Difference between revisions of "Centurion Mk.5 AVRE"
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| + | {{About | ||
| + | |about= British medium tank '''{{PAGENAME}}''' | ||
| + | |usage= other variants | ||
| + | |link= Centurion (Family) | ||
| + | }} | ||
{{Specs-Card | {{Specs-Card | ||
| − | |code = uk_centurion_mk_5_avre_era | + | |code=uk_centurion_mk_5_avre_era |
| − | | | + | |images={{Specs-Card-Image|GarageImage_{{PAGENAME}}.jpg|StoreImage_{{PAGENAME}}_001.jpg|StoreImage_{{PAGENAME}}_002.jpg|StoreImage_{{PAGENAME}}_004.jpg}} |
}} | }} | ||
| − | |||
== Description == | == Description == | ||
| − | <!--''In the description, the first part | + | <!-- ''In the description, the first part should be about the history of the creation and combat usage of the vehicle, as well as its key features. In the second part, tell the reader about the ground vehicle in the game. Insert a screenshot of the vehicle, so that if the novice player does not remember the vehicle by name, he will immediately understand what kind of vehicle the article is talking about.'' --> |
| − | + | The Centurion Mk.5 Armoured Vehicle Royal Engineers was designed for clearing minefields using a Giant Viper towed mine-clearance system, destroying fortified positions with its 165 mm L9A1 demolition gun capable of firing 60 lb (29 kg) HESH rounds, and overall providing cover and safe working space for the engineers. The AVRE was also equipped with a dozer blade for clearing up debris. In preparation for Operation Desert Storm in 1991, Centurion AVREs were uparmoured and remained in service until replaced by the Chieftain AVRE and Trojan vehicles in service. | |
| − | + | ||
| − | The | + | Introduced in [[Update 1.79 "Project X"]] as a premium pack, the Centurion AVRE is one of the two vehicles utilizing the 165 mm L9A1 demolition gun (along with the American [[M728 CEV]]). The AVRE features standard Centurion series armour protection which is enhanced against chemical and kinetic rounds using ROMOR-A ERA plates on the turret and upper front plate of the hull. The ERA enhances protection against kinetic rounds by 30 mm and against chemical rounds by 300 mm. The AVRE performs much better in urban environments, as the very low muzzle velocity of the gun and quite poor mobility can cause issues on very large and open maps. |
| + | |||
| + | The Centurion Mk.5 AVRE was removed from purchase on the store after the [[wt:en/news/8677-shop-the-new-year-sale-in-the-gaijinnet-store-en|2023 New Year Sale]]. | ||
== General info == | == General info == | ||
=== Survivability and armour === | === Survivability and armour === | ||
| − | ''Describe armour protection. Note the most well protected and key weak areas. Appreciate the layout of modules as well as the number and location of crew members. Is the level of armour protection sufficient, is the placement of modules helpful for survival in combat?'' | + | {{Specs-Tank-Armour}} |
| + | <!-- ''Describe armour protection. Note the most well protected and key weak areas. Appreciate the layout of modules as well as the number and location of crew members. Is the level of armour protection sufficient, is the placement of modules helpful for survival in combat? If necessary use a visual template to indicate the most secure and weak zones of the armour.'' --> | ||
| − | '' | + | Overall, the armour on the AVRE is similar to that on the [[Centurion Mk 3|Centurion Mk 3]] gun tank with three major differences: ROMOR-A ERA, composite side skirts and a dozer blade. |
| + | |||
| + | The ERA provides additional protection (300 mm HEAT, 30 mm KE) on key areas of the tank, namely the turret face and upper glacis plate, but this has little impact against most opponents in RB, due to the majority of shells at rank IV being of the kinetic energy (KE) variety. In AB, it may protect against the light tanks, for example, it reduces the efficiency of the [[BMP-1]]'s main gun, which is also quite dangerous with aim assist when used as a follow-up for ATGMs. Unfortunately, the turret ERA will often fail to stop upgraded modern ATGMs with 700 mm of penetration. ERA also changes the visible profile of the turret, obscuring the weak points beneath the standard Centurion turret. | ||
| + | |||
| + | The composite side skirts provide a significant increase in protection against small calibre HEAT and autocannon fire, increasing it to the point where such rounds can no longer penetrate the side armour. They do not change the effect of medium tank rounds, as the additional protection simply isn't enough to stop them. They also do not cover the entirety of the sides, so they can be circumvented. | ||
| + | |||
| + | The dozer blade may seem unimportant at first glance as it consists of 70 mm of structural steel, not RHA, but this is not the case. The blade acts as spaced armour against most rounds aimed at the hull, adding around 60 mm against KE and 200 mm against HEAT. This can also be added to by the ERA on the front plate, overall providing greater than 400 mm of protection against HEAT rounds. | ||
| + | |||
