Com-Central.net

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

Here is the only tank I saw in Singapore

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?

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.

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.

- 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.

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

- 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)

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

- 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?

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.

- 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.)

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)

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

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

To Scott Taylor: Bullseye 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