Regarding the new GB, I have a couple of builds in mind and, if time permits, I may give both a go. However, to start things off I came across this nugget recently and thought it might fit the bill nicely and not detract too much from other overdue projects.
Not wanting to waste too much time in setting the scene, I will, for brevity, quote directly from the excellent work done by the folks at tanks-encyclopaedia.com.
Saladin R
The Saladin R is an often overlooked part of the FV601’s history. Essentially, it was a private venture by Alvis to create a new vehicle for the export market. The Saladin R consisted of the standard Saladin hull, equipped with a newer CVR(T)-style turret and armed with the RARDEN (Royal Armament, Research and Development Establishment, ENfield) auto-cannon – hence Saladin RARDEN or ‘R’. Saladin was already an incredible export success for Alvis, but with the R, they were really trying to target the Middle East, specifically Kuwait.
Placed atop the unchanged hull, the new turret was a slightly modified version of that found on the FV107 Scimitar CVR(T) [
My note: As you can see from the images below, the turret in question was more likely that of, or based upon, the turret from the FV721 Fox CVR(W) rather than the FV107 Scimitar - likely a result of not wanting to disrupt the CVR(T) production lines and/or the availability of turrets following the less than successful introduction of the Fox]. It was an all-aluminum construction, and carried the 30 mm RARDEN automatic cannon, as well as a coaxial 7.62 mm machine gun. The RARDEN was compatible with Hispano-Suiza 831L rounds, of which 189 would be provided. Ammunition was pre-loaded in 3-round clips, with various types available, such as high-explosive incendiary (HE-I), armor-piercing high-explosive (APHE) and even armor-piercing discarding sabot (APDS), to name but a few. Two men operated the turret, which was all-manual in control, including gun elevation, which was -10° to +40°. While not equipped to face heavy armor, the gun was best suited to a support role, being used against soft-skinned vehicles, infantry or helicopters. In the production brochure for the R, Alvis listed the targeted roles for the vehicle. These included reconnaissance, advance to combat, battle reporting, delaying actions and anti-helicopter fire.
Despite being a relatively easy conversion, no orders for the vehicle were ever placed by either the British Army or prospective foreign customers. As it was not designed under a British Military request, it also never received a Fighting Vehicle or ‘FV’ number. It is not known whether any vehicles were built. Alvis may very well have produced mock-ups of the vehicle to show off – as they were known to do – but nothing short of art-work has been found for this particular Saladin variant.
So, what if the British Army had decided to order the Saladin R?