| + | The dozer blade can also be used to easily create trenches with soft ground, which will initially conceal some of the hull and, with some time and effort given, completely shield it. It's also technically possible to dig walls and holes to force enemies to abandon their defences in order to pass through a corridor - not every tank can reverse back into a slope, and it is impossible to just peek around a corner, if every corner is also a trench; but such setups take a lot of time and it's impossible to dig into asphalt. | ||
| + | |||
| + | Overall, additions make the tank strong against tankers overzealously relying on HEAT and HEATFS to solve all of their problems. | ||
=== Mobility === | === Mobility === | ||
| − | ''Write about the mobility of the ground vehicle. Estimate the specific power and | + | {{Specs-Tank-Mobility}} |
| + | <!-- ''Write about the mobility of the ground vehicle. Estimate the specific power and manoeuvrability, as well as the maximum speed forwards and backwards.'' --> | ||
| + | |||
| + | {{tankMobility|abMinHp=1,007|rbMinHp=575}} | ||
| + | |||
| + | === Modifications and economy === | ||
| + | {{Specs-Economy}} | ||
== Armaments == | == Armaments == | ||
| + | {{Specs-Tank-Armaments}} | ||
=== Main armament === | === Main armament === | ||
| − | <!--''Give the reader information about the characteristics of the main gun. Assess its effectiveness in a battle based on the reloading speed, ballistics and the power of shells. Do not forget about the flexibility of the fire, that is how quickly the cannon can be aimed at the target, open fire on it and aim at another enemy. Add a link to the main article on the gun: <code><nowiki>{{main|Name of the weapon}}</nowiki></code>. Describe in general terms the ammunition available for the main gun. Give advice on how to use them and how to fill the ammunition storage.''--> | + | {{Specs-Tank-Weapon|1}} |
| − | {{main|ORD BL 6.5in L9A1 | + | <!-- ''Give the reader information about the characteristics of the main gun. Assess its effectiveness in a battle based on the reloading speed, ballistics and the power of shells. Do not forget about the flexibility of the fire, that is how quickly the cannon can be aimed at the target, open fire on it and aim at another enemy. Add a link to the main article on the gun: <code><nowiki>{{main|Name of the weapon}}</nowiki></code>. Describe in general terms the ammunition available for the main gun. Give advice on how to use them and how to fill the ammunition storage.'' --> |
| + | {{main|ORD BL 6.5in L9A1 (165 mm)}} | ||
| + | |||
| + | The main weapon is a howitzer loaded with HESH. The shells are launched with very low muzzle velocity, which makes them difficult to aim in RB, and to aim past 800 m user has to [[Optics#Work-around_methods_for_improper_zoom_levels_and_scopes|manually adjust the scope]], as otherwise it is impossible to see the target. | ||
| − | + | At close range the gun can be easily used to annihilate or severely cripple any tank. It is still recommended to aim at least for one second before firing, as HESH is only capable of penetrating one layer of armour, and will do no damage if it hits side skirts or some irrelevant add-ons on top of the hull. | |
| − | + | ||
| − | + | Although the gun is difficult to aim, the shells are launched upwards and therefore can be fired over hills straight into enemy roof. This, coupled with penetration statistics close to the [[FV4005]], make the AVRE near godlike in AB, as it is possible for this tank to bombard enemies straight in their cover, knowing where they are and the exact range towards them. | |
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| − | + | {| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="100%" | |
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|- | |- | ||
| − | | | + | ! colspan="5" | [[ORD BL 6.5in L9A1 (165 mm)|165 mm ORD BL 6.5in L9A1]] || colspan="5" | Turret rotation speed (°/s) || colspan="4" | Reloading rate (seconds) |
|- | |- | ||
| − | ! | + | ! Mode !! Capacity !! Vertical !! Horizontal !! Stabilizer |
| + | ! Stock !! Upgraded !! Full !! Expert !! Aced | ||
| + | ! Stock !! Full !! Expert !! Aced | ||
|- | |- | ||
| − | ! | + | ! ''Arcade'' |
| − | + | | rowspan="2" | 53 || rowspan="2" | -10°/+18° || rowspan="2" | ±180° || rowspan="2" | N/A ||19.0||26.4||32.0||35.4||37.6|| rowspan="2" |27.7|| rowspan="2" |24.5|| rowspan="2" |22.6|| rowspan="2" |21.3 | |
| − | |||
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|- | |- | ||
| − | | | + | ! ''Realistic'' |
| + | |11.9||14.0||17.0||18.8||20.0 | ||
|- | |- | ||
|} | |} | ||
| − | + | ==== Ammunition ==== | |
| − | {| | + | {{:ORD BL 6.5in L9A1 (165 mm)/Ammunition|L33A1}} |
| − | + | ||
| − | | | + | ==== [[Ammo racks]] ==== |
| − | ! | + | [[File:Ammoracks_{{PAGENAME}}.png|right|thumb|x250px|[[Ammo racks]] of the {{PAGENAME}}]] |
| − | + | <!-- '''Last updated: 1.101.0.44''' --> | |
| − | + | {| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" | |
|- | |- | ||
| − | ! | + | ! Full<br>ammo |
| − | ! | + | ! 1st<br>rack empty |
| − | ! | + | ! 2nd<br>rack empty |
| − | ! | + | ! 3rd<br>rack empty |
| − | ! | + | ! 4th<br>rack empty |
