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Range drum on the Centurion?


Iarmor

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Several sources I've read refer to a range drum that is used by the Centurion gunner to input the range before firing. Its use sounds quite similar to what was implemented in SB for the T-55A and T-62, just with a separate range drum rather than markings on the GPS itself.

The Sho't Cal model in SB is, however, different, as the gunner changes the aimpoint according to the aiming reticle on the GPS. What Centurion variant is the SB model based on (if it's OK to tell)? 

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On 4/18/2020 at 9:44 PM, Iarmor said:

Several sources I've read refer to a range drum that is used by the Centurion gunner to input the range before firing. Its use sounds quite similar to what was implemented in SB for the T-55A and T-62, just with a separate range drum rather than markings on the GPS itself.

The Sho't Cal model in SB is, however, different, as the gunner changes the aimpoint according to the aiming reticle on the GPS. What Centurion variant is the SB model based on (if it's OK to tell)? 

Original Centurion's   sight had non-ballistic reticle and drum with range scales was utilized to apply proper superelevation.  Upgunning kit with L7 also included a new  No.30 sight, which is represented in game; this sight had  ballistic reticle graduated  up to 3km and because of this range drum was used only for long-range engagements, not normally possible with sight's reticle. Range drum is not simulated in SB at this point.

 

And speaking of real life, not all israely 'Sho't' tanks received complete kits during conversion, so when it comes to  gun and sight combinations, in reality there were some odd hybrids.

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On 4/20/2020 at 5:17 PM, Jartsev said:

Original Centurion's   sight had non-ballistic reticle and drum with range scales was utilized to apply proper superelevation.  Upgunning kit with L7 also included a new  No.30 sight, which is represented in game; this sight had  ballistic reticle graduated  up to 3km and because of this range drum was used only for long-range engagements, not normally possible with sight's reticle. Range drum is not simulated in SB at this point.

 

And speaking of real life, not all israely 'Sho't' tanks received complete kits during conversion, so when it comes to  gun and sight combinations, in reality there were some odd hybrids.

Thank you for the enlightening answer.

Does anyone know how did that original, non-ballistic reticle looked like? 

 

AFAIK the Israeli Centurions, along with the 105 mm guns they received in the mid-60s, they got a GPS identical to that of the M48:

m-48-7-2a.jpg

 

It was nicknamed "NATO Cross" in the IDF. Modified versions were introduced along the years (such as this one). 

The range drum was kept fully utilized until the Centurions were installed with a LRF, starting in the mid-80s. In its last version, the range drum had ballistic range columns for L-28, L-52, smoke, HESH, HEAT, Flechette, and coax mg. 

 

Edited by Iarmor
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  • 9 months later...

The Wiki is incorrect as no British Mk 5/1 was fitted with a ranging gun and the L7 armed Mk 5/2 used the No. 10 or No. 18 periscopic sight, not the No. 30. The No. 30 periscopic sight was only used on tanks that had a ranging gun fitted (i.e. Mks 6/2, 9/2, 10/2 and Mks 11 , 12 and 13). I don't know what the Israeli practice was except that they rejected the ranging gun as impractical. There are drawings of the sight graticules in Centurion Pamphlet No. 15 Volume III Armaments. I don't know how to make an image of it, but picture to yourself a horizontal dotted line with a dot in the middle. Along the line are small vertical aiming off marks.

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