Country of origin |
United Kingdom |
Entered service |
? |
Crew |
3 men |
Dimensions and weight |
Weight |
7.8 t |
Length |
4.98 m |
Hull length |
4.79
m |
Width |
2.24
m |
Height |
2.24 m |
Armament |
Main gun |
30 mm cannon |
Machine guns |
1 x 7.62 mm |
Mobility |
Engine |
Cummins diesel engine |
Engine power |
195 hp |
Maximum road speed |
87 km/h |
Amphibious speed on water |
6.4 km/h |
Range |
640 km |
Maneuverability |
Gradient |
60% |
Side slope |
35% |
Vertical step |
0.5 m |
Trench |
2 m |
Fording |
1 m |
Fording (with preparation) |
Amphibious |
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The FV107
Scimitar is a British armored reconnaissance vehicle. It was developed by Alvis. It
is based on the chassis of the
FV101 Scorpion light tank and differs
only in armament fit. The FV107 armored reconnaissance vehicles were
usually deployed together with the FV101 Scorpion light tanks. In
the early 1980s the FV107 Scimitar saw combat during the Falklands
War. In the early 1990s this British reconnaissance vehicle was used
during the Gulf War. When the Scorpion light tank was retired from
the British Army, Scimitar took some of its roles. A total of 486
FV107 Scimitars were built for the Royal Army. In 2014 Latvia
purchased 123 of these armored reconnaissance vehicles. In 2014,
during the same year, the
UK MoD ordered a total of 245 new
reconnaissance and combat vehicles to replace the Scimitar. The new
British reconnaissance vehicle is known as
Ajax. It is planned to enter service in
2019
and will replace the Scimitars in service with the British Army.
The FV107 Scimitar
uses the
same turret as used by the Fox wheeled armored reconnaissance vehicle.
It is armed with a 30 mm Rarden cannon and coaxial 7.62 mm
machine gun. The 30 mm cannon fires single rounds or in automatic
mode. It has a maximum rate of 80 rounds per minute. This cannon
features a dual-fed system and the gunner can instantly swap types of
ammunition. The Rarden cannon is referred as a very accurate weapon.
In the early 1990s, during the Gulf War, a group of Scimitars
knocked out Iraqi
T-62
medium tank, penetrating its frontal armor with an armor-piercing
round. The Scimitar's 30 cannon can be also used against helicopters
and even low-flying aircraft. It is claimed that during the
Falklands War a Scimitar hit an Argentinean
A-4
Skyhawk attack aircraft at a range of 1 000 m.
The Scimitar
has a thin aluminum armor hull. It provides protection only against small arms fire and artillery
shell splinters.
The FV107
has a crew of three, including commander, gunner and driver.
This armored
vehicle was
originally powered by a Jaguar 4.2-liter petrol engine. It was a commercially available sports car
engine. However later the Scimitars were refitted with Cummins diesel
engines, developing 195 hp. This increased operational range and
improved survivability.
The FV107 is amphibious after being
fitted with floatation kit. On water it is propelled by its tracks.
Variants
Scimitar
Mk.2 is an upgraded version of the Scimitar. In 2008 the UK MoD
initiated a program to upgrade more than 100 Scimitar reconnaissance
vehicles for use in Afghanistan. In 2010 a contract was awarded to
BAE Systems to develop a modernized version of the Scimitar. Also
upgrades would allow to keep these vehicles in operational service,
until proper replacement is available. However the resulting
Scimitar Mk.2 had that many modifications, that it could be seen as
a new vehicle. The upgraded vehicle was rehulled for improved mine
protection, had improved armor protection. It has a new aluminum
armor hull, based on the hull of the
FV103
Spartan specialist carrier vehicle. Internal layout of the
vehicle was redesigned in order to provide improved protection and
to improve crew comfort. Crew members were seated on blast resistant
seats. The Scimitar Mk.2 is powered by a Cummins BTA 5.9-liter
diesel, mated to an automatic gearbox. The new engine is more fuel
efficient and extends operational range of the vehicle. Operational
weight of the Scimitar Mk.2 increased to 12 000 kg. Eventually only
50 vehicles were modernized to the Mk.2 standard. In 2011 British
Scimitar Mk.2 armored reconnaissance vehicles saw action in
Afghanistan.
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