Alvis Saracen

Alvis Saracen Mk 1
FV 603 Saracen at Woodvale Transport Festival 2015.
Type	Armoured personnel carrier
Place of origin	United Kingdom
Service history
In service	1952–present
Used by	See "Operators"
Wars	Aden Emergency Malayan Emergency 30 September Movement coup The Troubles Nigerian Civil War South African Border War Soweto uprising Sri Lankan Civil War Black September Yom Kippur War Lebanese Civil War Invasion of Kuwait 2003–2004 Indonesian offensive in Aceh[1]
Production history
Manufacturer	Alvis
Produced	1952–1976
Specifications
Mass	11.0 t
Length	4.8 m
Width	2.54 m
Height	2.46 m
Crew	2 + up to 9 troops
Armour	16 mm Rolled homogeneous armour (RHA)
Main armament	Browning M1919 machine gun or L37 GPMG
Secondary armament	Bren LMG, 6–12 smoke grenade launchers
Engine	Rolls-Royce B80 Mk 3A or Mk 6A, 8 cyl Inlet over Exhaust petrol 160 hp
Power/weight	14.5 hp/tonne
Suspension	6x6 wheel, independent torsion bars
Operational range	400 km
Maximum speed	72 km/h (off-road 32 km/h)

The FV603 Saracen is a six-wheeled armoured personnel carrier designed and produced by Alvis from 1952 to 1976. It has been used by a variety of operators around the world and is still in use in secondary roles in some countries.^{[citation needed]} The Saracen became a recognisable vehicle as a result of its part in Operation Banner in Northern Ireland as well as for its role in the South African government's enforcement of apartheid.^[2]