Combat Vehicle Reconnaissance ( Tracked ) The Combat Vehicle Reconnaissance ( Tracked ) — or CVR ( T ) — is a family of armoured fighting vehicle s ( AFV ) s in service with the British Army and others throughout the world . They are small , highly mobile air transportable armoured vehicles designed to replace the Alvis Saladin armoured car . First designed by Alvis in the 1960s , the CVR ( T ) family includes Scorpion and Scimitar light reconnaissance tanks , Spartan armoured personnel carriers ( APC ) s , Sultan command and control vehicle , Samaritan armoured ambulance , Striker anti – tank guided missile vehicle and Samson armoured recovery vehicle . All members of the CVR ( T ) family were designed to share common automotive components and suspension ; aluminium armour was selected to keep the weight down . By 1996 more than 3 , 500 had been built for British Army use and export . Scorpion and Striker have now been withdrawn from British Army service . Scimitar and Spartan are expected to be replaced by newer vehicles from the Future Rapid Effect System programme and the Panther Command and Liaison Vehicle . Army 2020 armoured cavalry units however are stated to be equipped with Scimitars . Design and development . In the early 1960s , the United Kingdom ' s overseas commitments were proving costly to garrison and a drain on the defence budget . A new strategy was proposed , that troops and equipment would be airlifted to trouble - spots from their bases in Europe . To support the air - landed troops , a requirement was identified for an AFV that could provide fire support with an anti - armour capability and be light enough to be airportable . At the same time consideration was being given to the replacement of the Saladin armoured car . In 1960 work began on what was called the " Armoured Vehicle Reconnaissance " . The vehicle would mount a 76 or 105 mm main gun in a limited traverse turret , which also housed the three - man crew ; namely : driver , gunner and commander . An anti – armour capability would be met by a Swingfire missile system ( then under development ) , mounted at the rear . The design would come in both tracked and wheeled versions and share the same engine and transmission as the FV432 APC . The final weight of the prototype was over 13 tons , which exceeded the weight limit if it was to be transported by air . To reduce weight , aluminium armour was selected instead of steel ; research revealed that it provided greater protection from artillery shell - splinters because of its density . To fit inside the transport aircraft of the time , the vehicle ' s height had to be less than , its width had to be less than . To meet the ground pressure requirement of five psi , the tracks had to be wide . The width also dictated the engine used had to fit next to a driver in full winter clothing . The engine compartment could only be wide . No tank engines in production or development at the time were suitable except one , the Jaguar 4 . 2 - litre petrol engine . The driver , being located at the front of the vehicle alongside the engine , dictated that the turret would have to be at the rear . The fire support version , armed with a 76 mm gun , was named Scorpion as the rear - mounted turret suggested a sting in the tail . Following the example of Alvis predecessor vehicles Saladin , Stalwart and Saracen , all CVRTs started with the letter ' S ' . The other vehicles were named to reflect their function ; Striker anti – tank guided weapons , Spartan armoured personnel carrier ; Samaritan ambulance ; Sultan command and control and Samson recovery vehicles . In addition the British General Staff had requested another vehicle armed with a 30 mm cannon which became Scimitar . In 1967 Alvis were awarded the contract to produce 30 CVR ( T ) prototypes . Vehicles P1 – P17 being the Scorpion prototypes , P18 – P30 were prototypes of the other six CVR ( T ) versions . Having to work under strict cost limitations imposed by the Ministry of Defence , the first prototype was completed on time and within budget on 23 January 1969 , after extensive hot and cold weather trials in Norway , Australia , Canada and Abu Dhabi . In May 1970 , the CVR ( T ) was accepted into British Army service ; a contract was agreed for 275 Scorpions and 288 Scimitars . The first production Scorpion being completed in 1971 , initial delivery to the British Army was in January 1972 . By 1986 the United Kingdom had taken delivery of 1 , 863 CVR ( T ) s . Total production for the British Army was 313 Scorpions , 89 Strikers , 691 Spartans , 50 Samaritans , 291 Sultans , 95 Samsons and 334 Scimitars . Life Extension Programme . In 1988 Alvis plc was awarded a £32 million contract to carry out a Life Extension Programme ( LEP ) . The initial contract was for 200 CVR ( T ) s and supply kits for a further 1 , 107 vehicles . The LEP was carried out on the Scimitar and Sabre reconnaissance vehicles , Spartan APCs , Sultan command post vehicles , Samson recovery vehicles , Samaritan ambulances and the Striker anti – tank vehicle . The major part of this upgrade is the replacement of the current Jaguar 4 . 