| − | ! | + | ! 5th<br>rack empty |
| + | ! Visual<br>discrepancy | ||
|- | |- | ||
| − | + | | '''53''' || 50 ''(+3)'' || 36 ''(+17)'' || 22 ''(+31)'' || 8 ''(+45)'' || 1 ''(+52)'' || No | |
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|} | |} | ||
| + | '''Notes''': | ||
| − | + | * Shells are modeled individually and disappear after having been shot or loaded. | |
| − | + | * Bottom racks 2 to 4 deplete from left to right. | |
| − | + | * Packing 22 ''(+31)'' shells (racks 1 to 3 emptied) is a good compromise to have enough shells in combat while minimizing the number of shells onboard. | |
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=== Machine guns === | === Machine guns === | ||
| − | <!--''Offensive and anti-aircraft machine guns not only allow you to fight some aircraft | + | {{Specs-Tank-Weapon|2}} |
| + | {{Specs-Tank-Weapon|3}} | ||
| + | <!-- ''Offensive and anti-aircraft machine guns not only allow you to fight some aircraft but also are effective against lightly armoured vehicles. Evaluate machine guns and give recommendations on its use.'' --> | ||
{{main|L3A1 (7.62 mm)}} | {{main|L3A1 (7.62 mm)}} | ||
| − | {| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" | + | {| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="50%" |
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|- | |- | ||
| − | ! colspan=" | + | ! colspan="5" | [[L3A1 (7.62 mm)|7.62 mm L3A1]] |
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|- | |- | ||
| − | + | ! Mount !! Capacity (Belt) !! Fire rate !! Vertical !! Horizontal | |
|- | |- | ||
| − | + | | Pintle || 1,250 (250) || 500 || -10°/+80° || ±180° | |
|- | |- | ||
| − | + | | Coaxial || 3,250 (250) || 500 || N/A || N/A | |
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|- | |- | ||
|} | |} | ||
== Usage in battles == | == Usage in battles == | ||
| − | ''Describe the tactics of playing in the vehicle, the features of using vehicles in the team and advice on tactics. Refrain from creating a "guide" - do not impose a single point of view but give the reader food for thought. Describe the most dangerous enemies and give recommendations on fighting them. If necessary, note the specifics of the game in different modes (AB, RB, SB).'' | + | <!-- ''Describe the tactics of playing in the vehicle, the features of using vehicles in the team and advice on tactics. Refrain from creating a "guide" - do not impose a single point of view but instead give the reader food for thought. Describe the most dangerous enemies and give recommendations on fighting them. If necessary, note the specifics of the game in different modes (AB, RB, SB).'' --> |
| + | |||
| + | The Centurion Mk.5 AVRE, despite the additional armour, is still essentially a Centurion in terms of survivability and mobility. The tank must be driven carefully to take full advantage of the environment and avoid being shot until it is able to close in to the enemy and take full advantage of its 165 mm gun. Its relatively low speed for a medium tank is not ideal with flanking, so simply getting into a safe position and ambushing unaware enemy tanks often leads to success. Your long reload speeds and lack of stabilizer limits your ability to advance and fire at the same time, and so coupled with your relatively weak armour means you should only advance when the area is clear, so that you can move to a new ambush position. A Mk.5 AVRE that ambushes a lone enemy will almost always win, assuming your first shot connects. | ||
| + | |||
| + | While the rangefinder can be used in conjunction with gun-sight range adjustment, the tank will struggle in medium to long distant combat, as the HESH shells lack any semblance of accuracy past around 400 m, with shells arcing such that shell placement becomes quite difficult along with shell travel time becoming increasingly high. However, against a completely static target and with good rangefinding crew skill, it is not impossible to land a direct hit up to 800 m. However, if you miss, your long reload speed means you may completely miss your chance at destroying your target, which can easily manoeuvre away without threat of damage, or simply return fire freely. | ||
| + | |||
| + | The tank is best played as a support tank in conjunction with the rest of your team. Becoming isolated while playing the Mk.5 AVRE is extremely dangerous, as your long reload speed, low speed, and weak armour means that you cannot withstand an attack by anything more than a single tank. If you fire at an enemy tank and are then caught by another tank, you are most likely done for. Additionally, failing to instantly destroy a target with your first shot is also extremely dangerous, whether you missed or have damaged an enemy. In that situation, you will want an allied tank to cripple the enemy or finish them off until you are able to either reload or retreat with your two smoke grenade barrages. The extra crew member over the other Centurion models may allow you to survive an extra shot, but an isolated Mk.5 AVRE is a dead Mk.5 AVRE. At the same time, the Mk. 5 AVRE's ability to help teammates repair increases its usefulness as a support tank. | ||
