FV101 Scorpion
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| FV101 Scorpion | |
|---|---|
| General characteristics | |
| Crew | 3 |
| Length | 4.9 m |
| Width | 2.2 m |
| Height | 2.1 m |
| Weight | 8.07 tonnes |
| Armour and armament | |
| Armour | 12.7 mm |
| Main armament | 76mm gun L23A1
40 rounds |
| Secondary armament | 7.62mm coaxial machine gun L37A1
3,000 rounds |
| Mobility | |
| Power plant | diesel Cummins BTA 5.9 190 hp (142 kW) |
| Suspension | torsion-bar |
| Road speed | 80 km/h |
| Power/weight | 24 hp/tonne |
| Range | 644 km |
The FV101 Scorpion is a British light tank, part of the Combat Vehicle Reconnaissance (Tracked) or, CVR(T) family. The full design name is Combat Vehicle Reconnaissance (Tracked) Fire Support (Scorpion). Manufactured by Alvis Vickers it was introduced into service with the British Army in 1973 and served until 1994. More than 3,000 were produced.
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[edit] History
Intended to be a fast and air-transportable reconnaissance vehicle, the Scorpion is built from mainly aluminium armour and mounts a L23A1 76 mm gun firing HE, HESH, Smoke, and Canister rounds. Original models had a Jaguar 4.2 litre petrol engine. This engine was chosen because of its high power to weight ratio. Some customers specified diesel engines. The Perkins Diesel engine was chosen, which has shown longer in-service life, and has a reduced risk of fire. All models are capable of 80km/h.
The Scorpion and the similar Scimitar saw active service in the Falklands War of 1982, the only armoured vehicles of the British. With a 'footprint' lighter than that of a man, it was one of the few vehicles capable of operating in the extreme conditions of the Falklands land mass (wheeled vehicles had almost no use away from established roads).
The Scorpion has been withdrawn from service (the chief reason being that the 76mm gun had no fume extractor and could suffocate the crew if the vehicle was closed down for NBC protection). The hulls have been reused with the turrets from the FV 721 Fox wheeled reconnaissance vehicle to form a new vehicle, the Sabre, which is very similar in appearance to the Scimitar.
[edit] Users
Belgium - Belgian Army - (701 Scorpions and variants)
Botswana - Botswana Defence Force
Brunei Darussalam - Royal Brunei Armed Forces
Chile - Chilean Navy (Infantería de Marina - Chilean Marines)
China - People's Armed Police (reverse engineered)
India - Military of India
Iran - Iranian Army (ex. Imperial Iranian Army)
Ireland - Irish Army
Jordan - Royal Jordanian Land Force
Malaysia - Malaysian Army
Indonesia - Indonesian Army - (100 scorpions with 90mm gun)
New Zealand - New Zealand Army
Oman - Royal Army of Oman
Philippines - Armed Forces of the Philippines - (41 Scorpions received)
Spain - Spanish Marines
Thailand - Royal Thai Army
Venezuela - Army of Venezuela - (90 Scorpions 78 FV101-C.90 +6 FV104 +2 FV105 +4 FV106)
United Kingdom
[edit] Variants
Scorpion 90 - This export version is armed with the long-barreled Cockerill M.k3 M-A1 90mm gun, fitted with a prominent muzzle brake. It was purchased by the Malaysian and Venezuelan armed forces.
Related vehicles using the same (or similar) hull include:
- FV102 Striker anti-tank guided weapon carrier
- FV103 Spartan armoured personnel carrier
- FV104 Samaritan armoured ambulance
- FV105 Sultan command post vehicle
- FV106 Samson armoured recovery vehicle
- FV107 Scimitar armoured reconnaissance vehicle
- Sabre - Scorpion chassis retro-fitted with a turret from the Fox Armoured Reconnaissance Vehicle
These vehicles are collectively known as the CVR(T) - Combat Vehicle Reconnaissance (Tracked) - family.
[edit] Production
- A total of approxiamately 4,000 vehicles of the CVR(T) family had been manufactured in the UK and Belgium by the time production ceased in the mid-1990's.
[edit] External links
- British Army museum
- Janes Land Forces
- History of the development of the series
- FV101 Scorpion at Army-Guide.com
[edit] See also
- Tank
- History of the tank
- AVGP Canadian armoured vehicle using the Scorpion turret.
| Modern (post WW2) UK armoured fighting vehicles |
|---|
| Wheeled vehicles |
| Ferret Scout Car | Fox Reconnaissance Vehicle | Saladin Armoured Car | Saracen APC |
| FV1611 "Pig" | Saxon | Mastiff PPV |
| Armoured personnel carriers and infantry fighting vehicles |
| FV432 | Warrior | FV103 Spartan | Stormer | FV104 Samaritan | FV105 Sultan |
| Light tanks and anti-tank vehicles |
| FV101 Scorpion | FV107 Scimitar | Sabre | FV102 Striker | FV438 Swingfire |
| Self-propelled artillery |
| FV433 Abbot | AS-90 |
| Main battle tanks |
| Centurion | Conqueror | Chieftain | Challenger 1 | Challenger 2 |
| UK unarmoured or non-fighting vehicles |
