Warrior tracked armoured vehicle
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| FV 510 Warrior | |
|---|---|
 FV510 Warrior Infantry Section Vehicle |
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| Type | Infantry fighting vehicle |
| Place of origin |  United Kingdom |
| Production history | |
| Designer | GKN Sankey |
| Manufacturer | GKN Sankey/BAe Systems |
| Number built | 1000+ |
| Specifications | |
| Weight | 25.4 tonnes |
| Length | 6.3 m |
| Width | 3.03 m |
| Height | 2.8 m |
| Crew | 3 (commander, gunner, driver) + 7 troops |
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| Armour | Aluminium & applique |
| Primary armament |
30 mm L21A1 RARDEN cannon |
| Secondary armament |
L94A1 coaxial 7.62 mm chain gun 7.62 mm machine gun |
| Engine | Perkins V-8 Condor 550 hp (410 kW) |
| Suspension | torsion bar |
| Operational range |
410 miles (660 km) |
| Speed | 46 mph (75km/h) |
The FV510 Warrior tracked vehicle family are a series of British armoured vehicles, originally developed to replace the older FV430 series of armoured vehicles. The Warrior started life as the MCV-80 project that was first broached in the 1970s, GKN Sankey winning the production contract in 1980. GKN Sankey is now a part of BAE Systems Land and Armaments. A total of 789 FV510 and variants were manufactured for the British Army, and 254 of a modified version (Desert Warrior) were produced for the Kuwaiti Army.
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[edit] Description
The Warrior incorporates several design features in keeping with UK battlefield experience. In particular, there are no firing ports in the hull, in line with British thinking that the role of the armoured personnel carrier/infantry fighting vehicle (APC/IFV) is to carry troops under protection to the objective and then give firepower support when they have disembarked. The absence of firing ports also allows additional applique armour to be fitted to the sides of the vehicle, which is invariably applied to Warriors involved in active operations. The cage armour used at one stage was replaced in 2007 by "Wrap Two" applique armour.[1]
The crew of a Warrior are the driver, seated in the front hull, and the gunner and commander who are seated in the turret. The embarked infantry section can number up to seven soldiers, who are seated facing each other in the rear hull compartment. Passenger access is through a single electric ram powered door at the rear of the hull, rather than a drop-down ramp as in the American M113 APC and M2 Bradley IFV. Warrior Section Vehicles are able to carry and support seven fully-equipped soldiers together with supplies and weapons, including a number of anti-tank weapons, for a 48-hour battlefield day in nuclear/biological/chemical conditions.
The Warrior is driven by a Perkins-Rolls-Royce V8 Condor engine through a four-speed automatic gearbox. It is capable of a road speed of 46 miles per hour (74 km/h). The Warrior has the speed and performance to keep up with a Challenger 2 main battle tank over the most difficult terrain.
The vehicle is fitted with a two-man GKN Sankey turret, armed with a L21A1 30 mm RARDEN cannon capable of destroying most modern APCs at a maximum range of 1,500 metres (1,600 yd), and a L94A1 EX-34 7.62 mm Hughes Helicopters coaxial chain gun. It is fitted with two clusters of four defensive grenade launchers (usually used with Visual and Infrared Screening Smoke - VIRSS).
All Warrior Infantry Section Vehicles are now equipped with Bowman radios, which replace the earlier Clansman radios, for enhanced communications, command and control. When first introduced, the vehicles were fitted with passive Image intensifier night vision sights. These have since been progressively replaced with Thales Optronics Battle Group Thermal Imaging (BGTI) sights to upgrade night fighting capabilities. As of 2007, 350 vehicles were fitted with BGTI.
[edit] Combat history
- Operation Granby (Gulf War)
- United Nations duties in Bosnia with the UNPROFOR
- Operation Telic (2003 invasion of Iraq)
- Operation Herrick (Afghanistan with ISAF)
The protection against small arms, missiles, rocket propelled grenades and anti-tank mines was proven during the UN operations in Bosnia. Two Warriors were destroyed during the First Gulf War, with nine soldiers killed, in a friendly fire incident when hit by AGM-65 Maverick launched in error by an American A-10 Thunderbolt II.
As of 17 November 2008, 22 soldiers had been killed while travelling in Warrior IFVs in Afghanistan or Iraq.[2]
[edit] Operators
- British Army — 789 received between 1987 and 1995.
Kuwaiti Army — 254 Desert Warriors received.
[edit] Variants
- FV510 Infantry Section Vehicle. This is the principal version operated by the British Army as described above.
