Description
The Centaur IV was a British cruiser tank, a variant of the Cromwell tank design, that was developed during World War II. While many of the Centaur tanks were used for training or converted into the more reliable Cromwell, the Centaur IV was a specialized version that saw combat service.
The defining feature of the Centaur IV was its main armament: a 95 mm howitzer. This gun was specifically designed for close support of infantry, firing high-explosive shells to destroy enemy strongpoints, machine-gun nests, and other fortifications. This role was distinct from the anti-tank role of most other tanks, which were equipped with high-velocity guns.
The Centaur IV saw its most significant combat action during the D-Day landings in June 1944. A unit known as the Royal Marines Armoured Support Group used a number of these tanks to provide fire support for the infantry on the beaches. They were initially intended to fire from their landing craft, but the engines were re-installed to allow the tanks to advance inland. Their heavy-hitting howitzer proved to be a valuable asset during the initial push into Normandy.
Set consists of 15 fine metal 1:600th/3mm scale miniatures.
Producer: ‘Oddział Ósmy’ sc Marcin Kaźmierczak i Tomasz Kołuda, ul. Piotrkowska 107, 90-425 Łódź, Poland
