31:
660:: 105mm L7 cannon, periscopic stabilized day/ thermal gunner sight with laser rangefinder, upgraded ballistic computer added to the fire control system, panoramic commander sight, full solution fire control system, fire on the move and day and night time engagements, ready rounds located in carousel mounted turret basket, allowing fire rate of 10rpm
627:: torsion bar running gear, hydraulic dampers fitted to the first and last pair of wheels, maximum road speed of 58 km/h and maximum range on internal fuel of 350 km, can ford water to a depth of 1.5m, negotiate gradients and slopes of 60% and 30% and vertical obstacles up to 1m in height
489:
The
Olifant Mk.2 was adapted in 2005 when South Africa was no longer subject to international embargoes. Externally, the Mk.2 looks identical to the Mk.1B but features an upgraded Continental 29 Litre turbo-charged V12 diesel engine that produces 1040 hp. Improvements include an upgraded Fire
481:
and the other two remain to this day in the
Angolan bush. Another two were damaged beyond immediate repair by mines but successfully recovered. A number of others suffered varying degrees of track and suspension damage due to mines or Angolan tank fire, but were able to keep moving after field
470:. On 9 November 1987 the Olifants destroyed two Angolan T-55s. Throughout the operation, South African forces typically dispersed into an "arrowhead" formation, with Olifants in the lead, Ratel-90 armoured cars on the flanks, and the remainder of the mechanised infantry to the rear and centre.
485:
In the early 1990s, the
Olifant Mk.1A was superseded by the Olifant Mk.1B, which incorporated major improvements in armour protection, a slightly more powerful engine, a double armoured floor for protection against mines, and a torsion bar suspension. It is barely recognisable as a Centurion.
619:: more powerful 105mm L7 cannon with thermal sleeve, laser rangefinder added, 7.62mm general purpose co-axial machine gun and a 7.62mm anti-aircraft machine gun fitted, first gen image intensifier, driver's station equipped with day/night sight, gunner's station fitted with day/night sights,
623:: glacis plate and nose of the hull upgraded with passive armour, turret stand-off armour, double-armour floor, running gear protected against HEAT missiles by new sideskirts, fuel injection system smoke screen in engine's exhaust added, fire detection and suppression system improved,
366:. The Olifant is considered the best indigenous tank design on the African continent. Although based on a Centurion tank hull, it has a locally produced gun, power pack, transmission, tracks, wheels and fire control system and thus, at least the
439:
armoured car squadrons, succeeded in destroying the
Angolan tanks on their own. But eventually, a single squadron of thirteen Olifant Mk.1As was sent to the Angolan border, where they were attached to the
689:
431:
tanks in late 1983 and early 1984; however, due to the respective logistical commitment the
Olifants were not deployed. At length the South African mechanised infantry, bolstered by
382:
since 1957, but they were sold or relegated to reserve roles as a result of maintenance problems compounded by parts shortages and a tendency to overheat in the hot
African climate.
586:: Both Olifant Mk.1A and B can be fitted with plough-type, electrohydraulic dozer blade or a roller-type mechanical mineclearing set. The 3.5 m wide dozer blade weighs 1500 kg
394:
632:
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Control System (FCS) and a
Computerised Battle System (CBS) which includes a hunter-killer mode. A LIW 120 mm smoothbore gun can be used instead of the 105 mm
406:
451:
Starting in 1983, OMC had upgraded further
Centurions with a 29-litre Teledyne Continental turbocharged diesel engine and a new transmission adopted from the
1231:
420:
program, the
Israeli Centurion conversion program, helped greatly to start a more ambitious project. These refurbished tanks were named Olifant Mk.1.
943:
448:, which effectively ensured a ceasefire between South Africa and Angola, the Olifants Mk.1 were placed into storage and the tank crews rotated out.
842:
664:: modular composite armour sloping on turret and hull front, in case of ammunition ignition, blow-off panels and armoured doors protect the crew
416:(OMC), to refurbish the Centurions. The Semel program in 1974 counted a total of 35 conversions, soon used operationally. Informations from the
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466:, following the collapse of the Lusaka Accords in late 1987, led to the Olifant squadron being activated on the direct orders of President
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The South
African government was obliged by the arms embargo to finance the creation of a new private sector enterprise, the
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409:, which imposed a mandatory arms embargo on the country, forced South Africa to purchase them without turrets or armament.
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since 1976. These tanks were heavily redesigned and rebuilt by South Africa since 1976 with some help from
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459:. They were accepted into service with the South African Armoured Corps as the Olifant Mk.1A in 1985.