2 - litre petrol engine by a more fuel efficient Cummins BTA 5 . 9 diesel engine . A second contract for 70 vehicles was divided between Alvis and the Army Base Repair Organisation ( ABRO ) . ABRO was then contracted to upgrade about 600 of the remaining CVR ( T ) s to the LEP standard . Alvis also offered a comprehensive upgrade for the export version of the CVR ( T ) , which includes a diesel engine , upgraded suspension , new track and vision enhancements . Brunei is the only country known to have returned vehicles for an overhaul . Battle Group Thermal Imaging programme . In 2001 Thales Optronics won the contract for the Battle Group Thermal Imaging ( BGTI ) programme . The contract will replace the image intensification sights installed on British Army Scimitar and Royal Engineers Spartan vehicles . They were replaced by a new gunner ' s sight with a day thermal image and laser rangefinder sight . The vehicle commander will have a monitor and a map display and the driver a navigation capability . Variants . Scorpion . The FV101 Scorpion was originally developed to meet a British Army requirement for the Combat Vehicle Reconnaissance ( Tracked ) . Scorpion was accepted by the British Army in May 1970 , with a contract for 275 which later rose to 313 vehicles . Main armament consisted of a low velocity 76mm main gun with a coaxial 7 . 62 mm GPMG and multi barrelled smoke grenade dischargers . The first production vehicles were completed in 1972 . The first British regiment to be equipped with the Scorpion were the Blues and Royals of the Household Cavalry in 1973 . In November 1981 , the RAF Regiment took delivery of the first of 184 Scorpions and other variants of CVR ( T ) . These were to be used for airfield defence and served at RAF bases in the United Kingdom , Germany and Cyprus . All British Scorpions were withdrawn from service in 1995 . Striker . The FV102 Striker was the Anti - tank guided missile version of the CVR ( T ) . The British Army ordered 48 of the version , which were armed with the Swingfire missile system . Striker had five missiles ready to fire in a mounting at the rear of the vehicle , with another five stowed inside . Secondary armament consisted of a commanders 7 . 62 mm GPMG and multi - barrelled smoke grenade dischargers . Striker looked very similar to Spartan in appearance and it was only when the missile tubes were raised that identification was easier . Striker is no longer in service since the Swingfire missile was replaced by the Javelin in mid – 2005 . Spartan . The FV103 Spartan is a small APC ; it can carry seven men in all , the crew of three and four others in the rear compartment . In the British Army it is used to carry small specialised groups such as engineer reconnaissance teams , air defence sections and mortar fire controllers . In mid - 2006 the British Army had 478 Spartans in service , which from 2009 were being replaced by the Panther Command and Liaison Vehicle in some roles . Samaritan . The FV104 Samaritan is the ambulance version of the CVR ( T ) , 50 were produced for the British Army . In appearance it is similar to the Sultan Command and Control vehicle . It has a crew of two and capacity for three stretchers ; being an ambulance it is not armed except for multi - barrelled smoke grenade dischargers . Sultan . The FV105 Sultan is the British Army command and control vehicle based on the CVR ( T ) platform , 205 were in service in 2006 . It has a higher roof than the APC variants , providing a more comfortable " office space " inside . A large vertical map board and desk are located along one side , with a bench seat for three people facing it . Forward of this are positions for the radio operator with provision for four radios and the vehicle commander . Armament consists of a pintle mounted GPMG and multi - barrelled smoke grenade dischargers . The back of the vehicle is designed to be extended by an attached tent to form a briefing area . Samson . The FV106 Samson is an armoured recovery vehicle . The hull of the Spartan was adapted to contain a winch which was operated to the rear of the vehicle . A hinged spade anchor was designed in two halves to preserve access to the rear door . Scimitar . The FV107 Scimitar is very similar to the Scorpion but carries the 30mm RARDEN cannon as its main weapon . Secondary armament consists of a coaxial GPMG and multi - barrelled smoke grenade dischargers . Stowage is provided for 201 rounds of 30 mm and 3 , 000 rounds of 7 . 