- Yes
- No
Credits: Robert Manasherob. “Centurions tanks of the IDF Shot volume.1”
- BASIC DESCRIPTION -Sho’t Siman 8 (Centurion Mk.8) – Is a further upgrade of the Centurion Mk.5, featuring an elongated rear hull containing a third fuel tank, new engine and transmission covers with redesigned air inlet and outlet louvers, a one-piece gun mantlet without an external dust cover, and a newly designed commander’s cupola with a split hatch. There are several minor differences as well, such as redesigned headlights, new antenna mounts, and updated side skirts. Aside from these changes, the tank was generally similar to the Mk.5, retaining the same 20-pdr main cannon and Rolls-Royce Meteor Mk 4B powerpack.
In the period between 1959–1961, Israel acquired a small batch of just 18 Mk.8s, compared to the Mk.5 and Mk.3 that entered service en masse, reaching their peak of just over 1,000 units by the Yom Kippur War.
In Israeli service, these tanks received the designation Sho’t (שוט), meaning “Whip”. However, based on official documents and manuals from both the Ordnance Corps and the Armored Corps, they were designated either by their original name or the new one. Specifically, the Mk.8 was referred to as Sho’t Siman 8, Sho’t (Degem 8), or Centurion Siman 8 (the same naming convention applied to the other Centurion models).
Degem – Hebrew for “Model”
Siman – Hebrew for “Mark”
Spoiler
- Bringing the Centurion to Israel -
ㅤThe IDF’s pursuit of the Centurion tank began as early as July 1953, when Israeli delegations first approached Great Britain with official requests to purchase Centurions for their young army. At the time, Britain repeatedly stalled or refused these requests to avoid angering neighboring Arab states. It was not until 1955 that the British Foreign Ministry finally approved a severely limited sale of just six older, heavily used Centurion Mk.3 tanks, however, this approval was subsequently placed on temporary hold following the Israeli retaliatory operation “Hetz Shahor” (Black Arrow) against Egyptian forces in Gaza.
Israeli delegation in Britain
Credits: Robert Manasherob. “Centurions tanks of the IDF Shot volume.1”ㅤFollowing the 1956 Suez Crisis, in which Israel fought alongside British forces, Great Britain shifted its stance and in December 1958 a contract was finally signed to supply 60 Centurion tanks to Israel. However, in 1959, following arrival of the first 16 units to Israel, it was revised down to 30 tanks, to include 16 used Mk.5s and 14 brand-new Mk.8s. Further contracts followed: in May 1960, additional 60 used Mk.5s were ordered; in 1961, a contract was signed to replace the original 20-pounder with the 105 mm L7 gun; and in 1962, a deal was signed for another 45 used Mk.5 tanks, which were to undergo major overhauls and gun replacements in the UK.
The arrival of the first Centurion Mk.5 batch to the Israel, 1959.
Credits: Robert Manasherob. “Centurions tanks of the IDF Shot volume.1”ㅤUpon entering Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) service, the Centurion was officially given the Hebrew designation Sho’t (שוט), meaning “Whip”. However, based on official documents and manuals from both the Ordnance Corps and the Armored Corps, the Centurions were called in different ways, either by their original name or the new one. For instance, the Mk.8 was referred to as:
Transcription Hebrew English Sho’t Siman 8ㅤㅤㅤ שוט סימן 8ㅤㅤ Whip Mark 8 Sho’t (Degem 8) שוט (דגם 8) Whip (Model 8) Senturion Siman 8 סנטוריון סימן 8 Centurion Mark 8 Documents confirming the official naming structure
IDF document from April 2, 1961, comparing the firepower of M-51 and Centurion Mk.5 against enemy T-54. Here we can see the Mk.5 referred to as “Sho’t (Degem 5)”
The picture was taken with the permission from the IDF Archive
IDF document from December 16, 1973, describing ongoing developments in the tank force (from October 5, 1973, up to March 31, 1975). Among the developments is the modernization of Centurion Mk.7 and Mk.8 to the Sho’t Cal standard. Here we can see the Mk.8 referred to as “Sho’t Siman 8”
The picture was taken with the permission from the IDF Archive
Commander manual for the Centurion tank, from July 1969, here we see the original name used- Acquisition of the Mark 8 -ㅤIn 1959, following the arrival of the first batch of 16 Centurion Mk.5s, Israeli officials, impressed by the new tank and its performance, reached an agreement with the British to revise the initial purchase plan from 60 used Centurions down to 30, modifying the order to include the newer Mk.8. According to different sources, Israel ordered either 14 or 18 of these tanks.
