Alvis and the CVRTs

Vicky Turner looks at the history of the FV 101 Scorpion, light reconnaissance tank and the FV 103 Spartan, armoured personnel c arrier

CVRTs came with a hot-shift, foot-operated, seven-speed gearbox with controlled differential steering system. The engine was cooled by a variety of fans drawing air through the radiator and over the gearbox and back out of the louvres

With the intention of replacing the Alvis Saladin Armoured Car and other wheeled armour of the 1950s, this family of CVRTs was designed in the 1960s to share common automotive parts and shared suspension on a universal chassis. A simplified manufacturing process would keep costs down as well as make in-the-field maintenance easier. Strict cost controls were a feature of the design process – P1-17 prototypes were developed for Scorpion in 1967 with, with P18-30 prototypes following for the other CVRT types. Hot and cold climate testing eventually took place in Australia, Abu Dhabi, Norway and Canada in 1969.

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