±Recent Visitors

Recent Visitors to Com-Central!

±User Info-big


Welcome Anonymous

Nickname
Password

Membership:
Latest: HighestAce
New Today: 0
New Yesterday: 0
Overall: 6648

People Online:
Members: 0
Visitors: 628
Total: 628
Who Is Where:
 Visitors:
01: Photo Gallery
02: Community Forums
03: Community Forums
04: Community Forums
05: Home
06: Community Forums
07: Home
08: Community Forums
09: Photo Gallery
10: Home
11: Member Screenshots
12: Photo Gallery
13: Downloads
14: Downloads
15: News Archive
16: Community Forums
17: Community Forums
18: Home
19: Statistics
20: Your Account
21: Photo Gallery
22: Community Forums
23: Home
24: Home
25: Home
26: News Archive
27: Photo Gallery
28: News
29: Home
30: Community Forums
31: Home
32: Photo Gallery
33: Home
34: Community Forums
35: Downloads
36: News Archive
37: Community Forums
38: Home
39: Community Forums
40: Downloads
41: Home
42: Home
43: Photo Gallery
44: Community Forums
45: Photo Gallery
46: Home
47: Photo Gallery
48: Community Forums
49: Home
50: Home
51: Home
52: Home
53: Home
54: Home
55: Home
56: Community Forums
57: Home
58: Home
59: Community Forums
60: Home
61: Home
62: Home
63: Home
64: Community Forums
65: Community Forums
66: Home
67: Community Forums
68: Photo Gallery
69: News Archive
70: Downloads
71: Community Forums
72: Home
73: Home
74: Photo Gallery
75: Community Forums
76: Community Forums
77: Home
78: Home
79: Community Forums
80: Community Forums
81: Photo Gallery
82: Community Forums
83: Community Forums
84: Community Forums
85: Community Forums
86: Photo Gallery
87: Community Forums
88: Member Screenshots
89: Community Forums
90: Community Forums
91: Community Forums
92: Photo Gallery
93: Member Screenshots
94: Home
95: Home
96: Photo Gallery
97: Photo Gallery
98: Home
99: Photo Gallery
100: Photo Gallery
101: Photo Gallery
102: Photo Gallery
103: Home
104: Downloads
105: Photo Gallery
106: Downloads
107: Community Forums
108: Photo Gallery
109: Photo Gallery
110: Community Forums
111: Downloads
112: Community Forums
113: Community Forums
114: Community Forums
115: Community Forums
116: Photo Gallery
117: Photo Gallery
118: Community Forums
119: Photo Gallery
120: Home
121: Home
122: Community Forums
123: Photo Gallery
124: Community Forums
125: Supporters
126: Photo Gallery
127: Home
128: Home
129: Community Forums
130: Home
131: Photo Gallery
132: News Archive
133: Home
134: Photo Gallery
135: Community Forums
136: Community Forums
137: Community Forums
138: Home
139: Home
140: Home
141: Community Forums
142: Photo Gallery
143: Community Forums
144: Member Screenshots
145: Photo Gallery
146: Photo Gallery
147: Home
148: Photo Gallery
149: Photo Gallery
150: Community Forums
151: Home
152: Downloads
153: Photo Gallery
154: Photo Gallery
155: Photo Gallery
156: Photo Gallery
157: Photo Gallery
158: Home
159: Community Forums
160: Photo Gallery
161: Community Forums
162: Community Forums
163: Community Forums
164: Community Forums
165: Community Forums
166: Photo Gallery
167: Home
168: Photo Gallery
169: Photo Gallery
170: Community Forums
171: Community Forums
172: News
173: Photo Gallery
174: Home
175: Photo Gallery
176: Community Forums
177: Photo Gallery
178: Photo Gallery
179: Member Screenshots
180: Downloads
181: Photo Gallery
182: Photo Gallery
183: Photo Gallery
184: Community Forums
185: Photo Gallery
186: Community Forums
187: Your Account
188: Photo Gallery
189: Photo Gallery
190: Home
191: Community Forums
192: Community Forums
193: Photo Gallery
194: Photo Gallery
195: Home
196: Community Forums
197: Member Screenshots
198: Community Forums
199: Photo Gallery
200: Community Forums
201: Home
202: Community Forums
203: Photo Gallery
204: Community Forums
205: Community Forums
206: Community Forums
207: Member Screenshots
208: Photo Gallery
