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Mark_Jones · ***Power User*** Offline Joined: Jan 24, 2006 Posts: 5

I have found plenty of references to Singapore's fleet of Centurions, but no pictures.

Has anyone seen a picture of a Singapore Army Centurion MBT?

Cheers

Mark

armyjunk2 · ***Power User*** Offline Joined: Sep 22, 2006 Posts: 1416

Here is the only tank I saw in Singapore

Jens_O_Mehner · Posted: Wed Sep 26, 2007 8:38 pm Post subject: Re: Singapore Centurion question

That's a Comet, but nice nonetheless- and in British markings, too.

Somehow I find it hard to believe that Singapore should have Centurions when Indonesia had just AMX-13s untilt they went wild recently and bought Leopards... What are your references, Mark?

oldertop · ***Power User*** Offline Joined: Oct 20, 2006 Posts: 76

Oh I don't know, the Australians bought Centurions from Hong Kong to replace loses in Nam, so why shouldn't Singapore have them as a former member of the UK.

palic · ***Power User*** Offline Joined: Mar 03, 2006 Posts: 172

To armyjunk2: are you sure the pics of this A34 Comet were taken in Singapore? I believe this tank is a part of exhibition in Hong Kong Museum of Costal Defence. Wink

Jens_O_Mehner · Posted: Thu Sep 27, 2007 7:33 am Post subject: Re: Singapore Centurion question

- oldertop

Oh I don't know, the Australians bought Centurions from Hong Kong to replace loses in Nam, so why shouldn't Singapore have them as a former member of the UK.

Actually, the would have bought them from the UK via Hong Kong, as it was still British back then- as opposed to Singapore, which left the UK in 1963.

Just checked with a few of my contacts, and whaddaya know, Singapore actually does have Centurions, which have been modernized by an undisclosed company and now are known as the Tempest, which has never been shown to the public (kinda explains why there are no pictures). Due to the topography of Singapore, they are only fit for use in certain areas, otherwise they'd be too heavy.

And I goofed, it was Singapore that recently purchased Leopard 2A4s, although not yet in a quantity to replace the Tempests. It was also them still operating the AMX-13, modernized as the SM1 and, though dated, still well adapted for large areas of Singapore.

oldertop · ***Power User*** Offline Joined: Oct 20, 2006 Posts: 76

Yes the records show they were bought from "UK Hong Kong" in 1972 as well as as some New Zealand vehicles in 1968.

bsmart · Posted: Thu Sep 27, 2007 5:26 pm Post subject: Re: Singapore Centurion question

- Jens_O_Mehner

, still well adapted for large areas of Singapore.

Isn't 'large areas of Singapore' somewhat of an oxymoron?

The whole country is less than 700 sq km (about 3.5 times the size of Washington DC). Large isn't a term I would normally associate with Singapore (at least in geographic size)

armyjunk2 · ***Power User*** Offline Joined: Sep 22, 2006 Posts: 1416

Hong Kong it is, sorry about that and thank you for the correction

Jens_O_Mehner · Posted: Thu Sep 27, 2007 6:27 pm Post subject: Re: Singapore Centurion question

- bsmart

Isn't 'large areas of Singapore' somewhat of an oxymoron?

The whole country is less than 700 sq km (about 3.5 times the size of Washington DC). Large isn't a term I would normally associate with Singapore (at least in geographic size)

Depends, if you want to hike around the border, be my guest- should I pace you with an ute or just have refreshments available at strategic locations? Mr. Green

Actually, I have 704 sq km for Singapore, but that does not amount to much in this context... Still, apparently a great percentage (that better?) of this territory is not tank-friendly, especially for the big players. Me, I'd close the causeways and beef up my coastal defences, I hear they have a pretty good indigenous ATGW. Cool

Jim_Coles · ***Power User*** Offline Joined: Jan 24, 2006 Posts: 56

- Jens_O_Mehner

Actually, I have 704 sq km for Singapore, but that does not amount to much in this context...

Probably 708 sq km by now, at the rate they keep adding landfill! (I have read that Indonesia no longer allows sand exports to Singapore, now, as they resent Indonesian soil being used to expand Singapore's territory.)

bsmart · Posted: Thu Oct 04, 2007 10:00 am Post subject: Re: Singapore Centurion question

Well I got my figure from

www.cia.gov/library/pu...-factbook/

Which is probably a little behind the times (It says it is the 2007 edition but it probably takes at least several months to compile)

ossie · ***Power User*** Offline Joined: Aug 20, 2006 Posts: 81

hi all
Am very interested in Tempest, I know they exist but where I do not know, I even know there configuration of the tank.
Are there any pictures of these tanks? Ossie

Scott_Taylor · Posted: Tue Oct 09, 2007 1:03 pm Post subject: Re: Singapore Centurion question

Okay, a bit off-topic, but doesn't that Comet gun barrel look a bit longer than normal? If that a full 17 pdr. instead of a 77mm.?

Cheers,

Scott

palic · ***Power User*** Offline Joined: Mar 03, 2006 Posts: 172

To Scott Taylor: Bullseye Mr. Green

Definitely it is not original 77 mm - have a look at more detailed picture main armament aperture of the same Comet in Hong Kong from primeportal (hope they allow direct links to their pics): data3.primeportal.net/...of_211.jpg

And there is original 77 mm barrel (pic from the same source mentioned above):
data.primeportal.net/t..._of_93.JPG

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