Covered in debris and with mud encrusted tracks, this 52 ton Centurion Mk V/I (Aust) tank from C ...

Covered in debris and with mud encrusted tracks, this 52 ton Centurion Mk V/I (Aust) tank from C Squadron, 1st Australian Armoured Regiment, uses its bulk to crush thick foliage as it is driven through a jungle area in Phuoc Tuy Province during Operation Overlord, 5 June 1971 to 14 June 1971. The drivers head is visible (wearing helmet and goggles) and the commander (wearing headphones) is standing at his station in the turret behind the pintle mounted .30 calibre L3A4 Browning medium machine gun (MMG). There are two spare road wheels carried on the front hull. Australian Centurion Mk V/I (Aust) tanks differed from Mk V/I Centurions used by other armies. Some of the major differences which made the Australian vehicles unique, included the fitting of the following items: a long range external fuel tank at the rear of the vehicle; a number 4 reflector sight/periscope within the turret; a .50 calibre L6A1 ranging machine gun within the turret; external infra red (IR) night vision equipment and basket to store IR searchlight. All Australian Centurions sent to South Vietnam were also fitted with the type 'B' barrel with a fume extractor and up to three rectangular counterweights welded to the top of the fume extractor (visible on this vehicle).