Centurion AVRE-165

Notes: This is a CEV similar in concept to the M728. The Centurion’s gun has been replaced with a 165mm demolition gun, and a crane has been installed, able to lift 13.6 tons. There is also an armored dozer blade able to excavate 229 cubic meters per hour, and a winch able to pull 20 tons with 50m of cable. A rack above the dozer blade can carry fascines, trackway, or other cargoes. There is a driver's hatch on the center front deck, and hatches for the commander and loader on the turret -- the gunner uses the loader's hatch. This vehicle was taken out of active British service by the mid-1990s.

Twilight/Merc 2000 Notes: These vehicles were never taken out of service – they were deemed too valuable in MOUT situations.

Price

Fuel Type

Load

Veh Wt

Crew

Mnt

Night Vision

Radiological

$148,313

D, A

700 kg

51.81 tons

4

19

Headlights

Shielded

Tr Mov

Com Mov

Fuel Cap

Fuel Cons

Config

Susp

Armor

88/62

20/15

1037

481

Trtd

T6

TF40 TS17 TR11 HF60 HS13 HR8

Fire Control

Stabilization

Armament

Ammunition

None

None

165mm Demolition Gun, L-7A2, L-7A2 (C)

30x165mm, 3000x7.62mm

Chieftain AVLB

Notes: This is an AVLB in British service, based on the chassis of the Chieftain main battle tank. The bridge on this vehicle is capable of bridging a 22.86-meter gap. The bridge weighs 12.2 tons, takes 5 minutes to emplace, and 10 minutes to recover. It is designed for up to 70-ton loads. Bridges may be combined by laying one bridge on top of the other at approximately the halfway point of the first span. The Chieftain AVLB is used by Great Britain and Iran.

Price

Fuel Type

Load

Veh Wt

Crew

Mnt

Night Vision

Radiological

$160,209

D, G, A

400 kg

53.3 tons

3

20

Passive IR

Shielded

Tr Mov

Com Mov

Fuel Cap

Fuel Cons

Config

Susp

Armor

98/68

20/15

950

269

CiH

T6

TF4 TS4 TR4 HF48 HS16 HR10

Fire Control

Stabilization

Armament

Ammunition

None

None

L-7A2 (C)

4500x7.62mm

CR ARRAV (Challenger Armored Repair and Recovery Vehicle)

Notes: This is an engineer vehicle based upon the Challenger chassis. The ARRAV is capable of carrying an entire Challenger power pack as well as all necessary repair equipment. There is a winch that can pull 68 tons, an auxiliary winch that can pull 20 tons, and a crane on the left hull (able to reach over the entire vehicle) with a capacity of 43 tons. The ARRAV also has a front-mounted dozer blade capable of excavating 229 cubic meters per hour and offers increased bracing and traction when lifting heavy loads. The ARRAV is equipped with night vision devices and has a MAG MG located in a remote cupola.

Price

Fuel Type

Load

Veh Wt

Crew

Mnt

Night Vision

Radiological

$274,279

D, G, AvG, A

5.8 tons

62 tons

5+4

21

Thermal Imaging, Image Intensification

Shielded

Tr Mov

Com Mov

Fuel Cap

Fuel Cons

Config

Susp

Armor

132/93

30/20

1592

443

Stnd

T6

HF149 HS21Sp HR16

Fire Control

Stabilization

Armament

Ammunition

+1

Basic

L-7A2

1000x7.62mm

Chieftain AVRE

Notes: This vehicle is similar in layout to the Challenger ARRV described above and has been supplanted in service by the Challenger. The Chieftain AVREs winch can pull 57 tons, the auxiliary winch can pull 17 tons, and the crane can lift 36 tons. The dozer blade can excavate 192 cubic meters per hour. The primary job of the Chieftain AVRE is to assist armored battle groups in overcoming obstacles on the battlefield; it thus has racks for explosives, a rack on the hull roof for fascines, and connections to pull multiple trailers that are usually carrying more fascines or the Giant Viper or Python mine-clearing systems.

Price

Fuel Type

Load

Veh Wt

Crew

Mnt

Night Vision

Radiological

$156,049

D, A

4.9 tons

52 tons

5

18

Active/Passive IR

Shielded

Tr Mov

Com Mov

Fuel Cap

Fuel Cons

Config

Susp

Armor

105/73

20/15

955

276

Stnd

T6

HF84 HS18 HR10

Fire Control

Stabilization

Armament

Ammunition

None

None

L-7A2 (C)

1800x7.62mm

FV-106 Samson ARV

Notes: The Samson is an armored recovery vehicle built on the Scorpion chassis. It is fitted with an internally mounted winch in place of the vehicle's turret and main gun. Entry is by a small door in the rear of the vehicle, or by the commander's and driver's hatches on the roof. The Samson is used to repair and recover smaller armored vehicles and unarmored vehicles. Except as noted below, it is identical in characteristics to the Scorpion. The Samson has a main winch with a pull of 9 tons, a secondary winch with a pull of 3 tons, and a crane that can lift 5.5 tons.

