Saxon AT105

History of the Saxon AT105

The Saxon AT105 is a four-wheeled armoured personnel carrier (APC) used by the British Army and supplied in small quantities to several countries overseas. Developed by private company GKN Sankey Corporation (GKN Defense) as a low-cost APC, the vehicle is based on a Bedford 4x4 truck body with an off-the-shelf engine and drivetrain. The first prototype was completed in 1976, the same year the vehicle was produced.

Its design incorporates many of the common and widely used components found in other British Army vehicles, an aspect that has proven to be a high selling point for the British military when it comes to contracts. Military standardization and the logic of saving spare parts and repair operations also make the AT105 an attractive option for the European market.

The AT105 concept is an improvement over the AT104, the AT105 has more armor protection. At its core, the vehicle is a lightly armored truck with limited off-road capability and can only withstand small arms fire. Armor protects passengers from 7.62mm/0.

30 AP (Armor Piercing) caliber shells guide or delay incoming 155mm shell fragments at close range. The frame of the truck has a V-shaped steel plate welded under the hull to provide some protection against mine explosions. In the design layout, the basic 2 crew members sit in the front row, and up to 10 passengers can sit on the benches in the rear compartment, albeit in a tight space. The driver controls the vehicle using a car-style steering wheel and gear lever. Some gear storage is spread across the roof, and two doors at the rear allow for quick entry and exit.

The main cabin retains two rectangular doors for side entry and exit. The vehicle commander has a 7.62mm General Purpose Machine Gun (GPMG) mount in the fixed dome directly above the cab with sights. The wider-spaced wheels enhance the Saxon's profile and help achieve the off-road performance it needs.

The armor is both plate and square, giving the Saxon a unique appearance.

The British Army was once the largest operator of Saxon APCs, with over 600 active tanks. Later Saxons in the British army were called "Saxon Patrols".

The Saxons serving in the British Army will be replaced by the winner of the Future Rapid Effects System (FRES) program, but the program has been split to meet separate requirements - Special Vehicle (SV) and Utility Vehicle (UV) programs. Based on current changing needs and enemies, the new utility vehicle is expected to number in the thousands and provide the British Army with a responsive, cost-effective end product for decades to come.

The British Army no longer operates the Saxons, many have been sold.

GKN Defense later formed with Alvis and became Alvis Vehicles. The company has since evolved into Alvis Vickers after merging with Vickers Defense. Eventually, both companies merged into BAE Systems and Land Systems.

Operators today (2015) include Bahrain, the rebuilding Iraqi army, Malaysia, Mozambique, Nigeria, Oman, Somalia and Ukraine. As many as 75 cars were sold to the Ukrainian army before the war against Russia in the Donbas region.

Hong Kong police stripped their Saxons in 2009 and accepted the UNMOG U5000 series in their place.

Specification

Basic

Roles

Dimensions

Performance

Performance

Armor

1,000 x 7.62mm ammo.

Changes