The Olifant (Afrikaans for Elephant) is the primary main battle tank of South Africa. It was developed from the British Centurion tank since 1976. These tanks were heavily redesigned and rebuilt by South Africa since 1976 with some help from Israel. Although based on a Centurion tank hull, it has a domestically-produced gun, power pack, transmission, tracks, wheels and fire control system.
History
The British Centurion tanks were the South African main battle tanks since 1957, but they were sold or relegated to reserve roles as a result of maintenance problems compounded by parts shortages, and a tendency to overheat in the hot African climate.
Operation Savannah in 1975 saw the lightly armoured South African forces in Angola threatened by large formations of Soviet tanks supplied to the People's Armed Forces for the Liberation of Angola (FAPLA) and their Cuban allies. Operation Savannah led to the need of further tank trials under Project Semel. South Africa purchased a number of surplus Centurion hulls from Jordan and India, but the United Nations Security Council Resolution 418, which imposed a mandatory arms embargo on South Africa forced them to purchase the tanks without turrets or armament.
Skokiaan tank at the South African Armour Museum, Bloemfontein. This was the first of eleven prototypes to be built and is the only known survivor, taken July 2014 by User Katangais
During 1968 South Africa made their first attempt of fixing the Centurion's problems in the African environment (such as overheating), the first modification took place with the upgrade being the replacement of the engine with a 372 kW (500 hp), V12, Detroit diesel, model V71 two-stroke diesel engine, the second modification took place in 1973 with the fitting of a Continental fuel-injection engine and a three-speed Allison Semi-Automatic transmission which took place at the 61 base workshop in Pretoria in cooperation with ARMSCOR, the Project was registered under the name of "Project Skokiaan" and saw the development of 3 prototypes whom of which were tested in South West Africa, Wlavis Bay (Namibia), the project had a grand total of 11 Skokiaans but the project was ultimately found unsuccessful with the engine having an extremely high fuel consumption, so the project was canceled in 1974 and only 9 Skokiaans were sent to Angola in 1976, although Project Skokiaan failed, it helped directly to the development of the improved Semal upgrade
After the failure of Project Skokiaan, the South African government was obliged by the arms embargo to finance the creation of a new private sector enterprise, the Olifant Manufacturing Company (OMC), to refurbish the Centurions. The Semel program in 1974 counted a total of 35 conversions, soon used operationally. Information from the Sho't program – the Israeli Centurion conversion program – helped to start a more ambitious project. These refurbished tanks were named Olifant Mk.1.
During Operation Askari, South African forces clashed with FAPLA T-54/55 tanks in late 1983 and early 1984; however, due to the respective logistical commitment the Olifants were not deployed. At length the South African mechanised infantry, bolstered by Eland and Ratel-90 armoured car squadrons, succeeded in destroying the Angolan tanks on their own. But eventually, a single squadron of thirteen Olifant Mk.1As was sent to the Angolan border, where they were attached to the 61 Mechanised Battalion Group. Following the Lusaka Accords, which effectively ensured a ceasefire between South Africa and Angola, the Olifant Mk.1 were placed into storage and the tank crews rotated out.
Starting in 1983, OMC had upgraded further Centurions with a 29-litre Teledyne Continental turbocharged diesel engine and a new transmission adopted from the M60 Patton. The refurbished Centurions were armed with a South African variant of the 105 mm L7 rifled main gun known as the "GT-3". They were accepted into service with the South African Armoured Corps as the Olifant Mk.1A in 1985.
The launch of Operation Moduler, following the collapse of the Lusaka Accords in late 1987, led to the Olifant squadron being activated on the direct orders of President P.W. Botha. On 9 November 1987 the Olifants destroyed two Angolan T-55s. Throughout the operation, South African forces typically dispersed into an "arrowhead" formation, with Olifants in the lead, Ratel-90 armoured cars on the flanks, and the remainder of the mechanised infantry to the rear and centre.
Three Olifants were abandoned in a minefield during Operation Packer from March to April 1988; one was retrieved by the Cubans and taken to the town of Cuito Cuanavale:338 and the other two remain to this day in the Angolan bush. Another two were damaged beyond immediate repair by mines but successfully recovered. A number of others suffered varying degrees of track and suspension damage due to mines or Angolan tank fire, but were able to keep moving after field repairs. The operational failure by the SADF ended in a strategic stalemate.
