Cruiser Tank MK VIII

Cromwells and Centaurs were generally armed with 75mm guns but had close support variants armed with 95mm. The only Centaurs to see action as gun tanks (as apposed to bulldozers and recovery vehicles), were 95mm variants (Centuar IV's) attached to the Royal Marine Armoured Support Group. 80 such Centaurs were to have formed the first wave of the D-Day assault, though not all made it ashore. Many special modifications were made: the bow machine gun was removed and plated over, mudguards were removed and their turrets were marked with degrees like a protractor, to enable the gunfire to be directed. At the last minute, it was decided that the Centaurs would have to go ashore, so further water-proofing modifications were made. They were also provided with armoured sleds (porpoises) to carry extra ammunition since as the first vehicles ashore, they could not be re-supplied