FV103 Spartan
Encyclopedia
FV103 Spartan is a tracked armoured personnel carrier
of the British Army
. It was developed as the APC variant of the Combat Vehicle Reconnaissance (Tracked)
family. The vehicle can carry up to 7 personnel, including 3 crew members. Armed with a single machine gun, it is almost indistinguishable from the FV102 Striker
in external appearance. Rather than a general personnel carrier for infantry, the Spartan has been used for moving specialist teams such as anti-aircraft missile teams. An anti-tank variant of the Spartan has been produced, named FV120 Spartan MCT, which is armed with MILAN
anti-tank missiles. Nearly 500 Spartans have been in service with the British armed forces since 1978, although they are now being replaced by newer vehicles.
(APC) version of the British Army
's Combat Vehicle Reconnaissance (Tracked)
(CRV(T)) family of armoured fighting vehicles, designed by Alvis plc
. The vehicle entered service with the British military in 1978. The Spartan is similar in appearance to the FV102 Striker, except for the missile launcher on the Striker.
The FV103 Spartan is powered by a Bedford
600 6-cylinder diesel engine
, or a Cummins
BT 5.1 engine. The vehicle is 5.16 metres (16.9 ft) in length and 2.48 metres (8.1 ft) in width. With a ground clearance of 0.33 metres (1.1 ft), it has a height of 2.63 metres (8.6 ft). As the APC variant of the CVR(T) family, the FV103 has been used by small specialized groups such as mortar fire controller teams, anti aircraft teams and also reconnaissance teams. The vehicle can carry 7 personnel, as a combination of 3 crew members and 4 passengers or 2 crew members and 5 passengers. It is armed with one 7.62 mm L37A1
machine gun, and can have four smoke dischargers on each side. In addition to the APC role, it has also been used as a resupplying vehicle to the FV102 Striker, carrying extra Swingfire
missiles. The FV103 has combat weight of 10670 kilograms (23,523.3 lb). It can achieve a maximum speed of 96 kilometres per hour (59.7 mph) and has a range of 510 kilometres (316.9 mi). It is capable of negotiating up to 60% gradients.
Anti-Tank Light Infantry Missiles in launch positions, while 11 more can be carried internally.
It was reported to the House of Commons in 2006 that 478 FV103 vehicles were in service with the armed forces of the United Kingdom by April of that year, with 452 of them in deployable state. By 2007, 495 FV103 Spartans were in the service of the United Kingdom. However, these were being replaced by mid-2009 with Panther Command and Liaison Vehicles.
Belgium
have also used Spartans with their cavalry units from 1975, along with other CVR(T) vehicles.
Armoured personnel carrier
An armoured personnel carrier is an armoured fighting vehicle designed to transport infantry to the battlefield.APCs are usually armed with only a machine gun although variants carry recoilless rifles, anti-tank guided missiles , or mortars...
of the British Army
British Army
The British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England...
. It was developed as the APC variant of the Combat Vehicle Reconnaissance (Tracked)
Combat Vehicle Reconnaissance (Tracked)
The Combat Vehicle Reconnaissance —or CVR—is a family of armoured fighting vehicles s in service with the British Army and others throughout the world...
family. The vehicle can carry up to 7 personnel, including 3 crew members. Armed with a single machine gun, it is almost indistinguishable from the FV102 Striker
FV102 Striker
The FV102 Striker was the anti-tank guided missile carrier in the CVR family and served in the British Army.-Overview:FV102 Striker was the Swingfire wire guided anti-tank missile carrying member of the CVR family. The FV102 Striker was externally very similar to the FV103 Spartan but carried five...
in external appearance. Rather than a general personnel carrier for infantry, the Spartan has been used for moving specialist teams such as anti-aircraft missile teams. An anti-tank variant of the Spartan has been produced, named FV120 Spartan MCT, which is armed with MILAN
MILAN
MILAN " is French and German for "kite bird") is a European anti-tank guided missile. Design of the MILAN started in 1962. It was ready for trials in 1971, and was accepted for service in 1972. It is a wire guided SACLOS missile, which means the sight of the launch unit has to be aimed at the...
anti-tank missiles. Nearly 500 Spartans have been in service with the British armed forces since 1978, although they are now being replaced by newer vehicles.
