The Stalwart, formally classified by the British Army as the Truck, High Mobility Load Carrier (HMLC), 5 Ton, 6×6, Alvis Stalwart, is a highly mobile amphibious military truck. Built by Alvis between 1960 and 1971, it served with the British Army from 1963 until 1993 and was informally known by servicemen as the Stolly.
Alvis Stalwart at a glance
| Production | 1960–1971 |
|---|---|
| Service | British Army 1963–1993 |
| Class | High Mobility Load Carrier, 5 ton, 6×6, amphibious |
| Payload | 5 tonnes; towing 7.5 tonnes in trials (early reports said 10 tonnes) |
| Hull | frameless, all-welded waterproof hull forming a punt chassis |
| Engine | under the load deck at the rear, with gearbox, transfer box and differential forward of it |
| Water speed | about 6 knots with vectored-thrust water-jet units |
| Drive | six-wheel drive without differentials, centre-mounted no-spin differential |
| Derived from | Salamander hull and cab (private-venture “Camion”) |
This page is based on English Wikipedia only, so the figures could not be cross-checked against a second source.
History of the Alvis Stalwart
Alvis had great success with the FV603 Saracen armoured personnel carrier, produced from 1952, with permanent six-wheel drive and independent parallel wishbone links and torsion-bar suspension at each wheel station. The company used the same suspension and drive methods to develop the Saladin armoured car and the Salamander airfield crash tender, and then decided to start a private venture for an off-road truck able to carry five tonnes and be highly mobile. Using the hull and cab of the Salamander, Alvis created the “Camion” for the military and civilian market; the military, having carried out fording trials with the Saracen, asked whether the Camion would float, and the result became the Stalwart.
The Stalwart is a frameless vehicle with an all-welded waterproof hull that forms a punt chassis. The load deck is open-topped with large drop-down panels at both sides and the rear, with waterproof seals. The drive system, including the all-wheel drive, multiple gearboxes and the water propulsion units, was complex and needed a lot of maintenance, and when the amphibious qualities were no longer needed it was common for the water jets to be removed to cut weight and maintenance.
Design and features
- Off-road ability: six-wheel drive using simple bevel gears, with a no-spin differential at the centre.
- Amphibious: about 6 knots in the water with water jets.
Alvis Stalwart versions
- Stalwart HMLC: the 5-ton load carrier.
More Alvis vehicles are in our Alvis collection, for example the Salamander it was derived from, the Saracen and the Saladin.
Alvis Stalwart questions and answers
What is the Alvis Stalwart?
A highly mobile amphibious 6×6 military truck built by Alvis from 1960 to 1971.
How much can it carry?
5 tonnes of stores; it could easily tow 7.5 tonnes in trials.
How long did it serve?
With the British Army from 1963 until 1993.
How does it move in water?
About 6 knots using water-jet propulsion units.
Sources
- Alvis Stalwart, English Wikipedia: history and design
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