I have just increased my information regarding the actual Centurions used in Berlin as I have been kindly given more registration numbers and names.
03 BA 33. DIDO. (also registration number 00 ZR 75).
02 BA 46. DIEHARD. (also number 05 BA 45)
04 BA 13. DIGNITY.
02 BA 21. DISTAIN.
12 BA 08. DISCOVERER.
09 BB 33, DUCHESS.
03 BA 44....name unknown at this time.
02 BA 54. DEFENDER.
It would appear that some tanks were "rotated" and is why the same name has been used on different registration tanks. Maybe the crew liked to keep the same name on any replacement tank that was issued to them and so they were re-christened with the same name that their previous tank carried?
Any more contributions to this thread would be very much appreciated as I would still like to be able to identify any other Centurions that were stationed in Berlin.
I would also like to find out how many Centurions were actually in Berlin - how many were in the squadron (including reserves ?).
Last edited by zooma on Mon Oct 14, 2024 12:11 pm, edited 9 times in total.
Zooma, et al.: I have been following this thread all along. I just bought a few more Centurion books, especially because of the interesting presence of these AFVs in post-war Berlin. I, too, am eager to learn more.
My Sept 16th submission has just been updated to give us a total of 5 Olive Drab painted Berlin NAMED Centurion tanks, and has identified a total of 8 Olive Drab painted Berlin Centurion tank registration numbers - two of which were thought to be replacements for DIDO and DIEHARD and one tank 03 BA 44 that has no name allocated to it (yet?).
What I still don't know is how many Centurion tanks were in this "C" squadron 4RTR.
There is also the possibility that some of these "C" squadron 4RTR tanks were never actually given a name?
Maybe someone remembers a NAME but cannot remember the registration number - this could still be helpful as more small nuggets of information become available they can be pieced together (I will keep up-dating the September 16th submission) to give us the full head count.
You never know- maybe there is some more information about this small group of tanks lurking in the pages of those new Centurion books you have just purchased?
I am really grateful for those that have given me any help with this project to help me identify and catalogue the Centurion tanks that were painted in Olive Drab and served in "C" squadron 4RTR in Berlin.
Bob.
Last edited by zooma on Mon Sep 23, 2024 6:46 pm, edited 5 times in total.
I have been advised that there were x4 troops of 4 Centurions in each squadron in Berlin - plus 2 SHQ Centurions.
That’s a total of 18 Centurion tanks - so it is looking like there are a lot more names and registration numbers than the ones that I have found so far.
I think I have found a picture of another named Centurion tank that may have also served in "C" squadron 4RTR when they were based in Berlin:-
09 BB 33. DUCHESS.
This will be added to the September 16th submission on here, and hopefully someone will be able to confirm that this tank was present in Berlin at that time......and hopefully remember the names and/or numbers of some others......
I note that all the other registration numbers have the BA letters in their registration - this one is the first that I had found with the BB registration.
Does this indicate a newer registration tank?
As far as I have been able to determine, all "C" squadron 4RTR Centurions that were in Berlin at this time were Mk5s. As far as I know none of them were Mk3's.
Another Berlin based tank name has been found "DEFENDER".
I have not been able to find a number for this tank.....but as always - if anyone can help with any information to help add any numbers or names of Centurions based in Berlin, it would be appreciated.
I have added this the the September 16th log.
UPDATE:- Number is 02 BA 54. DEFENDER
Attachments
Defender 02 BA ..
6ECE962E-2068-4827-BFA8-BE573CB1E9A5.jpeg (126.26 KiB) Viewed 1195 times
I have made contact with Rad Schuhart and I am gathering some information to send him so he can make a set of spray masks for me so I can apply the markings to my HAYA Centurion KIT and my Tonge Centurion.
Both tanks have been painted in Tamiya Olive Drab and will be given names and registration numbers for two C Squadron, 4 Royal Tank Regiment, Berlin Brigade Centurions.
Meter rat wrote: ↑Sun Sep 01, 2024 11:19 am
Find some pictures of the model you wish to replicate, and send a picture with some details of the size you wish to Rad on here. Sizes, can be measured from the original model decals, and es mated from pictures. Rad is able to reproduce some quite detailed, and delicate stencils (spray masks). They are excellent quality, shipped fast, and not expensive.
Sorry it has taken me so long to make contact with you Rad, but once I get the masks made for the Berlin Brigade Centurions, I will check back again to see about getting some masks made for my Chieftains.
