Centurion BARV

The end of service life.

Picture
In 2005 the MOD decided to cast all remaining Centurion BARV's from service. the last to see service was 02 ZR 77 being used in both Gulf wars and lastly in operation sea dagger in 2002. Considering the important role that the BARV's filled you might think there may have been a lot of interest in preserving them, sadly this is not the case and half those built have been sent to the scrap mans tourch. With only 12 ever having been built this leaves only 6 left in the world. Making the rarest of all the Centurions built.  When I first saw mine she was full of 2 feet of water having been left outside durring one of the worst rain storms in reasent history . I was able to win her in a tender sale held at Withams in 2008. She was bought at slightly higher than scrap value. She was transported over the Pennines to have work on the engine and brakes to get her running again. This was done at considerable cost at Bob Grundy British military vehicles. he returned her new home in Sheffield. Sadly local vandals tried to set her on fires as well as to damage both interior and exterior. Lukily a local aircraft museum  at Doncaster Aeroventure kindly offered to help with storage. She is currently on display at the museum daily durring school hoildays and Wednesday through to Sunday near the Doncaster lakeside.She is still undergoing restoration work.

Picture
Operation Sea Dagger 2002
Picture
At Aeroventure Doncaster. http://www.aeroventure.org.uk/index.php
Picture
After a repaint.
Centurion BARV