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Alvis FV601 Saladin
Vehicle development and service history:
In the years directly following the end of the Second World War, the British Army would issue a requirement for a new 6X6 wheeled armoured vehicle to replace its ageing fleet of AEC armoured cars. Design work would begin in 1947, with a contract being awarded to Alvis Cars to build two prototypes for trials. This new vehicle was designated FV601A and was originally armed with an Ordnance QF 2-pounder gun. Knowing this gun would not be sufficient, Alvis also proposed a much heavier fire support variant, designated the FV601B armed with a new 76mm low-pressure gun. This vehicle was subcontracted out to Crossley Motors, which engineered and fabricated six pre-production models, which were then further modified by Alvis, ultimately creating the FV601C, which would then enter mass production in 1958 as the Alvis FV601 Saladin. The design would prove rather successful, and the Saladin and its variants would be constructed at the Alvis Factory at Coventry until 1972 when the design was discontinued. The Saladin did well on the export market despite its primary competitor, the French Panhard AML-90, which was much more heavily armed, and cheaper, and the vehicle would see service with 25 countries armed forces, with some remaining in service to this day. The success of the Saladin also led to the success of the Saracen APC, as both shared common components, which extended to the Stalwart and Salamander, creating a universal chassis concept which would later be repeated by Alvis’s CVR(t) concept.
In British Service the Saladin was used across a myriad of theatres, most notably by B Sqn 16/5 Lancers during their defence of Nicosia airport in 1974, and subsequent operations in Cyprus under the UN banner. The Saladin would also see service in The Troubles, before they were redistributed to commonwealth nations as military aid, upon the implementation of the Scorpion in British formations.
Vehicle specification:
Mass 11.6 t
Length 4.93 m (16 ft 2 in)
Width 2.54 m (8 ft 4 in)
Height 2.39 m (7 ft 10 in)
Crew 3
Armour Up to 32 mm (1.3 in)
Main armament 76 mm L5A1 gun with 42 rounds
Secondary armament 2 × M1919A4 machine guns with 3,500 rounds
12 x smoke grenades
Engine Rolls-Royce B80 Mk.6A, 8 cyl petrol 170 hp (127 kW)
Power/weight 15.5 hp/tonne
Suspension 6x6 wheel
Operational range 400 km (250 mi)
Maximum speed 72 km/h (45 mph)
Additional photos:
Sources:
- Alvis Saladin - Wikipedia (Wiki page for the Saladin)
- Alvis F600 Saladin (Additional info)
- The East of England Tank Museum: Alvis Saladin (Additional stats)
- Saladin Armoured Car FV 601 - Norfolk Tank Museum (More info)
- Army Guide (More info)