ㅤSeveral factors drove this decision. First, the Centurion Mk.8s were brand new off the production line, incorporating newer technologies and offering greater reliability compared to the used Mk.5s. Second, the Mk.8 featured an elongated hull with an additional third fuel tank, greatly extending its operational range, a critical factor for missions across the vast Negev Desert. Third, logistics favored the purchase: the Mk.8 shared its main gun and powerpack with the Mk.5, making it a practical addition at the time. The Mk.8s arrived in Israel between 1960 and 1961, making their public debut during the Independence Day parade on April 20, 1961.
Mark 8 during a firing demonstrations, mid-1960s
Credits: Robert Manasherob. “Centurions tanks of the IDF Shot volume.1”- Upgrading the Fleet: Sho’t Meteor -ㅤOver the following years, the IDF evaluated the Mk.8 against the older, secondhand Mk.3 and Mk.5 platforms and concluded that the Mk.8’s improvements did not justify the high cost of brand-new vehicles. Consequently, all subsequent orders were strictly confined to surplus Mk.3s and Mk.5s.
ㅤHowever, the main operational shortcoming of the older models, their limited fuel capacity and restricted range still needed a solution. Beginning in 1964, Israel initiated an extensive upgrade program for its Centurion fleet. The tanks were rearmed with the 105 mm L7 cannon while retaining their original petrol engines, and their hulls were elongated to house a third internal fuel tank behind the engine, matching the capacity of the Mk.8. Additional minor modifications were implemented to keep the fleet up to date. These upgraded tanks retained the designation Sho’t, though following the introduction of the diesel-powered Sho’t Cal in 1969 (“Cal” standing for Continental), petrol-engined Centurions were retroactively redesignated as Sho’t Meteor or Sho’t Benzin.
Components of the Sho’t Meteor upgradeㅤThese domestic upgrades rendered further purchases of expensive Mk.8s redundant, effectively limiting the future of the small Mk.8 fleet. Nevertheless, efforts were made to keep these tanks operational. At least some Mk.8s were upgraded to the Sho’t Meteor standard with the 105 mm L7 cannon, as evidenced in footage from 1970.
Mark 8–based Sho’t Meteor, 1970, note the new 105 mm L7 and addition of mantlet-mounted bracket for a .50 cal HMG or a searchlight- Service End of Mark 8 -ㅤFollowing the 1973 Yom Kippur War, IDF development documents (such as the one shown above) outlined a project to upgrade the remaining Mk.8 and Mk.7 tanks to the Sho’t Cal standard. Interestingly, there was no mention of Centurion Mk.7s anywhere beforehand and no pictures of them in service. It is highly probable these were captured from Jordanian forces, which had deployed Mk.7s on the Golan Heights and lost six of them to Israeli forces according to wartime records.
ㅤUltimately, these conversion plans were never realized. While the exact reasons remain unconfirmed, budget constraints were almost certainly the primary factor: maintaining distinct conversion procedures for just 18 Mk.8s and 6 Mk.7s made little sense alongside a main fleet of over 1,000 Mk.3s and Mk.5s, compounded by ongoing shortages of specialized spare parts, such as the Mk.8’s unique gun mantlet, was economically unviable.
ㅤThis marked the end of the Mk.8’s service life in the IDF, as by 1974 all petrol-engined Centurions were phased out of service. In contrast, the Mk.3 and Mk.5 variants continued as the backbone of the Israeli armored corps, evolving through successive generations of the Sho’t Cal line: Alef (1969), Bet (1975), Gimel (1979), and Dalet (1984). The series was finally retired from active service in 1991, remaining in reserve status until 2002.
Credits: Robert Manasherob. “Centurions tanks of the IDF Shot volume.1”
Spoiler
ㅤThe main armament of the Mk.8 is an 83.4 mm 20-pounder Type B cannon (with a bore evacuator). The secondary armament consists of two 7.62 mm Browning M1919A4 machine guns (.30 caliber): one coaxial and the second pintle-mounted on the commander’s cupola.
Credits: Robert Manasherob. “Centurions tanks of the IDF Shot volume.1”
ㅤThe total ammunition count is 64 rounds for the main cannon: 8 ready-racked, 36 on the hull floor, and 20 stored behind the fuel tank on the left side of the front hull. The ammunition for the 7.62 mm machine guns totals 4,500 rounds.
