Welcome to the Alvis Saracen FV603 page

Data

Drawing index below

This armoured personnel carrier is one of the menu fighting vehicles with which the modern British Army is equipped.

Built by Alvis Ltd,. of Coventry, the Saracen is powered by a 160 h.p. Rolls-Royce, 8-in-line cylinder, petrol engine, and it has a top road speed of 43 m.p.h. The battle weight of the vehicle is 10 tons, the range 240 miles, and it can ford through water up to 3 ft.  6 ins. Deep. All six wheels are driven by means of universal jointed drive shafts. They are independently sprung, having  a vertical movement of 10 ins.; this enables the vehicle to traverse very rough ground.

The entire hull is constructed of thick armour plate. The revolving turret carries a .30 Browning machine-gun, and there is a mounting ring for a Bren light machine-gun. There are opening port-holes on either side for rifle fire. Seating is for 10 personnel, plus the commander and driver. The commander, who is normally in charge of the vehicle, has been omitted from the drawing to show more detail.