Army’s legendary tanks now at Marina

The Marina Beach has a new attraction — the brave war heroes, Centurion battle tanks, which served in the Army from its induction in 1953 till its phase-out in the 1980s.

The tanks have been installed by the Indian Army Headquarters, Dakshin Bharat Area, at prominent locations, and established on specially designed plinths by the Greater Chennai Corporation.

According to a press release, India acquired these tanks from the U.K. to modernise its Armoured Corps. Because of their incredible performance on the battlefield during several wars, including the 1965 and 1971 Indo-Pak wars, these tanks earned the honorary title Bahadur (Brave).

During the 1965 Battle of Asal Uttar, Indian Centurions decimated Pakistan’s advanced M47 and M48 Patton tanks, earning the nickname, “Patton Killer”.

In the Battle of Basantar in 1971, the Centurions from The Poona Horse regiment played a pivotal role in countering the Pakistani army.

These tanks featured heavy armour and were famously upgraded with 105 mm L7 rifled guns. In the 1980s, the fleet was replaced by the indigenous Vijayanta and Soviet-built T-72 “Ajeya” tanks. Even after retirement from formal armoured regiments, some hulls were used in secondary roles such as static artillery fortifications or mobile howitzers along the Line of Control.

The release said the initiative forms part of the ongoing public outreach efforts to bring India’s military heritage closer to the people, enabling citizens to better understand the Armed Forces, and their legacy of service and sacrifice.

The Centurion tanks will serve as enduring symbols of valour, sacrifice, and national pride, while inspiring younger generations with the values of duty and discipline, it said.

As revered war trophies and symbols of national service, the Centurion tanks deserve the highest standards of public respect and care. Visitors are encouraged to preserve the dignity of the displays and treat them as enduring reminders of the courage, sacrifice, and dedication of the soldiers who serve the nation, it said.

The initiative also reflects the strong Civilian-Military synergy through the collaborative efforts of the Indian Army, the Government of Tamil Nadu, and the Greater Chennai Corporation, the release added.