FV107 Scimitar

FV107 Scimitar
Scimitar performing a firepower demonstration on Salisbury Plain
TypeReconnaissance vehicle
Place of originUnited Kingdom
Service history
Wars
Production history
ManufacturerAlvis / BAE Systems Land & Armaments
No. builtover 600 (for UK)[1]
Specifications
Mass7.8 tonnes
Length4.9 m
Width2.2 m
Height2.1 m
Crew3

Armouraluminium armour
Main
armament
30 mm L21 RARDEN cannon
A.P.D.S. (Armour Piercing Discarding Sabot). H.E. (High Explosive). D.S.R.R. (Discarding Sabot Reduced Range) (training) Prac. (H.E. Practice) (training)
Secondary
armament
Coaxial 7.62 mm L37A1 MG
EngineCummins BTA 5.9 diesel
190 hp (142 kW)
Drivetracked, with 14 lbf/in2 (0.98 kg/cm2) ground pressure
SuspensionTorsion bar
Operational
range
450 km
Maximum speed 50 mph (80.5 km/h)

The FV107 Scimitar is an armoured tracked military reconnaissance vehicle (sometimes classed as a light tank) formerly used by the British Army, until it was retired from active service in April 2023.[2] It was manufactured by Alvis in Coventry. It is very similar to the FV101 Scorpion, but mounts a high-velocity 30 mm L21 RARDEN cannon instead of a low-velocity 76 mm gun. It was issued to Royal Armoured Corps armoured regiments in the reconnaissance role. Each regiment originally had a close reconnaissance squadron of five troops, each containing eight FV107 Scimitars. Each Main Battle Tank Regiment also employed eight Scimitars in the close reconnaissance role.

  1. ^ Staff Writer, "Alvis FV107 Scimitar: Armed Reconnaissance Vehicle (1971)", Military Factory, retrieved 11 October 2021
  2. ^ Goldthorpe, Sarah, ed. (April 2023). "SCIMITAR BOWS OUT". Soldier Magazine. UK Ministry of Defence. p. 13. Retrieved 15 July 2023.