ㅤThe turret can traverse 360°, the gun elevation angles are from -10° to +20°, and the main cannon is two-plane stabilized. The tank is equipped with periscopes for every crew member, including the loader, but none are equipped with night vision devices, significantly limiting the tank’s capabilities in night combat scenarios. The gunner’s periscope has a 6x magnification.
ㅤThe rate of fire of the main cannon is limited by the skill of the crew members, but according to an IDF document from 1961, the average reload rate was 10 to 12 rounds per minute, translating to an average 5 to 6-second reload. This compares favorably to the enemy T-54 at 7.5 seconds (8 rpm) and the M-51 at 10 to 12 seconds (5 to 6 rpm).
ㅤThanks to an Ammunition Corps ammo overview and identification manual from June 1969, we know that Israeli 20-pounders were supplied with four ammunition types: Shot Mk. 1 and Mk. 3 APDS, as well as Shell Mk. 1 Smoke and HE shells. All of these ammunition types are already present in-game, so there is no need to detail their specifications further.
Spoiler
ㅤThe Centurion Mk.8 is powered by same good-old Rolls-Royce Meteor Mk 4B V12 petrol-engine, rated at 650 hp at 2550 rpm. Paired with Merritt-Brown Z51R manual gearbox with, 5 gears forward and 2 reverse. The top speed is 35 km/h forward and 12 km/h reverse. The most significant improvement of Mk.8 over the previous Mk.5, is its cruising range, thanks to the addition of the third fuel tank. The cross-country range is 95–97 km (compared to 52–60 km on Mk.5), and on roads 160–190 km (compared to 100–110 km on Mk.5).
Credits: Robert Manasherob. “Centurions tanks of the IDF Shot volume.1”
- Combat Weight: 50,800 kg
- Length with Gun Forward: 9,855 mm
- Hull Length: 7,823 mm
- Overall Width: 3,391 mm
- Overall Height: 3,010 mm
- Ground Clearance: 508 mm
Credits: Robert Manasherob. “Centurions tanks of the IDF Shot volume.1”
Spoiler
ㅤThe Centurion Mk.8 retains the same four-man crew (Commander, Gunner, Driver and Reloader) and layout as found on previous models. The same goes for the internal modules and ammunition layout. The most significant internal change is the addition of a third fuel tank behind the engine.
ㅤIt also retains the two multi-barrel smoke dischargers, each with 6 grenades (12 in total). The armor values were altered due to a slightly redesigned hull and turret structure. Thanks to available documents, the exact armor values of the Centurion Mk.8 are known:
Hull Armor
Type: Welded Plate
- Front
- Upper glacis (hull front, upper), 76 mm / 57°
- Lower glacis (hull front, lower), 76 mm / 45°
- Side
- Hull side, 51 mm / 12°
- Side skirt, 6 mm / 0°
- Rear
- Hull rear (upper), 32 mm / 17°
- Hull rear (lower), 19 mm / 62°
- Roof
- Hull roof (front), 29 mm / 80°
- Hull roof (middle), 29 mm
- Hull roof (rear), 10 mm
- Bottom (belly), 17 mm
Turret Armor
Type: Cast, Roof–Plate
- Front
- Turret front, 152 mm / 0°
- Gun mantlet, 152 mm / 0°
- Side
- Turret side, 89 mm / 0—10°
- Turret rear, 89 mm / 0°
- Roof
- Turret roof (Front and side slopes), 51 mm / 73—90°
- Turret roof (Top, welded plate), 29 mm
- Cupola door, 25 mm
- Bottom (turret bustle rack), 38 mm
Credits: Robert Manasherob. “Centurions tanks of the IDF Shot volume.1”
General Info:
- Name: Sho’t Siman 8 / שוט סימן 8
- Origin: UK
- Manufacturer: Vickers / Leyland Motors / Royal Ordnance Factory
- Year: 1960 - 1974
- Class: MBT (Medium Tank)
- Crew: 4 (commander, driver, gunner, and loader)
Dimensions:
- Length: 7.82 m
- Length w/gun facing forward: 9.85 m
- Height: 3.01 m
- Width: 3.39 m
- Ground clearance: 0.50 m
- Weight: 50,800 kg
Armaments:
- Main Armament: 1x 83.4 mm 20-pounder Type B
- Secondary Armament: 1x coaxial 7.62mm M1919A4 , 2x pintle-mounted 7.62mm M1919A4
- Ammo Storage
- 83.4mm: 65 rounds (1 in the chamber, 8 first-stage and 56 additional)
- 7.62mm: 4,500 rounds
- Ammo Types (83.4 mm)
- Shot Mk.1 APCBC
- Shot Mk.3 APDS
- Shell Mk.1 HE
- Shell Mk.1 Smoke
- Turret horizontal limits: 360°
- Turret vertical limits: -10°/+20°
- Ammo Storage
- Stabilizer: ✓
- Optics
- Periscopic gunner sight:
- Magnification: 6×
- Periscopic gunner sight:
Protection:
- Hull protection (F/S/R): 76 / 51 / 32 mm
- Type: Welded Plate
- Turret protection (F/S/R): 152 / 89 / 89 mm
- Type: Cast, Roof–Plate
- Smoke charges: 12x (2x multi-barrel smoke dischargers, each with 6x smoke grenades)
Engine + Performance:
- Engine: Rolls-Royce Meteor Mk 4B 12-cylinder petrol engine
- Transmission: Merritt-Brown Z51R
- Gears: 5 forward, 2 reverse.