=== Pros and cons === | === Pros and cons === | ||
| − | <!--'' | + | <!-- ''Summarise and briefly evaluate the vehicle in terms of its characteristics and combat effectiveness. Mark its pros and cons in a bulleted list. Try not to use more than 6 points for each of the characteristics. Avoid using categorical definitions such as "bad", "good" and the like - use substitutions with softer forms such as "inadequate" and "effective".'' --> |
| + | |||
'''Pros:''' | '''Pros:''' | ||
| − | * Has a powerful | + | |
| − | * ROMOR-A ERA equivalent protection against 30 mm kinetic energy munitions and 300 mm chemical energy munitions | + | * Has a powerful 165 mm gun that fires shells with the explosive mass of 15.87 kg, equal to 20.31k g TNT, one hit can always deal serious damage to the enemy vehicles |
| − | * The dozer blade in front it can provide additional | + | * Low muzzle velocity can allow the trajectory to hit some enemies hiding behind the slope, especially in AB |
| − | + | * ROMOR-A ERA equivalent protection against 30 mm kinetic energy munitions and 300 mm chemical energy munitions allow the tank to sustain HEAT shots | |
| − | * Composite side skirts | + | * The dozer blade in front it can provide additional utility, especially to protect the lower glacis |
| − | + | * Composite side skirts help to survive light tank ambushes, very useful in the close range combat, especially in urban warfare | |
| − | + | * Acceptable reload time, especially when compared to the [[FV4005]] | |
| − | + | * Good reverse speed | |
| − | * Good reverse speed | + | * Smoke grenade can be released twice |
| − | * Smoke grenade can be released twice | + | * A five-man crew, unlike other Centurion designs |
| − | * A five-man crew, unlike other Centurion designs | + | |
'''Cons:''' | '''Cons:''' | ||
| − | * Terrible muzzle velocity makes this vehicle not very useful in | + | |
| − | * Low top speed | + | * Terrible muzzle velocity makes this vehicle not very useful in spaced area, especially in RB |
| − | * Centurion is a large tank = larger target | + | * Low top speed |
| − | * Side | + | * Centurion is a large tank = larger target |
| − | + | * Side armour is still very weak and won't stop medium tanks | |
| − | * Based on Centurion Mk 5, which is similar as the Centurion Mk 3, so it has the similar weak spots as the Centurion Mk 3 (like the turret ring) | + | * Based on Centurion Mk 5, which is similar as the Centurion Mk 3, so it has the similar weak spots as the Centurion Mk 3 (like the turret ring, which is extremely difficult, but not impossible to hit) |
| − | * Top of the engine deck can be easily penetrated by planes | + | * Top of the engine deck can be easily penetrated by planes |
| + | * HESH is inherently unreliable, a hit to a wrong spot on a certain enemy tank chassis or armour may do no damage at all despite the shell's potential, while a close miss might annihilate the enemy tank regardless | ||
== History == | == History == | ||
| − | <!--''Describe the history of the creation and combat usage of the | + | <!-- ''Describe the history of the creation and combat usage of the vehicle in more detail than in the introduction. If the historical reference turns out to be too long, take it to a separate article, taking a link to the article about the vehicle and adding a block "/History" (example: <nowiki>https://wiki.warthunder.com/(Vehicle-name)/History</nowiki>) and add a link to it here using the <code>main</code> template. Be sure to reference text and sources by using <code><nowiki><ref></ref></nowiki></code>, as well as adding them at the end of the article with <code><nowiki><references /></nowiki></code>. This section may also include the vehicle's dev blog entry (if applicable) and the in-game encyclopedia description (under <code><nowiki>=== In-game description ===</nowiki></code>, also if applicable).'' --> |
| − | In the 1960s, the British army felt the need for a modern multi-functional engineering vehicle. They chose the Centurion Mk 5 main battle tank base to replace the outdated engineering tank, which used a Churchill chassis. Since the engineering | + | {{main|Centurion_Mk_1#History|l1=History of the Centurion Mk 1}} |
| + | |||
| + | In the 1960s, the British army felt the need for a modern multi-functional engineering vehicle. They chose the Centurion Mk 5 main battle tank base to replace the outdated engineering tank, which used a Churchill chassis. Since the engineering vehicle's tasks were rather specific, the Centurion chassis was given special equipment: the tank received a bulldozer scoop, a device was mounted above the scoop for laying fascines, the altered rear armour plate was equipped with a tow hitch, and a seat was installed next to the driver's seat for a new, fifth crew member – a navigator. The engineering vehicle, which was called the Centurion AVRE (abbreviated from Armoured Vehicle Royal Engineers) was designed to carry a special engineering gun capable of destroying fortifications, pillboxes and other fortified defensive positions. That gun was the short-barreled L9, a 165 mm calibre cannon with low recoil. The vehicle received an ammunition complement of 53 shots with high-explosive squash head (HESH) shells with huge destructive force – each charge contained almost 16 kg of explosives. The Centurion AVRE became the standard engineering vehicle for the British Army and participated in several armed conflicts, including the 1991 Gulf War. In the 1980s, Centurions AVRE were modernized, receiving additional armour including ROMOR reactive armour - this modification was used in operation "Desert Storm". The vehicle was retired in 1993. | ||
