The Centurion is significant in the history of British armoured fighting vehicles as well as being one of the most important postwar Western tanks. Introduced into British Army service in December 1946 versions of Centurion were still serving with British forces in the Iraq War of 2003 some 58 years later. Centurions have also seen combat in the Korean and Vietnam Wars in the Middle East wars and in the IndoPakistan War 1965 where it fought against USsupplied M47 and M48 Patton tanks. The Hay