209: Community Forums
210: Community Forums
211: Photo Gallery
212: News
213: Home
214: Photo Gallery
215: Photo Gallery
216: Community Forums
217: Home
218: Home
219: Home
220: Home
221: Home
222: Community Forums
223: Community Forums
224: Photo Gallery
225: Downloads
226: Photo Gallery
227: Home
228: Member Screenshots
229: Photo Gallery
230: Photo Gallery
231: Photo Gallery
232: Home
233: Community Forums
234: Community Forums
235: Photo Gallery
236: Photo Gallery
237: Community Forums
238: Downloads
239: Community Forums
240: Photo Gallery
241: Home
242: Community Forums
243: Photo Gallery
244: Downloads
245: Home
246: Home
247: Home
248: Photo Gallery
249: Photo Gallery
250: Photo Gallery
251: Photo Gallery
252: Photo Gallery
253: Photo Gallery
254: Photo Gallery
255: Photo Gallery
256: Photo Gallery
257: News Archive
258: Photo Gallery
259: Community Forums
260: Photo Gallery
261: Photo Gallery
262: Community Forums
263: Community Forums
264: Photo Gallery
265: Photo Gallery
266: Statistics
267: Community Forums
268: Photo Gallery
269: Home
270: Community Forums
271: Community Forums
272: Community Forums
273: Photo Gallery
274: Photo Gallery
275: Photo Gallery
276: Home
277: Photo Gallery
278: Community Forums
279: Photo Gallery
280: Member Screenshots
281: Photo Gallery
282: Statistics
283: Photo Gallery
284: Photo Gallery
285: Photo Gallery
286: Photo Gallery
287: Community Forums
288: Photo Gallery
289: Community Forums
290: Photo Gallery
291: Photo Gallery
292: Member Screenshots
293: Photo Gallery
294: Community Forums
295: Photo Gallery
296: Community Forums
297: Photo Gallery
298: Community Forums
299: Community Forums
300: Photo Gallery
301: News Archive
302: Photo Gallery
303: Photo Gallery
304: News Archive
305: Photo Gallery
306: Downloads
307: Photo Gallery
308: Photo Gallery
309: Community Forums
310: Photo Gallery
311: Statistics
312: Community Forums
313: Photo Gallery
314: Photo Gallery
315: News Archive
316: Community Forums
317: Photo Gallery
318: Photo Gallery
319: Photo Gallery
320: Photo Gallery
321: Photo Gallery
322: Home
323: Photo Gallery
324: Home
325: Member Screenshots
326: Community Forums
327: Photo Gallery
328: Photo Gallery
329: Photo Gallery
330: Community Forums
331: Photo Gallery
332: News Archive
333: Photo Gallery
334: Home
335: Photo Gallery
336: Home
337: Photo Gallery
338: Member Screenshots
339: Photo Gallery
340: Photo Gallery
341: Photo Gallery
342: Home
343: Community Forums
344: Downloads
345: Community Forums
346: Photo Gallery
347: Photo Gallery
348: Community Forums
349: Photo Gallery
350: Home
351: Photo Gallery
352: Community Forums
353: Community Forums
354: Community Forums
355: Photo Gallery
356: Community Forums
357: Photo Gallery
358: Home
359: Community Forums
360: Photo Gallery
361: Downloads
362: Member Screenshots
363: Photo Gallery
364: Photo Gallery
365: Photo Gallery
366: Statistics
367: Community Forums
368: Photo Gallery
369: Home
370: Home
371: Home
372: Home
373: Home
374: Photo Gallery
375: Community Forums
376: Member Screenshots
377: Community Forums
378: Home
379: Home
380: Community Forums
381: Photo Gallery
382: News Archive
383: Community Forums
384: Community Forums
385: Photo Gallery
386: Community Forums
387: Community Forums
388: Photo Gallery
389: Community Forums
390: Community Forums
391: Photo Gallery
392: Photo Gallery
393: Photo Gallery
394: Home
395: Photo Gallery
396: Photo Gallery
397: Home
398: Photo Gallery
399: Photo Gallery
400: Community Forums
401: Photo Gallery
402: Home
403: Community Forums
404: Community Forums
405: Photo Gallery
406: Home
407: Community Forums
408: Home
409: Photo Gallery
410: Photo Gallery
411: Community Forums
412: Home
413: Home
414: Photo Gallery
415: Community Forums
416: Photo Gallery
417: Photo Gallery
418: Community Forums
