NationStates Jolt Archive

I always believed that the best Allied tank of the second world war was the Russian T-34 after it received its gun upgrade. However, After watching a TV programme with numerous historians from multiple nationalities, they seem to conclude that the British Centurion was the best Allied Tank of the second world war, continuing to serve well against Soviet era tanks in Vietnam with the Aussies, and with the Israelis up until the early 1970's. Plus the tank forms the basis of most modern western tank designs.

Now, I have no qualms with any of the above, in fact I agree with that.

EXCEPT for 1 point.

I was led to believe previously that the Centurion Tank was introduced into British service just after the Second World War, therefore not taking part in that particular conflict. Can anyone verify this point?

Was it, or wasn't it, involved in WW2

it was designed in WWII but never saw combat however thats not to say it wasn't on the assembly line and thus not a WWII weapon

Centurion was a post-WWII weapon, it wasn't even built in the end of WWII. And it was designed when WWII was already won.

Centurion was a post-WWII weapon, it wasn't even built in the end of WWII. And it was designed when WWII was already won.

I have to disagree with that, it was designed in 1943 to counter the German 88mm gun threat.

However, I'm looking for a service date.

The design went through 1944 and was completed (designed) in 1945. In 1943 it was just some requirements formulated.