MAP CONTROLS: Use slider or mousewheel to zoom, and hold down left mouse button
to drag.
KEY: Location markers are coloured from Green meaning exact to Red meaning
gone or unknown (details here)
|
Unique ID:
|
1212
|
|
Added to Database:
|
17 May 2010
|
|
Last Edited:
|
17 May 2010
|
|
Type (ID):
|
A41 Centurion (3400)
|
|
Model (ID):
|
Panzer 57 (Diesel) (3414)
|
|
Location Category (ID):
|
Panzermuseum (17100)
|
|
Location (ID):
|
Burgerstrasse (17122)
|
|
Serial Number: |
|
|
Registration: |
“M.0906” painted on nose.
|
|
Name: |
|
|
Other Identification: |
“DLP2” painted on plate on nose. “Pz 55/57” painted on tarpaulin over rear turret stowage basket.
|
|
Collection Reference: |
|
|
Links: |
Centurion Retrofit
|
|
References: |
|
|
Associated Tanks: |
|
Location History:
(see map) |
1: Vickers-Armstrongs Limited, Elswick, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, North East England, Britain (Sole manufacturer 1957)
2: Panzermuseum, Thun, Bern, Switzerland (In Swiss Army service until 1982 - probably around Thun)
3: Tel Aviv, Israel (Upgraded 1982-3)
4: RUAG Eidgenössische Konstruktions-Werkstätte (K+W), Thun, Bern, Switzerland (Under evaluation March-December 1983)
5: Panzermuseum, Thun, Bern, Switzerland (Current location)
|
This Centurion is a prototype with diesel engine that was at some point evaluated by the Swiss army, but never entered service; its registration beginning with a zero indicates an experimental vehicle (source: M. Foti). The particular air cleaner units fitted appear to indicate that the engine is a Continental AVDS-1790 series engine (source: J. Daneri).
Between 1973 and 1977 two Centurion tanks were modified in Switzerland with Detroit 12V71T power packs but due to various technical deficiencies the programme was not pursued further. In January 1982 the deputy director of the Federal Office for Defence Procurement visited the Israeli IMI weapons factory in Tel Aviv. The Israelis had achieved great success with modernised Centurions in the Yom Kippur War. As a result of the visit, in March 1983 two Israeli Centurion tanks arrived in Switzerland for troop testing and assessment at K + W Thun. The modernisations included a Teledyne Continental AVDS 1790-2AC engine, and improved gunnery and stabilisation systems. The plans to upgrade Swiss Centurions were, however, cancelled and Leopard II tanks were purchased instead. This Centurion is believed to have been one of these Israeli prototypes. The original source of the tank is unknown but it carries distinctive Swiss 8.05cm 1951 smoke dischargers; it is therefore presumed that it was a Swiss vehicle supplied to Israel and then returned after being upgraded. It is missing its side skirts.
|
March 2010
|
| | | |  | | | | |
1: Front right view
Taken: 15 March 2010
Contributor: M. Foti
Photo ID: 3241
Added: 18 May 2010
Filename: IMG4823_...
Views: 451
Select/Has Priority: 21/0
|
|
|
|
| | | |  | | | | |
2: Front right view
Taken: 15 March 2010
Contributor: M. Foti
Photo ID: 3242
Added: 18 May 2010
Filename: IMG4831_...
Views: 185
Select/Has Priority: 21/0
|
|
|
|
| | | |  | | | | |
3: Rear right view
Taken: 15 March 2010
Contributor: M. Foti
Photo ID: 3243
Added: 18 May 2010
Filename: IMG4826_...
Views: 419
Select/Has Priority: 21/0
|
|
|
|
| | | |  | | | | |
4: Close-up
Taken: 15 March 2010
Contributor: M. Foti
Photo ID: 3244
Added: 18 May 2010
Filename: IMG4827_...
Views: 257
Select/Has Priority: 21/0
|
|
|
|
| | | |  | | | | |
5: Engine deck
Taken: 15 March 2010
Contributor: M. Foti
Photo ID: 3245
Added: 18 May 2010
Filename: IMG4829_...
Views: 253
Select/Has Priority: 21/0
|
|
|
|
| | | |  | | | | |
6: Engine deck
Taken: 15 March 2010
Contributor: M. Foti
Photo ID: 3246
Added: 18 May 2010
Filename: IMG4828_...
Views: 196
Select/Has Priority: 21/0
|
| |
|
|