Leopold Scholtz's book The SADF in the Border War 1966-1989 offers detailed observations about the use of Olifants in the war, including their tactics and operations, especially during Operation Packer, which is the "stalemate at Tumpo". For Operation Packer, the book relies on interviews with General Louw, who indicates that Lt. Gen. Kat Liebenberg, Chief of the Army, present at Fouche's HQ, countermanded an order to destroy the abandoned Oliphants, assuming they could be recovered later. They were not, as the SADF vacated the battlefield. As for the two tanks never recovered: "the other two proved impossible to move, so heavily had their tracks and suspensions been damaged." It was the only slightly damaged one that the Cubans recovered which eventually ended up in the USSR.
In the early 1990s, the Olifant Mk.1A was superseded by the Olifant Mk.1B, which incorporated major improvements in armour protection, a slightly more powerful engine, a double armoured floor for protection against mines, and a torsion bar suspension. It is barely recognisable as a Centurion.
In the 1990s the Olifant Mk.1B Optimum was developed, it was a continuation of the Olifant tank family which had a very similar turret profile to the TTD when the Sharp Composite package was removed, Although it was competing with the TTD, in the end it was more of a stop gap that the SADF was using while working on the TTD and after the SADF finished the Loggim program, they canceled full continuation of the Mk.1B Optimum, with the only form of continuation being some systems that modern Olifant Mk.2s use from the Optimum, it used a GT-8 105mm Rifled Main Cannon and a 7.62x51mmMG-4 Browning Coaxial Machine Gun, with a 950 horsepower diesel powered air cooled V-12 Engine, Advanced Ceramic Armor, an advanced Fire control system and advanced optics that used high quality TVD and NVD systems.
Also in the 1990s, the Tank Technology Demonstrator (TTD) was developed, the TTD was a new start for the Olifant family, instead of continuing the Olifant as the flagship MBT, ARMSCOR the main South African military procurement and manufacturey group started a program in the late 1980s called the Loggim program, also known as TTD program, it was intended to be a domestically produced counter to the Russian T-80, and T-72 main battle tanks with it being projected of being able to counter T-90 tanks as well . Parts of the tank were based on other vehicles such as the U.S. M1 Abrams, German Leopard 2, and French Leclerc, with it outperforming some western tanks in specific categories while being on par with them overall. It had a 105 mm GT-3 QF semi-automatic main gun for the testing version, and a 120 mm GT-6 QF semi-automatic smooth-bore main gun for the production variant, upgradable to a 140 mm QF semi-automatic smooth-bore main gun, it also offers 750mm of composite armor with effective thickness being Unknown.
The Olifant Mk.2 was adapted in 2005 when South Africa was no longer subject to international embargoes. Externally, the Mk.2 looks identical to the Mk.1B but features an upgraded Continental 29 Litre turbo-charged V12 diesel engine that produces 1040 horsepower. Improvements include an upgraded Fire Control System (FCS) and a Computerised Battle System (CBS) which includes a hunter-killer mode. A LIW 120 mm smoothbore gun known as the GT-9 can be used instead of the 105 mm GT-3, L7 rifled gun. In 2018, a total number of 26 Mk.2 tanks was produced.
Variants
Variant
Comment
Image
Skokiaan Mk.1
Main Battle Tank
Tested: 1968-1974
Service: 1976
Engine: 372 kW (500 hp), V12, Detroit diesel, model V71 two-stroke diesel engine
Engine: new 750hp Continental AV1790 diesel V12 power pack, transmission and automatic gearbox, new coolant system,
Weaponry: 105 mm L7 cannon (GT-3), improved fire control and storage layout for ammunition
Survivalbility: fire extinguishers
Mobility: new track wheels
Mineclearing: Both Olifant Mk.1A and B can be fitted with plough-type, electrohydraulic dozer blade or a roller-type mechanical mineclearing set. The 3.5 m wide dozer blade weighs 1500kg
Weaponry: more powerful 105 mm L7 cannon (GT-3B) with thermal sleeve, laser rangefinder added, 7.62 mm general purpose co-axial machine gun and a 7.62 mm anti-aircraft machine gun fitted, first gen image intensifier, driver's station equipped with day/night sight, gunner's station fitted with day/night sights
Survivability: glacis plate and nose of the hull upgraded with passive armour, turret stand-off armour, double-armour floor, running gear protected against HEAT missiles by new sideskirts, fuel injection system smoke screen in engine's exhaust added, fire detection and suppression system improved
Mobility: torsion bar running gear, hydraulic dampers fitted to the first and last pair of wheels, maximum road speed of 58km/h and maximum range on internal fuel of 350km, can ford water to a depth of 1.5m, negotiate gradients and slopes of 60% and 30% and vertical obstacles up to 1m in height
Olifant Mk.1B Optimum
Main Battle Tank.
