The FV603 Saracen is a six-wheeled armoured personnel carrier designed and produced by Alvis from 1952 to 1976. It has been used by a variety of operators around the world and is still in use in secondary roles in some countries; it became a recognisable vehicle through its part in Operation Banner in Northern Ireland.
Alvis Saracen at a glance
| Production | 1952–1976 |
|---|---|
| Maker | Alvis, as the APC of its FV600 series |
| Layout | six-wheeled, permanent six-wheel drive, independent parallel wishbone links and torsion bars |
| Crew and load | driver and commander plus a squad of eight soldiers and a troop commander |
| Armament | most models a small roof turret with a Browning .30 machine gun; .303 Bren gun on an anti-aircraft ring mount |
| Shared with | FV601 Saladin, Salamander, Stalwart (punt chassis, suspension and H-drive drivetrain) |
| Roles | APC, armoured command vehicle, ambulance |
This page is based on English Wikipedia only, so the figures could not be cross-checked against a second source.
History of the Alvis Saracen
The FV603 Saracen was the armoured personnel carrier of Alvis’s FV600 series. Besides the driver and commander it could carry a squad of eight soldiers plus a troop commander. Most models carried a small turret on the roof with a Browning .30 machine gun, a .303 Bren gun could be mounted on an anti-aircraft ring accessed through a roof hatch, and there were ports on the sides through which troops could fire.
As a member of the FV600 series it shared a similar chassis with the Saladin armoured car, the Salamander airfield crash truck and the Stalwart high mobility load carrier. The punt chassis, suspension and H-drive drivetrain remained similar, but the engine, transmission and braking systems varied significantly. The Saracen was used as an armoured personnel carrier, an armoured command vehicle and an ambulance, with many variants, including the FV604 armoured command vehicle with extra radio equipment and distinctive “penthouse” roof extensions.
Design and features
- Suspension: independent wishbone and torsion-bar suspension on each wheel station.
- Chassis: a punt chassis shared with the whole FV600 family.
Alvis Saracen versions
- FV603 APC.
- FV604 armoured command vehicle: with extra radios and “penthouse” roof extensions.
- Ambulance and specialist signals or artillery fittings.
More Alvis vehicles are in our Alvis collection, for example the Saladin, the Salamander and the Stalwart.
Alvis Saracen questions and answers
What is the Alvis Saracen?
A six-wheeled armoured personnel carrier built by Alvis from 1952 to 1976.
How many soldiers does it carry?
A squad of eight and a troop commander, besides the driver and the commander.
What is it related to?
The Saladin armoured car, the Salamander crash tender and the Stalwart truck.
Sources
- Alvis Saracen, English Wikipedia: history and variants