419: Photo Gallery
420: Home
421: Community Forums
422: Home
423: Photo Gallery
424: Photo Gallery
425: News
426: Photo Gallery
427: Community Forums
428: Downloads
429: Community Forums
430: Community Forums
431: Photo Gallery
432: Photo Gallery
433: Photo Gallery
434: Home
435: Community Forums
436: Community Forums
437: Photo Gallery
438: Photo Gallery
439: Photo Gallery
440: News
441: Community Forums
442: Community Forums
443: Community Forums
444: Statistics
445: Photo Gallery
446: Photo Gallery
447: Community Forums
448: News
449: Photo Gallery
450: Photo Gallery
451: Member Screenshots
452: Home
453: Community Forums
454: Home
455: Home
456: Photo Gallery
457: Home
458: Home
459: Community Forums
460: Photo Gallery
461: Photo Gallery
462: Community Forums
463: News Archive
464: Community Forums
465: Community Forums
466: Photo Gallery
467: Photo Gallery
468: Home
469: Photo Gallery
470: Community Forums
471: Home
472: Photo Gallery
473: Community Forums
474: Photo Gallery
475: Member Screenshots
476: Home
477: Community Forums
478: Community Forums
479: News Archive
480: Home
481: Community Forums
482: Community Forums
483: Photo Gallery
484: Community Forums
485: Photo Gallery
486: Community Forums
487: Photo Gallery
488: News Archive
489: Community Forums
490: Photo Gallery
491: Community Forums
492: Photo Gallery
493: Community Forums
494: Photo Gallery
495: Photo Gallery
496: Community Forums
497: Photo Gallery
498: Community Forums
499: Photo Gallery
500: Community Forums
501: Community Forums
502: Photo Gallery
503: Home
504: Home
505: Home
506: Home
507: Community Forums
508: Photo Gallery
509: Home
510: Community Forums
511: Community Forums
512: Community Forums
513: Photo Gallery
514: Community Forums
515: Photo Gallery
516: News
517: Home
518: Community Forums
519: News Archive
520: Community Forums
521: Community Forums
522: Downloads
523: Home
524: Home
525: Community Forums
526: Community Forums
527: Photo Gallery
528: Photo Gallery
529: Member Screenshots
530: Community Forums
531: Home
532: Photo Gallery
533: Home
534: Community Forums
535: Downloads
536: Community Forums
537: Community Forums
538: Community Forums
539: Home
540: Home
541: Community Forums
542: Home
543: Community Forums
544: Photo Gallery
545: Community Forums
546: Community Forums
547: Community Forums
548: Home
549: Community Forums
550: Community Forums
551: Photo Gallery
552: Photo Gallery
553: Community Forums
554: Community Forums
555: Community Forums
556: Community Forums
557: Community Forums
558: Community Forums
559: Community Forums
560: Community Forums
561: Community Forums
562: Photo Gallery
563: Community Forums
564: Community Forums
565: Home
566: Photo Gallery
567: Community Forums
568: Community Forums
569: Home
570: Photo Gallery
571: Community Forums
572: Home
573: News Archive
574: Community Forums
575: Photo Gallery
576: Home
577: Photo Gallery
578: Community Forums
579: Community Forums
580: Home
581: Community Forums
582: Community Forums
583: Photo Gallery
584: Home
585: Member Screenshots
586: Member Screenshots
587: Photo Gallery
588: Photo Gallery
589: Photo Gallery
590: Photo Gallery
591: Community Forums
592: Your Account
593: Photo Gallery
594: Downloads
595: Photo Gallery
596: Home
597: Community Forums
598: Community Forums
599: Community Forums
600: Downloads
601: Community Forums
602: Home
603: Home
604: Home
605: Home
606: Community Forums
607: Photo Gallery
608: Home
609: Photo Gallery
610: Photo Gallery
611: Photo Gallery
612: Photo Gallery
613: Home
614: LinkToUs
615: Community Forums
616: Downloads
617: News
618: Home
619: Community Forums
620: Community Forums
621: Community Forums
622: Home
623: Downloads
624: Community Forums
625: Community Forums
626: Community Forums
627: Home
628: Community Forums

