Hobby Master Archive

Hobby Master 1/72 Ground Power Series HG3511 Centurion Mk.3 British 8th Hussars Regiment Korean War “Columbo”

Authentic Detailing Pre-Painted by professionals Accurate paint colors Markings Tampo (pad) applied Fully Assembled Die-Cast Model True to Scale (1:72) Weathering and insignias Turret turns Metal turret and main gun Realistic tracks

The Centurion entered British service in 1949 and when production ended in 1962 there had been over 4,000 vehicles of all variants produced. Approximately half of the production where exported. The Centurion was a great advancement in British tank design with them using some of the best features from other tanks around the world. The Centurion was the first main battle tank in the world to use both elevation and azimuth gun stabilization in the main gun. All Centurions had welded steel hulls and cast turrets with welded steel plates for the roof. There were about 25 different variants of the Centurion with each improving on the one before. The Mk. 5 used the same 20 pounder main gun as the Mk. 3, there was no Mk. 4 produced, but most had a “Type B” barrel with a fume extractor half way down the barrel. This got rid of fume low back into the turret and also eliminated the need for the counter weight used on the “Type A” barrel. The Mk. 5 replaced the coaxial Besa with an M1919A4 .30 cal Browning MG and a second .30 cal MG mounted on the Commander’s cupola. The switch to the .30 cal MG was to meet NATO’s standardization policy. The turret rear escape hatch was eliminated. A fifth return roller was added on both sides to help prevent throwing a track. By the late 1950’s most of the problems with the Centurion were eliminated except for its slow speed and the use of gasoline as the fuel. In 1967 the Centurion was starting to be replaced by the Chieftain.

The 8th Hussars spent most of 1950 and 51 involved in the Korean War. The unit gained fame at Hill 237 on the Imjin River when they covered the withdrawal of the 29th Brigade. The area was swarming with enemy soldiers and on the verge of overrunning the 29th Brigade. Overcoming hilly and almost impassable terrain the 8th managed to negotiate its way to the top of some hills where they were able to fire on the advancing army. They managed to hold them off until the 29th withdrew but finally the Centurions of the 8th were crawling with enemy soldiers trying to get the hatches open so they could throw grenades inside. At this point the Centurions turned and began to fire at each other. The enemy soldiers were being mowed down by machine gun fire and when the 8th returned to base it was said the tanks ran red with blood.

Specifications Centurion Mk. 3 MBT Production - 2,833 In Service - 1945 into the 1990s Crew - 4 (Commander, Gunner, Loader, Driver)

Performance Engine - Rolls-Royce Meteor 650 hp (480 kW) Power/Weight - 13 hp/tonne Operational Range - 280 miles (450 km) Speed - 22 mph (35 km/h) Suspension - Horstmann Dimensions Length - 25 ft (7.6 m) Width - 11 ft 1 in (3.38 m) Height - 9 ft 10.5 in (3.01 m)

Weight - 51 long tons (52 t)

Armour - 6 in (150 mm)

Armament Main - originally a fully stabilized powered traverse 20 pounder (84 mm) later upgraded to 107 mm. Ammunition 65 rounds of Armour piercing discarding sabot (APDS), High explosive, Canister and Smoke. Ranging Gun - 1 x .50 cal Browning mg Secondary - 1 x .30 cal Browning mg, co-axial. This gun replaced the Besa 7.92 mm. mg. (This conversion resulted in the Mk 5 variant) Smoke grenades - 2 x sets mounted on each side of the turret, each with two sets of three barrels.