Centurion was one of the blockships sunk off the Normandy coast in June 1944, to form breakwaters to protect landing craft and other coastal shipping from the weather. These breakwaters were codenamed 'Gooseberries', in contrast to the 'Mulberries', which were prefabricated harbours. The 'Gooseberries' covered a wider area, but did not have the piers and jetties that the 'Mulberries' had. The individual blockships that made up the 'Gooseberries' were codenamed 'Corncobs'. Each beach had a 'Gooseberry'.

Centurion was part of the 'Gooseberry' off Omaha. She was the lead ship of the line of blockships that protected the eastern flank of the 'Mulberry' harbour at Vierville. She moved across the Channel under her own steam, and on the 7th, was manoeuvred into position by tugs. Early in the afternoon, scuttling charges blew out her bottom, sinking her. Her upperworks remained above water, letting them be used as offices, accommodation spaces for landing craft crews, or anti-aircraft platforms. On the 19th-22nd June, the beachhead was struck by a major storm. This did heavy damage to the 'Mulberry' off Omaha, which was not fully complete; it also broke Centurion's back, splitting her in two. She remained in place, though, and continued to provide shelter to landing craft in the 'Gooseberry'. After the war, she was scrapped in place, like most of the rest of the 'Corncobs'. Raising her was impractical, given the damage she had sustained in the storm.