Alvis Piranha II 90mm LCTS

[Sebbo_the_Plebbo]

[Would you like to see this in-game?]

• Yes
• No

A British built, Swiss designed vehicle with a Belgian turret marketed to clients in the Middle East.

Introduction

In January 1991, GKN Defence (soon to become Alvis Vehicles) announced that Swiss company MOWAG had awarded them a contract to construct a significant number of Pirahna 8x8 AFVs for one of of MOWAGs middle eastern customers. This contract was for a total of 100 - 120 vehicles built by Alvis, of six different variants, to the Saudi Arabian Ministry of Defence and Aviation (MODA). These included ambulance, recovery, surveillance, VIP APCs, and Mortar variants of the Piranha.

Following this successful partnership, MOWAG and Alvis signed an agreement which licensed Alvis to become a System Prime Contractor for the design, integration, production, and marketing of the Alvis Vehicles Piranha 8x8 for for agreed customers.

Subsequently, Alvis enjoyed moderate success producing, marketing, and exporting the Piranha 8x8. In 1994, Oman ordered a total of 80 Alvis Piranhas, with an agreed option for 46 further vehicles.

As well as producing a variety of vehicles for middle eastern customers, Alvis constructed a company demonstrator vehicle, used to mount a variety of turrets and market the vehicle to potential export customers. One such turret was the Belgian Cockerill 90mm LCTS turret - this export demonstrator equipped with the 90mm turret is the vehicle discussed in this suggestion.

This export demonstrator caught the interest of Qatar, who ordered a total of 40 Alvis Piranhas, 36 of which would be armed with the Cockerill 90mm LCTS. These remain in service with Qatar to this day.

Specifications

Spoiler

Chassis

Armament & Turret

Ammunition

Images

Spoiler

Sources

Spoiler

Jane’s Armour & Artillery 2000-01 p.510-511 (available here)

Alvis Piranha Marketing Brochure (available here)

Cockerill LCTS 90mm Marketing Brochure (available here)

[Thomas_Belgium]

+1! I would gladly see this vehicle coming to War Thunder.

It was also recently added to a leak, but take that with a grain of salt:

Spoiler

[Columbia6448]

If this leak list is to be believed that A6 smells of AGM 88 HARM

[PlayedStatue626-live]

+1 would be quite a neat addition

[Thomas_Belgium]

it’s fake most likely, but you never know with these things.

[Thatz]

The Suggestion has been moved to other Nations under Qatar as even in the suggestion itself it states that Qatar ordered and operates this exact model.

[Sebbo_the_Plebbo]

I disagree with this suggestion being moved. It’s true that Qatar bought and operated British built Piranha IIs with the 90mm turret, but they were not carbon copies of the demonstrator vehicle outlined in this suggestion, they had some differences, so the demonstrator vehicle remains unique, and as such should be considered valid as a suggestion under British ground forces.

The Qataris requested a few modifications for their Piranhas compared to the demonstrator, including revised stowage and difference accessories such as headlights, presumably for more commonality with the existing vehicles and gear.

Comparison between the Alvis owned and operated demonstrator vehicle (left) and production standard Qatari vehicle (right). The numerous difference in the hull are circled. (The left picture is with the demonstrator and the IFV turret, it is the same hull for both, but there are only potato quality images showing the 90mm Demonstrator from this angle, so the IFV turret is better for comparison).

Comparison from a different angle between the Alvis owned and operated demonstrator vehicle (left) and production standard Qatari vehicle (right). The numerous difference in the hull are circled.

Like I said, the British operated demonstrator, which this suggestion is written for, is a distinct and unique vehicle and as such should be under British ground forces.