FV101 Scorpion

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FV101 Scorpion

Type Reconnaissance vehicle
Place of origin United Kingdom
Service history
In service 1973-1994
Used by UK
Production history
Manufacturer Alvis Cars
Specifications
Weight 8.07 tonnes
Length 4.9 m
Width 2.2 m
Height 2.1 m
Crew 3
Armour 12.7 mm
Primary
armament		 76 mm gun L23A1
40 rounds
Secondary
armament		 Coaxial 7.62 mm L37A1 machine gun
3,000 rounds
Engine Cummins BTA 5.9 litre (diesel)
190 hp (142 kW)
Power/weight 24 hp/tonne
Suspension torsion-bar
Operational
range		 644 km
Speed 82.2 km/h (51mph)

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. It is also one of the fastest tanks in the world, along with pre-WWII BT series.[1]

Contents

[edit] History

Intended to be a fast and air-transportable reconnaissance vehicle, the Scorpion is built from mainly aluminium armour and mounts an L23A1 76 mm gun firing high-explosive, 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 80 km/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 main battle tank, it was one of the few vehicles capable of operating in the extreme conditions of the Falklands land-mass, and did so very well. Commanders were of the opinion that more would have aided the campaign greatly[citation needed]. Its cross country ability was demonstrated in a recorded incident where a commander jumped from his tank and sank into the boggy ground (wheeled vehicles being almost no use away from established roads).[citation needed]

The Scorpion has been largely withdrawn from service (the chief reason being that the 76mm gun had no fume extractor and could suffocate the crew if the vehicle was closed down for NBC protection).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. Some small armies such as the Botswana Defense Force and the Irish Army, and notably the larger Philippine Army, continue to use Scorpion units.

[edit] Users

[edit] Variants

The Scorpion/Scimitar in the US Army field recognition manual.
The Scorpion/Scimitar in the US Army field recognition manual.
Irish Army Scorpion at Military parade in Dublin (2006)
Irish Army Scorpion at Military parade in Dublin (2006)

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 Indonesian, Malaysian and Venezuelan armed forces.

Related vehicles using the same (or similar) hull include:

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] References

  1. ^ The World's Fastest Tank. (Digest) - FindArticles

[edit] See also

  • AVGP Canadian wheeled armoured vehicle using the Scorpion turret.

[edit] External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to:
v • d • e
Post WW2 British AFVs
Wheeled vehicles
APCs and IFVs
Light tanks and
anti-tank vehicles
Self-propelled artillery
Main battle tanks
UK unarmoured or non-fighting vehicles