Combat Vehicle Reconnaissance (Tracked)

The Combat Vehicle Reconnaissance (Tracked) —or CVR(T)—is a family of armoured fighting vehicles in service with the British Army and others throughout the world.

The CVR(T) family includes light reconnaissance tanks, armoured personnel carriers, and engineering vehicles. They share a common engine, transmission and running gear but have different bodies depending on role. More than 3,000 CVR(T)s were manufactured by Alvis Vickers.

History

The CVR(T) series came from a General Staff Target for an "air-portable armoured reconnaissance vehicle" to replace older vehicles like the Saladin and Ferret armoured cars. There was debate as to whether this would be best served by a tracked or a wheeled vehicle so both the CVR(T) and the Combat Vehicle Reconnaissance (Wheeled), or CVR(W), programmes were developed. In the end the latter delivered only the Fox Armoured Reconnaissance Vehicle; a GPMG turreted variant called Vixen never entered service. The CVR family saw service in the first Gulf War and shortly after the Scorpion was withdrawn from service the refurbished hulls were joined with the turrets recovered from Fox Armoured Reconnaissance Vehicle to produce the Sabre.

Replacement

Alvis have designed a new family of vehicles based on an extended version of the Spartan, the Stormer which is already in service with the British Army.

Besides the original manufacturer, there is at least one commercial company that offers upgrades to modernize CVR(T)s under the S 2000 Scorpion Peacekeeper name. They have also achieved an authenticated record speed of 51 mph with one of these modernized vehicles.

Variants

• FV101 Scorpion - Light tank.
• FV102 Striker - Anti-tank guided missile carrier.
• FV103 Spartan - Armoured personnel carrier.
• FV104 Samaritan - Combat ambulance.
• FV105 Sultan - Command and Control vehicle.
• FV106 Samson - Armoured recovery vehicle.
• FV107 Scimitar - Light tank.
• Sabre - Light tank.
• Shielder - Minelayer.
• Streaker - High mobility carrier.

Operators

• - all CVR(T) variants now out of service

External links

• Jane's article on the CVR(T) LEP