Post by jkb on Jun 3, 2018 17:57:50 GMT
Hi ppl, with the T55 for the group build almost finished i decided to start a quick build of a Tamiya Centaur.
The tank will be built as a Greek tank from the last year of the civil war era, 1949.
For the historical part, (for those that might be interested), the Centaur/Cromwel tanks were 52 and served from 1947 to 1962 and some turrets soldiered on as railway tunnel guards.
Today two such turrets exist in the war museum in Athens.
Theese tanks alongside Dingos, Humber MK IVs, Otters and other ex British army eqipment formed the backbone of the Greek army after WWII.
The Centaurs were a mix of all hull types and some used the Liberty engine while others the Meteor. What they all had in common was the 6pdr QF gun.
While these tanks were far from good against German armor were actually idealy suited for the mountain terrain that Greece has. In two years of non stop operations
on the Greek mountains they had a very decicive contribution against the communist forces with only a single loss, and even this one wasn't a total loss.
They were very well liked by their crews, especially the Meteor engine ones, because of their small size and agility.
We also had a few M4 Shermans but the crews hated them and were considered to be useles on mountain terrain so they were sent back to the camps.
The excellent performance of these tanks on such terrain was also the main reason that they were kept in service for so long.
Unfortunately after the fall of the military goverment the leftist goverments that followed were very meticulous in destroying all of them as well as the Spitfires!
Today only one ''complete'' tank survives thanks to a heavy rainfall on a an army range where it waited to become a target that made it sink completely in the mud.
In the late 80s it was salvaged and was transported to the cavalry/armor training camp outside Athens were it is till today.
Even then it had to be disguised so it was painted in MERC and ''hidden in plain sight''!!! Naturally the Brigadier that did that was sent home as soon as they found out...
Today the sole survivor named "Typhoon", (all the tanks had names back then), is still at the museum in the tank training center, fortunately without needing to hide it, but missing a lot of parts.
The tracks and sprocket wheel comes fron an M113, (and yes, they are a perfect match!).
Now to the build. I have both the Centaur kit and the Cromwel. So i took one wheel sprue and traded for another so i can represent them
as they served with both wheel types. A 6pdr gun was also purchased and decals from LM decals, so i can begin building tomorrow.
SRY for the long post.
The tank will be built as a Greek tank from the last year of the civil war era, 1949.
For the historical part, (for those that might be interested), the Centaur/Cromwel tanks were 52 and served from 1947 to 1962 and some turrets soldiered on as railway tunnel guards.
Today two such turrets exist in the war museum in Athens.
Theese tanks alongside Dingos, Humber MK IVs, Otters and other ex British army eqipment formed the backbone of the Greek army after WWII.
The Centaurs were a mix of all hull types and some used the Liberty engine while others the Meteor. What they all had in common was the 6pdr QF gun.
While these tanks were far from good against German armor were actually idealy suited for the mountain terrain that Greece has. In two years of non stop operations
on the Greek mountains they had a very decicive contribution against the communist forces with only a single loss, and even this one wasn't a total loss.
They were very well liked by their crews, especially the Meteor engine ones, because of their small size and agility.
We also had a few M4 Shermans but the crews hated them and were considered to be useles on mountain terrain so they were sent back to the camps.
The excellent performance of these tanks on such terrain was also the main reason that they were kept in service for so long.
Unfortunately after the fall of the military goverment the leftist goverments that followed were very meticulous in destroying all of them as well as the Spitfires!
Today only one ''complete'' tank survives thanks to a heavy rainfall on a an army range where it waited to become a target that made it sink completely in the mud.
In the late 80s it was salvaged and was transported to the cavalry/armor training camp outside Athens were it is till today.
Even then it had to be disguised so it was painted in MERC and ''hidden in plain sight''!!! Naturally the Brigadier that did that was sent home as soon as they found out...
Today the sole survivor named "Typhoon", (all the tanks had names back then), is still at the museum in the tank training center, fortunately without needing to hide it, but missing a lot of parts.
The tracks and sprocket wheel comes fron an M113, (and yes, they are a perfect match!).
Now to the build. I have both the Centaur kit and the Cromwel. So i took one wheel sprue and traded for another so i can represent them
as they served with both wheel types. A 6pdr gun was also purchased and decals from LM decals, so i can begin building tomorrow.
SRY for the long post.
.
.
, great work John 
