FV102 Striker
Striker was designed by Alvis as a fast, hard-hitting, tank destroyer. It was member of the CVR(T) family of light armoured vehicles and had its origins in a series of staff requirements and design studies produced during the 1950s and '60s.
The requirement was for an air-portable reconnaissance vehicle that could also provide fire and anti-tank support. It became clear that a single vehicle could not meet the total requirement so it was decided to produce a family of armoured fighting vehicles. Size and weight was dictated by the wish to fit two vehicles into a C-130 Hercules aircraft.
A range of vehicles was produced called the Combat Vehicle Reconnaissance (Tracked) family or CVR(T). The family includes the Striker, the FV101 Scorpion reconnaissance and fire support vehicle, the FV103 Spartan armoured personnel carrier, the FV104 Samaritan armoured ambulance, the FV105 Sultan armoured command vehicle, the FV106 Samson armoured recovery vehicle and the FV107 Scimitar reconnaissance vehicle.
Striker entered service in 1976. Like others in the CVR(T) range it was initially powered by a Jaguar 4.2 litre engine and employed aluminium armour. The entire fleet saw the Jaguar engines replaced by a Cummins BTA 5.9 diesel engine under the CVR(T) life extension programme.
Striker is armed with the BAe Systems Swingfire anti-tank wire guided missile, five of which are carried in launcher boxes at the rear of the vehicle that are raised for launching only at the last minute. Five more missiles are carried inside the hull. Swingfire had a range of up to 4,000m and could penetrate up to 80cms of armour. It used semi-automatic command line-of-sight guidance (SACLOS).
Striker was designed to fight from cover: for example the vehicle could hide behind a ridge while the missile operator launched and guided missiles by remote control from a separate observation post. Striker was originally fitted with a folding flotation screen, later removed by the British Army. The prototype at the Tank Museum (above) still has its flotation screen. It is painted in the markings of L Battery, Royal Horse Artillery.
A total of 89 Strikers were built for the British Army of which some 48 remained in service until 2004. They served in armoured reconnaissance regiments, which had a troop of four vehicles in each of their three squadrons. Strikers were used by the British in BAOR and at home and saw active service in the Gulf War (1991) and the Iraq War (2003).
Strikers were withdrawn from British Army service in mid-2005 when the Swingfire and Milan ATGMs were replaced by the new American-produced Javelin. It can be used as a fire-and-forget weapon, i.e. does not need guidance all the way to the target, as required by both Swingfire and Milan.
FV102 Striker
Striker was designed by Alvis as a fast, hard-hitting, tank destroyer. It was member of the CVR(T) family of light armoured vehicles and had its origins in a series of staff requirements and design studies produced during the 1950s and '60s.
The requirement was for an air-portable reconnaissance vehicle that could also provide fire and anti-tank support. It became clear that a single vehicle could not meet the total requirement so it was decided to produce a family of armoured fighting vehicles. Size and weight was dictated by the wish to fit two vehicles into a C-130 Hercules aircraft.
A range of vehicles was produced called the Combat Vehicle Reconnaissance (Tracked) family or CVR(T). The family includes the Striker, the FV101 Scorpion reconnaissance and fire support vehicle, the FV103 Spartan armoured personnel carrier, the FV104 Samaritan armoured ambulance, the FV105 Sultan armoured command vehicle, the FV106 Samson armoured recovery vehicle and the FV107 Scimitar reconnaissance vehicle.
Striker entered service in 1976. Like others in the CVR(T) range it was initially powered by a Jaguar 4.2 litre engine and employed aluminium armour. The entire fleet saw the Jaguar engines replaced by a Cummins BTA 5.9 diesel engine under the CVR(T) life extension programme.
Striker is armed with the BAe Systems Swingfire anti-tank wire guided missile, five of which are carried in launcher boxes at the rear of the vehicle that are raised for launching only at the last minute. Five more missiles are carried inside the hull. Swingfire had a range of up to 4,000m and could penetrate up to 80cms of armour. It used semi-automatic command line-of-sight guidance (SACLOS).
Striker was designed to fight from cover: for example the vehicle could hide behind a ridge while the missile operator launched and guided missiles by remote control from a separate observation post. Striker was originally fitted with a folding flotation screen, later removed by the British Army. The prototype at the Tank Museum (above) still has its flotation screen. It is painted in the markings of L Battery, Royal Horse Artillery.
A total of 89 Strikers were built for the British Army of which some 48 remained in service until 2004. They served in armoured reconnaissance regiments, which had a troop of four vehicles in each of their three squadrons. Strikers were used by the British in BAOR and at home and saw active service in the Gulf War (1991) and the Iraq War (2003).
Strikers were withdrawn from British Army service in mid-2005 when the Swingfire and Milan ATGMs were replaced by the new American-produced Javelin. It can be used as a fire-and-forget weapon, i.e. does not need guidance all the way to the target, as required by both Swingfire and Milan.