Hobby Master Archive

Hobby Master 1/72 Ground Power Series HG3505 Centurion Mk. 5, Royal Canadian Dragoons “C” company 2nd Platoon Germany, 1958

Authentic Detailing Pre-Painted by professionals Accurate paint colors Markings Tampo (pad) applied Fully Assembled Die-Cast Model True to Scale (1:72) Turret turns and main gun elevates Metal turret and main gun Realistic tracks THESE ARE PRE-PRODUCTION PICTURES, NOT THE FINAL PRODUCT

According to many authorities the Centurion is considered the best British tank ever. The British used this tank in Korea, the Israelis in the Middle East and the Australians in Vietnam. Each time the Centurion proved to be better than the enemy equipment and in most cases superior to any Allied tanks in the field with them. The Centurion saw 13 models produced with several sub-variants. The Centurion has been used by 15 countries and has been involved in 8 wars or conflicts.

NATO asked Canada to provide a squadron during the Korean War so the Korean Squadron was drawn from the Strathcona Squadron and given the identity “C”. The new NATO squadron was renamed the Royal Canadian Dragoons but kept the “C” squadron identity. Canada provided a tank squadron for NATO from late 1951 to mid 1957. This squadron was equipped with the Centurion tank that had been upgraded to a Mk. 5 with the 20 pounder gun. The Centurion was in use from 1952 until the late 1970s when it was replaced by the Leopard. The RCD C Sqn was based at Werl, Germany until it was upgraded to a regiment. Several moves took place until 1970 when they finally settled in Lahr, Germany. An example of this great tank can be found in the Canadian War Museum in Ottawa, Canada.

Specifications Centurion tank Mk. 5 Crew - 4 Performance Powerplant - Rolls-Royce Mk. IVB 12-cylinder gasoline liquid-cooled, 650 hp @ 2550 rpm Maximum speed - 21 mph (34.6 km/h) Fuel Capacity - 2,740 US gallons / 2,281 British Imperial gallons (10,371 L) Range - 118 miles (190 km)

Armament 1 X fully stabilized L7 105 mm main gun 1 X 7.62 mm co-axial Machine gun 1 X 12.7 mm RMG (Ranging Machine Gun) 1 X 7.62 mm Machine gun (Commander’s cupola) 2 X 6 round smoke grenade dischargers Weight Combat - 61.7 shirt ton (US) / 55.12 long ton (UK) (56,000 kg)

Dimensions Length - 25.67 ft (7.823 m excluding main gun) / 32.33 ft (9.854 m including main gun) Width - 11.12 ft (3.39 m) Height - 9.65 ft (2.94 m)

Armor Maximum - 5.98 in (152 mm)