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Alvis FV601 Saladin

1958 COLD WAR

Alves FV601 Saladin Story

The Saladin armored vehicle was a British utility vehicle that appeared after the war. It entered service after a long period of development to replace the phased-out 4x4 AEC armoured vehicles that appeared in British campaigns during World War II, initially in North Africa and continued to serve for some time thereafter. Saladin was named after Saladin, a Kurdish Muslim warrior who led campaigns against the European Crusades and eventually became ruler of what is now Egypt, Syria and Yemen, as well as Mesopotamia and the Black Hass region.

Although Saladin developed from the post-war period, it did not officially enter British service until 1958.

Saladin is part of the Alvis family of FV600 series of vehicles (all names begin with the letter "S"). Another car in the series is the 6x6 FV603 Saracen, also from the FV600 series, widely used in police precincts in Northern Ireland. Likewise, the Saladin was developed with a 6x6 wheelbase, with a 6x6 wheel suspension system and borrowed some powertrain experience from the Saracen development.

While the Saracens themselves are basically called armored personnel carriers (APCs), Saladin is classified as a dedicated armored vehicle system.

On the surface, Saladin is traditional in nature. The engine was mounted in the rear compartment and the driver remained in position on the forward fuselage. The Glacis plates are well angled to provide some ballistic protection from enemy projectiles. The sides of the vehicle are marked with six large wheels (three on the side of the hull).

Ground clearance is excellent, with good off-road performance. At the heart of the Saladin system is its 360-degree rotating turret, which houses an impressive 76mm main gun, capable of engaging tanks from the early Cold War to a certain extent.

The main guns were supported by a pair of general purpose .30 caliber machine guns (one coaxially mounted in the turret) for infantry and anti-aircraft use respectively. The tower has straight side walls and a flat top.

Twelve smoke grenade launchers (six on the front of the turret) can be used to cover offensive and defensive operations as needed. Saladin was piloted by a crew of three, consisting of a driver, commander and gunner.

Power is provided by a Rolls-Royce B80 Mk. 6A 8-cylinder petrol engine rated up to 170 hp. This enables a top speed of 72 km/h and a range of 400 km. Suspension is distributed to all six wheels.

Built for reconnaissance and police missions, Saladin is lightly armored but relatively fast on paved roads. Its inherent speed becomes an asset when trying to escape an unfavorable encounter with an enemy. However, its main gun armament is capable of defeating most vehicles in the MBT category.

The use of Saladin armored vehicles extends far beyond the British Army. The relatively low cost of procuring Saladin makes it an attractive purchase for the armed forces (army and others) that cannot afford "real" armored vehicles or do not need such a system, but prefer to rely on Inherent mobility and firepower.

Armored vehicles can leave. This has proven to be extremely effective for the "peacekeeping" policies of many emerging countries.

Other operators include Australia, Federal Police Force, Honduras, Indonesia, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Maldives, Mauritania, Oman, Portugal, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Tunisia and Yemen.

Saladin saw action during his tenure in UN operations as well as police and military operations with various forces. Although no longer in service with the British Army, Saladin's legacy lives on, only registering for combat service with the Sri Lanka and Honduras Armed Forces in 2009.