Staff Online:

No staff members are online!
Old Centurions in a field?
The AFV ASSOCIATION was formed in 1964 to support the thoughts and research of all those interested in Armored Fighting Vehicles and related topics, such as AFV drawings. The emphasis has always been on sharing information and communicating with other members of similar interests; e.g. German armor, Japanese AFVs, or whatever.
Post new topic    Reply to topic    Printer Friendly Page     Forum Index ›  AFV News Discussion Board

View previous topic :: View next topic  
Author Message
Larso
Power User

Offline Offline
Joined: Apr 09, 2007
Posts: 9

PostPosted: Wed Apr 11, 2007 8:50 am
Post subject: Old Centurions in a field?

I've had a look about but I can't find anything on this.

I'm wondering whether any of the Australian armies centurions are still sitting about in a field. I recall reading about them in the newspaper years ago (there was a picture too), with I think the mention that some had been sold off to farmers as tractors (without their guns). But then at the end of last year I saw a doco on the ABC I think, about a Vietnam crew that were reunited quite recently and as part of their 'catch-up' they went to this same field and found their old tank still there. The point of the story was that the one crewman had been terribly wounded in action in that tank and after evacuation and recuperation came home and went about his life - never speaking to his former crewmates until the story.

Anyway, this show ('Australian Story'? - there was also a car racing sub-plot to it as well - I think one of them was injured in a crash?), seemed quite recent and I was wondering whether anyone knows anymore about this field and whether it still has any Centurions?

_________________
Formerly of 2/14th Light Horse
Back to top
View user's profile
Dennis_Smith
Power User

Offline Offline
Joined: Mar 17, 2006
Posts: 192

PostPosted: Wed Apr 11, 2007 11:10 pm
Post subject: Re: Old Centurions in a field?

Hey Larso,

Here's a link to the story:

www.abc.net.au/austory...411828.htm


Last edited by Dennis_Smith on Tue May 08, 2007 10:04 am; edited 1 time in total
Back to top
View user's profile
Larso
Power User

Offline Offline
Joined: Apr 09, 2007
Posts: 9

PostPosted: Thu Apr 12, 2007 2:20 am
Post subject: Re: Old Centurions in a field?

Thanks Dennis!

This is a quote from the transcript of that story -

BILL BARLOW, VIETNAM VETERAN: All our old Centurion tanks were up there at a place the other side of Albury out on this farm. And, actually, the tank that we were in when we got hit by this RPG, it was up there too. And so it was just great going up there and seeing this tank and where it had been hit and, yeah, there was a lot of nostalgia attached to it all. But the main thing is just meeting up with all the old crew members again and just becoming friends once again.

I'm going to try to find the article that I read in the paper - hopefully it'll be on the newstext site.

John

_________________
Formerly of 2/14th Light Horse
Back to top
View user's profile
Larso
Power User

Offline Offline
Joined: Apr 09, 2007
Posts: 9

PostPosted: Fri Apr 13, 2007 1:01 am
Post subject: Re: Old Centurions in a field?