- Horsepower: 650 hp
- Horsepower-to-Weight Ratio: 12.8 hp/t
- Speed
- Max. Forward: 35 km/h
- Max. Reverse: 12 km/h
- Suspension Type: Horstmann coil-spring bogie
- Range
- Cross-Country Range: 95–97 km
- Road Range: 160–190 km
Sources:
Spoiler
Robert Manasherob. “Centurions tanks of the IDF Shot volume.1” (Year 2011)
The main source of history and image material.
Centurion Mk. 9 & 10 Specifications
Some of the information is relevant for Mk.8
Source: https://tanks.mod16.org/pdf/Centurion%20mk%2010%20datasheet%20and%20drawings.pdf
"תולדות חיל החימוש בשנים 1967–1985 "חיל החימוש כמכפיל הכוח
Eng: “The History of the Ordnance Corps, 1967–1985: The Ordnance Corps as a Force Multiplier”
PDF: https://www.himush.co.il/himush.co.il/originals/nisim11/hil-hacimos//toldot-hil-hcimos1967-1985.pdf
“Dieselization of Centurion – Sho’t Cal” Pages 251–254
Centurion Mk. 8 & 7 Armor Thickness Specifications
IDF Document, 1973.
Mentions plans to upgrade Centurion Mk.7 and Mk.8 to the Sho’t Cal standard, as well as confirms the official name for Centurion Mk.8 – Sho’t Siman 8
IDF Document, 1961.
Comparison of firepower between Centurion Mk.5, enemy T-54 and M-51. As well as it mentions another naming confirmation, this time for Centurion Mk.5 – Sho’t (Degem 5)
IDF Ammo Overview, 1969.
Confirmation of ammunition used on Centurion Mk.8
Websites
Bukvoed’s LiveJournal Articles
Source for the import numbers and general history
For Centurion Mk.3/5/8 > I am legend. - Пещера злобного Буквоеда — LiveJournal
For Sho’t Meteor > I am legend 2. - Пещера злобного Буквоеда — LiveJournal
Armed_Conflicts
Specifications for the Centurion Mk.8: FV4014 Centurion Mk 8 : United Kingdom (GBR)
Blogsspot
Order of Battle of Jordanian forces during Yum Kippur War: Kampfgruppe Willow: Yom Kippur War Jordanian Order of Battle
(from here comes the figure of six captured Centurion Mk.7s)
Gallery (Unused Pictures):
Spoiler
Centurion Mk.8 upgraded to Sho’t Meteor standart, 1970 (with 105mm L7)
Centurion Mk.8 at 1963 Independence Day parade
Centurion Mk.8 at 1961 Independence Day parade (credits: Robert Manasherob)
Centurion Mk.8 at firing demonstrations, mid-1960s (credits: Robert Manasherob)
Final Words:
ㅤOverall, the Sho’t Siman 8 (Centurion Mk.8) would be very similar to what we already have in-game, featuring the same armor, mobility, and firepower found on the earlier Mk.3 and Mk.5 models. This means it would likely fit well at BR 7.7 (GRB).
ㅤThe main reason for this suggestion is that this vehicle, due to its limited numbers and scarce information online, has been largely forgotten by history, so I wanted to shine some light on this obscure tank. In my opinion, it would make a great premium vehicle for Israel’s Rank IV: it has a unique history, was acquired in limited numbers, and doesn’t really possess any major advantages over the Mk.5-based Sho’t we already have in-game. Alternatively, it could be added in a folder beneath the Sho’t currently in the tech tree.
- Researchable
- Premium
- Event
- Squadron
- I don’t know
- I voted no (first poll)
