169043 Options

[BSHEVLIN]

HERE IS THE NEW TOY JUST ADDED TO MY COLLECTION JUST PURCHASED A WEEK AGO
A MK5/1 CENTURION MAIN BATTLE TANK ARN 169043

Attached File(s)

 CENTURION_169043.jpg ( 836.17K ) Number of downloads: 5
 CENTURION_169043_GETTING_SERVICED.JPG ( 2.89MB ) Number of downloads: 3
 CENTURION_169043_GETTING_STARTED_UP.JPG ( 2.96MB ) Number of downloads: 4
 CENTURION_ENGINE_BAY_BRUCE_HOLTS.JPG ( 2.91MB ) Number of downloads: 4
 BRUCE_HOLTS_CENTURION_TRANSMISSION.JPG ( 2.87MB ) Number of downloads: 0
 INSIDE_BRUCE_HOLTS_CENTRUION.JPG ( 2.85MB ) Number of downloads: 1
 INSIDE_BRUCE_HOLTS_CENTURION.JPG ( 2.88MB ) Number of downloads: 2

 

[Richard_O]

Nice bit of kit.



Cheers

OB

[Tommy]

Congratulations you lucky b@st@rd

[BSHEVLIN]

Congratulations you lucky b@st@rd

best thing about this tank is that the fella who owned it was a ex RAEME Centurion mechanic in Vietnam so he knows how to maintain it & drive it properly
this tank has Vietnam history it did 2 tours 1970 & 1971 as call sign 1A
im even luckier that it served in my squadron that i currently serve with.
the crew form Vietnam are still kicking around & the last commander of here is still serving in reserves.


im finally glad that i have the my holy grail of armored vehicles in my collection

[Master Chief]

Well Done Brenton,
Many hours of fun to be had there!.

Justin.

[Shakey985]

Well that certainly is a new toy, is it in Darwin? are you going to take it to Mount Bundy?. I can just see you applying for it to be moved on your next posting as a hobby vehicle.

Good Luck

Paul

Sugarloaf Creek Hotel

[BSHEVLIN]

it will be going to brissy i might try and get it to the regiment if they can move it for me one day. i might have to have a chat with the RSM as
a lot historical value to 1ARMD. i might have a bit of pull as im the unit historian now. also as it served in Vietnam as call sign 21A And 1A in two tours and its peter branagans old ride. pass it on to him that i have it, it will make his day.
good to see that you joined this site shakey

[BSHEVLIN]

it will be going to brissy i might try and get it to the regiment if they can move it for me one day. i might have to have a chat with the RSM as
a lot historical value to 1ARMD. i might have a bit of pull as im the unit historian now. also as it served in Vietnam as call sign 21A And 1A in two tours and its peter branagans old ride. pass it on to him that i have it, it will make his day.
good to see that you joined this site shakey leaves MLU for dead

managed to find a pic of the old girl during a parade at puckapunyal in 1976 the centurion tank retirement mounted parade
if anybody else has pics of here or any of A squadron in Vietnam in 1970 please pass them on and post them

Attached File(s)

 paratas_cup_35.jpg ( 60.31K ) Number of downloads: 7

 

[BSHEVLIN]

HERE IS A PIC OF HER IN VIETNAM SHES THAT TANK ON THE LHS OF PHOTO I HAVE A HIGH RES ONE BUT ITS A BIT BIG TO UPLOAD
THIS WAS TAKEN DURING CAMBRAI DAY PARADE IN VEITNAM 1970

[BSHEVLIN]

i have just located another photo of her in 1969 unloading of the ship as call sign 21Aand setting foot on Vietnamese soil for the first time
& her getting her gun test fired in 1970

Attached File(s)

 87.jpg ( 57.16K ) Number of downloads: 7
 clive_steele_2.jpg ( 55.82K ) Number of downloads: 8

 

[BSHEVLIN]

some pics of her crew
i just made contact with former crew members from 1970 & their all still alive and kicking they haven't seen the tank since Vietnam
might be a interesting reunion one day.

169043 Call sign 1A crew 1970 sth Vietnam
driver - Tpr George Main
gunner - Tpr mick Payne
loader - Tpr Henry Polis
commander -Sgt Bill Heisse

i have made some great contacts & conversations over the last few days trying to track down the crew & photos

Attached File(s)

 george_main_1.JPG ( 900.99K ) Number of downloads: 2
 Bill_Heise.jpg ( 70.03K ) Number of downloads: 1
 george_Main.JPG ( 353.14K ) Number of downloads: 2
 085.JPG ( 29.47K ) Number of downloads: 1

 

[BSHEVLIN]

managed to get in contact with the former loader from Vietnam and he passed on these pics of her in sth Vietnam in as Call sign 1A 1970
he also managed to find a pic of her engaging the Vietcong during a RPG ambush.