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The Cuban intervention in Angola : 1965-1991 : from Che Guevara to Cuito Cuanavale
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413:
405:. South Africa purchased a number of surplus Centurion hulls from Jordan and India, but the
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455:. The refurbished Centurions were armed with a South African variant of the 105 mm
445:
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967:
Bush War: The Road to Cuito Cuanavale – Soviet Soldiers' Accounts of the Angolan War
845:. Stellenbosch: Military Science Department, Stellenbosch University. Archived from
992:
The Last Hot Battle of the Cold War: South Africa vs. Cuba in the Angolan Civil War
477:
from March to April 1988; one was retrieved by the Cubans and taken to the town of
355:
1085:. New Vanguard 68). illustrated by Badrocke M. and Sarson P. Osprey Publishing.
401:
allies. Operation Savannah led to the need of further tank trials under Project
570:
diesel V12 power pack, transmission and automatic gearbox, new coolant system,
533:
4B 650 hp petrol V12 power pack, 5-speed Merrit-Brown Z51R Mk. F gearbox,
467:
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262:
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repairs. The operational failure by the SADF ended in a strategic stalemate.
1304:
574:: 105mm L7 cannon, improved fire control and storage layout for ammunition,
436:
432:
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Shubin, Gennadiĭ Vladimirovich; Tokarev, Andreĭ Aleksandrovich (2011) .
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994:(illustrated ed.). Oxford, UK: Casemate Publishers. p. 149.
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threatened by large formations of Soviet tanks supplied to the
615:
V-12 air-cooled turbo diesel engine provides increased range,
733:
User Handbook for Tk.,Med.Gun,Centurion,Mk.3,5 and 6 (1965)
322:
494:. In 2018, a total number of 26 Mk.2 tanks was produced.
389:
in 1975 saw the lightly armoured South African forces in
151:
10 ft 9 in (3.28 m) without side plates
969:. Auckland Park: Jacana Media (Pty) Ltd. p. 31.
789:. Oxford, UK: Osprey Publishing. pp. 4, 32–46.
473:
Three Olifants were abandoned in a minefield during
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817:. Oxford, UK: Osprey Publishing. pp. 222–223.
378:The British Centurion tanks were the South African
321:
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186:
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11 ft 1 in (3.38 m) with side plates
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With gun forward 32 ft 3 in (9.83 m)
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395:People's Armed Forces for the Liberation of Angola
785:Harmse, Kyle; Dunstan, Simon (23 February 2017).
1121:The Illustrated Directory of Tanks of the World
333:35 mph (56 km/h) (Mk.1A, Mk.1B, Mk.2)
139:Hull only 24 ft 9.5 in (7.557 m)
1102:South African Armour of the Border War 1975–89
944:"Prince Harry visits HALO programme in Angola"
787:South African Armour of the Border War 1975–89
407:United Nations Security Council Resolution 418
1225:
8:
872:. Cape Town: Struik Publishers. p. 94.
808:
806:
1335:Armoured fighting vehicles of South Africa
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922:(1. publ. ed.). London : Frank Cass.
897:. Cape Town: Zebra Press. pp. 68–69.
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427:South African forces clashed with FAPLA
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286:automatic gearbox (Mk.1A, Mk.1B, Mk.2)
1100:Harmse, Kyle; Dunstan, Simon (2017).
1064:Centurion (Modern Combat Vehicles: 2)
537:: Ordnance QF 20-pounder 84 mm,
330:21.5 mph (34.6 km/h) (Mk.1)
167:4 (commander, gunner, loader, driver)
7:
358:. It was developed from the British
159:9 ft 7.75 in (2.94 m)
946:. The HALO Trust. 2013. p. 338
197:Ordnance QF 20 pounder 84 mm (Mk.1)
1083:Centurion Universal Tank 1943–2003
760:from the original on 14 April 2010
684:built on the chassis of an Olifant
370:can be seen as almost a new tank.
14:
1104:. Oxford, UK: Osprey Publishing.
317:1 ft 8 in (0.51 m)
258:(480 kW) at 2550rpm (Meteor)
687:
667:
630:
589:
544:
182:51–152 mm (2.0–6.0 in)
29:
1182:"Olifant Mk1B Main Battle Tank"
1167:"Olifant Mk1A Main Battle Tank"
843:"The Lessons of the Border War"
1197:"Olifant Mk2 Main Battle Tank"
104:
1:
1195:Venter, Devald (2018-08-04).
1180:Venter, Dewald (2017-11-24).
1165:Venter, Dewald (2017-11-12).
895:At Thy Call We Did Not Falter
815:Tanks: 100 Years of Evolution
813:Ogorkiewicz, Richard (2015).
442:61 Mechanised Battalion Group
414:Olifant Manufacturing Company
350:for Elephant) is the primary
306:Torsion Bar (Mk.1B and Mk.2)
246:turbo diesel engine (others)
54:United Kingdom/South Africa
1356:
1038:"Olifant Main Battle Tank"
1017:"Olifant Main Battle Tank"
841:Scholtz, Leopold (2012).