62 mm ammunition . In 2006 the British Army had 328 in service . which are expected to be replaced by the scout version of the Future Rapid Effect System . Sabre . The Sabre was a hybrid vehicle , with the turret from a Fox Armoured Reconnaissance Vehicle on a FV101 Scorpion hull and armed with the same 30mm RARDEN cannon as the Scimitar . One hundred and thirty - six of the hybrid vehicles were brought into service in 1995 , after some modifications were made to the turret . These modifications included ; redesigning the smoke grenade dischargers , replacing the standard machine gun with a L94A1 chain gun and domed hatches to improve headroom for the commander and gunner . They were assigned to reconnaissance platoons of armoured and mechanised infantry battalions before being withdrawn from service in 2004 . Sturgeon and Salamander . Sturgeon ( based on the Spartan ) and Salamander ( based on the Scorpion ) are visually modified vehicles used to represent opposing forces in training exercises at the British Army Training Unit Suffield . Stormer . The Alvis Stormer was originally designed as a private venture in the 1970s as an APC , using the CVR ( T ) range as a starting point . It is a larger , heavier ( 12 , 700 kg ) vehicle with steel and aluminium armour . Production began in 1982 and Malaysia ordered 25 of the APC variant . The British Army selected Stormer in 1986 to carry the Starstreak missile anti – aircraft system and a flatbed version fitted with the Shielder minelaying system . BAE Land Systems , the descendant of Alvis military vehicles , market Stormer with various weapon systems for many purposes . Indonesia have received about 50 Stormer variants , including the APC , command post vehicle , ambulance , recovery , bridge - layers and logistics vehicle . Malaysia have 35 , Oman four and the United Kingdom have over 170 . Service history . United Kingdom . In British Army service the CVR ( T ) is mainly used by the Formation reconnaissance regiment s which are the Household Cavalry , 1st Queen ' s Dragoon Guards , 9th / 12th Royal Lancers , Light Dragoons , Queen ' s Royal Lancers , the Royal Yeomanry and the Queen ' s Own Yeomanry . Scimitars are also used by one of the four squadrons in an armoured regiment and the reconnaissance platoons of armoured infantry battalions . In August 1974 , Scorpions from A Squadron 16th / 5th The Queen ' s Royal Lancers , were transported by C - 130 Hercules to Cyprus , to protect the British Sovereign Base Areas during the Turkish invasion . During the Falklands War in 1982 , two troops from B Squadron , Blues and Royals were attached to the task force . They were equipped with four Scorpions and four Scimitars supported by a Samson and were the only armoured vehicles used in action by the British Army during the conflict . The two troops deployed provided fire support for the 2nd Battalion , The Parachute Regiment during the Battle of Wireless Ridge and for 2nd Battalion Scots Guards during the Battle of Mount Tumbledown . By the time of the Gulf war , the CVR ( T ) was well established in the British Army and all versions were deployed . The divisional reconnaissance regiment attached to the 1st Armoured Division , was the 16th / 5th The Queen ' s Royal Lancers , ( with 36 Scimitars , 16 Strikers , 12 Spartans , 9 Sultans and 4 Samaritans ) , and ' A ' Squadron 1st Queen ' s Dragoon Guards ( 16 Scorpions , 4 Spartans , 2 Sultans , 1 Samaritan , 1 Samson ) . This unit also had 1 Sqn RAF Regiment ( Operating Scorpion , Spartan , Sultan & Samsons ) attached to them . The armoured regiment s and armoured infantry battalions reconnaissance troops also had eight Scorpions or Scimitars each . The CVR ( T ) family were deployed with the British Army ' s formation reconnaissance regiments – part of the NATO Implementation Force ( IFOR ) , a multinational force in Bosnia and Herzegovina . The next deployment for the British Army ' s CVR ( T ) s was the 2003 invasion of Iraq ( Operation Telic ) . The initial force contained the 1st Queen ' s Dragoon Guards and D Squadron , the Household Cavalry , both equipped with CVR ( T ) . After Iraq , CVR ( T ) equipped formation reconnaissance regiments have taken part in Operation Herrick in Afghanistan , notably during Operation Panther ' s Claw with the Light Dragoons . Europe . Three other European countries used CVR ( T ) : Belgium , Spain and Ireland . The Belgian Army ordered 699EA CVR ( T ) in the Scorpion , Scimitar , Sultan , Spartan and Samaritan versions which were delivered in 1975 . They were used by the COMRECCE that comprised the 1st , 2nd and 4th Mounted Rifles Regiment ( also the 3rd lancers which was equipped with the LEOPARD 1 tank ) , the CVR - T group ( Armoured Recce school ) and all of the Reconnaissance platoons from the 12EA armoured Infantry and 8EA Tank Regiments . The Belgian Army used its CVR ( T ) vehicles on UN deployments in the Balkans and Somalia . Belgium had disposed of all its CVR ( T ) s by 2004 . The Spanish Marines obtained 17 Scorpions in 1985 . All their Scorpions had been disposed of by 2004 . The Irish Army obtained a small number of Scorpions for use by the Irish Army Cavalry Corps . As the United Kingdom , Belgium and Spain have all disposed of their Scorpions , Ireland remains the sole user of the type in Europe . South and Central America . In South and Central America , CVR ( T ) operators included Chile , Honduras and Venezuela . The Chilean Army have 28 Scorpions , which are used in a reconnaissance role alongside Leopard 1 and Leopard 2 tanks . The Venezuelan Army operates a fleet of 50 Scorpion 90s and two Sultans . South East Asia and the Pacific . In South East Asia and the Pacific , CVR ( T ) operators included Brunei , Indonesia , Malaysia , Thailand , the Philippines and New Zealand . Brunei is understood to have a fleet of 19 CVR ( T ) s , which comprises 16 Scorpions , two Sultan command post variants and one Samson armoured recovery vehicle . The Indonesian Army uses the Scorpion 90 armed with the Belgian 90mm Cockerill cannon and the Stormer . The Stormer variants include the APC , command post vehicle , ambulance , recovery , bridge - layers and logistics vehicle . The Malaysian Royal Armoured Corps of the Malaysian Army is known to use both Scorpion and the newer Stormer . The Royal Thai Army was forced to expand its forces after the fall of South Vietnam and the increased tension in the area . As part of this expansion , they obtained 144 Scorpions between 1973 and 1976 . The Philippine Army operates up to 40 Scorpions in its Light Armor Division . This formation uses a mixture of wheeled and tracked vehicles but the Scorpion is the only fire support or anti - armour vehicle in their inventory . They also operate 6 Samaritans and 3 Samsons . The New Zealand Army operated a small number of Scorpions , up to squadron strength . These have now been replaced by the LAV III . Middle East . In the Middle East CVR ( T ) operators included Iran , Jordan , Oman and the United Arab Emirates . The Iranian army deployed its Scorpions with the reconnaissance regiment of the 28th Infantry Division in the 1980 – 1988 Iran – Iraq War . Little is known of how they performed or what losses they incurred . In December 1997 , it was reported that Iran had manufactured a light tank named Tosan . Tosan was equipped with a 90 mm gun and appears to be based on the Scorpion . The Royal Jordanian Land Force has obtained 80 Scorpions and 100 Spartans . Some of the Scorpions are reported to have been captured by Iraq during the Iran – Iraq war and handed on to Jordan . The Spartans were obtained when Belgium disposed of their CVR ( T ) fleet . The Royal Army of Oman replaced the Saladin armoured car with between 30 and 50 Scorpions . They were delivered between 1982 and 1983 , along with three Samson armoured recovery vehicles . In 1985 a second order for up to 30 vehicles was delivered . The second order included Scorpion , Sultan , Spartan and Samson vehicles . Oman operates the newer Stormer . The United Arab Emirates Army has obtained 76 Scorpions , for use by its armoured brigades . It is not known if these played any part in the Gulf War . Africa . In Africa CVR ( T ) operators included Botswana , Nigeria , Tanzania and Togo . The Nigerian Army reorganised from an infantry to an all arms formation after 1979 . Part of their AFV inventory includes an unknown number of Scorpions . Scorpion turret . The Australian Army did not use CVR ( T ) s but did use the turret of the Scorpion mounted on top of M113 armored personnel carrier s . Known in the Australian Army as the Medium Reconnaissance Vehicle , they were used in a fire support role . They have now been replaced by newer vehicles . The Canadian Army also used the Scorpion turret . They were mounted on the AVGP Cougar . A total of 195 Cougars were originally procured , but the fleet was reduced to 100 vehicles in 1999 and are now exclusively employed by reserve armoured units . Enhancements and future developments . As a result of combat experience in Afghanistan , the British Army upgraded several Scimitar light tanks to Mark 2 standard . The improvements included a new aluminium hull based on that of the Spartan troop carrier , which provides greater internal volume and protection , and a new fuel system , environmental control system and suspension . New hulls have also been built for the Spartan , Sultan , Samson and Samaritan variants . The British firm OVIK has designed a vehicle named " Meerkat " based on the CVR ( T ) , anticipating that large numbers of these will become available for refurbishment in future years when they are replaced in British service , and perhaps several other armed forces . The hull has been redesigned , and the driver has been moved back into a central position - sitting side - by - side with his primary crewman . The vehicle is steered using a conventional steering wheel system - which can be swapped from left to right - to allow either crewman to drive or command the vehicle . The engine has been replaced by a Cummins 6 . 7 litre diesel engine whilst the transmission has been uprated to DB TN15E + and STORMER final drives . The turret has been removed replaced by a modular weapon " cassette " , which will mount remote weapon stations armed with a . 50 M2 HB machine gun for example . Another British consortium claims to have designed and developed a concept that uses a common tracked chassis with interchangeable pods for different vehicle roles . The Mark 1 mPODt ( multi - role POD ( tracked ) ) uses the Stallion , a flat bed development similar to that used on Shielder , to demonstrate the concept on a 10 - 13 tonne weight vehicle . However , the chassis could be from a number of in - service vehicles . The Scimitar CVR ( T ) will at least stay with the British Army in the Army 2020 plan .