Centurion vs Tiger?

[Shtudmuffin]

In a purely theoretical scenario, how would a Centurion tank fare against a Tiger tank? What about a T-54? An M26 Pershing? Any other similar tanks of the time period? I'm just curious to see how each of these tanks would fare.

[Shtudmuffin]

Oh, and by the way, such a theoretical scenario is the 2 tanks in question, on an open field, in peak mechanical condition, with equally trained crews and similar ammunition. Don't try to cop-out with specifics.

[StevoJH]

Which model of Centurion? The 17pdr armed Mk.1? the 20pdr armed Mk.3 or the 105mm armed Mk.5?

Going even further, there is the ultimate Mk.13 variant.

Personally i'd go with the Centurion.

The T-54/55 were both much smaller tanks than the Centurion. So again, i'd go Centurion.

Don't know much about the Pershing.

[Anaxagoras]

The Centurion would own the other tank's ass.

[omega21]

The Centurion's gun would give it the edge.

Speaking of Centurions, (crackle) Calling Mac, message over.

[DD951]

Originally Posted by StevoJH

Which model of Centurion? The 17pdr armed Mk.1? the 20pdr armed Mk.3 or the 105mm armed Mk.5?

Going even further, there is the ultimate Mk.13 variant.

Personally i'd go with the Centurion.

The T-54/55 were both much smaller tanks than the Centurion. So again, i'd go Centurion.

Don't know much about the Pershing.

IIRC, there were 3 or 4 Pershing-Tiger engagements in WW2, and the Pershing won all but one of them, though that's rather a small sample size to be drawing any conclusions from.

Wiki on WW2 service in the ETO

M-26 specs

[Nietzsche]

Originally Posted by omega21

The Centurion's gun would give it the edge.

Speaking of Centurions, (crackle) Calling Mac, message over.

Most indeed. All other points are moot until the big M A C arives. Praise be to the Mac! Who hath blessed us with knowledge on armoured warfare!

[NothingNow]

Originally Posted by Shtudmuffin

Oh, and by the way, such a theoretical scenario is the 2 tanks in question, on an open field, in peak mechanical condition, with equally trained crews and similar ammunition. Don't try to cop-out with specifics.

You do know that in pretty much any situation, the Tiger I or more likely, Tiger II is absolutely fucked, right?

Now T-54 versus Centurion Mk.3 is a kinda fair fight, as is a T-55 versus the Centurion Mk.5.

But putting a Centurion Mk.5 against a Tiger I is like putting an Amorous Moose up against a snap-happy tourist.
EDIT: In that After about the second time, it stops becoming interesting, and you just go inside to get the hose and brush ready, because you sure as hell don't want that stain setting.

[MattII]

I assume you're talking about Tiger IIs there, because the Tiger I was almost matched by the Sherman Firefly. Not that it really matters, because the answer is Centurion either way.

[Cockroach]

Okay, using the ballistic calculator in WWII Equipment:

Centurion I vs 88mm KwK 36 firing late war APCBC...at the turret (left) and hull (right):

Red equals high chance of pnetration, orange means penetration is possible but unlikely, yellow means the shell may shatter on impact and green means you'd be bloody (un)lucky to get a shell through...

So, in the simplest approximation (gun+ armour =?) a Tiger I could reliably kill a Centurion I from the flanks or rear at all ranges, but would need to be at point blank range to get through the glacis. At a range of around 1200m it'd have a good chance of putting a shell through the front of the turret (I suspect the calculator is only working on the 'mean' armour thickness over the front of the turret, not including any additional mantlet armour). Using an APCR round for the KwK36 leaves a Centurion's turret vulnerable at all ranges and angles out to 2km, but is still unable to get through the Cent's frontal hull armour.

The King Tiger's KwK43 can kill the get through the Cent's turret at all ranges and angles, but may have trouble agains thte hull from front-on beyond 1700m

Putting the boot on the other foot and using a 17 pounder to pop bog-standard AP at a Tiger I (turret, left, hull right):

So, even with a bog standard AP round the 17 Pounder should be able to get through a Tiger's hull armour out to 2km from front, flank and rear. For the turret, a chance of getting through the front out to 1900m with a good chance within about 1600m, with the proviso that this is based on the 120mm thickness of most of the Tiger's turret front, not the 200mm of it's mantlet, flanks and rear are predicatly enough easy. Trying again with 17 Pounder APCBC and APDS and the Tiger I's dead at pretty much any angle out to 2000m.

Repreating with 17 pounder vs Tiger II... vulnerable to plain AP and APCBC on flanks and rear at most ranges, only vulnerable front on at point blank. Hull invulnerable to APDS from front on, but turret vulnerable out to 2km.

EDIT: NOTE THAT THESE ARE VERY GENERAL FIGURES AND ANALYSIS... DO NOT TAKE THEM AS A FIRM ANSWER TO IS "X BETTER THAN Y?"