Fv101 Scorpion Website Links For
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Information About

Fv101 Scorpion




  Crew 3
  Length 49 m
  Width 22 m
  Height 21 m
  Weight 807 tonnes
  Armour 127 mm
  Primary 76mm gun L23A1
  Secondary 762mm coaxial machine gun L37A1
  Engine diesel Cummins BTA 59
  Engine Power 190 hp (142 kW)
  Suspension Torsion-bar
  Speed Road 80 km/h
  Pw Ratio 24 hp/tonne
  Range 644 km


The FV101 Scorpion is a modern 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 3000 were produced.


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 HE, 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 80km/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 man, it was one of the few vehicles capable of operating in the extreme conditions of the Falklands land mass (wheeled vehicles had almost no use away from established roads).

The Scorpion has been withdrawn from service. The hulls have been reused with the turrets from the FV 721 Fox wheeled reconnaissance vehicle to form a new vehicle Sabre which is very similar in appearance to the Scimitar .


USERS


  • Army of the Islamic Republic of Iran (ex. Imperial Iranian Army)

  • British Army

  • British RAF Regiment

  • Brunei

  • Belgian Army (701 Scorpions and variants)

  • New Zealand Army

  • Malaysia

  • Venezuela

  • Republic of Ireland

  • Jordan

  • Oman

  • Indonesia

  • Philippines

  • Chile (Infantería de Marina)



VARIANTS


Scorpion 90 - This export version is armed with the long-barreled Cockerill Mk3M-A1 90mm gun, fitted with a prominent muzzle brake. It was purchased by the Malaysian and Venezualan armed forces.

Related vehicles using the same (or similar) hull include:
  • FV 102 ''Striker'' anti-tank guided weapon carrier

  • FV 103 ''Spartan'' armoured personnel carrier

  • FV 106 ''Samson'' armoured recovery vehicle

  • FV 105 ''Sultan'' command post vehicle

  • FV 104 ''Samaritan'' armoured ambulance

  • FV 107 '' Scimitar ''

  • '' Sabre '' - Scorpion chassis retro-fitted with a turret from the Fox Armoured Reconnaisance Vehicle


These vehicles are collectively known as the CVR(T) - Combat Vehicle Reconnaissance (Tracked) - family.


TRIVIA


  • In the computer game , the basic battle tank of the Global Liberation Army is called the Scorpion. However, the tank used in that game is closer to the T-34 or FT-17 , and has little in common with its real-world namesake.

  • A total of approxiamately 4,000 vehicles of the CVR(T) family had been manafactured in the UK and Belgium by the time production ceased in the mid-1990's.




EXTERNAL LINKS




SEE ALSO