FV101 Scorpion

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	80 km/h (50mph)

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]

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 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 . 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). The Scorpion has been withdrawn from service (the chief reason being that the 76mm gun had no fume extractor and could suffocate the crew if the vehicle was closed down for NBC protection).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.

Users

•  Belgium - Belgian Army - (701 Scorpions and variants, all withdrawn)
•  Botswana - Botswana Defence Force
•  Brunei - Royal Brunei Armed Forces
•  Chile - Chilean Navy (Infantería de Marina - Chilean Marines)
•  Honduras - Military of Honduras
•  India - Military of India
•  Iran - Iranian Army (ex. Imperial Iranian Army)
•  Ireland - Irish Army
•  Jordan - Royal Jordanian Land Force
•  Malaysia - Malaysian Army - 26 Scorpion 90
•  Indonesia - Indonesian Army - 100 Scorpion 90
•  New Zealand - New Zealand Army
•  Oman - Royal Army of Oman
•  Philippines - Armed Forces of the Philippines - 41 Scorpions
•  Spain - Spanish Marines
•  Thailand - Royal Thai Army- 154+
•  Venezuela - Army of Venezuela - (90 Scorpions 78 FV101-C.90 +6 FV104 +2 FV105 +4 FV106)
•  United Kingdom
  • British Army
  • RAF Regiment

Variants

The Scorpion/Scimitar in the US Army field recognition manual

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:

• 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.

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.

References

See also

• AVGP Canadian wheeled armoured vehicle using the Scorpion turret.

External links

• British Army museum
• Janes Land Forces
• History of the development of the series
• FV101 Scorpion at Army-Guide.com