| FV101 Scorpion | |
|---|---|
Irish Army Scorpion CVR(T) |
|
| Type | Reconnaissance vehicle |
| Place of origin | United Kingdom |
| Service history | |
| In service | 1973-
(Retired in 1994 by the UK) |
| Used by | Users |
| Wars | Iran–Iraq War Falklands war Gulf war |
| Production history | |
| Manufacturer | Alvis Vehicles Ltd, Telford, England |
| Variants | Scorpion 90 |
| Specifications | |
| Weight | 17,800 lb (8.074 tonnes) |
| Length | 5.288 m (17 ft 4.2 in)[1] |
| Width | 2.134 m (7 ft 0.0 in)[1] |
| Height | 2.102 m (6 ft 10.8 in)[1] |
| Crew | 3[1] |
|
|
|
| Armour | 12.7 mm welded aluminium |
| Main armament |
ROF 76mm L23A1 gun 90 mm in Scorpion 90[1] |
| Secondary armament |
Coaxial 7.62 mm L43A1 machine gun [1] |
| Engine | Cummins BTA 5.9 litre (diesel)[1] 190 hp (140 kW) |
| Power/weight | 22.92 hp/tonne[1] |
| Transmission | David Brown TN15[1] |
| Suspension | Torsion-bar |
| Operational range |
756 km (470 mi)[1] |
| Speed | 72.5 km/h (45.0 mph)[1] |
The FV101 Scorpion is a British armoured reconnaissance vehicle. It was the lead vehicle and the fire support type in the Combat Vehicle Reconnaissance (Tracked), CVR(T), family of seven armoured vehicles. Manufactured by Alvis it was introduced into service with the British Army in 1973 and served until 1994.[2] More than 3,000 were produced and used as a reconnaissance vehicle or a light tank.
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The Alvis Scorpion was originally developed to meet a British Army requirement for the Combat Vehicle Reconnaissance (Tracked) or CVR(T). In 1967 Alvis were awarded the contract to produce 30 CVR(T) prototypes. Vehicles P1–P17 being the Scorpion prototypes were delivered on time and within the budget.[3] After extensive hot and cold weather trials in Norway, Australia, Abu Dhabi and Canada, the Scorpion was accepted by the British Army in May 1970, with a contract for 275 which later rose to 313 vehicles.[4] The first production vehicles were completed in 1972 and the first British regiment to be equipped with the Scorpion were the Blues and Royals of the Household Cavalry in 1973.[5][4] In November 1981, the RAF Regiment took delivery of its first of 184 Scorpions and other variants of CVR(T).[6]
Alvis built more than 3,000 Scorpion vehicles for the British Army and Royal Air Force and the export market.
All the CVR(T) vehicles were to be air-portable and two Scorpions could be carried in a C130 Hercules. Another requirement of the CVR(T) project was the low ground pressure - similar to that of a soldier on foot - and this would serve it well in the Falklands War.
| L23A1 gun | |
|---|---|
| Place of origin | United Kingdom |
| Service history | |
| In service | 1973-present |
| Production history | |
| Manufacturer | Royal Ordnance |
| Specifications | |
| Length | 2.157 m (7 ft 0.9 in) |
|
|
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| Calibre | 76 mm (3.0 in) |
| Rate of fire | 6 rounds per minute |
| Effective range | 2,200 m (2,400 yd) |
The Scorpion is armed with the low velocity 76 mm L23A1 gun, which could fire high-explosive, HESH, smoke and canister rounds. Stowage was provided for 40 or 42 rounds. A 7.62 mm coaxial machine gun (3,000 rounds carried) and two multi-barrelled smoke grenade dischargers were also fitted each side of the turret.[1] Main armament elevation is 35 degrees and depression of 10 degrees with a full 360 degree traverse.[7]
The original engine was the Jaguar J60 4.2 litre petrol engine,[8] which was replaced by a Cummins or Perkins diesel engine.[1] The maximum speed was about 50 miles per hour (80 km/h) and it could accelerate from nought to 30 miles per hour (48 km/h) in 16 seconds. The maximum speed on water (with the flotation screen deployed) was 3.6 mph (5.8 km/h).[9]
The Irish engineering company IED replaced the existing Jaguar engine in a successful re-powering process with a Steyr M16 TCA HD engine (6-cylinder, 145kW), making the Scorpion more powerful and more reliable in critical environment.[10]
The vehicle was fitted with a nuclear, biological, chemical protection system, image intensification sights for gunner and driver and a floatation screen.[1] A commode was located under the commander's seat, an internal water tank and a boiling vessel for cooking and heating water were also provided.[11]
The Scorpion 90 or Scorpion 2 was a version armed with the long-barrelled Cockerill Mk3 M-A1 90mm gun designed for the export market.[12]
The Scorpion was or is used by the armed forces of; Belgium, Botswana, Brunei, Chile, Honduras, Iran, Indonesia, Ireland, Jordan, Malaysia, New Zealand, Nigeria, Oman, Philippines, Spain, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo and the United Arab Emirates.[1]
While Canada never operated the Scorpion the original Scorpion turret was married with the MOWAG Piranha I chassis to create the AVGP Cougar fire support vehicle used by the Canadian Armed Forces.
The Scorpion had on occasion deployed in main UK airports as a measure against possible terrorist threats e.g. Heathrow Airport in 1974.
Two troops from B Squadron, Blues and Royals served in the Falkland war. The CVR(T) were the only armoured vehicles used in action by the British Army during the conflict.[13]
Scorpions also served in the Gulf war. The 1st Queen's Dragoon Guards a reconnaissance regiment had 32 and the close reconnaissance troops of the armoured regiments each had eight.[14]
Some small armies such as the Botswana Defence Force and the Irish Army, and notably the larger Philippine Army, continue to use the Scorpion, in some cases up-armed with the 90mm Cockerill.
The Scorpion has been withdrawn from British Army service and the refurbished hulls have been mated with surplus turrets from the FV 721 Fox CVR(W) wheeled reconnaissance vehicle to form a composite vehicle - the Sabre reconnaissance vehicle.[15]
A small number of converted Scorpions are in use at British Army Training Unit Suffield in Canada as part of OPFOR. With the main armament barrel replaced with a dummy they represent 125mm gun armed T-80-type vehicles.
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