Well I had no luck with the old newspaper articles but I did find the following relevant web pages (providing I've done the cut & paste thing properly) -


Fri, May 06, 2005 The Border Mail By Howard Jones

MOST of the 132ha sold to Abacus has not been needed for the military since about 1986.
The former Pearces farm south of Pearce St was compulsorily acquired in 1940 and became part of the Central Ordnance Depot, later 311 Supply Battalion.
Large sheds accessed by standard and broad-gauge railway lines were laid out on the site.
About 100 redundant Centurion tanks were stored on the land until sold in 1989.

Larso: This is a very interesting site which contains advice about buying and restoring Centurions : www.raeme.net/spt.php?...nts&item=1

He concludes with –
OK! What should you pay for a Centurion.
• Excellent Condition$45,000-$50,000
• A Good Runner$30,000.
• A Fair Runner (blowing smoke)$16,000 to $20,000.
• A Gate Guard$8,000.

These are the opinions of a chap that cannot afford a gate guard. Good luck. I do know where most of the Australian Centurions are, 124 out of 143. I also know the condition of most of them and have driven a heap. If I can be of any help to anyone in any way please contact me.
Regards Col

(Larso: I’ve written to him to enquire if any of those Centurions are still there and available. Below is an article by the man himself.)

About Col Filtness
My name is Col Filtness and I am an old Centurion driver from the early 50's. I decided to drive to Puckapunyal to view the Tank Museum, as I only live 20 minutes away in Kilmore. The trop was great and I was surprised to see so many Cents around the place. On the way home I started to wonder where my old tank was 169007. As time went by, (about 24 hours) I decided to start looking for it. I hoped to find between 12 and 20 Centurions, in fact I found 120 odd from a possible 143. This I found astounding. Then to find some running still and in some cases better than when they were in service, was also surprising.
I was surprised to discover a few and thought I should write it all down in a notebook with serial numbers and locations. From this it grew to taking photos, which meant in a lot of cases, revisiting many I had found. From there it progressed to maybe writing a book as I was finding so much of interest to me that I thought others may like to share it. This soon came to an abrupt halt as the quality I wanted made the book worth about $400 a copy. No one would be interested in anything I had to say for that price.
So I decided to go the computer C. D. way. This meant I could do the lot myself, and most people today have a computer so it would appeal to a wide range of people. The cost of paper and ink plus binding went out the door to be replaced by some CD's, some printer ink and a few CD labels. Lots cheaper. I could also burn them myself. From here it just snowballed. People started to assist me, a couple of friends traveled with me over thousands of miles to look at and photograph tanks taking about ½ hour and then driving home again. But I could not have done the miles without their company and help.
I found it hard to imagine the people I was meeting. Nothing was to much trouble, no one would take any money for expenses, and I mean people supplied me with their tank for a drive would not take anything for fuel, I have been offered accommodation and meals from people that I have never met, one chap gave me the keys to his farming property, as he had to return to Sydney after two days, with the instructions that when I wanted to leave, just lock up and switch off the gas. And if I was ever up in the Snowy Mountains, I knew where the key was and I was welcome to just call in and stay, if there was no one around I knew where the key was! Not bad for a bloke I met via email and had never met till two days before.
The search used the email a lot and people started to email me with information of where they had seen or thought there were Centurions. I found that places that were out of bounds to me were suddenly becoming available. People connected with the Army and the Museums were bending over to assist me and its with out a doubt that they all helped the CD not only be finished but to be as good as it is. At this point I will point out that to me it was a labor of love, and I enjoyed every minute of the search. But after reading and viewing the CD about one thousand times, I did start to wonder just what sort of impact it would have on the people that were paying good money for it. The results were well beyond my highest expectations.
When I was still in the book form I was asking people to supply stories, photos and information, with the rider that I would not sell the story to make money for myself. By the time I was into the CD stage I knew it would have to be offered for sale as there was no way I could cover the costs myself, which up to this time it had been considerable. I was then stumped as my original idea said I would not make money from it. Some people suggested I just sell it to cover my costs, but I had no idea what the costs were and was afraid to sit down and try and work it out, so that was a no go.
Now when I first started on the story I found that no one would let me climb onto or into their Centurions. You cannot imagine, in your wildest dreams, how badly I wanted to sit in that seat again. But the insurance worry was the stopper and I could not complain. I t was at this time I rang the Vietnam Veterans Museum at San Remo, asking if I could photograph and enter their Centurion. Permission was granted and so my association with the museum and many Veterans started. I then decided to offer the CD to the Museum so they could sell it and raise some money for the new museum they are building. This gave me an out let of sale as well, and as I was not handling the cash I felt I was keeping my word to the people who in the early stages gave me assistance. So I burnt some Master Disks and presented them to the Museum complete with a computer, and set it up so they could have it running for anyone that wanted to see it.
The search of course led me to the Vietnam War and I started to meet many Vets who shared their stories and photos with me, which opened up a whole new area. As I had visited Vietnam I was aware o f some of the feelings, the heat, the people, the country and the villages, so the stories were very special to me as were the photos, and I started to get some understanding of what the Vets endured, enjoyed and hated about their tours. For someone that was too young for Korea and too old for Vietnam, it was a privilege to meet and talk to and be accepted by these people.
I am now working on a website, where I hope to put a lot of the information and photos for all to see. Just have to workout how to do it.
Col Filtness

