Scorpion tank

FV101 Scorpion
Irish Army Scorpion CVR(T)
Type	Reconnaissance vehicle
Place of origin	United Kingdom
Service history
In service	1973–present (Retired in 1994 by the UK)
Used by	Users
Wars	Iran–Iraq War Falklands war Gulf war
Production history
Manufacturer	Alvis Vehicles Ltd, Coventry, England
Variants	Scorpion 90
Specifications
Weight	17,800 lb (8.074 tonnes)
Length	5.288 m (17 ft 4.2 in)
Width	2.134 m (7 ft 0 in)
Height	2.102 m (6 ft 10.8 in)
Crew	3
Armour	12.7 mm welded aluminium
Main armament	ROF 76mm L23A1 gun 90 mm in Scorpion 90
Secondary armament	Coaxial 7.62 mm L43A1 machine gun
Engine	Cummins BTA 5.9-litre (diesel) 190 hp (140 kW)
Power/weight	22.92 hp (17.3 kW) / tonne
Transmission	David Brown TN15
Suspension	Torsion-bar
Operational range	756 km (470 mi)
Speed	72.5 km/h (45.0 mph)

1973–present

The FV101 Scorpion is a British armoured reconnaissance vehicle. It was the lead vehicle and the fire support type in the Combat Vehicle Reconnaissance (Tracked), CVR(T), family of seven armoured vehicles. Manufactured by Alvis, it was introduced into service with the British Army in 1973 and served until 1994. More than 3,000 were produced and used as a reconnaissance vehicle or a light tank. It holds the Guinness world record for the fastest production tank; recorded doing 82.23 km/h (51.10 mph) at the QinetiQ vehicle test track, Chertsey, Surrey, on 26 January 2002.

The Alvis Scorpion was developed to meet a British Army requirement for the Combat Vehicle Reconnaissance (Tracked) or CVR(T). In 1967, Alvis was awarded the contract to produce 30 CVR(T) prototypes. Vehicles P1–P17 being the Scorpion prototypes were delivered on time and within the budget. After extensive hot and cold weather trials in Norway, Australia, Abu Dhabi and Canada, the Scorpion was accepted by the British Army in May 1970, with a contract for 275, which later rose to 313 vehicles. The first production vehicles were completed in 1972 and the first British regiment to be equipped with the Scorpion was the Blues and Royals of the Household Cavalry in 1973. In November 1981, the RAF Regiment took delivery of its first Scorpions.

Alvis built more than 3,000 Scorpion vehicles for the British Army, Royal Air Force Regiment and the export market. All of the CVR(T) vehicles were to be air-portable; and two Scorpions could be carried in a C130 Hercules. Another requirement of the CVR(T) project was the low ground pressure - similar to that of a soldier on foot - this would serve it well in the boggy conditions of the Falklands War.