Service: Prototype
Engine: 950 horsepower diesel powered air cooled V-12 Engine.
Weaponry: 105 mm GT-8 rifled gun, 7.62x51 mmMG-4 Browning Coaxial Machine Gun, an advanced Thermal Vision Device and Night Vision Device, and an advanced Fire Control System.
Survivability: Same glacis armor as the Mk.1B but has a sharp turret advanced composite armor package resembling the German Leopard 2A5 that uses Ceramic to defend against Russian 125 mm APFSDS rounds.
Weaponry: 105 mm L7 cannon (GT-3B), periscopic stabilized day/ thermal gunner sight with laser rangefinder, upgraded ballistic computer added to the fire control system, panoramic commander sight, full solution fire control system, fire on the move and day and night time engagements, ready rounds located in carousel mounted turret basket, allowing fire rate of 10rpm
Survivability: modular composite armour sloping on turret and hull front, in case of ammunition ignition, blow-off panels and armoured doors protect the crew
Weaponry: 105 mm GT-3B, planned 120 mm modularly upgradable to 140 mm GT-6, 7.62 mm/7.92 mm machine gun to be placed ontop of the turret, a highly advanced Hunter-killer Fire Control System, 2nd generation Thermal and Night Vision Devices.
Survivability: 750 mm of composite armor with an effective thickness unknown
References
Citations
123456789User Handbook for Tk., Med.Gun, Centurion, Mk.3,5 and 6 (1965)
1234Harmse, Kyle; Dunstan, Simon (23 February 2017). South African Armour of the Border War 1975–89. Oxford, UK: Osprey Publishing. pp.4, 32–46. ISBN978-1-4728-1743-3.
12Ogorkiewicz, Richard (2015). Tanks: 100 Years of Evolution. Oxford, UK: Osprey Publishing. pp.222–223. ISBN978-1-4728-0670-3.
↑"Skokiaan". War Thunder — official forum. 2024-05-27. Retrieved 2026-10-03.
12Scholtz, Leopold (2012). "The Lessons of the Border War". Stellenbosch: Military Science Department, Stellenbosch University. Archived from the original on 28 January 2015. Retrieved 24 March 2017.
↑Hamann, Hilton (2007) [2003]. Days of the Generals. Cape Town: Struik Publishers. p.94. ISBN978-1-86872-340-9.
↑Holt, Clive (2008) [2005]. At Thy Call We Did Not Falter. Cape Town: Zebra Press. pp.68–69. ISBN978-1-77007-117-9.
↑George, Edward (2005). The Cuban intervention in Angola: 1965-1991: from Che Guevara to Cuito Cuanavale (1. publ.ed.). London [u.a.]: Frank Cass. ISBN0415350158.
↑Shubin, Gennadiĭ Vladimirovich; Tokarev, Andreĭ Aleksandrovich (2011) [2007]. Bush War: The Road to Cuito Cuanavale – Soviet Soldiers' Accounts of the Angolan War. Auckland Park: Jacana Media (Pty) Ltd. p.31. ISBN978-1-909982-39-0.
↑Polack, Peter (2013). The Last Hot Battle of the Cold War: South Africa vs. Cuba in the Angolan Civil War (illustrateded.). Oxford, UK: Casemate Publishers. p.149. ISBN978-1-61200-195-1.
Dunstan, Simon (1980). Centurion (Modern Combat Vehicles: 2). Ian Allan Publishing. ISBN978-0711010635.
Dunstan, Simon (2003). Centurion Universal Tank 1943–2003. New Vanguard 68). illustrated by Badrocke M. and Sarson P. Osprey Publishing. ISBN978-1-84176-387-3.
Harmse, Kyle; Dunstan, Simon (2017). South African Armour of the Border War 1975–89. Oxford, UK: Osprey Publishing. ISBN978-1-4728-1743-3.
Miller, David (2001). The Illustrated Directory of Tanks of the World. Salamander Books Ltd. ISBN978-0-7603-0892-9.
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