| − | ''- From [ | + | ''- From [[wt:en/news/5513-development-centurion-avre-engineer-at-war-en|Devblog]]'' |
== Media == | == Media == | ||
| − | <!--'' | + | <!-- ''Excellent additions to the article would be video guides, screenshots from the game, and photos.'' --> |
| − | + | ||
| − | [https://live.warthunder.com/feed/camouflages/? | + | ;Skins |
| + | |||
| + | * [https://live.warthunder.com/feed/camouflages/?vehicle=uk_centurion_mk_5_avre_era Skins and camouflages for the {{PAGENAME}} from live.warthunder.com.] | ||
| − | + | ;Videos | |
| − | {{Youtube-gallery|cDGBk2JKjMY|Premium Vehicles - Centurion Mk 5 AVRE}} | + | {{Youtube-gallery|wPPrE_VduOI|'''The Shooting Range #263''' - ''Round Study'' section at 07:30 discusses how to penetrate the {{PAGENAME}}.|_xCgMBOiA8U|'''High-explosive power''' discusses the {{PAGENAME}} at 2:37 - ''War Thunder Official Channel''|cDGBk2JKjMY|'''Premium Vehicles: Centurion Mk.5 AVRE''' - ''War Thunder Wiki''|d5zH9DCJIy8|'''Centurion Mk.5 AVRE - Really Odd Fun''' - ''Napalmratte''}} |
== See also == | == See also == | ||
| − | ''Links to the articles on the War Thunder Wiki that you think will be useful for the reader, for example:'' | + | <!-- ''Links to the articles on the War Thunder Wiki that you think will be useful for the reader, for example:'' |
* ''reference to the series of the vehicles;'' | * ''reference to the series of the vehicles;'' | ||
| − | * ''links to approximate analogues of other nations and research trees.'' | + | * ''links to approximate analogues of other nations and research trees.'' --> |
| + | |||
| + | ;Vehicles equipped with the same chassis | ||
| + | |||
| + | * [[Centurion (Family)]] | ||
== External links == | == External links == | ||
| − | <!--''Paste links to sources and external resources, such as:'' | + | <!-- ''Paste links to sources and external resources, such as:'' |
* ''topic on the official game forum;'' | * ''topic on the official game forum;'' | ||
| − | + | * ''other literature.'' --> | |
| − | * ''other literature.''--> | + | |
| − | * [ | + | * [[wt:en/news/5513-development-centurion-avre-engineer-at-war-en|[Devblog] Centurion AVRE: Engineer at War]] |
| + | * [[wikipedia:Centurion (tank)|[Wikipedia] Centurion]] | ||
| + | * [https://tanks-encyclopedia.com/coldwar-uk-fv4003-centurion-avre/ <nowiki>[Tanks Encyclopedia]</nowiki> FV4003 Centurion AVRE] | ||
| + | {{TankManufacturer Department of Tank Design}} | ||
{{Britain medium tanks}} | {{Britain medium tanks}} | ||
{{Britain premium ground vehicles}} | {{Britain premium ground vehicles}} | ||
Latest revision as of 21:21, 19 February 2024
| This page is about the British medium tank Centurion Mk.5 AVRE. For other variants, see Centurion (Family). |
Contents
Description
The Centurion Mk.5 Armoured Vehicle Royal Engineers was designed for clearing minefields using a Giant Viper towed mine-clearance system, destroying fortified positions with its 165 mm L9A1 demolition gun capable of firing 60 lb (29 kg) HESH rounds, and overall providing cover and safe working space for the engineers. The AVRE was also equipped with a dozer blade for clearing up debris. In preparation for Operation Desert Storm in 1991, Centurion AVREs were uparmoured and remained in service until replaced by the Chieftain AVRE and Trojan vehicles in service.
Introduced in Update 1.79 "Project X" as a premium pack, the Centurion AVRE is one of the two vehicles utilizing the 165 mm L9A1 demolition gun (along with the American M728 CEV). The AVRE features standard Centurion series armour protection which is enhanced against chemical and kinetic rounds using ROMOR-A ERA plates on the turret and upper front plate of the hull. The ERA enhances protection against kinetic rounds by 30 mm and against chemical rounds by 300 mm. The AVRE performs much better in urban environments, as the very low muzzle velocity of the gun and quite poor mobility can cause issues on very large and open maps.
The Centurion Mk.5 AVRE was removed from purchase on the store after the 2023 New Year Sale.
General info
Survivability and armour
ERA
Effective action against the cumulative ammunition
Smoke grenades
Creation of a smoke screen in front of the vehicle
Self-entrenching equipment
Creation of ramparts and trenches in soft ground
Armourfront / side / back
Hull76 / 51 / 38
Turret152 / 89 / 89
Crew5 people
Visibility126 %
Overall, the armour on the AVRE is similar to that on the Centurion Mk 3 gun tank with three major differences: ROMOR-A ERA, composite side skirts and a dozer blade.
