The FV603 Saracen is a six-wheeled armored personnel carrier built by Alvis and used by the British army. The FV603 Saracen is a cheap alternative to the faster and armoured FV103 Spartan APC. The FV603 Saracen has only 5 hit points unlike most infantry transports, but possesses acceptable speed and a weapon for only 5 points, making the FV603 Saracen attractive for it's price range.
History[]
The FV603 Saracen was the armoured personnel carrier of Alvis' FV600 series. Besides the driver and commander, a squad of 8 soldiers plus a troop commander could be carried. Most models carried a small turret on the roof, carrying a Browning .30 machine gun.
A .303 Bren gun could be mounted on an anti-aircraft ring-mount accessed through a roof hatch and there were ports on the sides through which troops could fire. Although removed from active service, it saw extensive use into the 1980s in Northern Ireland and was a familiar sight during "The Troubles". At times they even appeared on the streets of Hull, a less-hostile atmosphere for driver training in a city of similar appearance to Belfast, and only a few miles from the Army School of Mechanical Transport.
As a member of the FV 600 series it shared a similar chassis with the FV601 Saladin armoured car, the Salamander fire engine and the Stalwart High Mobility Load Carrier. The chassis, suspension and final drive remained similar, but the engine, transmission and braking systems varied significantly.
The Saracen was in turn used as an armoured personnel carrier, armoured command vehicle and ambulance. The FV 603 model saw many variants in detail, including radio or command fitments and specialist equipment for Artillery or Signals use.
Saracen was produced before Saladin because of the urgent need for a personnel carrier to serve in the Malayan Emergency, entering production in 1952. The Saracen was produced both with and without turrets fitted.
These were used in the Support Troop of the earlier Armored Car Regiments with four in each troop. Before 1963, crewing of APC were the responsibility of the RAC with each Armored Brigade given a APC squadron of 53 Saracen to transport the infantry. After 1963, Infantry had the responsibility of crewing APC along with the replacement of Saracen with FV432.
Weapons[]
European Escalation[]
| Weapons | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Type | MMG | No Weapon | No Weapon |
| Name | M1919 | ||
| Caliber | 7,62mm | ||
| Ammo | x 8000 rounds | ||
| Range | Ground = N/A m Helicopters = N/A m  Airplanes = N/A m
|
||
| Accuracy | 3 | ||
| AP Power | 0 | ||
| HE Power | 1 | ||
| Rate of fire | 600 r/min |
Airland Battle[]
| Weapons | 
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Type | MMG | No Weapon | No Weapon |
| Name | M1919 | ||
| Caliber | 7.62mm | ||
| Ammo | x 1600 | ||
| Range | Ground = 875 m Helicopters = 525 m Airplanes = N/A m
|
||
| Accuracy | 3 | ||
| AP Power | N/A | ||
| HE Power | .5 | ||
| Suppression | 55 | ||
| Rate of fire | 600 r/min |
Red Dragon[]
| Weapons | 
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Type | MMG | No Weapon | No Weapon |
| Name | M1919 | ||
| Caliber | 7.62mm | ||
| Ammo | x 1500 | ||
| Range | Ground = 875 m Helicopters = 525 m Airplanes = N/A m
|
||
| Accuracy | 15% | ||
| Stabilizer | 5% | ||
| AP Power | N/A | ||
| HE Power | .5 | ||
| Suppression | 55 | ||
| Rate of fire | 652 r/min |
See also[]
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