The Centurion Mk 1 was the first variant of the Centurion medium tank family. It is also considered an early precursor to the main battle tank, a designation established after the Second World War. The Centurion family is largely regarded as one of the most successful post-war tank designs, with manufacture continuing into the 1960s and combat continuing into the 1980s. The chassis was altered for a range of functions, and some of these variants are still in use.

Work on the Centurion began in October 1943, based on a request from the UK’s War Office for a 45-tonne tank with a 650-horsepower engine, strongly sloped frontal armour, and the new 76 mm Ordnance QF 17-pounder tank gun. This would effectively result in a vehicle comparable to the German Panther tank. However, by the time the first production variant (the Centurion Mk 1) was built, the war in Europe was almost over. The start of the Cold War and export demand motivated continued development of the Centurion tank family, with as many as 13 distinct variants, each featuring multiple major modifications that may be considered a sub-family in and of themselves.

Introduced in Update 1.67 "Assault", the Centurion Mk 1 is a groundbreaking design that combines strong armour, superb mobility, and a potent main gun. It is also one of the first British ground vehicles to have its transmission overhauled, resulting in much enhanced reverse speed. Players will undoubtedly value the new ability to effectively retreat to cover after firing to avoid retaliation, while the familiar 76 mm Ordnance QF 17-pounder tank gun should continue to perform well.