Centaur | Tank Chats

Join David Willey as he tells the complex story of how the Centaur and its sister vehicles were developed when the need for a new cruiser tank emerged.
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00:00 | Intro
00:23 | Requirements for a New Tank
07:35 | Development
19:32 | Testing & Production
30:47 | This Vehicle
#tankmuseum #Centaur #CruiserTanks

[@thetankmuseum]

Hi Tank Nuts! It's a complex story, but we hope you enjoyed it. Let us know what you think of this Tank Chat in the comments below.

[@jonny_codphilo7809]

we always do you lovely bunch thanks for the history the stories and the context you lot give us cheers

[@john_in_phoenix]

British tank development is anything but straightforward.

[@ezzler]

Why was the Besa the preferred British machine gun for armour?

[@DrDezaro]

I think these conversion delays is part of the worry for the builders. Retooling takes time and might’ve caused a tank shortage on the front line. It’s not always as simple as saying that the decision was made by the wrong person etc. Simplifying it in this way sounds like the autobiography of a butt-hurt tank designer/engineer.

[@larrybarger1077]

Tank you , tank you all so much for the great videos !

[@historiaprotempore938]

Im overjoyed to see mr. Willey back, he needs to appear more often

[@abaialsa712]

He voted brexit mind you

[@historiaprotempore938]

@@abaialsa712 He may have been misled by pro-brexit politicians, who literally promised the world. Either way, he will always be a great presenter.

[@jakobquick6875]

@@abaialsa712who’s caring politics? I care @bout -great presenter and human who makes me a mini history buff Thanks for such quality ❤ tank chats ❤

[@chuckh5999]

@@abaialsa712 he obviously is smart and dressed in those desert cam's he knows what to do.

[@Chris-dz3rs]

Who cares about his politics? He's quite good.

[@HandFromCoffin]

FYI, Mr. Willey you do a great job presenting these tanks and are a great asset to documenting history and the museum.

[@jona.scholt4362]

Anyone else just love the look of the Centaur/Cromwell? There's just something about the boxy shape and giant rivets on the turret that make it appealing.

[@maxine2798]

Yes. Funnily enough it makes it look more like the water tank they were named after

[@AFV85]

Yeah same and when the comet came along it's still one my favourites but I love the crusader mk3 most just an amazing looking vehicle to me

[@ptonpc]

Another example of infrastructure and logistics being really important.

[@jonny_codphilo7809]

yup all well and good if you have a skilled crew but nothing to sit in

[@stanislavczebinski994]

Amateurs talk tactics - professionals talk logistics. Or, in other words - having a mediocre tank is better than not having a perfect tank. More precise - 100 mediocre units are better than 20 perfect ones. As can be seen in Ukraine today. An APC like M113 with it's little protection on the battlefield is by far better than a civilian pick-up - or walking.

[@aussiviking604]

​@stanislavczebinski994 The old m113 is doing Sterling work,as casualty clearance apc, and battle field taxi.

[@LazySillyDog]

I'd love it, but it'd put my wife to sleep 🤣

[@stanislavczebinski994]

@@aussiviking604 Yes it is. My point is: It was deemed completely unsuitable by a whole bunch of "experts". Too cramped inside, armor too weak etc.. In the German army it is known as "Panzer-Bremsklotz" - tank anti-rollaway chock. Biggest weak point IMO - mine protection. An anti-tank mine blows it to smithereens. If it is used keeping those limitations in mind it is quite good. Small, very mobile and light with shrapnel and small arms protection.

[@exharkhun5605]

Yay! It's mr. Willey again! Chris Copson does great and last week's show with him and Dag Patchett was one of the best and most informative shows ever, but sometimes you just need the old Waterfall-of-Words that is David Willey. Please bring back Dag Patchett again. He can do a "Top 5 tanks and why the T-72 is all 5" or something more serious. He was great.

[@terraflow__bryanburdo4547]

A very pleasing waterfall at that....

[@nightshiftrider819]

Does David do birthday parties?

[@HandFromCoffin]

I'm sure if you contact the museum with a proper sized donation they would be willing to speak with you in private. :)

[@martinjrgensen8234]

Cake, coffee and a 2 hour talk about track lubricants. Perfection

[@jonny_codphilo7809]

yes he turns up dressed in a little tank outfit but he dosent do any talks as he is very busy with a cigar to provide realistic exhaust effects at the end of the night he fires his main gun and falls asleep on the buffet table

[@Franz_giblet]

@@jonny_codphilo7809weird AF bro

[@polygondwanaland8390]

​@Super_sore_scrotum thank you for your input Mr Scrotum

[@c.j.zographos3713]

It's great to see David back.

