The story behind how South Africa came to deploy a squadron of heavy tanks in the mid-60s is a strange and convoluted affair that, had it not actually happened, would have read like an entry in some bizarre alternative history journal.
For South Africa, the tale essentially starts with its independence from colonial rule in 1910. The fledgling nation is keen to make its mark on the world. Its armed forces, although small, have a reputation for fighting hard and punching about their weight. Both world wars see South Africa fully committed to the Allied cause. In particular, South Africa’s military contribution during WW2, under the leadership of Jan Smutts, is critical to the North African and Italian campaigns. South Africa emerges from the Allied victory with its prestige and national honour enhanced. South Africa's standing in the international community is rising, at a time when the Third World's struggle against colonialism had still not taken centre stage. In May 1945, Prime Minister Smuts represents South Africa in San Francisco at the drafting of the United Nations Charter.
During WW2, Britain’s tank designs are, at best, haphazard and it is not until the closing days of the war that a capable tank in the form of the A34 Comet is produced. However, plans for an even heavier and more capable tank have been progressing with two very different and distinct lines of development. The A41 Centurion will eventually be a very capable tank but in 1945 is plagued with problems and will not see service in WW2. The second line is based on an enlarged Churchill design – designated A43 Black Prince. A less advanced design than the Centurion, the Black Prince goes into limited production with 20 built before the war ends. The end of the war sees the immediate need for a heavy tank recede and the decision is made to progress with the greater potential of the Centurion and cancel the Black Prince. In recognition of South Africa’s contribution during WW2, Britain gifts them the 20 operational A43s under the high profile Project Lionheart.
After the initial public interest dies down, the 20 Lionhearts are transferred to the South African Armoured Reserve and quietly forgotten about. Smutts is defeated at the polls in the 1948 elections at the hands of a resurgent National Party. South Africa descends into eventual isolation from a world that will no longer tolerate any form of political discrimination or differentiation based on race only.
In 1956, the Suez Crisis sees a combined force from Britain, France and Israel launch a concerted effort against Egypt in order to seize the Suez Canal. For its part, Israel will push into, and secure, the Sinai Peninsula. This proves to be relatively straight forward with Egyptian forces in complete disarray. Much to their surprise, forward IDF armoured units ‘liberate’ a tank storage park on the East bank of the canal which amongst various T34 variants also holds 15 Tiger IIs. Subsequent interrogation of prisoners reveals that the Tiger IIs were a gift from the Soviet Union to the Egyptian Presidential Guard; the Tigers having presumably been captured at some time during WW2. Whilst tempted to destroy these last vestiges of Nazi power, the canny Israelis decide instead to store them away for a rainy day.
In 1965, South Africa faces mounting pressure from its surrounding neighbours and Angolan insurgents in particular. The Soviet Union is only too happy to extend its sphere of influence into Africa and readily supplies arms and ammunition to stoke the fires of discontent. Cuba starts to deploy forces directly into Angola. South Africa rapidly need to expand its armed forces and starts to call up its Reserve formations. Major General Ben MacCaulay, head of the South African Armoured Corps realises that a show of force is needed on the border but is acutely aware that on-going British sanctions have deprived him of much needed armoured assets and the world class Centurion in particular. At what seems to be the darkest hour, MacCaulay is approached by representatives from the IDF who offer a potential solution. Israel offers to overhaul and enhance 15 of the old Lionhearts utilising the turrets from their stored Tiger IIs. The end result, whilst not a class act by Western standards, is certainly better than anything currently deployed in Africa. Although designated the Lionheart Mk II, media headlines pronounce them as MacCaulay’s Miracle; the name sticks and images are flashed world-wide. General MacCaulay gets his show of force. To the crews, however, the Lionheart Mk II is simply the Big Mac. In 1966, the Big Macs hold the line when the border tension spilled into open war. Following the Israeli 6-Day war in 1967 and realising the Soviet danger in Africa, Britain finally relaxed most of its sanctions and started exporting Centurions to the hard pressed South Africans. With the arrival of the much superior Centurions, all of the Big Macs are stood down and returned to the Reserve. It is testament to this unique AFV that all 15 still exist in various museums around the world.
Specifications:
Weight 57 tons
Length Hull: 7.91 m
Overall: 10.4 m
Width 3.4 m
Height 3.12 m
The model represents the 4th tank of A Squadron (Heavy), the Pretoria Regiment and is constructed from parts from a Tamiya Churchill Mk VII, a Tamiya King Tiger, AFV Club Centurion track links, a few bits from a Tamiya Leopard 1A4 and a whole lot of plastic card scratch build.