also a pic of her in 1969 as call sign 21A

i also found out that she was a bit of a celebrity amongst the troops as she was returning from a patrol during operation mattilda she was crossing over a aussie engineers constructed temporary bridge as she went over the bridge collapsed fro under her

thanks to the armoured corps association & the 1st armoured regiment association for being such a great help

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 dh065.jpg ( 44.19K ) Number of downloads: 1
 FAI_70_0852_VN.jpg ( 184.2K ) Number of downloads: 2
 gw1.jpg ( 44.58K ) Number of downloads: 0
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 gw3.jpg ( 52.89K ) Number of downloads: 3
 gw7.jpg ( 44.76K ) Number of downloads: 2
 gw35.jpg ( 52.09K ) Number of downloads: 2
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 gw69.jpg ( 50.74K ) Number of downloads: 2
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 jg1.JPG ( 63.99K ) Number of downloads: 1
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 r39.jpg ( 39.82K ) Number of downloads: 2
 r47.jpg ( 42.07K ) Number of downloads: 1

 

[Shakey985]

It good to see her in her former glory Brenton but when are you going to get to play with her? and are you a member of The 1st Armoured Regiment Association as I didnt see you at the recent dinner.

Paul

Sugarloaf Creek Hotel

[BSHEVLIN]

It good to see her in her former glory Brenton but when are you going to get to play with her? and are you a member of The 1st Armoured Regiment Association as I didnt see you at the recent dinner.

Paul

Sugarloaf Creek Hotel

no im not a full member at the moment haven't got around to paying my fees & paper work as im busy with other things as you would know
heres the pics of her in contact

Attached File(s)

 gw42.jpg ( 59.24K ) Number of downloads: 3

 

[BSHEVLIN]

some more pics of the crew & the tank & the troop logo
The more & more i dig up through my contacts within the unit it reveals lots interesting history & Major Oopsys from the the little known history it had

Trooper Garry Williamson was the loader in the fist half of 1970 and he has supplied some more pics

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 gw25.jpg ( 36.5K ) Number of downloads: 0
 gw72.jpg ( 42.77K ) Number of downloads: 0
 gw64.jpg ( 52.61K ) Number of downloads: 0
 1C___11D__1970.jpg ( 149.85K ) Number of downloads: 0
 1A_CROSSING_BRIDGE_1970__2_.jpg ( 129.59K ) Number of downloads: 0
 1A_CROSSING_BRIDGE_1970.jpg ( 113.83K ) Number of downloads: 2
 1_TROOP_SIGN_1970.jpg ( 86.01K ) Number of downloads: 0

 

[BSHEVLIN]

today i had the privilege of a phone call from the former gunner from 1970 Trooper Mick Payne
he had a lot to talk about & some good stories form the tank.
He had informed me of the name she was carrying in 1970 it was PLAYBOY on the barrel with a playboy logo on the turret bin front & on the rear fuel tank.
this has solved a mystery that has been troubling a lot of the former Vietnam centurion crew members which i have been in contact with.
i also have the privilege of meeting him in person next week Darwin while im on some R&R he is coming to visit the regiment to recall on some old times.

over the last week i have managed to track down and purchase some interesting items of stowage.
1x 20 pounder shell complete with a HE inert s projectile & 200 rounds of inert 30cal rounds & 20 30cal 1970 dated & stenciled liners.
i have also managed purchace a 2nd hand thermostat for her.

if anybody has and centurion bits & peices and would like to sell them send a PM to me or Richard O

1 week to we roll her out of the shed for my first drive of a centurion in 2 years time cant come any faster.

[BSHEVLIN]

some video taken today

driving the centurion out of the shed

washing the centurion

[Richard_O]

After a long.... Drive. 169043 was on parade.

First thing done was vehicle check, shown the starting procedure and she was started for us.

After a big clean on day one, she started to look a little more dignified. We were amazed how she came up with a good clean. Her Vietnam, 1 A marking is visible on the fuel tank. There are points where you can see the existing CAM paint from 76.

She left service called Aloha. Callsign 1 2 Bravo.

Motor sounds great. No bad noises. Gear box good, after some TLC to the linkages was allot easier to select gear.

She hasn’t done any more than 40 miles since disposal. Just started and on special occasions taken for a run.

Inside was in great order. Quick test of electrical system was positive with no issues found.

Fitted the road wheel and spare track linkage. Attached the turret basket but this will need some TLC.

She is a most amazing vehicle. It is a credit to the former owner Bruce, she is in such good order. It’s like she has been driven out of War stores.

Pre clean







During clean





Post clean







More to follow

[Richard_O]

Cheers

Richard

[State Side]

WOW! what else can i say???

WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!