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GKN/Alvis Simba 25mm IFV (Helio FVT925 Turret)
The Anti-Insurgency Vehicle of Choice
GKN/Alvis Simba IFV of the Philippine Army’s Light Armor Division ‘Pambato’
OVERVIEW
The Simba was developed as a private venture by the UK’s Alvis (formerly GKN Sankey) for Foreign Military Sales (FMS). Its development began in 1980 as a complement to the Saxon, with the prototype produced in 1981 and further refinements continuing throughout the 1980s.
GKN Simba APC on field evaluation in Manila (1994)
In 1994, GKN delivered twelve units and granted a license to produce an additional 138 units locally at a cost of Php 360,000 each. These were assembled from completely knocked-down kits by Asian Armor Vehicles Technologies Corp. (formerly the Philippine International Trading Corp.), with assembly work carried out by Philippine Corp. at its Subic Bay facility. Major subcontractors included Clark Equipment and Perkins Engines.
The total deal cost was $46 million, which caused some controversy as a Filipino Congressman pointed out that one of the various subcontractors’ CEO was related to the then-president Cory Aquino through a marriage with its relative. JUSMAG officer Maj. Gen. Thomas Harvey also questioned the deal as by that time, the removal of US bases in the Philippines had resulted to the US leaving a bunch of its armored vehicles behind specifically the V-150. There were even plans to upgrade the V-150s to a domestic ‘Haridigma’ standard but the AFP deemed it to be too expensive justifying its purchase of the GKN Simba instead.
Under this program, GKN exported bare units without arms or tires, relying on PITC to assemble the vehicles and integrate locally sourced components. The Philippines remains the sole operator of this APC/IFV, with the first production units entering service in 1991. They were deployed in operations by the Light Armor Division (LAD) in the southern Philippines against insurgents, though some units were lost to RPG attacks. The Simba was also used by the Presidential Security Group (PSG). A total of 152 units were produced, including two prototypes developed by Alvis. Asian Armor Vehicles Technologies Corp. remains the sole licensed assembler of the Simba.
SPECIFICATIONS
| Characteristic | Details |
|---|---|
| Type | Infantry Fighting Vehicle |
| Country of origin | United Kingdom |
| Mass | 11,200 kg (9,500 kg empty) |
| Length | 5.35 m (17.55’) |
| Width | 2.5 m (8.2’) |
| Height | 2.53 m (8.3’) |
| Crew | Commander, Driver + 6 Infantry |
| Max speed | 100 kph (62.5 mph) |
| Propulsion | One 212 bhp (158 kW) Perkins Phaser 210Ti turbocharged V-8 diesel, intercooled, 2,500 rpm, 296 liters fuel capacity |
| Power-to-weight ratio | 19.43 hp/ton |
| Transmission | Clarke 13.7 LHR 28422 |
| Armament | 25mm Bushmaster in a Helio FVT925 turret |
| Armor | 8 mm, conventional steel alloy, proof against 7.62 mm AP ammunition |
| Fire Control System | Optical Rangefinder & White Searchlight |
IN-GAME
While it originated from a British Manufacturer, since only the Philippines has ever put the vehicle into service, imo it should be placed where Filipino vehicles would be placed as well which could mean Japan if it were to be placed as part of a larger ASEAN subtree.
In this context, it would provide Japan with an autocanon IFV similar to the RCV(P) at a lower BR or the same BR probably around 6.7 - 7.7 since it has a worse armor with similar speed and higher caliber.
There is a proposal for the British Tech Tree which is titled the same - GKN/Alvis Simba IFV but is armed with a 20mm Oerlikon Canon similar to the one found in the FV721 Fox-AA. To my knowledge, the British Simba prototype never sported the 25mm Bushmaster except when the Philippines mounted it in their Simbas with GKN’s suggestion.
MORE PHOTOS
SOURCES
https://kalasagnglahi.angelfire.com/content02.html
https://weaponsystems.net/system/1490-Simba