Alvis Saracen

Alvis Saracen Mk 1
Alvis Saracen Mk 1
	FV 603 Saracen at Woodvale Transport Festival 2015.
Type	Armoured personnel carrier
Place of origin	United Kingdom
Service history
In service	1952–present
Used by	See "Operators"
Wars	Aden Emergency; Malayan Emergency; 30 September Movement coup; OP Banner - Northern Ireland; Nigerian Civil War; South African Border War; Soweto uprising; Sri Lankan Civil War; Black September; Yom Kippur War; Lebanese Civil War; Invasion of Kuwait; 2003–2004 Indonesian offensive in Aceh;
Production history
Manufacturer	Alvis
Produced	1952–1976
Specifications
Mass	11.0 t
Length	4.8 m
Width	2.54 m
Height	2.46 m
Crew	2 + up to 9 troops
Armour	16 mm Rolled homogeneous armour (RHA)
Main; armament	Browning M1919 machine gun or L37 GPMG
Secondary; armament	Bren LMG, 6–12 smoke grenade launchers
Engine	Rolls-Royce B80 Mk 3A or Mk 6A, 8 cyl Inlet over Exhaust petrol; 160 hp
Power/weight	14.5 hp/tonne
Suspension	6x6 wheel, independent torsion bars
Operational; range	400 km
Maximum speed	72 km/h (off-road 32 km/h)

The FV603 Saracen is a six-wheeled armoured personnel carrier designed and produced by Alvis from 1952 to 1976. It has been used by a variety of operators around the world and is still in use in secondary roles in some countries. The Saracen became a recognisable vehicle as a result of its part in the Troubles' Operation Banner in Northern Ireland, as well as for its role in the South African government's enforcement of apartheid.