British Army FV 101 Scorpion, 03 FD 18

03 FD 18 at the Norfolk Tank Museum's Armourfest 2022.

 

The FV101 Scorpion is an armoured reconnaissance vehicle, and also a light tank manufactured by Alvis.

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. The first production vehicles were completed in 1972 and the first British regiment to be equipped with the Scorpion was the Blues and Royals of the Household Cavalry in 1973.

Alvis built more than 3,000 Scorpion vehicles for the British Army, Royal Air Force Regiment and the export market. The Scorpion is air-portable, and two vehicles could be carried in a Lockheed C-130 Hercules. Another requirement was a low ground pressure, similar to that of a soldier on foot, this would serve the Scorpion well in the boggy conditions of the Falklands War. The Scorpion was withdrawn from British service in 1994.

A Scorpion holds the Guinness world record for the fastest production tank, recording a speed of 51.1 mph (82.23 km/h) at the QinetiQ vehicle test track at Chertsey, Surrey on 26th. January 2002.

 

Manufacturer: Alvis Vehicles, Coventry

Crew: 3

Length: 17 ft. 4.2 in. (5.28 m)

Width: 7 ft. (2.13 m)

Height: 6 ft. 10 in. (2.1 m)

Weight: 17,800 lb. (8,074 kg)

Suspension: Torsion bar

Engine: Cummins BTA, 5.9 litre (360 cu. in.) diesel

Engine output: 190 hp (140 kW)

Transmission: Self change gears TN15X

Max speed: 45 mph (72.5 km/h)

0 to 30 mph (48 km/h): 16 sec.

Operational range: 470 miles (756 km)

Main armament: 1 x Ordnance QF 76 mm ACL5A1 gun

Secondary armament: 1 x coaxial 7.62 mm L43A1 machine gun

Smoke discharges: 2

Armour: Aluminium armour, cast and 1318b plate

Done