The ERA provides additional protection (300 mm HEAT, 30 mm KE) on key areas of the tank, namely the turret face and upper glacis plate, but this has little impact against most opponents in RB, due to the majority of shells at rank IV being of the kinetic energy (KE) variety. In AB, it may protect against the light tanks, for example, it reduces the efficiency of the BMP-1's main gun, which is also quite dangerous with aim assist when used as a follow-up for ATGMs. Unfortunately, the turret ERA will often fail to stop upgraded modern ATGMs with 700 mm of penetration. ERA also changes the visible profile of the turret, obscuring the weak points beneath the standard Centurion turret.
The composite side skirts provide a significant increase in protection against small calibre HEAT and autocannon fire, increasing it to the point where such rounds can no longer penetrate the side armour. They do not change the effect of medium tank rounds, as the additional protection simply isn't enough to stop them. They also do not cover the entirety of the sides, so they can be circumvented.
The dozer blade may seem unimportant at first glance as it consists of 70 mm of structural steel, not RHA, but this is not the case. The blade acts as spaced armour against most rounds aimed at the hull, adding around 60 mm against KE and 200 mm against HEAT. This can also be added to by the ERA on the front plate, overall providing greater than 400 mm of protection against HEAT rounds.
The dozer blade can also be used to easily create trenches with soft ground, which will initially conceal some of the hull and, with some time and effort given, completely shield it. It's also technically possible to dig walls and holes to force enemies to abandon their defences in order to pass through a corridor - not every tank can reverse back into a slope, and it is impossible to just peek around a corner, if every corner is also a trench; but such setups take a lot of time and it's impossible to dig into asphalt.
Overall, additions make the tank strong against tankers overzealously relying on HEAT and HEATFS to solve all of their problems.
Mobility
Speedforward / back
AB39 / 14 km/h
RB and SB35 / 13 km/h
Number of gears5 forward
2 back
Weight52.2 t
Engine power
AB1 240 hp
RB and SB650 hp
Power-to-weight ratio
AB23.8 hp/t
RB and SB12.5 hp/t
| Game Mode | Max Speed (km/h) | Weight (tons) | Engine power (horsepower) | Power-to-weight ratio (hp/ton) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Forward | Reverse | Stock | Upgraded | Stock | Upgraded | ||
| Arcade | 39 | 14 | 52.2 | 1,007 | 1,240 | 19.29 | 23.75 |
| Realistic | 35 | 13 | 575 | 650 | 11.02 | 12.45 | |
Modifications and economy
Repair cost
AB2 851 
RB3 232
SB4 306
Crew training10 000
Experts490 000
Aces1 200 
Research Aces1 440 000 
Reward for battleAB / RB / SB
2 × 130 / 200 / 220 % 2 × 196 / 196 / 196 % | Mobility | Protection | Firepower | ||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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Armaments
Main armament
Ammunition53 rounds
First-order7 rounds
Reloadbasic crew → aces
27.7 → 21.3 s
Vertical guidance-10° / 18°
The main weapon is a howitzer loaded with HESH. The shells are launched with very low muzzle velocity, which makes them difficult to aim in RB, and to aim past 800 m user has to manually adjust the scope, as otherwise it is impossible to see the target.
At close range the gun can be easily used to annihilate or severely cripple any tank. It is still recommended to aim at least for one second before firing, as HESH is only capable of penetrating one layer of armour, and will do no damage if it hits side skirts or some irrelevant add-ons on top of the hull.
Although the gun is difficult to aim, the shells are launched upwards and therefore can be fired over hills straight into enemy roof. This, coupled with penetration statistics close to the FV4005, make the AVRE near godlike in AB, as it is possible for this tank to bombard enemies straight in their cover, knowing where they are and the exact range towards them.
| 165 mm ORD BL 6.5in L9A1 | Turret rotation speed (°/s) | Reloading rate (seconds) | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mode | Capacity | Vertical | Horizontal | Stabilizer | Stock | Upgraded | Full | Expert | Aced | Stock | Full | Expert | Aced |
| Arcade | 53 | -10°/+18° | ±180° | N/A | 19.0 | 26.4 | 32.0 | 35.4 | 37.6 | 27.7 | 24.5 | 22.6 | 21.3 |
| Realistic | 11.9 | 14.0 | 17.0 | 18.8 | 20.0 | ||||||||
Ammunition
| Penetration statistics | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ammunition | Type of warhead |
Penetration @ 0° Angle of Attack (mm) | |||||
| 10 m | 100 m | 500 m | 1,000 m | 1,500 m | 2,000 m | ||
| L33A1 | HESH | 203 | 203 | 203 | 203 | 203 | 203 |
| Shell details | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ammunition | Type of warhead |
Velocity (m/s) |
Projectile mass (kg) |
Fuse delay (m) |
Fuse sensitivity (mm) |
Explosive mass (TNT equivalent) (kg) |
Ricochet | |||||
| 0% | 50% | 100% | ||||||||||
| L33A1 | HESH | 259 | 30.6 | 0.1 | 4 | 20.31 | 73° | 77° | 80° | |||
Ammo racks
Ammo racks of the Centurion Mk.5 AVRE
| Full ammo |
1st rack empty |
2nd rack empty |
3rd rack empty |
4th rack empty |
5th rack empty |
Visual discrepancy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 53 | 50 (+3) | 36 (+17) | 22 (+31) | 8 (+45) | 1 (+52) | No |
Notes:
- Shells are modeled individually and disappear after having been shot or loaded.
