British MBTs

[ArmySGT.]

There are all the Israeli Centurion conversions too. No reason that UK spy agencies might not be looking into those conversions in the run up to the Twilight war.

[Legbreaker]

Not to mention those in museums or private collections. I believe there's even a few old tanks which have been turned into farm tractors or logging machinery. Their weapons may be long gone, but their armour is still there... Doesn't take a huge amount of work to throw on a couple of machineguns, and with a decent workshop heavier weapons could be installed (if available).

[Rainbow Six]

Weren't the Royal Marines still using the Centurion as a Beach Armoured Recovery Vehicle until well into the 90's (at least) IRL?

[James Langham]

Originally Posted by Rainbow Six

Weren't the Royal Marines still using the Centurion as a Beach Armoured Recovery Vehicle until well into the 90's (at least) IRL?

Yes I plan to include just for completeness.

[Cpl. Kalkwarf]

Originally Posted by Legbreaker

Not to mention those in museums or private collections. I believe there's even a few old tanks which have been turned into farm tractors or logging machinery. Their weapons may be long gone, but their armour is still there... Doesn't take a huge amount of work to throw on a couple of machineguns, and with a decent workshop heavier weapons could be installed (if available).

And the Main guns could be replaced with ones from other afvs that were badly damaged in a battle. Maybe not what the originals were but allot of kit bashing could be done. Would make for some interesting
AFVs.

[Legbreaker]

Originally Posted by Cpl. Kalkwarf

And the Main guns could be replaced with ones from other afvs that were badly damaged in a battle. Maybe not what the originals were but allot of kit bashing could be done. Would make for some interesting AFVs.

Or a length of pipe and a coat of paint could create the illusion of a decent weapon installed. For an example look at Oddballs tanks in Kelly Heros. Throw in a couple of SFX squibs and you'd give a group of bandits something to think twice about!

[Cpl. Kalkwarf]

Originally Posted by ArmySGT.

There are all the Israeli Centurion conversions too. No reason that UK spy agencies might not be looking into those conversions in the run up to the Twilight war.

What the heck would one need spies for that for. Merkavas maybe?, but the Patton and centurion conversions were well known at that time. Nothing secrete about them at that time.

[Raellus]

Originally Posted by Cpl. Kalkwarf

What the heck would one need spies for that for. Merkavas maybe?, but the Patton and centurion conversions were well known at that time. Nothing secrete about them at that time.

Yes, at least in the '90s and '00s, the Israeli's actively marketted some of their add-on passive armor packages for their M48s, M60s, and Centurions. The Turks almost let the Israelis refurbish their M60s. The Israeli's likely helped the South Africans upgrade their Centurions (the Oliphant, IIRC) in the '80s and '90s and there's no secret about the reactive armor suites the Israelis were putting on their Centurions in the very early '80s.

As tensions rose in Europe after the Soviet invasion of China, the Brits could have done any or all of the above to quickly upgrade any of their remaining operational Centurions.

[ArmySGT.]

Originally Posted by Cpl. Kalkwarf

What the heck would one need spies for that for. Merkavas maybe?, but the Patton and centurion conversions were well known at that time. Nothing secrete about them at that time.

I wouldn't bet on that.

Just because it is for sale or found in a museum park doesn't mean that was top of the line. The Israelis may have held back information or remove items. The Israeli method is not to throw something away but to repurpose that equipment. The Equipment moves down an echelon of readiness as something new is fielded. The Merkava is first line, with more Merkava in ready reserve call up, Sabras in active reserve being maintained and run monthly. The Centurions not in active use with the Engineers in the counter mine / counter IED role between the kibbutzes would be in Depot for call up to Militia or Police units.

Small details can be significant facts in planning a military campaign. If the Israelis for instance misrepresented the operational range of a Centurion with a new power pack, it would be a rude surprise to find Centurions 100km further on than your war plans called for if your the Syrians or the Egyptians.