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Description
The "Motorman" version of the Centurion tank was a typical AVRE -- that is, Armoured Vehicle Royal Engineers. It was used by the Engineers for dealing with obstacles, demolition, and road repair under battlefield conditions. Virtually every major tank type in British use has been modified into an AVRE, including the Valentine, Churchill, Centurion, Chieftain, and Challenger MBTs.

In 1969 the Centurion AVRE was sent to Northern Ireland to take part in "Operation Motorman." Irish Catholics had barracaded their neighborhoods in Belfast, denying entry to police and army. To deal with it, troops and tanks were moved in, the barracades broken down, and government control re-established.

So far as I know, the AVRE tanks were only used as bulldozers, and no shells were sent whistling into any Belfast pubs... amusing as that might have been.

I was asked to draw two tanks by a fan in the UK who is apparently writing a pamphlet on the use of armour in N. Ireland. I posted the other tank -- a standard Churchill -- on DA sometime ago. Unless I forgot. In which case I will be posting it very shortly.

Description
The "Motorman" version of the Centurion tank was a typical AVRE -- that is, Armoured Vehicle Royal Engineers. It was used by the Engineers for dealing with obstacles, demolition, and road repair under battlefield conditions. Virtually every major tank type in British use has been modified into an AVRE, including the Valentine, Churchill, Centurion, Chieftain, and Challenger MBTs.

In 1969 the Centurion AVRE was sent to Northern Ireland to take part in "Operation Motorman." Irish Catholics had barracaded their neighborhoods in Belfast, denying entry to police and army. To deal with it, troops and tanks were moved in, the barracades broken down, and government control re-established.

So far as I know, the AVRE tanks were only used as bulldozers, and no shells were sent whistling into any Belfast pubs... amusing as that might have been.

I was asked to draw two tanks by a fan in the UK who is apparently writing a pamphlet on the use of armour in N. Ireland. I posted the other tank -- a standard Churchill -- on DA sometime ago. Unless I forgot. In which case I will be posting it very shortly.