Design and features
The FV103 Spartan was developed during the 1970s as the Armoured Personnel CarrierArmoured personnel carrier
An armoured personnel carrier is an armoured fighting vehicle designed to transport infantry to the battlefield.APCs are usually armed with only a machine gun although variants carry recoilless rifles, anti-tank guided missiles , or mortars...
(APC) version of the British Army
British Army
The British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England...
's Combat Vehicle Reconnaissance (Tracked)
Combat Vehicle Reconnaissance (Tracked)
The Combat Vehicle Reconnaissance —or CVR—is a family of armoured fighting vehicles s in service with the British Army and others throughout the world...
(CRV(T)) family of armoured fighting vehicles, designed by Alvis plc
Alvis plc
Alvis Ltd. was created when United Scientific Holdings plc acquired the Alvis division of the nationalised vehicle manufacturer British Leyland in 1981. United Scientific maintained its own name until 1992 when the group was renamed Alvis plc. Alvis acquired Swedish armoured vehicle manufacturer...
. The vehicle entered service with the British military in 1978. The Spartan is similar in appearance to the FV102 Striker, except for the missile launcher on the Striker.
The FV103 Spartan is powered by a Bedford
Bedford Vehicles
Bedford Vehicles, usually shortened to just Bedford, was a subsidiary of Vauxhall Motors, itself the British subsidiary of General Motors , established in 1930; and constructing commercial vehicles. Bedford Vehicles was a leading international truck manufacturer, with substantial export sales of...
600 6-cylinder diesel engine
Diesel engine
A diesel engine is an internal combustion engine that uses the heat of compression to initiate ignition to burn the fuel, which is injected into the combustion chamber...
, or a Cummins
Cummins
Cummins Inc. is a Fortune 500 corporation that designs, manufactures, distributes and services engines and related technologies, including fuel systems, controls, air handling, filtration, emission control and electrical power generation systems...
BT 5.1 engine. The vehicle is 5.16 metres (16.9 ft) in length and 2.48 metres (8.1 ft) in width. With a ground clearance of 0.33 metres (1.1 ft), it has a height of 2.63 metres (8.6 ft). As the APC variant of the CVR(T) family, the FV103 has been used by small specialized groups such as mortar fire controller teams, anti aircraft teams and also reconnaissance teams. The vehicle can carry 7 personnel, as a combination of 3 crew members and 4 passengers or 2 crew members and 5 passengers. It is armed with one 7.62 mm L37A1
FN MAG
The FN MAG is a Belgian 7.62 mm general-purpose machine gun, designed in the early 1950s at Fabrique Nationale by Ernest Vervier. It has been used by more than 80 countries, and it has been made under licence in countries such as Argentina, Egypt, India, Singapore, the United Kingdom and the...
machine gun, and can have four smoke dischargers on each side. In addition to the APC role, it has also been used as a resupplying vehicle to the FV102 Striker, carrying extra Swingfire
Swingfire
Swingfire was a British wire-guided anti-tank missile developed in the 1960s and produced from 1966 until 1993.-Development:Swingfire was developed by Fairey Engineering Ltd and the British Aircraft Corporation. It replaced the Vickers Vigilant missile in British service...
missiles. The FV103 has combat weight of 10670 kilograms (23,523.3 lb). It can achieve a maximum speed of 96 kilometres per hour (59.7 mph) and has a range of 510 kilometres (316.9 mi). It is capable of negotiating up to 60% gradients.
Variants and service
An anti-tank variant of the FV103 was produced, named FV120 Spartan MCT (Spartan with MILAN Compact Turret). The FV120 has a two-man turret, and is equipped with 2 MILANMILAN
MILAN " is French and German for "kite bird") is a European anti-tank guided missile. Design of the MILAN started in 1962. It was ready for trials in 1971, and was accepted for service in 1972. It is a wire guided SACLOS missile, which means the sight of the launch unit has to be aimed at the...
Anti-Tank Light Infantry Missiles in launch positions, while 11 more can be carried internally.
It was reported to the House of Commons in 2006 that 478 FV103 vehicles were in service with the armed forces of the United Kingdom by April of that year, with 452 of them in deployable state. By 2007, 495 FV103 Spartans were in the service of the United Kingdom. However, these were being replaced by mid-2009 with Panther Command and Liaison Vehicles.
Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
have also used Spartans with their cavalry units from 1975, along with other CVR(T) vehicles.
Further reading
- Howard, Les. Winter Warriors - Across Bosnia with the PBI 1995/1996. The Book Guild, 2006, ISBN 1-84624-077-8