Centurion Mk.13 – Walk Around

The Ultimate Centurion Variant

The Centurion Mk.13, formally known as the FV4017, represents the final major production standard of the legendary British post-war tank. It was not built from scratch but was an upgrade package applied to existing Centurion Mk.10 tanks, incorporating all the major firepower and protection improvements developed throughout the Centurion’s long career.

The Centurion series is often regarded as the world’s first true Main Battle Tank (MBT), effectively combining the mobility of a cruiser tank with the armor protection of an infantry tank. The Mk.13 version brought this design to its peak service potential for the British Army.

Key Upgrades and Features

The Mk.13 designation primarily denoted the integration of several key systems onto the Mk.10 chassis:

• Main Armament: The powerful 105 mm L7A1 rifled gun, a weapon that became the standard main armament for most Western MBTs during the Cold War.
• Ranging Gun: The addition of a .50 cal (12.7 mm) ranging machine gun co-axially mounted with the main gun. This allowed the gunner to accurately determine the range to the target by observing where the tracer rounds hit before firing the expensive 105 mm round.
• Infra-Red Equipment: The integration of Infra-Red (IR) night fighting and driving equipment, including a large IR searchlight mounted on the mantlet, providing a crucial night-fighting capability.
• Appliqué Armor: It retained the substantial base armor of the Mk.10, which included additional appliqué armor welded to the glacis plate (hull front) for increased protection against modern anti-tank threats.

General Specifications (Representative of Mk.10/13)

Legacy

While the British Army replaced the Centurion with the Chieftain MBT starting in the late 1960s, the Centurion Mk.13 was a robust and highly capable tank. Its long operational life and adaptability made it a massive export success, with versions remaining in service with several international armies, like Israel and South Africa, well into the 21st century.