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Welcome to the Alvis Saladin FV601 and Alvis Saracen FV603 page
Data
1. Saladin Mk 2 is a six wheeled drive armoured car which carries a crew of three: Commander/Loader, Driver and Gunner/ Operator.
2. The armament consists of a 76 mm AC L5A1 gun end a .30 in. Browning Machine Gun mounted coaxially in the turret. An additional .30 in. Browning is provided for mounting outside the turret, te be used by the commander for close ground work and anti-aircraft.
3. The hull, which is of welded construction made up from armoured plate, is sealed against the ingress of water and consists of a driver's compartment, fighting compartment and engine compartment.
4. The driver's compartment occupies the front of the hull and contains the driver's seat and controls. Entry to the compartment is by a hatchway on the front of the hull, or from the fighting compartment with the turret in suitable positions. The hatch is hinged at the bottom, and when opened is held by a spring catch on the hull front glacis plate. A hinged flap is provided within the hatch.
5. The driver is provided with three No.17 periscopes for use when the vehicle is closed down.
6. The fighting compartment occupies the centre of the vehicle and is fitted with a turret of welded construction which is mounted on a ballrace on the top of the hull to give 360 degrees traverse. The turret accommodates the commander/loader on the right-hand side and the gunner/operator on the left-hand side. The turret turntable is suspended by struts from the turret and carries seats for the crew, fittings for stowage, and a rotary base Junction for feeding electrical circuits from the hull to the turret. Apertures in the turntable give access to various components for servicing. The wireless sets are mounted in a recess at the rear of the turret.
7. The Turret traverse is effected by power assisted manual operation through a torque amplifier and traverse gearbox unit. A separate manual control is provided for the commander.
8. Two emergency escape hatches are provided, one on each side of the fighting compartment. These hatches can be jettisoned when necessary by means of quick release catches.
9. The batteries, CO2 cylinders, and the drinking water tank are mounted in the rear of the fighting compartment.
10. The engine compartment is at the rear of the vehicle and is fitted with a B80 No.1, Mk 6D, 8 cylinder, liquid cooled gasoline engine developing 160 b.h.p. at a governed speed of 3750 r.p.m. Access to the engine compartment is by six hinged doors formed with louvres which allow the cooling air to enter the compartment. Air is drawn in by two fans which are belt driven from the rear of the engine, and expelled through a grille at the top rear of the compartment.
11. Three inter-connected fuel tanks are mounted in the engine compartment, one on each side and cone on the left-hand front. The engine oil tank is located on the floor at the rear of the engine and a hinged oil cooler is mounted transversely above the engine.
12. The power from the engine is transmitted forward through a fluid coupling to a pre-selective, epicyclic gearbox. The gearbox drives a transfer box, which is connected on either side to the centre bevel boxes then by four propeller shafts to the front and rear bevel boxes. The bevel boxes drive the wheels through two tractajoints and epicyclic reduction gears in each hub.
13. Independent suspension is employed at each of the six road wheel stations3 This is effected through wishbone type links and torsion bars. Two double hydraulic shock absorbers are fitted at the front and rear wheel stations, each of the centre wheel stations. Two rubber bump and rebound dampers are in telescopic housings at each of the six wheel stations.
14. Self-servo disc type brakes are fitted on all wheels, the brakes being power operated by the hydraulic system of the vehicle and controlled through the driver's brake pedal. Mechanical operation through the handbrake lever is provided for use in emergency and for parking.
15. Divided disc road wheels are fitted with pneumatic tyres of the run-flat (R.F.) type.
16. Steering is power-assisted from the hydraulic system and is controlled by manual operation of the steering wheel. Steering is effected through the front and centre road wheels.
17. The vehicle is fitted with a negative earth 24V electrical system, employing two 12V batteries connected in series.
18. A fixed CO2 system is installed for combating fire in the engine compartment.