Larso: One at least is still going strong -

Ever wondered what it would be like to be in the turret and command a massive 55 ton Centurion Battle Tank? Here’s your chance to experience the Rolls Royce engine roaring into life before your skilled driver has the tank thunder over undulating terrain while you enjoy the action.
Firstly you will explore the interior of the tank and see how the four man crew used to operate. Only two passengers travel at a time with the driver/instructor. You’ll climb up into the turret then the massive machine sets off. The V12 petrol engine is the same type that powers the Spitfire and Mustang fighters. You will travel over a special course, up and down hills and over undulating terrain.
Venue:
Mornington Peninsula, Victoria.
Valid For:
1 person
Guidelines:
You must be able to climb into the turret.
Numbers:
There are only 2 passengers in the tank at any one time.
Weather:
This experience may be cancelled in heavy, continuous rain conditions and will be rescheduled at a later date.
Session Length:
The session will last approx 20 min, which includes a vehicle familiarisation and history.
Extra Info:
Please booked around 3 to 4 weeks in advance of preferred date.
This experience voucher is valid for six months from date of purchase.

Price: $125

_________________
Formerly of 2/14th Light Horse
Back to top
View user's profile
Shadow_Banshee
Power User

Offline Offline
Joined: Feb 03, 2005
Posts: 575

PostPosted: Fri Apr 13, 2007 4:22 pm
Post subject: Re: Old Centurions in a field?

members.tripod.com/bat...ank_page_1

_________________
Lay me place and bake me Pie
I'm starving for me Gravy
Back to top
View user's profile
Larso
Power User

Offline Offline
Joined: Apr 09, 2007
Posts: 9

PostPosted: Mon Apr 16, 2007 6:39 am
Post subject: Re: Old Centurions in a field?

Mr Fitness has written back to me and there are still a few Centurions still there -

Hi John, Just about all are now gone. I believe there are about 7 left and the going price last time I spoke with the owner was $50000 each.
There is one for sale at Cowra for $35000 with a lot of spare parts. This is owned by an ex RAEME mechanic and is in very good order and runs well. Has a tooth missing off the rhs final drive but hje has a complete reconditioned final drive in his shed for it. The guy, Bruce Holt is a nice fellow and his price is the best available at the moment and I feel it will also best in the future. There have not been many available in the last 12 months and a sale at Dandenong museum blew the price right over the top. Hope this is some help to you. You may wish to see my site on Centurions, if so the address is below and I also have 4 CD's for sale. Regards Col

Col Filtness www.centurion-mbt.com

_________________
Formerly of 2/14th Light Horse
Back to top
View user's profile
Display posts from previous:   
Post new topic    Reply to topic    Printer Friendly Page    Forum Index ›  AFV News Discussion Board
Page 1 of 1
All times are GMT - 6 Hours



Jump to:  


You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum
You cannot attach files in this forum
You cannot download files in this forum