682:Armoured recovery vehicle
283:Z51R Mk. F gearbox (Mk.1)
171:
51:Place of origin
28:
1123:. Salamander Books Ltd.
1066:. Ian Allan Publishing.
868:Hamann, Hilton (2007) .
652:: uprated 1 040 hp
261:others up to 1,040
79:South African Border War
1081:Dunstan, Simon (2003).
1062:Dunstan, Simon (1980).
1015:Venter, Devald (2018).
918:George, Edward (2005).
677:Olifant Armour Recovery
1119:Miller, David (2001).
990:Polack, Peter (2013).
611:: uprated 950 hp
578:: fire extinguishers,
1340:Tanks of the Cold War
893:Holt, Clive (2008) .
314:Ground clearance
237:Rolls-Royce Meteor 4B
1138:Munro, Bill (2005).
870:Days of the Generals
541:: fire extinguishers
265:(780 kW) (Mk.2)
1290:Centurion ARV Mk II
1036:Pike, John (2018).
582:: new track wheels
1140:The Centurion Tank
849:on 28 January 2015
654:Continental AV1790
644:Main Battle Tank,
613:Continental AV1790
603:Main Battle Tank,
568:Continental AV1790
566:: new 750 hp
558:Main Battle Tank,
531:Rolls-Royce Meteor
521:Main Battle Tank,
457:L7 rifled main gun
397:(FAPLA) and their
387:Operation Savannah
301:Modified Horstmann
244:Continental AV1790
99:Production history
1322:
1321:
1318:
1317:
1256:Main battle tanks
1149:978-1-86126-701-6
1142:. Crowood Press.
1130:978-0-7603-0892-9
1111:978-1-4728-1743-3
1092:978-1-84176-387-3
1001:978-1-61200-195-1
976:978-1-909982-39-0
904:978-1-77007-117-9
879:978-1-86872-340-9
824:978-1-4728-0670-3
796:978-1-4728-1743-3
748:"Trade Registers"
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464:Operation Moduler
380:main battle tanks
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85:Operation Moduler
35:Olifant Mk.2 Tank
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444:. Following the
425:Operation Askari
352:main battle tank
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242:V-12 air-cooled
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45:Main battle tank
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640:Olifant Mk.2
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584:Mineclearing
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368:Olifant Mk.2
367:
356:South Africa
343:
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281:Merrit-Brown
273:Transmission
222:machine gun
67:1976–present
107: built
1329:Categories
1202:2023-04-01
1187:2023-04-01
1172:2023-04-01
1043:2023-04-01
1022:2023-04-01
950:14 October
929:0415350158
764:2013-06-20
698:References
468:P.W. Botha
453:M60 Patton
385:Thus, the
294:Suspension
1305:Nagmachon
1248:Centurion
703:Citations
348:Afrikaans
254:650
213:Secondary
127:(58
125:long tons
1310:Nakpadon
853:24 March
758:Archived
658:Weaponry
648:: 2007,
625:Mobility
617:Weaponry
607:: 1991,
580:Mobility
572:Weaponry
562:: 1985,
535:Weaponry
525:: 1979,
498:Variants
437:Ratel-90
279:5-speed
220:Co-axial
215:armament
204:(others)
190:armament
23:Olifant
1269:Olifant
646:Service
605:Service
560:Service
523:Service
508:Comment
505:Variant
429:T-54/55
423:During
374:History
344:Olifant
224:.30 cal
200:105 mm
1295:Dawsar
1264:FV4202
1146:
1127:
1108:
1089:
1070:
998:
973:
926:
901:
876:
821:
793:
650:Engine
609:Engine
564:Engine
527:Engine
511:Image
391:Angola
364:Israel
239:(Mk.1)
230:Engine
178:Armour
156:Height
136:Length
1274:Sho't
753:SIPRI
433:Eland
418:Sho't
403:Semel
399:Cuban
146:Width
1300:Puma
1144:ISBN
1125:ISBN
1106:ISBN
1087:ISBN
1068:ISBN
996:ISBN
971:ISBN
952:2014
924:ISBN
899:ISBN
874:ISBN
855:2017
819:ISBN
791:ISBN
435:and
342:The
188:Main
164:Crew
120:Mass
72:Wars
41:Type
354:of
123:57
110:224
105:No.
1331::
833:^
805:^
773:^
756:.
750:.
739:^
711:^
529::
263:hp
256:hp
1233:e
1226:t
1219:v
1205:.
1190:.
1175:.
1152:.
1133:.
1114:.
1095:.
1076:.
1046:.
1025:.
1004:.
979:.
954:.
932:.
907:.
882:.
857:.
827:.
799:.
767:.
346:(
131:)
129:t
81::
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