- MILAN Anti-Tank Guided Weapon Carrier. Used in Armoured Infantry battalions by anti-tank squads equipped with the MILAN ATGW.
- FV511 Infantry Command Vehicle
- FV512 Mechanised Combat Repair Vehicle. Operated by REME detachments in Armoured Infantry battalions. It is equipped with a 6.5 tonne crane plus power tools and is able to tow a trailer carrying two Warrior power packs or one Challenger power pack.
- FV513 Mechanised Recovery Vehicle (Repair). Also operated by REME detachments in Armoured Infantry battalions. It is equipped with a 20 tonne winch and 6.5 tonne crane plus power tools and (like the FV512) is able to tow a trailer carrying two Warrior power packs or one Challenger power pack.
- FV 514 Mechanised Artillery Observation Vehicle. This is operated by the Royal Artillery as an Artillery Observation Post Vehicle (OPV) and is fitted with mast-mounted Man-packable Surveillance and Target Acquisition Radar (MSTAR) and Position and Azimuth Determining System (PADS), with Image Intensifying and Infra Red equipment. The only armament is the 7.62 mm machine gun, as the 30 mm Rarden cannon is replaced with a dummy weapon. This allows space for the targeting and surveillance equipment while still keeping largely the same outward appearance of a standard Warrior in order to avoid becoming a priority target.
- FV 515 Battery Command Vehicle. This is operated by the Royal Artillery
- Reconnaissance Vehicle. This has additional armoured protection against conventional and chemical attack. Armour shielding covers the front, sides and the suspension of the vehicle. The Warrior Reconnaissance vehicle is normally operated by a crew of three, the driver, commander and gunner, and can carry a reconnaissance officer and additional surveillance equipment.
- Desert Warrior. This was an export version adapted for operations in hostile desert conditions. It was fitted with the Delco turret as used on the LAV-25 wheeled IFV, mounting a stabilised M242 Bushmaster 25 mm chain gun with coaxial 7.62 mm chain gun and 2 x Hughes TOW ATGM launchers (one mounted on each side). In 1993, Kuwait purchased 254 Desert Warrior vehicles.
- Warrior 2000. This was a new version developed for the Swiss Army. It did not enter production. It featured an all-welded aluminium hull, increased armour, digital fire control system and more powerful engine. It was fitted with the Delco turret, or a Land Systems Hagglunds E30 turret with Alliant Techsystems Bushmaster II Mk 44 30 mm cannon.
[edit] Warrior Upgrade programme
As part of the Warrior Mid-Life Improvement Programme (2006-2012), the British Army is upgrading its Warriors to extend their service life to 2025. Upgrades already fitted include the Bowman Communications System and Thales Battle Group Thermal Imaging (BGTI) night sights.
Future upgrades will include a Digital Fire control System and improved power pack.
As part of the British Army's Manned Turret Integration Program (MTIP), a major upgrade will include a new turret, with a replacement for the RARDEN cannon, which lacks stabilisation and is manually-loaded with three-round clips. In March 2008, it was announced that a 40mm weapon developed by Anglo-French firm CTA International and firing Cased Telescoped Ammunition was the preferred weapon to refit Warrior and to fit a new reconnaissance vehicle which would be part of the Future Rapid Effect System. BAE Systems and Lockheed Martin are currently in a competitive phase for a major upgrade contract, which calls for extending the life of the system and provides significant system enhancements.[3]
The latest configuration of Warrior used by the British Army can be seen on this website: http://flamber.ru/photos/albums/1247690323/1247691587/.
[edit] See also
- Argentinean VCTP
- French AMX-10P
- French VBCI
- German Schützenpanzer Marder
- German Schützenpanzer Puma
- Italian Dardo IFV
- India Abhay IFV
- Singaporean Bionix AFV
- Russian BMP-3 IFV
- Spanish Pizarro IFV
- Swedish CV90 IFV
- American M2 Bradley IFV
- Chinese ZBD97 Type 97
[edit] Notes
[edit] References
- Foss, Christopher & Sarson, Peter. Warrior Mechanised Combat Vehicle 1987 - 1994, Osprey UK, 1994, London, New Vanguard Series No. 10.
[edit] External links
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to: FV 510 Warrior |
- Army Technology
- The British Army
- Army Recognition in French
- Military History Encyclopedia on the Web
- Proceedings of the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia. The testimony by Lieutenant Colonel Bryan Watters gives a good illustrations of the peace-keeping operations in which Warrior vehicles were used.
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