# Question about a piece of tank hardware **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [June 24, 2003, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-a-piece-of-tank-hardware/184071 "2003-06-24T16:37:56Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Khan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3ab097/32.png) [@Khan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khan)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2003, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-a-piece-of-tank-hardware/184071/1 "2003-06-24T16:37:56Z")
I got an itch to build a model of a tank some time ago, and I decided to go with a British Centurion. In the preliminary stages of my research, I happened across [this](http://www.fas.org/man/dod-101/sys/land/row/centur-1.gif) picture from an article on the tank [here](http://www.fas.org/man/dod-101/sys/index.html). I was intrigued as to what that disk/dish structure is facing forward on the turret was, though I didn’t bother to investigate further until I found a [photograph](http://www.webone.com.au/~myszka/Aust/Research/Cent091/Cent169091.htm) of a Centurion with that piece of hardware attached. What is that thing, anyway? What does it do? I want to include one on my model for aesthetic purposes. It looks pretty neat, if you ask me. ---
**Author:** ![msmith537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d9b06d/32.png) [@msmith537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/msmith537)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2003, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-a-piece-of-tank-hardware/184071/2 "2003-06-24T16:45:04Z")
Possibly a searchlight covered to protect it or reduce glare? ---
**Author:** ![BF](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/b5ac83/32.png) [@BF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BF)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2003, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-a-piece-of-tank-hardware/184071/3 "2003-06-24T17:10:35Z")
My wag is that it is the fire control radar. ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2003, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-a-piece-of-tank-hardware/184071/4 "2003-06-24T17:53:01Z")
Some more pictures… [http://www.vietnamvetsmuseum.org/centurion.jpg](http://www.vietnamvetsmuseum.org/centurion.jpg) [http://www.kithobbyist.com/AFVInteriors/fullmetal/Centurion/Centurion110.jpg](http://www.kithobbyist.com/AFVInteriors/fullmetal/Centurion/Centurion110.jpg) not sure what that thing is, though. ---
**Author:** ![Rocketeer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rocketeer/32/4437_2.png) [@Rocketeer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rocketeer)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2003, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-a-piece-of-tank-hardware/184071/5 "2003-06-24T18:11:09Z")
Infrared searchlight? ---
**Author:** ![mordecaiB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mordecaib/32/7725_2.png) [@mordecaiB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mordecaiB)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2003, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-a-piece-of-tank-hardware/184071/6 "2003-06-24T18:24:29Z")
It is probably the British version of the Xenon search light used by US forces of the same time. Check out the third picture on [this page.](http://www.quantumrip.com/hobbies/m60.html) ---
**Author:** ![Spiny\_Norman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9de0a6/32.png) [@Spiny\_Norman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spiny_Norman)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2003, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-a-piece-of-tank-hardware/184071/7 "2003-06-24T20:09:47Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by msmith537 \* > \*\*Possibly a searchlight covered to protect it or reduce glare? \*\* Yup. The Centurion is an old boy - even the Danish army has mothballed it now - and the modern passive systems (light amplification, thermal imaging) weren’t around then. So night aiming had to be done with IR or even visible light. Here’s a few photos of an Australion Centurion - searchlight clearly visible. [Centurion pics](http://www.webone.com.au/~myszka/Aust/Walkaround/SVNCent/centvietnam.htm) ---
**Author:** ![Khan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3ab097/32.png) [@Khan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khan)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2003, 1:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-a-piece-of-tank-hardware/184071/8 "2003-06-25T01:15:14Z")
Thanks, all. The searchlight/early IR scope is an interesting feature. It’s got a nice classic quality which is what I was hoping for. ---
**Author:** ![Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ccd318/32.png) [@Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paul_in_Qatar)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2003, 2:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-a-piece-of-tank-hardware/184071/9 "2003-06-25T02:20:42Z")
For expert advice on all things tankish, go to TankNet. It is the equal of this forum in its limited area. ---
**Author:** ![Khan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3ab097/32.png) [@Khan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khan)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2003, 2:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-a-piece-of-tank-hardware/184071/10 "2003-06-25T02:29:54Z")
Could you please give me the full URL? ---
**Author:** ![UncleBill](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/d26b3c/32.png) [@UncleBill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UncleBill)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2003, 3:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-a-piece-of-tank-hardware/184071/11 "2003-06-25T03:41:54Z")
[www.tank-net.org](http://www.tank-net.org)