Alvis Saladin

Infobox Weapon
name=Alvis Saladin


caption=FV 601 Saladin in Yad la-Shiryon museum, Israel.
origin=UK
type=Armoured car
is_vehicle=yes
is_UK=yes
service=
used_by=
wars=
designer=
design_date=
manufacturer=Alvis
unit_cost=
production_date=
number=
variants=
length=4.93 m
width=2.54 m
height=2.39 m
weight=11.6 t
suspension=6x6 wheel
speed=72 km/h
vehicle_range=400 km
primary_armament=76 mm gun
secondary_armament=2 x machine gun
armour=up to 32 mm
engine=Rolls-Royce B80 Mk.6A, 8 cyl petrol
engine_power=170 hp (127 kW)
pw_ratio=15.5 hp/tonne
crew=3

The Saladin (FV601) was a six-wheeled armoured car built by Alvis and used by the British Army. It replaced the AEC Armoured Car that had been in use during World War II.

History

The Saladin was the armoured car of Alvis' FV600 series, similar in construction to Alvis Saracen armoured personnel carrier and the Stalwart High Mobility Load Carrier.

Operators

*Tunisia
*Portugal
*Kuwait
*Oman
*United Kingdom
*Indonesia
*Jordan
*German Federal Police
*Yemen
*Sudan
*Lebanon
*Maldives
*Mauritania
*Sri Lanka [http://army.lk/org2.php Sri Lanka Army Web Site, Organization]

The Saladin was used by B sqn 16/5 lancers during their defence of Nicosia airport in 1974 and subsequent armed recce operations under the banner of the UN.

In Indonesia, TNI-AD use Saladin for Cavalry Bn (Batalyon Kavaleri), KOSTRAD Recon Company (Kompi Kavaleri Intai-KOSTRAD) and Armoured Car Company (Kompi Panser).

The Australian Army mounted Saladin turrets on M113A1 APCs to produce the Fire Support Vehicle. This was later renamed as the Medium Reconnaissance Vehicle after the somewhat unreliable turret Fact|date=April 2007 was replaced by the turret from the FV101 Scorpion Light Tank. RAAC personnel referred to them as "Beasts".

External links

* [http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/europe/saladin.htm Globalsecurity.org]
* [http://www.warwheels.net/Saladin2INDEX.html Warwheels.net]

Notes