Combat Vehicle Reconnaissance (Tracked)

Combat Vehicle Reconnaissance (Tracked)
Scorpion/Scimitar recognition guide
Scorpion/Scimitar recognition guide
Type
  • Reconnaissance
  • Anti–tank
    Armoured personnel carrier
  • Ambulance
  • Command and control
  • Recovery vehicle
Place of originUnited Kingdom
Production history
DesignerAlvis[1]
Designed1967
Produced1970
Variants
Specifications
Mass17,800 lb (8.074 tonnes)[1]
Length4.79 m (15 ft 9 in)[1]
Width2.23 m (7 ft 4 in)[1]
Height2.102 m (6 ft 10.8 in)[1]
CrewBetween three and seven depending on variant

The Combat Vehicle Reconnaissance (Tracked) (CVR(T)) is a family of armoured fighting vehicles (AFVs) developed in the 1960s and is in service with the British Army and others throughout the world. They are small, highly mobile, air-transportable armoured vehicles, originally designed to replace the Alvis Saladin armoured car.[2]

Designed by Alvis in the 1960s, the CVR(T) family includes Scorpion and Scimitar light reconnaissance tanks, Spartan armoured personnel carriers (APC)s, Sultan command and control vehicle, Samaritan armoured ambulance, Striker anti–tank guided missile vehicle and Samson armoured recovery vehicle. All members of the CVR(T) family were designed to share common automotive components and suspension; aluminium armour was selected to keep the weight down.[3][4] By 1996, more than 3,500 had been built for British Army use and export.[5]

Scorpion, Scimitar, and Striker have now been withdrawn from British Army service.[6]

  1. ^ a b c d e "Scorpion". Jane's Information Group. Retrieved 11 January 2009.
  2. ^ Cite error: The named reference fs10 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ Cite error: The named reference fs5 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. ^ Foss & Sarson, p.11
  5. ^ "Alvis Scorpion (FV101)". East of England Tank Museum. Retrieved 19 January 2009.
  6. ^ "SOLDIER - Page 13". edition.pagesuite.com. Retrieved 15 July 2023.