[@maxpayne2574]

Having a gun that can fire AT and HE rounds is critical. Tanks and infantry do need to work together to achieve the break out. Many people seem to think it's all about tank vs tank.

[@denisrobertmay875]

In 1930s machine guns were considered to be adequate weapon against unarmoured targets, indeed they were the only armament for many tanks, others had low velocity close support weapons. The Vickers Medium and 6 ton(T26 in Russia*)was armed with a QF 3 pounder(47mm) considered obsolete before the start of the conflict. In the Spanish Civil War the majority of Germans and Italian Tanks were MG armed. *T26 was fitted with 45mm 20k gun.

[@davidbarr9343]

Excellent presentation of the history of the Centaur. Well done.👏😊

[@guillaumepare9651]

The quality of the commentary is excellent.

[@andymoody8363]

Great video from David, who else couild explian such a complicated and tortuous development history so clearly and eloquently? First class, as the team at the Tank Museum always are.

[@andrewbarratt8551]

Thanks David - good to have the maesto back again - your colleagues are good but your presentations are exceptional

[@DrivermanO]

Nuffield was a nightmare. He also had an adverse effect on early Spitfire production! His way or no way, I think!

[@Ian-mj4pt]

Ego like Johnson 😅

[@francis400]

The tank museum is fortunate in having a bevy of engaging communicators.

[@stevenbrown8857]

It's fabulous to see David again, Chris is also fab. Just enjoy seeing both presenters 😊

[@eugenemurray2940]

These 'C' tanks are my fav WWII Brit tanks Loved seeing one in Band of Brothers And featuring in 'commando' comic book opening fire in rain at night on a hillside road! Christie suspension, speed, later model Cromwells with a decent cannon, lower silhouette than Sherman! What's not to love!

[@NorthernMouse52]

I imagine seeing a ww2 era British tank opening fire at night in the rain is something that could never be forgotten! 😁

[@eugenemurray2940]

@@NorthernMouse52 Yep! Cromwells in the rain

[@davidpowell7614]

Excellent account - enough information and history to spawn hours of further research. Fascinating development. Thank you.

[@michaelamos4651]

The more complicated the story gets the more i enjoy listening to David

[@warrenduplessis]

Yay! One of the Davids is back!

[@KeithJohnson.]

First class presentation in all respects. The Tank Museum and David are nothing short of national treasures 🇬🇧🤗

[@rob5944]

I learnt a lot about the convoluted affair which was British tank design, David's talk explained a great deal.

[@PaulAJohnston1963]

Interesting to hear about all the quality control issues, something we don't often get told about. Keep up the great work!

[@stuartpeacock8257]

Fantastic explanation of a complex family history of British tanks little known to many

[@neverknowngregory]

I was lucky enough to meet the man 2 weeks ago, he is this great!!

[@ROBERTN-ut2il]

The 95mm Centaurs belonged to the Royal Marine Armored Support Group and were named for Royal Naval ships that had been lost in combat. Centaur "Hunter" at about 28-30 was named for the destroyer HMS Hunter. At about 28-35 is shown a Cetaur towing extra ammunition in a Porpoise Sledge. The Centaurs were not supposed to leave the beach, but stay and return to England , but when the infantry they were supporting got off the beaches, the Centaurs followed them to continue their support. It took weeks to round them up and some were considerably inland when they were found. Eventually the 95mm Centaurs were passed on to the French.

[@jackgraves5121]

Thank you. Did the French actually put the 95mm to use?

[@chost-059]

Maybe do a video on the A33 Excelsior? Obese cousin of the crommy

[@castintime6245]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/aKjCoZ17j82jsNE

[@julmdamaslefttoe3559]

lets not forget M61 for the M3 cannon now being able to use on the QF 75mm so while penetrating less, it now had a explosive AT Round.

