Centaur Mk IV T185102 Vidette
This specific Centaur IV tank named Vidette is displayed at the Memorial Pegasus museum near Pegasus Bridge in Ranville. The rare British close-support tank saw action during the D-Day landings on 6 June 1944.It was previously displayed beside the Pegasus Bridge near the landing grounds of the Horsa gliders.
The degree markings on the turret help soldiers outside the tank to communicate with the tank crew in order to direct the gun and make adjustments toward the target.
Vidette on D-Day
Although the Centaur IV is displayed at Pegasus Bridge museum, it was not one of the vehicles involved in the original glider assault that captured the bridge. Its own D-Day story is connected with the landings at Sword Beach. This Centaur tank landed at Sword Beach on 6 June 1944 between Hermanville and Lion-sur-Mer with the Royal Marines Armoured Support Group. The vehicles were fitted with wading gear to get them ashore. Trunking waterproofed the engine inlets and covers were fitted to the guns.
Centaur IV tank Vidette served with the 5th Independent Battery, Royal Marines Armoured Support Group, and with its 95 mm howitzer it fired high-explosive shells against enemy positions and fortifications. It had a crew of 5 including Royal Marines and a Royal Armoured Corps driver. During the conflict it was immobilised by German gunfire. It is the only version of the Centaur known to have seen combat, in service with the Royal Marines Armoured Support Group..The group was disbanded and reorganised into another unit two weeks after D-Day and the Centaurs, fulfilling their jobs, were rebuilt (like dozers for example) and used for other purposes.
Visit
Centaur Tank Mk IV Vidette can be seen on the museum grounds near the original Pegasus bridge.
More technical details on the Centaur Tank in this link
Sources
- Shadock.free.fr
- normandybunkers.com
- historicengland.org.uk
- musee.memorial-pegasus.com
