I read in Osprey's book on the Cromwell tank that the Centaur tanks that survived the D-Day invasion were handed over to the Free French forces but saw no combat service. Did the Free French actually do anything with them, such as training?

I have actually been doing some research on this at the moment. It seems 12 Centaurs went from the Marines to the British Airborne as the "X" Armoured Battery attached to the 53rd Airlanding Lt Regt, 6th Airborne on June 24, 1944. Then on August 6, 1944 the tanks were acquired for the 1st Canadian Centaur Battery, R.C.A..

There is rumor that the commander of 1st Polish Armoured Division acquired one for you command tank. And also some may have been converted to Anti-Aircraft.

At this moment, I have not seen anything of any going to the French. But I have seen images of what have been labeled as late war of Cromwells with what look to be be the short 95mm. But they don't have the degree markings on the turrets.

According to chars-francais website the French Army received some Centaurs in early 1945 to equip the 13eme Régiment de Dragons :

http://www.chars-francais.net/2015/index.php/engins-blindes/chars?task=view&id=666

http://the.shadock.free.fr/Blindes_en_France.pdf

H.P.