Olifant Mk1A

As a former member of the British Commonwealth, South Africa was able to purchase a number of Centurion tanks in the 1950s. However, after departing the Commonwealth in 1961 and later becoming subject to trade embargos, it turned to domestic initiatives to update its tanks. The Oliphant main battle tank project followed the Skokiaan and Semel initiatives, with development of the Oliphant Mk. 1 beginning in 1976. The Oliphant Mk. 1A variant entered service almost a decade later, in 1985, and featured such improvements as a 105mm rifled gun and a laser rangefinder for the gunner.