Vehicle

Price

Fuel Type

Load

Veh Wt

Crew

Mnt

Night Vision

Radiological

Gas Engine

$71,580

G, A

1 ton

8.74 tons

4

6

Passive IR

Shielded

Diesel Engine

$71,580

D, A

1 ton

8.76 tons

4

6

Passive IR

Shielded

Vehicle

Tr Mov

Com Mov

Fuel Cap

Fuel Cons

Config

Susp

Armor

Gas Engine

142/99

30/20

405

74

Stnd

T3

HF6 HS3 HR3

Diesel Engine

149/104

30/20

405

70

Stnd

T3

HF6 HS3 HR3

Vehicle

Fire Control

Stabilization

Armament

Ammunition

(Both)

None

None

L-7A2 (C)

900x7.62mm

FV-180

Notes: This vehicle first appeared in British service in 1975, over a decade after the initial requirement was published by the British Ministry of Defense. Because of this, the program was nearly killed several times, but by 2000, they were a fairly common sight in British service, and some were also used by India and Singapore. Their main roles are as an armored dozer, preparing fighting positions for heavy weapons and armored vehicles, repairing and maintaining roads, recovery of disabled vehicles, preparing river-crossing points, and preparing and destroying obstacles. The bucket at the rear of the vehicle is quite large and can excavate 200 cubic meters at once. The FV-180 also has a winch; this has a capacity of 8 tons and has 113 meters of cable that can be fed to the front or rear. On top of the vehicle is an earth anchor for self-recovery or pulling down obstacles; it has a rocket assist and can be shot to a distance of 91.4 meters, then reeled in. An FV-180 is issued with 10 charges for the rocket anchor. The anchor may also be attached to the winch cable. Indian vehicles have air conditioning, but neither British nor Singapore vehicles have this. Between the superstructure and the dozer is a space that can be used to carry fascines or other large items; a pusher bar is also located there to help deploy fascines or roll-up road sections. Some of these vehicles also have a crane with a capacity of 4 tons. The weapon mount is optional; most British and Indian vehicles have it, but almost none of Singapore’s FV-180s do. The FV-180 is amphibious with preparation; however this takes a lot of work and a special kit, and requires about 15 minutes.

Price

Fuel Type

Load

Veh Wt

Crew

Mnt

Night Vision

Radiological

$84,608

D, A

800 kg

18.35 tons

2

10

Passive IR

Shielded

Tr Mov

Com Mov

Fuel Cap

Fuel Cons

Config

Susp

Armor

118/83

25/20

418

118

Stnd

T4

HF6 HS4 HR4

Fire Control

Stabilization

Armament

Ammunition

None

None

L-7A2 (C)

1000x7.62mm

FV-434

Notes: This is an older repair vehicle used by England. It is based on the FV-432 APC, and cannot service vehicles larger than the Chieftain main battle tank (it is not powerful enough to carry the Challenger-series' engine or transmission). It is basically similar to the FV-432, but has a load area at the rear of the hull roof for carrying large items. This load area is covered with a canvas tarpaulin supported by bows. On the right side of the hull is a crane with a capacity of 1.25 tons and a reach of 3.96 meters, or 3.05 tons at a 2.26-meter reach. A full range of tools is carried, along with workbench, vise, tow bars, and tow cables. The FV-434 does not have a winch. These vehicles have been partially replaced by the Challenger Repair and Recovery Vehicle, especially in tank units.

Price

Fuel Type

Load

Veh Wt

Crew

Mnt

Night Vision

Radiological

$67,984

D, G, A

2.71 tons

17.75 tons

4

10

Headlights

Enclosed

Tr Mov

Com Mov

Fuel Cap

Fuel Cons

Config

Susp

Armor

93/65

20/15

454

84

Stnd

T2

HF6 HS4 HR3

Fire Control

Stabilization

Armament

Ammunition

None

None

L-7A2 (C) or Bren L2A4 (C)

1600x7.62mm

FV-512 MCRV/FV-513 MRV(R)

Notes: These related vehicles are also known as the Warrior Recovery and Repair Vehicles. As the name suggests, they are recovery vehicle versions of the FV-510 Warrior IFV, and are used by Great Britain and Kuwait to support those vehicles and sometimes tanks. The primary difference between these vehicles is that the FV-512 does not have a winch, while the FV-513 does. Both vehicles have a crane with a 6.5-ton capacity in place of the turret of the FV-510, with a maximum reach of 4.52 meters. The FV-513 has a winch internally at the rear with a capacity of 20 tons (38 tons with pulleys installed), and has 100 meters of cable. There is also a pilot winch on this vehicle that has 200 meters of cable and a capacity of 1.25 tons. On the front of the superstructure of both vehicles, there is a small one-man turret mounting a 7.62mm EX-34 ChainGun. The vehicles are air-conditioned, and have a small spade at the rear that is lowered to provide stability for the crane. These vehicles typically carry a wide variety of tools appropriate for their task of repairing tracked fighting vehicles.

