CENTURION MK. 5, C SQUADRON, 4 RTR, SMUTS BARRACKS, BERLIN 1960–61
C Squadron of 4 RTR was deployed to Berlin in late 1960 to serve as the armored support of the
BAOR’s Berlin Independent Infantry Brigade. Traditionally, 4 RTR used tank names starting with the
fourth letter of the alphabet so “Diehard” (05 BA 46), “Discoverer”, and “Disdain” as seen here. The
markings are fairly typical for the BAOR, so on the front is a yellow bridging weight circle, arm-ofservice,
vehicle registration number, and the Berlin Brigade insignia. Many of the unit tanks carried
the Union Flag centrally below the registration number on the bow, although not in this case. On
the rear, essentially the same markings were applied in appropriate locations. On the turret rear is
C Squadron’s tactical sign with “2” inside, painted on a black jerrican. On the front of the turret bins
is the unit’s traditional “Chinese Eye” insignia dating back to World War I when a Chinese
businessman contributed money to purchase a Mark IV tank for the 4th Battalion RTR. On the
sides of the turret bins are C Squadron’s tactical insignia, and on the hull bin is the tank name in
white on a black background. Tanks of this unit were repainted in US Army olive drab, a practice
peculiar to British units stationed in Berlin. This was presumably to resemble the Allied US and
French detachments in Berlin and to avoid confusion between the usual British bronze green and
Soviet dark green tanks.