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| Entered service in | 1973 |
| Crew | 3 |
| Dimensions and weight | |
| Total weight in combat order | 7.93 t |
| Overall length | 4 400 mm |
| Chassis length | 4 400 mm |
| Width | 2 200 mm |
| Height | 2 100 mm |
| Armament | |
| Main gun | 76-mm L23 rifled gun |
| Machine guns | 1 x 7.62-mm |
| Traverse range | 360 degrees |
| Elevation range | - 10 to + 35 degrees |
| Combat load | |
| Main gun | 45 rounds |
| Machine guns | 3 000 rounds |
| Mobility | |
| Engine | Perkins diesel |
| Engine power | 195 hp |
| Maximum road speed | 87 km/h |
| Maximum amphibious speed on water | 6.4 km/h |
| Autonomy on roads | 640 km |
| Maneuverability | |
| Slope | 31° |
| Vertical step | 0.5 m |
| Trench | 2 m |
| Ford (unprepared) | 1 m |
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The British FV101 Scorpion light tank has been produced by Alvis Vickers. It entered service in 1973 and was a part of tracked combat vehicle family CVR (T). The FV101 was intended as a light, air transportable reconnaissance vehicle. It was welded from thick aluminum armor plates, making it light but not sacrificing armored protection. Scorpion was armed with a turret mounted 76-mm L23A1 rifled gun. It fired high-explosive squash head, high-explosive, canister and smoke ammunition.
Production totalled 3 000 CVR (T) vehicles including Scorpion light tanks, which was withdrawn from active service in Royal Army in 1994. |
The original
model was powered by a Jaguar 4.2-liter petrol engine, which was used on
cars. This engine was chosen for it's
high power-to-weight ration. Furthermore
it was already commercially available, what decreased the price of a
combat vehicle and made it's
maintenance easier. Despite that later it was replaced with a Perkins
diesel unit, which offered better fuel
economy and considerably reduced risk of fire. Both of these engines
delivered similar power and were capable
of reaching a maximum road speed in excess of 80 km/h.