Alvis Saracen

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FV 603 Saracen in Yad la-Shiryon museum, Israel.
Alvis Saracen Mk 1
General characteristics
Crew	2 + 9
Length	4.8
Width	2.54
Height	2.46
Weight	11
Armour and armament
Armour	16
Main armament	2 x machine gun
Secondary armament	none
Mobility
Power plant	Rolls-Royce B80 Mk.6A, 8 cyl petrol 119 kW
Suspension	6 x 6 wheel
Road speed	72
Power/weight
Range	400

The FV 603 Saracen was a six-wheeled armoured personnel carrier built by Alvis and used by the British army that became a recognisable vehicle as a result of its part in the policing of Northern Ireland.

Contents 1 History 2 Combat History 3 Operators 4 Variants 4.1 Mk 1 4.2 Mk 2 4.3 Mk 3 4.4 Mk 4 4.5 Mk 5 4.6 Mk 6 5 External links 6 Notes

[edit] History

The Saracen was the armoured personnel carrier of Alvis' FV600 series. Besides the driver and commander, a squad of 8 soldiers plus a troop commander could be carried. A machine gun could be mounted on the roof and there were ports on the sides through which troops can fire. Although removed from active service, it saw extensive use into the 1980's in Northern Ireland and was a familiar sight during "The Troubles".

As a member of the FV 600 series it shared the same chassis as the FV601 Saladin armoured car, the Salamander fire engine and to a slightly lesser extent the Stalwart High Mobility Load Carrier. The Saracen was in turn used as an armoured personnel Carrier, armoured command vehicle and ambulance.

The 600 series includes

• FV 601 Saladin: the armoured car
• FV 604 Command Vehicle: with extra radio equipment.
• FV 610 Artillery Command Vehicle: higher roof in rear compartment for map table and an awning fitted to the rear.

Saracen was produced before Saladin because of the urgent need for a personnel carrier, entering production in 1952.

The Saracen was produced both with and without turrets fitted.

[edit] Combat History

• Malayan Emergency
• Sri Lankan civil war

[edit] Operators

• UK, General Service 1954 to 1969. Northern Ireland only to 1991.
• Nigeria
• Royal Hong Kong Police Force
• Indonesia (TNI-AD)
• Sri Lanka^[1]

[edit] Variants

Saracens were initially equipped with a L3A4 (Browning .30 Cal) machine gun in the turret, and a Bren gun for the gun-ring at the rear of the vehicle. Later Marks carried the LMG, and L7 GPMG

[edit] Mk 1

Early version with 3-door turret and turret pistol ports.

[edit] Mk 2

Modified Mark 1 with later two-door turret. The rear turret door folds down and can act as a seat for the commander..

[edit] Mk 3

• Reverse-flow cooling for use in hot climates

[edit] Mk 4

• prototype only

[edit] Mk 5

Mark 1 or Mark 2 vehicles modified with extra armour specifically for use in Northern Ireland.

[edit] Mk 6

Mark 3 modified with extra armour as for the Mk 5 for use in Northern Ireland.

[edit] External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: FV 603 Saracen

• Globalsecurity.org
• Clash-of-steel.co.uk
• Warwheels.net
• Saracen at Army-Guide.com

[edit] Notes

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