[@duke0salt717]

Bruh the Cromwell would be great in WT if it had some he filler

[@julmdamaslefttoe3559]

@@duke0salt717 pretty sure they do have a variant with the QF 75mm in WT

[@stc3145]

@@julmdamaslefttoe3559It only have solid shot

[@iftikarrot8034]

@@duke0salt717 it would probably go up in BR if it were given aphe

[@66kbm]

As much as i like and respect the way Chris Copson is presenting new videos within the Tank Museum......One cannot beat an old timer such as David Willey to appear once in a while. I am hoping, not holding my breath as if Mr David Fletcher did a similar chat? Here we go..Leyland Engines causing a problem.....Sounds like the 1970/80 in BAOR, L60.

[@slowhand1198]

Splendid dive into Cruiser history, with all the furry details. Thanks!

[@gusgone4527]

A good video explaining some of the issues with British tank production. Problems that will once again haunt us when time comes to build more of them for the army. We have no MBT production left in GB. If you thought Ajax was a farse, just wait until it's MBT time.

[@michellepeoplelikeyoumurde8373]

Tanks are finished ---- DRONES RULE !!!@@

[@gusgone4527]

@@michellepeoplelikeyoumurde8373 Drone countermeasures rule!

[@neilwilson5785]

This more detailed content is what we like. Thanks for this one.

[@AWMJoeyjoejoe]

Nice one. Now whenever anyone mentions the Cromwell on band of brothers i can correct them and tell them it was a Centaur. 😂

[@rallyejoe]

I am very pleased you made this video because I recently saw an excellent restored centaur 6 pounder gun tank in Poznan Poland. It is well worth visiting Muzeum Broni Pancernej. The tank was used as a training tank like you mentioned and the one I saw came to the museum from Portugal.

[@0007Nowy]

Major General Stanisław Maczek rides in this tank in a campaign in Denmark. Hi,s berried with the own soldiers in town Breda... He was 102 years when he was berried. Polish pride of Polish art of war!😍😍😍😍😍😍😍

[@DrLoverLover]

what kind of berries

[@blxtothis]

On a tangent, had there been an autocratic Nuffield type around when BMC was in it’s decline and BL was formed, we’d all be driving Austin, Morris, MG, Wolsesly and Rileys. In an ideal world that might seem to be a good idea, not so sure on reflection!

[@webtoedman]

When I was a little boy, I met the manager of MG at Abingdon. He was a very nice man and gave me a badge!

[@evanmorris1178]

I think they’d all have Lucas electrical harness, riiiight…. So no, not ideal. Hail the Lords of Darkness!

[@erikpetto3672]

At 16:7, I was struck by nostalgia by the name David Fletcher. I miss him. Mr Willey is great in every way, but he doesn't have that "it was a bit rubbish really" britishness that mr Fletcher provided. After I'm done with this video, I'll go back to the early tank chats.

[@stewartellinson8846]

Excellent as ever - clearly describing some very complex evolution. I wonder if there's a diagram anaywhere showing British cruiser tank evolution? It might make a nice poster in a "rock family trees" style...

[@davidellis1355]

I've been waiting for this video for years and I wasn't disappointed ❤

[@sangomasmith]

It's a pity - the Cromwell (or, at least, a version of it coming out of the 1941 cavalier development cycle) would have been a great tank in 1942, and adequate in 1943. By 1944 it was already well past its sell-by date, and by 1945 was fully obsolescent. Definitely a result of lack of focus, lack of experience and lack of funding. Interestingly; the comment that the army got third pick at the budget was true of the other major powers in the war as well. The United States, Japan and Germany all put much more money and resources into their air forces and navies than their armies got. This is why tank design in WW2 seems to be a decade behind the sort of gee-whizz cutting-edge stuff that the aviation sector was producing. This shouldn't be confused for a mis-allocation of resources, by the way - an obsolete tank can still perform a useful battlefield role (witness designs from the 1920s and 1930s soldiering on in secondary fronts), but an obsolete aircraft is near-worthless. And navies are more or less sunk costs with enormous time horizons - your fighting capacity today is dependent on budgetary decisions from 10 years ago.

[@emberfist8347]

You forget the best part about Christie. He was race car driver by trade. Also I feel the reason it took long to the 6-pounder into production is worth noting. Short version they left so many 2-pounders in France for the Germans that they decided to replace with the 2-pounders they had the tooling for and not worrying about retraining people on the 6-pounder yet.

[@andybrown9427]

Always a pleasure, cheers David.

[@pegjames188]

An old boss of mine was a WW2 tank driver in the western desert, he had no sense of smell it was destroyed by , as he was medically informed, by the fumes from the engine plus the constant dust.

