Tribute to the Centurion
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If you cant keep a secret you have sworn to protect, you dont deserve what you swear when you were given.
I'm sure MINDEF will release any news when they want to. -
I don't know if there was actually a swearing ceremony for alleged Centurion crews. It is not as if you are talking to a small group of special secret operatives. These are NSmen, and very, very many of them, to boot.Originally posted by huaichien:I'm sure there have been many crew and technicians who have operated and worked on the Centurion all these years. Were all of them swore to secrecy not to talk about it and every single one actually did kept to the silence?
SAF is not so naive as to really have expected them to keep quiet for life. I think there will be a breach of law only if you start passing photographic evidence etc around to the press or something. Or if you start pinpointing where these things are located etc. If I go on to Orchard Road with a placard that says SAF HAS CENTURIONS I think I will not be prosecuted for anything other than being a nut job.
Besides, the reason for denying the existence was not because the Centurion was a super duper space laser or something. It was merely because we want to be able to deny its existence should our neighbours complain.
It's a bit like the existence of the SOF during the eighties.
While the SAF then will deny that they exist, they are also quite happy that the secret "leaked out". It's one off those things that you would like others to know about but not confirm or deny suspicions to keep people guessing.
It's all part of warfare.
Another example is training in ROC. Hundreds of thousands of Ah Beng Ah Seng have been there and back, yet it is supposed to be secret. Why? Just to avoid a potentially embarrassing situation with China. But you can bet your last dollar that China knows and a agreement had been reached where they understand we are not helping ROC's military. So everybody is comfortable with the farce.
As I have mentioned many times before, I had an uncle from armour who told me that during the late seventies he was a Centurion crew. Either he was telling the truth, or SAF had devised a very elaborate bluff that involves SAF members like my uncle continuing to spread this Centurion "myth".
If the latter was true, then I am doing my bit for the country to continue perpetuating this myth.
Until now, none of us has seen a picture or the SAF Centurion. So for all you know, it may really be an elaborate lie!
This uncle was actually my brother-in-law's younger brother. After my sister and her husband separated, I no longer have access to verify this with that uncle.
Besides this uncle, I also have an older brother (passed on) that was a Vehicle Commander of a M113 track in the seventies. His vehicle was the original M113 with no mods and it mounted a M2 Browning with no shield or turret.
But both he and that uncle were black beret men. -
Makes sense... makes sense...
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So we shall be discreet and let things blow over when then Leopards arrive.
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have anyone ever thought that of the centurion tank was supposed to be for Singapore or for some other political commitment? Just like the F-4 stories when I was growing up that news was all around.
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They need to sign some document when they were discharged and adhered to other restrictions etc.............Originally posted by huaichien:I'm sure there have been many crew and technicians who have operated and worked on the Centurion all these years. Were all of them swore to secrecy not to talk about it and every single one actually did kept to the silence? -
wats the rubber/leather like thing on the tank around the main gun area>?oh btw does the centurion mount a .50 as a co ax? heard they used it as range finder/aiming device
IDF Sho't
Aussie Centurion
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I have just returned from my high key ICT.
One thing i can confirm is that Tempest is definitely going to be totally phased out soon. So we may have official confirmation of its existence soon. -
Originally posted by tankee1981:
Did you see the beast?
I have just returned from my high key ICT.
One thing i can confirm is that Tempest is definitely going to be totally phased out soon. So we [b]may have official confirmation of its existence soon.[/b] -
I have heard of the Centurions (not Tempest yet) which was brought on trial was sabotage during their voyage to Singapore. To what extend I don't know, and my friend who knew about it won't say.
Anyway, its about time the Tempest got retired just like the SM1. They are really not competitive again modern MBT they are expected to meet. It is also not cost effective to upgrade them even to the South African Olifant II standard. The best I can see is that the Centurion chassis is retained and transformed into SP platforms (eg. Marry the Self-propelled Arty turret with the chassis and replace the gun with a 52 Calibre) or into engineering vehicles or bridge launchers. -
Originally posted by tankee1981:
I wonder why they would want to phased out when they brought it back from ROC. And I am sure it is still functioning. I do not know how it performance against PT91 but against APC or other light tank it is still useful.
I have just returned from my high key ICT.
One thing i can confirm is that Tempest is definitely going to be totally phased out soon. So we [b]may have official confirmation of its existence soon.[/b]
the fact that we are still using AMX 13. that is old enough. -
Anyway, its about time the Tempest got retired just like the SM1. They are really not competitive again modern MBT they are expected to meet. It is also not cost effective to upgrade them even to the South African Olifant II standard. The best I can see is that the Centurion chassis is retained and transformed into SP platforms (eg. Marry the Self-propelled Arty turret with the chassis and replace the gun with a 52 Calibre) or into engineering vehicles or bridge launchers.
agree -
Do you mind re-writing this sentence in another way? It's not very clear.Originally posted by Joe Black:I have heard of the Centurions (not Tempest yet) which was brought on trial was sabotage during their voyage to Singapore.
Thanks. -
YesOriginally posted by IAF:Did you see the beast? -
that's nice.
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When a few Centurions were either on loan or bought in small numbers to be tested in Singapore sometime in the early 80s or so, on their way to Singapore, some were actually sabotaged (read damaged presumed to be by the act of being sabotaged) on their way to Singapore. I don't have the full details as me friend was quite reluctant to do into details. Mind you, I heard this from him in the early 90s, and now we are in 2007, has been a long long time ago.Originally posted by moca:Do you mind re-writing this sentence in another way? It's not very clear.
Thanks. -
tale from the darkside.Originally posted by Joe Black:When a few Centurions were either on loan or bought in small numbers to be tested in Singapore sometime in the early 80s or so, on their way to Singapore, some were actually sabotaged (read damaged presumed to be by the act of being sabotaged) on their way to Singapore. I don't have the full details as me friend was quite reluctant to do into details. Mind you, I heard this from him in the early 90s, and now we are in 2007, has been a long long time ago. -
I prefer this Jordanian version. Look pretty cool.Originally posted by moca:The Jordanian version - Al Temsah - is ingenious in that they reversed the chassis so that the engine is in front and the rear can install a exit ramp which the IDF version cannot.
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Yup.. There is already one at 2PDF clementi camp for the V200. I don't see why cannot built one for the centurions.Originally posted by Shotgun:Nv see multi-storey carpark b4?
Basement carpark also can... -
*yawn*
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no 1 reply to me...