Both of these vehicles can tow the GKN High Mobility Trailer. This four-wheeled trailer was purpose designed for these vehicles, but may be towed by other vehicles capable of handling the weight. It weighs 5.5 tons, can carry 6.5 tons (approximately the weight of a Challenger power pack or two Warrior power packs), and is designed to provide a stable platform regardless of terrain conditions. The trailer's platform can be raised and lowered and provides a safe level platform for work when not connected for towing.

Vehicle

Price

Fuel Type

Load

Veh Wt

Crew

Mnt

Night Vision

Radiological

FV-512

$75,506

D, A

1.2 tons

30 tons

5

10

Active/Passive IR

Shielded

FV-513

$78,938

D, A

1.2 tons

30.2 tons

5

10

Active/Passive IR

Shielded

Vehicle

Tr Mov

Com Mov

Fuel Cap

Fuel Cons

Config

Susp

Armor

(Both)

127/89

25/20

770

204

CiH

T4

TF4 TS4 TR4 HF20 HS6 HR6

Vehicle

Fire Control

Stabilization

Armament

Ammunition

(Both)

None

None

EX-34 ChainGun

1500x7.62mm

Stormer VLSMS (Vehicle Launched Scatterable Mine System)

Notes: This is a Stormer #16 modified to carry the Minotaur mine-scattering system. The Minotaur system can lay 600 mines per hour, usually of the anti-tank variety. The hull is longer and wider than the standard Stormer, but the automotive components are identical. The vehicle has NBC protection and air conditioning. Four smoke grenade launchers are mounted on either side of the vehicle. The rear of the vehicle is completely taken up by the mine system.

Price

Fuel Type

Load

Veh Wt

Crew

Mnt

Night Vision

Radiological

$121,636

D, G, AvG, A

400 kg

12.7 tons

3

12

Passive IR

Shielded

Tr Mov

Com Mov

Fuel Cap

Fuel Cons

Config

Susp

Armor

163/114

35/25/4

405

92

Stnd

T3

HF8 HS4 HR4

Fire Control

Stabilization

Armament

Ammunition

None

None

Minotaur mine-scattering system, L-7A2 (C)

600xmines, 1000x7.62mm

Vickers ARRV

Notes: These are Armored Repair and Recovery Vehicles based on the Vickers Mk 3 main battle tank. The Vickers ARRV lacks the composite armor of the Vickers Mk 3, and instead of a turret has a raised superstructure mounting a crane with a capacity of 4 tons (just enough to lift a tank power pack). Mounted to the left of the driver in the front of the vehicle is the main winch. It has 122 meters of cable and has a capacity of 25 tons, or 75 tons with block and tackle. When using the winch, an earth anchor is normally employed to brace the vehicle. There is also an auxiliary winch at the rear with a capacity of 4.06 tons and 250 meters of cable. The Vickers ARRV normally carries a full range of recovery and repair equipment, including welding and cutting gear, an air compressor, a fuel pump, a large set of tools (basic, wheeled vehicle, tracked vehicle, small arms, heavy ordinance), a tow bar, block and tackle, and various ropes, cables, and chains. The Vickers has a hatch on the front right deck for the driver, a commander's cupola on the left superstructure deck with an externally mounted machinegun that can be aimed and fired from within the vehicle, and a large hatch for the crew to work with the crane. A flat area on the rear deck can carry a complete MBT power pack.

Twilight 2000 Notes: Prewar sales went only to Kenya, Nigeria, and Tanzania, and even then only in small numbers, but some of these vehicles were produced during the Twilight War, and a few of these went to British forces in Europe.

Price

Fuel Type

Load

Veh Wt

Crew

Mnt

Night Vision

Radiological

$167,433

D, A

3 tons

36.8 tons

4

13

Active/Passive IR, WL Spotlight

Shielded

Tr Mov

Com Mov

Fuel Cap

Fuel Cons

Config

Susp

Armor

146/102

30/20

1000

296

Stnd

T6

HF76 HS10 HR8

Fire Control

Stabilization

Armament

Ammunition

None

None

L-7A2 (C)

2600x7.62mm