Centurion Mk.5/1
Vietnam Group Build

In February 1968 the announcement that a squadron of Centurion tanks was to reinforce the Australian forces in South Vietnam was greeted by skepticism in some quarters. Critics claimed that the mobility of the heavy tanks would be so curtailed by the rice paddies and jungle that they would eventually become static pillboxes defending the perimeter of bases. It was also argued that an enemy with modern anti-tank weapons could easily destroy the slow and cumbersome Centurions. However, such criticisms were soon to be disproved.

Operation Hammer (The Battle of Binh Ba 6–8 June 1969) - On the morning of 6 June 1969, two Australian Centurions of 4 Troop, B Squadron were making their way northwards along Route 2 in support of the infantry when they came under fire from a nearby house in the village of Binh Ba, 8 miles north of Dui Dat. The battle raged on for about four hours before the tanks had to withdraw having exhausted their ammunition .

One of the Centurions involved in the battle was Centurion, ARN 169007, call sign 24A of B Squadron, named “Buku Boom Boom”.