Combat vehicles / Fire support vehicles / Scorpion
Scorpion
General Facts
- TYPE
Light tank - ORIGIN
United Kingdom - NICKNAMES
FV101 (UK military designation) - DESIGNED
1967 - 1972 - DESIGNER
Alvis - PRODUCTION
1972 - ? - PRODUCERS United Kingdom
- QUANTITY
Over 1.200 - UNIT COST
Unknown - CHARACTERISTICS
Good mobility
Small silhouette
Limited weight
Limited armor protection
Introduction
The Scorpion is a light tank of UK origin. It was the main vehicle of the Combat Vehicle Reconnaissance (Tracked) program and was accepted for service in 1973. In British service the Scorpion was called the FV101.
Layout
The Scorpion has a similar layout to other CVR(T) vehicles. The crew of three consists of a commander, driver and gunner. The driver is seated on the left with the engine to his right. The other crewmembers are seated in the turret which is mounted at the rear of the vehicle.
Firepower
The Scorpion is fitted with the low velocity 76mm Royal Ordnance L23A1 cannon. A total of 40 rounds are carried. The Scorpion 90 is fitted with a 90mm Cockerill cannon. An L43A1 version of the MAG medium machine gun is fitted as a coaxial weapon.
Protection
The aluminum armor provides protection against small arms fire and shell splinters. Over the frontal arc it protects against 14.5mm rounds. A total of six smoke grenade launchers are fitted.
Mobility
The Scorpion is a very mobile vehicle. Due to its light weight it has a very high road speed for a tracked vehicle. A Cummins 190hp diesel engine provides propulsion. The Scorpion is amphibious, being propelled in the water by its tracks.
Users
The main user of the Scorpion was the UK. In British service the Scorpion was used as a reconnaissance and fire support vehicle. The Scorpion has been exported to well over a dozen nations with well over 1.200 Scorpions having been produced.
Scorpion
The original version of the Scorpion is plainly called the Scorpion. It is armed with a 76mm Royal Ordnance cannon. Since the Scorpion 90 entered production the original Scorpion is sometimes referred to as Scorpion 76.
- Specifications:
- Scorpion
| Type | Light tank |
|---|---|
| Crew | 3 (commander, driver, gunner) |
| Length | 4.79 m |
| Width | 2.24 m |
| Height | 2.10 m |
| Ground clearance | 0.36 m |
| Weight | 8.1 t combat load |
| Ground pressure | 0.36 kg/cm2 |
| Wheelbase | Tracked chassis, 5 roadwheels, idler rear, sprocket front, 0.43 m width, 1.71 m track |
| Turn radius | skid turns |
| Engine | Jaguar J60 No 1 Mk 199B 4.2L 6-cylinder petrol, 190 hp at 4.750 rpm |
| Power ratio | 23.5 hp/t |
|---|---|
| Transmission | TN15 crossdrive semi-automatic, 7 forward, 7 reverse |
| Speed | 81 km/h |
| Fuel | 423 L |
| Range | 644 km |
| Wall | 0.5 m |
| Trench | 0.5 m |
| Gradient | 60% gradient |
| Fording | Amphibious, 1.1 m unprepared |
| Armor | Aluminum |
| NBC equipment | Yes |
| Night vision | Yes |
|---|---|
| Smoke | 2x4 smoke grenades |
| Remarks | - |
| Armament | 76mm L23 cannon 7.62mm L43A1 coaxial MG |
| Weapon1 | 76mm L23 cannon in turret 40 rounds -10 to +35 degrees elevation 360 degrees traverse non-stabalized |
| Weapon2 | 7.62mm L43A1 coaxial machine gun traverse and elevation as main armament 3.000 rounds non-stabilized |
| Weapon3 | - |
| Weapon4 | - |
| Weapon5 | - |
| Weapon6 | - |
Scorpion 90
The Scorpion 90 was developed for the export market. It is similar to the original Scorpion except for the fact that it mounts a 90mm Cockerill cannon instead of a 76mm Royal Ordnance cannon. Late production vehicles are sometimes referred to as the Scorpion 2.
- Specifications:
- Scorpion 90
| Type | Light tank |
|---|---|
| Crew | 3 (commander, driver, gunner) |
| Length | 4.79 m (hull), 5.29 m (gun forward) |
| Width | 2.23 m |
| Height | 2.10 m |
| Ground clearance | 0.42 m |
| Weight | 8.7 t combat load |
| Ground pressure | 0.37 kg/cm2 |
| Wheelbase | Tracked chassis, 5 roadwheels, idler rear, sprocket front, 0.43 m width, 1.71 m track |
| Turn radius | skid turns |
| Engine | Perkins diesel, 200 hp at 2.700 rpm |
| Power ratio | 22.9 hp/t |
|---|---|
| Transmission | TN15 crossdrive semi-automatic, 7 forward, 7 reverse |
| Speed | 73 km/h |
| Fuel | 391 L |
| Range | 765 km |
| Wall | 0.5 m |
| Trench | 0.5 m |
| Gradient | 60% gradient |
| Fording | Amphibious, 1.1 m unprepared |
| Armor | Aluminum |
| NBC equipment | Yes |
| Night vision | Yes |
|---|---|
| Smoke | 2x4 smoke grenades |
| Remarks | - |
| Armament | 90mm Mk III cannon 7.62mm L43A1 coaxial MG |
| Weapon1 | 90mm Cockerill Mk III cannon in turret 33 rounds -8 to + 10 degrees elevation 360 degrees traverse non-stabilized |
| Weapon2 | 7.62mm L43A1 coaxial machine gun traverse and elevation as main armament 3.000 rounds non-stabilized |
| Weapon3 | - |
| Weapon4 | - |
| Weapon5 | - |
| Weapon6 | - |