[@moodogco]

Thanks tank museum, your content gets better with every episode & is truly very good so great work & have enjoyed it since the beginning & will continue watching!!! 👍👏

[@zulubeatz1]

One of the most expansive and interesting tank videos I have ever seen. The research & presentation is truly top-notch. Well done to all involved.

[@johnfisk811]

Thank you for this. I suggest that one does not refer to the QF75mm gun as having a ‘bored out’ 6 Pounder barrel. They were new made with the 75mm bore from the start and not existing 57mm 6 Pounder barrels literally bored out.

[@WozWozEre]

That's interesting, the 'bored out' explanation is endemic.

[@ROBERTN-ut2il]

@@WozWozEre The design is a bored out 6 pounder

[@tomsmith2209]

Excellent presentation, thanks.

[@rosied6351]

Fabulous to see David ❤😊

[@colinw732]

I found this video to be very interesting and informative. The explanations of the different tanks and how they evolved was clearly explained. Thank you.

[@johnlant1730]

I've missed David Willey. Good to see you mate!

[@Gorbyrev]

What a gifted teacher.

[@Janus2407]

fantastic video. Thanks for all the backstory

[@derekdee9592]

Good to see David Willey back in front of the camera good explanation !

[@PatGilliland]

Still working on the western side of the pond but very much looking forward to watching this over lunch.

[@michaelguerin56]

Excellent video. Thank you.

[@nl-oc9ew]

I love it. Somehow, David always manages to bring the story back to the 1920's.

[@johnfrench1239]

Excellent as ever. Top 5 tank museum presenters …. And at number 1 …. David for style of delivery and content

[@MrKeys57]

Thankyou so much for this detailed presentation, most interesting, i am very much interested in www2 history - my father participated for Finland in the winterwar 1939-40 and was wounded but made it, greets, Levi

[@extragoogleaccount6061]

Hell yea! And welcome to NATO!

[@shimi_raikkonen]

Thanks!

[@wolfmauler]

That's funny, I was just searching around to see if you'd ever covered this phase of the Cromwell development! Great timing 👍🍻

[@petesheppard1709]

Thank you for a very enlightening video!

[@patrickcloutier6801]

The Centaurs, Cromwells, and Comets all look like smart British designs.

[@mattw785]

Nice to see you back Mr. Wiley!

[@mattw785]

Reply to my comment.. This is wicked lengthy and thorough. Very enjoyable!

[@bobthebomb1596]

Superb presentation.

[@stevethomas4310]

Great video as always, and many thanks for your high class output. It would be good to have a video on the 6lb to 75mm conversion with more detail as to why the armour piercing element was adversely affected.

[@johngreally9599]

Outstanding talk.

[@keithwaller4545]

Excellent video love the British tank stuff all detailed 👍

[@larryfontenot9018]

Walter Christie. A great example of a brilliant fool. He invented a suspension system that did what torsion bars do. But he made it so that it took up a great deal of valuable internal space and had a weight limit on what it could carry. If he'd mounted the system on the outside so that it didn't use up space, could be easily worked on and so that more powerful springs could be used, it might have had a future. As it was, even the Russians knew that it was a technological dead end even before the war started. They had planned to redesign the T-34 to eliminate it, but then Operation Barbarossa happened and they needed adequate tanks right then instead of better tanks later. So the Christie suspension got an extension to its service life in Russia that was unplanned and frankly undeserved.

[@ianjeffery4730]

Fantastic tank chat

[@pirated8557]

Fascinating 👍🏼

[@DanBray1991]

Great video! Would love to see a video on the Charioteer!

[@s.marcus3669]

Besides all the above mentioned problems, I'm surprised that David didn't mention: "oh yeah, from the sides and especially from the front it looks just a little bit like a Panzer IV"....

[@jc-d6179]

Excellent treatment.

[@tonyjedioftheforest1364]

Excellent video thank you.

[@Grover91]

I'd love to see how fast that crusader was with the test meteor in it.😂

[@gm3801]

Very well explained. Well done sir.

[@Ian-mj4pt]

I think Nuffield had his pride hurt hence him not wanting the rolls royce engine in . Some connected figures were interfering in everything which caused so much death . Love watching these chats 😍

[@timf6916]

Nice Historical information.

