Alvis FV603 Saracen Mk.5

Plastic model kit of an Alvis FV603 Saracen Mk.5

• Scale 1:35
• 219 parts
• 3 marking options
  • B Squadron, 1st Royal Tank Regiment, Northern Ireland, May 1973
  • Alvis Ltd, Coventry, Warwickshire, England, November 1972
  • Sierra Vista Police Tactical Unit, Sierra Vista, Arizona, United States of America, 2011
• Unbuilt, unpainted
• Paint and glue not included

The Alvis FV603 Saracen Mk.5 was a British six-wheeled personnel carrier developed during the early years of the Cold War; it served as a standard vehicle for the British Army for several decades. The vehicle was part of the FV600 family, which also included the FV601 Saladin armored car and the Stalwart off-road load carrier. Serial production began at Alvis in Coventry in 1952 and continued into the 1970s. In addition to its use by British forces, the Saracen was exported to numerous countries, seeing service worldwide in both military and police roles.

Weighing approximately 11 tonnes, the armored personnel carrier featured a welded hull made of rolled steel up to 16 mm thick, providing the crew and infantry with effective protection against small-arms fire and shrapnel. Beyond the driver and commander, it could transport up to nine fully equipped soldiers. The Saracen was powered by an air-cooled Rolls-Royce B80 straight-eight gasoline engine with a displacement of 5.7 liters and an output of 160 hp. Utilizing a permanent 6×6 drive system with independent suspension, the vehicle achieved a top speed of approximately 72 km/h on roads and demonstrated excellent off-road capability, even under challenging operational conditions. The Mk.5 variant was armed with a small, fully enclosed turret mounting a 7.62 mm Browning M1919 machine gun; additionally, a second machine gun could be mounted on a roof mount for anti-aircraft or close-defense purposes.

The Mk.5 was one of the advanced production versions of the Saracen, benefiting from numerous detailed improvements to its radio equipment, interior, and general fittings. The vehicle served as the basis for various specialized versions, including command post, medical, and radio vehicles. Thanks to its robust chassis and ease of maintenance, the Saracen remained in service for decades, only gradually being replaced by the tracked FV432. Nevertheless, it continued to be used in various support roles for a long time.