Olifant Mk1B

Throughout the 1970s, South Africa redesigned and upgraded the British Centurion tanks in its military, first through the Skokiaan project, then through Project Semel, and eventually through the private-venture Oliphant Manufacturing Company. The Olifant Mk. 1B variant, however, was practically a complete rebuild that retained few of the original Centurion’s features. Improvements included a V-12 diesel engine, a double-armor floor for the hull, and a thermal gun sleeve. Production began in 1991.