[@ellielyons5581]

That’s an amazing story.

[@papaaaaaaa2625]

Thanks for your Videos and your work! Especially for those lesser known or recognized Tanks. Hope you will do a new Tank Chat for the Valentine, the existing is way to short for this vehicle and it's importants for UK/Allies. At least the most produced british tank (if I remember correctly!). Best wishes from Germany to Bovington!

[@JamesNeave1978]

Yes! SECOND!! There is _so little_ content on the Valentine! Lots on Matilda II, almost nothing on Valentine.

[@JamesNeave1978]

They boot over 8,000 of them, to the tune of at least 10 different "Marks" Cromwell only has a short 5 minute video too from the tank museum AFAIK.

[@Zorglub1966]

Excellent suggestion.👍

[@fonkyman]

at 35 mins these are becoming like mini docus.... i like

[@lzappa9109]

10/10, every time.

[@parallel-knight]

This is probably one of my favourite ww2 British tank. Just looks so cool.

[@chrisc9421]

Great video 👍

[@mig1739]

Wonderful video as usual!

[@royeastland-drawing5505]

Excellent. Really interesting.

[@neilcoligan8621]

It's gobsmacking to see how the British tank industry is almost bespoke in its approach to wartime demand. No wonder the ministry took on so many Shermans. Also, thanks for that amazing story of how Merlin engines were adapted for tank use.

[@waynemayo1661]

All the Tank Museum presenters are great--Chris' technical insight, operational experience and calm presentation are excellent. David Fletcher''s knowledge is encyclopedic and his wry "But there is is" comments are missed. But, Willey is somehow "greater"; glad to see him again. But, the convoluted backstory about Centaur indeed illustrated some of the personality issues in British tank (and not just tanks) designs and production.

[@dannyzero692]

I love how the turret is literally just a box bolted together.

[@filibertkraxner305]

I learned a lot! Very interesting tank chat indeed!

[@jasonz7788]

Great work 👍

[@chris_hisss]

Awesome! I learned a lot here! I was suprised the tank destroyer programs weren't mentioned with this, not sure when they come up on those hulls.

[@famalam943]

I was always under the impression that the centaur was the AA variant of the Cromwell

[@tinman3586]

Me too. It also cost 100 fuel and 300 manpower after teching to company command post.

[@famalam943]

@@tinman3586 lol exactly

[@robertwalker7457]

Very interesting thankyou.

[@Demun1649]

Having read "Death By Design", by Peter Beale, who had been a tank commander during WW2, I just don't accept that those people responsible for tanks, in Britain, were actually capable of THINKING. Peter Beale was scathing about the whole process, the stagnation in gun armaments, the constant re-organisations of committees, design offices, and MPs responsible for the Aye, Nay, decisions. Thought was not a prerequisite for tank production during WW2, it took until the Centurion to get a tank that could do the damage, and take damage, to be an equal to the Nazis. Even Montgomery, not known for his presence at the front during combat, was opposed to any new tanks.

[@oldschooldude8370]

An absolute magnet for penetrating shells.

[@joesnow34]

Any chance of a one on one tank quiz between DW and the Chieftain?

[@g8ymw]

I don't know about 1940 but in the 1950s - early 60s, The Birmingham Rail and Carriage Works(?) were part of the BSA group

[@fergusfitzgerald977]

I'm always amazed when I see the square armour on these tanks ! They must know at this stage of the war the effectiveness of sloped armour !

[@ROBERTN-ut2il]

Of course they did - you need to PAY ATTENTION. It was chosen so it would be easy for inexperienced sub contractors could produce it. Having a tank with a square turret is better than no tank at all

[@fergusfitzgerald977]

@@ROBERTN-ut2il Apparently members of the British Desert Rats when presented with these their new tanks for the Italian campaign made exactly the same criticism I have just made !! Kinda think their opinions merit some serious consideration !

[@ROBERTN-ut2il]

@@fergusfitzgerald977 Do you comprehend English? I told you WHY it was done. What the troops thought was irrelevant - the decision was made years before

[@fergusfitzgerald977]

@@ROBERTN-ut2il What's my opinion and that of the desert rats /who were almost at the point of refusing to use these tanks - against such a knowledgeable chap like your good self ! Yes I do understand the English language and some other's as well !

[@jaydibernardo4320]

Well explained although now I know why the British automotive manufacturing went kaput. 😊