The FV101 Scorpion is a modern British light tank. Manufactured by Alvis Vickers it was introduced into service with the British Army in 1973 and served until 1994. More than 3000 were produced.

Intended to be a fast and air-transportable reconnaissance vehicle, the Scorpion is built from mainly aluminium armour and mounts a L23A1 76 mm gun firing HE, HESH, Smoke and Cannister rounds. Original models had a Jaguar 4.2 litre petrol engine and are capable of 72 km/h. Engines have been replaced by Perkins Diesel engines which have shown longer in-service life, and have a reduced fire hazard.

The Scorpion has been withdrawn from service. The hulls have been reused with the turrets from the FV721 Fox wheeled reconnaisance vehicle to form a new vehicle Sabre which is very similar in appearance to Scimitar.

Use

• British Army
• British RAF Regiment
• Belgian Army (701 Scorpions and variants)

Variants

'Scorpion 90' A Scorpion with a Cockerill 90 mm gun purchased by the Malaysian forces

Related vehicles using the same (or similar) hull include:

• FV 102 Striker anti-tank guided weapon carrier
• FV 103 Spartan armoured personnel carrier
• FV 106 Samson armoured recovery vehicle
• FV 105 Sultan command post vehicle
• FV 104 Samaritan armoured ambulance
• FV 107 Scimitar
• Sabre Re-turreted Scorpion

These vehicles are collectively known as the CVR(T) - Combat Vehicle Reconnaissance (Tracked) - family.

External links

• British Army museum
• Janes Land Forces

See also

• Tank
• Tank history