gunner and loading arm allows the rate of fire to 10 rounds/min. 105 mm howitzer L-7-use-kind L-28A1-tracer APFSDS rounds, L-52A1-tracer APFSDS rounds, L-64-tracer tail stabilited flares, L-63-tracer shelling coach, L-35-broken bullet. These shells such as United Kingdom Royal ordnance factory manufacturing assembled-shells, propellant from electric ignition combustion apparatus. NATO countries with diameter shells can also be no difficulties in using L-7 cannon. Other secondary weapon is a gun turret gun left installed in side-by-side 1 quite 7.62 mm machine guns and drivers command Tower 1 quite 7.72 mm anti-aircraft machine gun. Centurion incorporates a unique distance measuring machine gun, machine gun caliber 12.7 mm, the maximum range of 1800 metres, used to launch three spot tracer bullets. Distance measuring machine gun is stable, the gunner can choose hand manipulation mechanism for pitching and rotation, or power-driven approach to non-steady and stable manner of pitch and rotation, can also be used for power-driven emergency single speed of rotation. Distance measuring machine gun and later was replaced by a laser range finder. The initial manufacturing of Centurion tank fire control equipment is simple, until the 1960s many United Kingdom Centurion tank to fill the infrared drivers, in gun left installed active infrared searchlights, driver and gunner is also equipped with infrared telescopes. Centurion medium tank mounted 1-·-Romanian company produces Meteor (Meteor), 12-cylinder gasoline engine, forced cooling water circulation cooling, dry crank case, the maximum output power is 650 horsepower. The engine power through the clutch enter Melilla-Brown company. The actuator is mechanically, including transmission, differential steering unit and the confluence of the planet. Steering power passed from the two routes, one path variable is passed, all the way to the other institutions through the steering transmission, power output from bus framework, to the side of the drive unit; linear motion power just passed by the gearshift mechanism. Gearshift mechanism provides five forward gears and one reverse gear 2. Each gear has 1 required turning radius, the minimum turning radius is half chekuan. Centurion adopts double interlocking spiral spring balance suspension. Car body six on each side of the road wheel, 2 1 group loading wheel components, each group has a set of concentric spiral spring, before and after two group hanging device with hydraulic dampers. Glue road wheel are interchangeable. Inducer front with crawler regulator, the rear wheel. On-track per side by six Toro belt wheel bearings, four-wheeled, belt wheel-rim, around two Toro belt wheel to single flange type, only supported within half of the track. Each track has 108 piece Creeper, manganese steel casting, as perforations meshing-all-metal structure. Tank armor also has thickened twice, Centurion MK5 tank top 76 mm on armor thickness, MK13-time has been increased to 118 mm. In addition to the main weapons can be fired smoke bombs, gun turret mounted on each side of the six electric smoke grenade launchers. The tank is mounted three prevention devices. Centurion series tanks also has its flaws, the main and mobility-related defects. Because the Centurion series tank more installation of Meteor engine 650 horsepower, while their car is 45 tons (last MK13-unladen weight exceedingOver 50 tons), low-horsepower/tonnage than cause its highest speed often surpass 35 km/h (22 mph); at the same time, 460 litre (120 US gallons) of fuel reserves are only enough it traveling 160 km (100 miles). In case of resignation, the designers developed a drag in the tank and rear single-wheel trailer, this trailer can contain oil 910 litres (240 u.s. gallon). The designers of the Centurion's final — MK13-weight control in 52 tons, crawler width of 610 mm (24 inches). MK13-debut, tanks of tank's reserves have increased to 1000 litres (265 US gallons), but its maximum stroke is still not over 190 km (120 miles). United Kingdom also have used various methods to increase its itinerary, these measures included in the body and tail of the auxiliary fuel tank, but carrying tanks off-road driving, the auxiliary fuel tank easy to damage and fire. Centurion MK5 tank can tow a loading 200 gallons of fuel oil trailer, you can make the trip to the 118 miles. But this method can only be sure that no dangerous marching in that once broke out encounters, aren't live target. But also a practical measures. United Kingdom post-war development has always been heavy tank firepower, defense and low light tactical, speed, maximum stroke small defect until the 20th century nineties Challenger-2 main battle tank would be a better solution. ◆ The conclusion today, the Centurion had already spent in its 60-year-old birthday. Until the 1990s, Denmark, Jordan, Singapore and Sweden is still using the Centurion tanks. But in Israel war of tanks in order to retain about 1000 vehicles Centurion improved tank. In more than half a century of military career, Centurion in all countries experiencing a lot of use improvements that tank shape is different, some even have completely separated from the initial shape of the Centurion. In addition to Israel in improvement and a big effort, South Africa also Centurion improvement has been made with regard to the achievements of South Africa army are equipped Horn main battle tanks is to Centurion modelled on improvement.