![]() ![]() Originally it was designed to be powered by a Merlin aircraft engine similar to the one fitted in RAF Spitfire fighters. The Centaur Cruiser Tank Mark IV tank was built by Leyland. Their involvement with the Royal Marines was limited to two weeks.īritish Centaur Mark IV 95mm Howitzer and machinegun ![]() ![]() I believe that the French Army ended up with them after that which may be why one of the four surviving Centaur MkIV tanks can be found in the French Tank Museum in Saumur. They were then transferred to the Canadians on 6th August 1944 in support of 6th Airborne Division, where they formed 'X' Armoured Battery, 53rd Light Regt., RA and the 1st Canadian Centaur Battery, RCA. Some were also in use by 6th LAA Battery, 27th Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment, RA (attached to 51st Highland Division) until 30/7/44. Some were issued to the Free French, 13e Régiment des Dragons, where they saw no action. Their Centaur Mk IV Close Support tanks were then distributed to other units. The Royal Marines Armoured Support Group was disbanded on D+14. The Mark IV Centaur is the only version to see action in WW2. After a number of protests the tanks were fitted with engines so they could follow the troops inland and offer close infantry support against enemy strong points. The idea was that two tanks would stay in a landing craft just off the D-day beaches and use their 95mm howitzer cannons to pound the German gunĮmplacements and machine gun nests with HE high explosive rounds as the Royal Marines attacked the Normandy beaches. ![]() Initially the Centaur Mark IV tank was going to go to war without an engine. The paint would either be SCC No.2 (Khaki Brown) or SCC No 15 (Khaki Green).īritish Centaur Mark IV 95mm Tank at the Cobbaton Combat Collection Museum in Devon This preserved British Centaur Mark IV tank can be found at Cobbaton Combat Collection Museum, Chittlehampton, Umberleigh, Surviving British A27L Centaur Mark IV - Restored WW2 Allied Tank Photos Surviving Allied WW2 Tanks ![]()
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