- Bottom racks 2 to 4 deplete from left to right.
- Packing 22 (+31) shells (racks 1 to 3 emptied) is a good compromise to have enough shells in combat while minimizing the number of shells onboard.
Machine guns
7.62 mm L3A1 machine gun (coaxial)
Ammunition3 250 rounds
Belt capacity250 rounds
Reloadbasic crew → aces
10.4 → 8.0 s
Fire rate500 shots/min
Ammunition1 250 rounds
Belt capacity250 rounds
Reloadbasic crew → aces
10.4 → 8.0 s
Fire rate500 shots/min
| 7.62 mm L3A1 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mount | Capacity (Belt) | Fire rate | Vertical | Horizontal |
| Pintle | 1,250 (250) | 500 | -10°/+80° | ±180° |
| Coaxial | 3,250 (250) | 500 | N/A | N/A |
Usage in battles
The Centurion Mk.5 AVRE, despite the additional armour, is still essentially a Centurion in terms of survivability and mobility. The tank must be driven carefully to take full advantage of the environment and avoid being shot until it is able to close in to the enemy and take full advantage of its 165 mm gun. Its relatively low speed for a medium tank is not ideal with flanking, so simply getting into a safe position and ambushing unaware enemy tanks often leads to success. Your long reload speeds and lack of stabilizer limits your ability to advance and fire at the same time, and so coupled with your relatively weak armour means you should only advance when the area is clear, so that you can move to a new ambush position. A Mk.5 AVRE that ambushes a lone enemy will almost always win, assuming your first shot connects.
While the rangefinder can be used in conjunction with gun-sight range adjustment, the tank will struggle in medium to long distant combat, as the HESH shells lack any semblance of accuracy past around 400 m, with shells arcing such that shell placement becomes quite difficult along with shell travel time becoming increasingly high. However, against a completely static target and with good rangefinding crew skill, it is not impossible to land a direct hit up to 800 m. However, if you miss, your long reload speed means you may completely miss your chance at destroying your target, which can easily manoeuvre away without threat of damage, or simply return fire freely.
The tank is best played as a support tank in conjunction with the rest of your team. Becoming isolated while playing the Mk.5 AVRE is extremely dangerous, as your long reload speed, low speed, and weak armour means that you cannot withstand an attack by anything more than a single tank. If you fire at an enemy tank and are then caught by another tank, you are most likely done for. Additionally, failing to instantly destroy a target with your first shot is also extremely dangerous, whether you missed or have damaged an enemy. In that situation, you will want an allied tank to cripple the enemy or finish them off until you are able to either reload or retreat with your two smoke grenade barrages. The extra crew member over the other Centurion models may allow you to survive an extra shot, but an isolated Mk.5 AVRE is a dead Mk.5 AVRE. At the same time, the Mk. 5 AVRE's ability to help teammates repair increases its usefulness as a support tank.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Has a powerful 165 mm gun that fires shells with the explosive mass of 15.87 kg, equal to 20.31k g TNT, one hit can always deal serious damage to the enemy vehicles
- Low muzzle velocity can allow the trajectory to hit some enemies hiding behind the slope, especially in AB
- ROMOR-A ERA equivalent protection against 30 mm kinetic energy munitions and 300 mm chemical energy munitions allow the tank to sustain HEAT shots
- The dozer blade in front it can provide additional utility, especially to protect the lower glacis
- Composite side skirts help to survive light tank ambushes, very useful in the close range combat, especially in urban warfare
- Acceptable reload time, especially when compared to the FV4005
- Good reverse speed
- Smoke grenade can be released twice
- A five-man crew, unlike other Centurion designs
Cons:
- Terrible muzzle velocity makes this vehicle not very useful in spaced area, especially in RB
- Low top speed
- Centurion is a large tank = larger target
- Side armour is still very weak and won't stop medium tanks
- Based on Centurion Mk 5, which is similar as the Centurion Mk 3, so it has the similar weak spots as the Centurion Mk 3 (like the turret ring, which is extremely difficult, but not impossible to hit)
- Top of the engine deck can be easily penetrated by planes
- HESH is inherently unreliable, a hit to a wrong spot on a certain enemy tank chassis or armour may do no damage at all despite the shell's potential, while a close miss might annihilate the enemy tank regardless
History
In the 1960s, the British army felt the need for a modern multi-functional engineering vehicle. They chose the Centurion Mk 5 main battle tank base to replace the outdated engineering tank, which used a Churchill chassis. Since the engineering vehicle's tasks were rather specific, the Centurion chassis was given special equipment: the tank received a bulldozer scoop, a device was mounted above the scoop for laying fascines, the altered rear armour plate was equipped with a tow hitch, and a seat was installed next to the driver's seat for a new, fifth crew member – a navigator. The engineering vehicle, which was called the Centurion AVRE (abbreviated from Armoured Vehicle Royal Engineers) was designed to carry a special engineering gun capable of destroying fortifications, pillboxes and other fortified defensive positions. That gun was the short-barreled L9, a 165 mm calibre cannon with low recoil. The vehicle received an ammunition complement of 53 shots with high-explosive squash head (HESH) shells with huge destructive force – each charge contained almost 16 kg of explosives. The Centurion AVRE became the standard engineering vehicle for the British Army and participated in several armed conflicts, including the 1991 Gulf War. In the 1980s, Centurions AVRE were modernized, receiving additional armour including ROMOR reactive armour - this modification was used in operation "Desert Storm". The vehicle was retired in 1993.
