Another addition to the eclectic mix of Egyptian armour for 1967.
As indicated in a previous post, the Egyptians had about 29-30 Mk 1 and Mk2 Centurions with the 17pdr gun. Unsubstantiated sources give Mk3 as well.
The most likely recipient was the 6th Division; often listed as "Mechanised" I think this is due to confusion with the 6th Mechanised Brigade. Arabic military formation terms are notoriously imprecise with the same word being used for different sized formations. The CIA report for 1967 lists the 6th Division as infantry, as do some of the earlier sources.
In any case, IDF tankers from Yoffe's Ugdah came across abandoned Centurions from an unidentified unit which were incorporated after modification in the IDF.
The model is something of a "Frankenstein creation" the upper hull and turret are from a Roco Minitanks Centurion, the turret had half the stowage bins removed so a Roco German Ostwind turret was cut up to provide replacement parts. The lower hull and tracks are from a Roco Chieftain . The gun and mantlet were donated by a Zylmex diecast Centurion with a muzzle break from an Airfix Panzer IV. Various bits of scrap and spares were used for turret hatch and smoke dischargers. The turret was lowered.
This is great, you are clearly having lots of fun! If and when used on the table, I take it this will be in the Egyptian force, or will it be post-capture, Israeli?
ReplyDeleteDavid,
ReplyDeleteEgyptian. The IDF have plenty of Centurions.
Neil
Your series of conversion articles has reminded me that back in 1975 I built a number of 1:76th-scale Israeli Shermans. The running gear came from ROCO M-40 155mm SPGs and the bodies came from an Airfix Shermans. The turrets were modified by the addition of bustles made from laminated Plasticard that was filed into shape. Likewise the mantlets were made from laminated Plasticard. The barrels were made from lengths of plastic tubing, with muzzle brakes from Airfix Tigers.
ReplyDeleteAll the best,
Bob
Bob,
ReplyDeleteYour conversions sound fascinating. I don't suppose they have survived until today.
My original inspiration was an article in Military Modelling from around 1976 about conversions in 1:76 using available kits.
Neil
Neil,
ReplyDeleteMy conversion was based on an article in Airfix Magazine. I also converted a few half-tracks.
They got lost when I moved house many years ago … or they may have been lent to someone who never returned them.
All the best,
Bob