▲ Like a series of heavy tanks such as M26 Pershing and JS-3, the centurion with 17 pound high-speed tank gun, with a self-weight of 52 tons and a speed of 48 kilometers per hour, only caught up with the "tail" of World War II and was tested in Germany. It was not until 1950 s that combat effectiveness gradually formed.
▲ As the front car of the centurion, the 77-gun World War II veteran A-34 "Comet" became a passing vehicle after completing the transition. In exchange for enough foreign exchange and banknotes, the British government turned its attention to Cuba, a customer in the Caribbean.
As far as the overall performance of the comet is concerned, it is not too bad by the end of 1940s: the total weight is 33.53 tons, and the maximum speed of the comet can reach 5 1 km/h by using the improved Ross Royce meteor engine based on the fire-breathing engine. Its main weapon, the Vickers 77mm high-speed tank gun, is improved on the basis of 17lb, and it can penetrate 147mm armor (between 500m and 800m) when launching APCBC. In addition, there are two 7.92 mm BESA medium machine guns. One is coaxial and the other is the body. The maximum frontal armor of a comet is 102 mm, but it has been used by the British until 1958, which was completely replaced by a new centurion. The essential reason is still no money! The British, eager to find a buyer, finally arrived, but it was the internationally notorious Batista regime.
▲ Cuban dictator Batista. His dictatorship has aroused strong dissatisfaction from 1952- 1959. Finally, under the leadership of Castro, the leader of the future Cuban Production Party, Batista's dictatorship was overthrown and he lived in exile until his death in 1973.
As a "puppet" supported by the United States, Batista is bent on getting rid of the shackles of controlling Americans. Not only did he refuse to use weapons and equipment provided by the United States to solve "internal problems", but he also obstructed Americans' "free elections" in China. To this end, the United States announced in March 1958 that it would no longer supply weapons and equipment to Cuba. Batista, who lost his American backer, began to look for a second "master" around the world. At this time, the Englishman, who was in urgent need of money, came together with the financier. After some bargaining, 1958 in May, Batista reached a deal with the then British Prime Minister Harold Macmillan's government and bought 15 A-34 Comet and 17 Eagle Sea Rage fighter at a low price. In addition, there are a large number of civilian equipment and facilities. Including the 620 bus produced by Leyland, an old British locomotive factory, the port construction in Cuba and the cost of materials, totaling more than $6,543,800. For Britain, this is undoubtedly a lifesaving money! Fidel Castro, another figure at that time, was not interested in boycotting "British goods." What he wanted at that time was to overthrow the decadent and dictatorial basta regime and try his best to defeat him through guerrilla warfare!
▲ The future Cuban leader, Castro, is one of the backbones of the July 26th Movement.
However, the Cubans had no problem, but the British themselves fought first: Conservative Prime Minister Macmillan was criticized by Labour MPs, saying that the former was "throwing money at an authoritarian country undergoing revolution and getting nothing in return". Under the political pressure of the opposition, the British government had to intervene, saying that it would no longer carry out mutual trade assistance with the basta regime from February 1958 15. However, the time for Labour MPs to submit their reports is 165438+ 10/9. It stands to reason that more than half a month is enough to transport the needed materials to Cuba and reverse the contrarian trend of basta's army. Unexpectedly, the weather ruined the Conservative Party's good thing: the goods originally scheduled to enter Hong Kong on June 5438+05 did not reach Havana, the capital of Cuba, until June 17. These were once regarded by Bastita as "the winning weapon to defeat the insurgents", but they were not delivered in time, which led to his overthrow and exile on 1959 1.
▲ In the end, at least eight comet tanks were unloaded at Havana Port and transported to Havana Airport for display. And they have also become trophies of the Cuban revolutionary army in the future.
After learning of the fall of the basta regime, Britain and the United States announced a trade ban on Cuba in March 1959 respectively. Before that, a batch of materials already on the road could not be cancelled. They arrived in Havana from May to June in 1959. This includes five British sea rage fighters and five American helicopters. After all 15 comet tanks were stationed in Cuba, these "World War II goods" did not play a practical role. They only served in the Cuban army for two years. Because of the shortage of shells and limited maintenance, they were replaced by Soviet T-34/85 by the ancient army and became history.
▲ Comet tanks marching in Havana Square after the victory of the Cuban Revolution. Due to the rush of time, the British didn't even have time to dispose of the white five-star and handed it over to the Cubans.
▲/kloc-out of 0/5 comets, only two survived. Everything else has been rebuilt.