- From Devblog
Media
- Skins
- Videos
The Shooting Range #263 - Round Study section at 07:30 discusses how to penetrate the Centurion Mk.5 AVRE.
High-explosive power discusses the Centurion Mk.5 AVRE at 2:37 - War Thunder Official Channel
Premium Vehicles: Centurion Mk.5 AVRE - War Thunder Wiki
Centurion Mk.5 AVRE - Really Odd Fun - Napalmratte
See also
- Vehicles equipped with the same chassis
External links
- [Devblog] Centurion AVRE: Engineer at War
- [Wikipedia] Centurion
- [Tanks Encyclopedia] FV4003 Centurion AVRE
| Department of Tank Design | |
|---|---|
| Medium Tanks | |
| Sherman Firefly | Sherman Firefly · Sherman IC "Trzyniec" |
| MBTs | |
| Centurion | Centurion Mk 1 · Centurion Mk.2 · Centurion Mk 3 · Centurion Action X · Centurion Mk.5 AVRE · Centurion Mk 10 |
| Challenger* | Challenger Mk.2 · Challenger Mk.3 · Challenger DS |
| Tank Destroyers | |
| Achilles | Achilles · Achilles (65 Rg.) |
| Centurion-based | Conway · FV4005 |
| Export | |
| Sherman Firefly | Sherman Ic · ▄Sherman Vc |
| Centurion | Centurion Mk.5/1 · Strv 81 · Strv 81 (RB 52) · ▄Strv 81 (RB 52) · Strv 101 · Strv 104** · Strv 105** · Sho't |
| See also | US Ordnance Department · Israeli Ordnance Corps · Vickers-Armstrongs Limited |
| *By successor, the Military Vehicles and Engineering Establishment | |
| **Swedish modernizations incorporating innovations from the Israeli Sho't Kals. | |
| Britain medium tanks | |
|---|---|
| Valentine | Valentine I · Valentine IX · Valentine XI |
| Cromwell | Cromwell I · Cromwell V · Cromwell V (RP-3) |
| Cromwell derivatives | Challenger · Avenger · Comet I · Comet I "Iron Duke IV" · Charioteer Mk VII |
| Centurion | Centurion Mk 1 · Centurion Mk.2 · Centurion Mk 3 · Centurion Mk.5 AVRE · Centurion Mk 10 · Centurion Action X · FV4202 |
| Vickers MBT | Vickers Mk.1 · Vickers Mk.3 · Vickers Mk.7 |
| Chieftain | Chieftain Mk 3 · Chieftain Mk 5 · Chieftain Mk 10 |
| Challenger 1 | Challenger Mk.2 · Challenger Mk.3 · Challenger DS |
| Challenger 2 | Challenger 2 · Challenger 2 (2F) · Challenger 2 TES · Challenger 2 OES · Challenger 2E · Challenger 2 Black Night |
| Challenger 3 | Challenger 3 TD |
| Australia | A.C.I · A.C.IV · Centurion Mk.5/1 |
| South Africa | Olifant Mk.1A · Olifant Mk.2 · TTD |
| India | Vijayanta · Bhishma TWMP |
| Israel | ▄Sho't Kal Dalet |
| Jordan | Khalid |
| Sweden | ▄Strv 81 (RB 52) |
| USA | Grant I · Sherman II · Sherman Firefly · Sherman IC "Trzyniec" |
| Britain premium ground vehicles | |
|---|---|
| Light tanks | A13 Mk I (3rd R.T.R.) · A13 Mk II 1939 · AEC Mk II · Crusader "The Saint" · Rooikat 105 |
| Medium tanks | A.C.I · Grant I · Cromwell V (RP-3) · Sherman IC "Trzyniec" · A.C.IV · Comet I "Iron Duke IV" |
| Centurion Mk.2 · ▄Strv 81 (RB 52) · Centurion Mk.5 AVRE · Centurion Mk.5/1 · ▄Sho't Kal Dalet · Centurion Action X | |
| Vijayanta · Khalid · Challenger DS · Challenger 2 OES | |
| Heavy tanks | Independent · Matilda Hedgehog · Excelsior · TOG II · Churchill Crocodile · Black Prince |
| Tank destroyers | Alecto I · Achilles (65 Rg.) · QF 3.7 Ram |
