Saxon (vehicle)

The Saxon is an armoured personnel carrier formerly used by the British Army and supplied in small numbers to various overseas organisations. It was developed by GKN Sankey from earlier projects, AT 100 IS and AT104, and was due to be replaced by the Future Rapid Effect System.

History

The British Army initially ordered a batch of 47 vehicles in early 1983, with first deliveries taking place in early 1984.

The second order for the British Army was a batch of 247 vehicles with the option for a further 200, the latter exercised in late 1985. The final deliveries of the 447 vehicles was complete by early 1989.

The Royal Artillery ordered 30 Saxons for use as command post vehicles armed with Rapier missiles. These vehicles were all delivered in early 1987.

In 1990, the British Ministry of Defence placed an order of around 100 vehicles as well an order of Saxon ambulances, with first deliveries taking place in 1991. These vehicles had a number of improvements over earlier models, including a Cummins 6BT 5.91-litre turbocharged six-cylinder diesel engine developing 160 bhp coupled with a fully automatic transmission.

The first operational Saxons were deployed in Germany in 1983, to equip mechanised infantry battalions. The Saxon has now been withdrawn from service in HM Armed Forces, but 147 are kept in storage.

Design

The Saxon was developed by GKN Defence (now BAE Systems) as the successor of the AT104.

Main improvements over the AT104 include changes in the armoured hull to provide an equal level of protection to the radiator, engine, transmission and crew; a redesigned hull floor to improve protection against landmines; a more powerful diesel engine and a shorter wheelbase for improved mobility and turning.

The hull is all-welded steel with the driver seated at the front on the right side (left-hand drive versions were also available for export) and the personnel compartment in the rear.

The driver can reach his seat from inside the vehicle or by an hatch over his position. There are bulletproof windscreens on the front and both sides.

The commander's cupola has four sides each with a vision block and a single-piece hatch cover. A 7.62 mm machine gun can be pintle-mounted if necessary. The commander module can be removed and replaced with another module with a different armament installation.

The personnel sits on padded bench seats located on each side of the vehicle which are equipped with seat belts, and leave by two doors on the rear and a single door in each side of the hull. Each door have a firing port and a vision block. There are additional firing ports in each side of the hull and a single firing port in the left forward side of the vehicle. The interior of the hull is lined with a 26 mm thick thermal insulation and a forced air circulation system was installed by default on all vehicles.

The armoured hull provides protection against small arms including 7.62 mm armour-piercing rounds, and high-explosive shell fragments up to 155 mm bursting at 10 m from the vehicle. The floor is V-shaped to give maximum protection against mine blasts, except for the axles, which are outside of the armoured compartment.

In British service, each vehicle carried a fully equipped rifle squad of 10. The British Army Saxons originally had a fixed observation cupola for the commander with a socket in each corner of the cupola for a 7.62 mm general-purpose machine gun mount, no door on the left side of the vehicle, and fully enclosed external stowage bins. A total of 515 vehicles were fitted with L8 66 mm smoke grenade launchers.

Variants

Saxon LHD armoured personnel carrier - This variant is fitted with a turret armed with a single or twin 7.62 mm GPMG, with an elevation of 50° and a depression of −15°. It can also be used to deploy and operate remote controlled vehicles for bomb disposal duties. The Jordan Design and Development Bureau (KADDB) was involved in the conversion from right-hand drive to left-hand drive with the first working models presented in 2010.[9]

Saxon command vehicle - Can be fitted with a turret armed with a single or twin 7.62 mm GPMGs or a .50 (12.7 mm) M2HB heavy machine gun. The interior features individual communication control modules, a mapboard with strip lighting, and a storage space.

Saxon recovery vehicle - Features a Hudson Wharton capstan 5000 kg hydraulic winch that can lift vehicles weighing up 16000 kg with the help of a block and tackle. In British service it was normally operated by a crew of four. A tent can be erected at the rear so repair work can be carried on in all weathers if required. Standard equipment includes tools, a spotlight, Scotch lorry skid pads and a front and rear differential lock.

Ambulance - The interior is modified to enable two general service stretchers to be carried on each side of the vehicle, or one patient on a stretcher plus five walking wounded. The crew consists of the commander, driver, and a medical orderly.

Incident control vehicle- A Saxon fitted with a front-mounted obstacle-clearing blade, cage armour, a turret armed with a machine gun and smoke grenade launchers, and a low light TV surveillance system featuring a telescopic mount on the rear of the vehicle.

Saxon EOD - Specialized vehicle for bomb disposal.

Saxon Patrol - The final version of the Saxon to enter service with the British Army, it was used in Northern Ireland. Improvements include replacing the Bedford 6-cylinder diesel with a Cummins 6BT 6-cylinder turbocharged diesel engine, a fully automatic transmission that can use a 4×4 or 4×2 drive depending on the tactical situation. Other improvements include barricade removal devices, roof-mounted searchlights, cage armour, a revised cowl for the armoured radiator cover, improved armour, and an upgraded braking system with run-flat tyres fitted as standard.

origin	United Kingdom
type	Armoured personnel carrier
is vehicle	yes
is uk	yes
service	1976-present
used by	Operators
wars	Cold War The Troubles Gulf War Bosnian War Kosovo War War in Afghanistan (2001–2021) Iraq War Russo-Ukrainian War
designer	GKN Sankey
design date	1975-1976
manufacturer	GKN Sankey Alvis Alvis Vickers BAE Systems
weight	9,940 kg (standard) 11,660 kg (combat)
length	5.17 m
width	2.49 m
height	2.86 m
crew	2
primary armament	7.62 mm MG
secondary armament	none
engine	Bedford 500 6-cyl diesel
engine power	164 hp
transmission	Allison AT-545 automatic with 4 forward gears and 1 reverse gear
payload capacity	10 passengers
fuel capacity	153 l
pw ratio	14.06 hp/t
suspension	leaf spring with hydraulic shock absorbers
vehicle range	510 km
speed	96 km/h

History

Design

Variants

Operators

Current operators

Former operators

Non-State Actors

Bibliography

References