The Saracen was the British army’s standard APC from its introduction in 1952 until 1963, remaining in service for internal security work until the early 1980s. Even after the British Army stopped buying them, Alvis continued to produce new ones for the export market until 1976, supplying them to dozens of countries, with a few keeping them in service into the 21st century. Many second-hand ones were acquired by police forces.
The Saracen was derived from the design of the Saladin (despite design of the Saladin starting first, the Saracen actually made it into production earlier due to the UK government requesting it for use against communist terrorist forces in the Malayan Emergency). The drivetrain is basically just that of the Saladin but backwards, with the engine at the front. Like the Saladin, it has many sharp angles and distinctive triangular stowage boxes between its run-flat wheels. The initial FV603A (Mk. 1 Personnel Carrier) has unreliable pneumo-hydraulic accumulators in its steering and brake system, performs poorly at high altitudes, and is uncomfortable in hot weather. On the other hand, it copes well with extreme cold (although it rarely had an opportunity to do so). Like all members of the FV600 family, its transmission could become ‘wound-up’ when driving on road, resulting in sluggish steering, requiring a period of driving on soft or uneven terrain, or bashing the wheels into a kerb, to reset. The lower hull is watertight, making it capable of fording to a depth of 2′7″ without preparation, or up to 6′6″ with additional equipment.
Behind the engine is a single large compartment for crew and passengers. The driver sits at the front centre and has three small hatches facing forward, left, and right. Each of these hatches has a periscope for visibility while ‘buttoned up’. The driver also controls the cluster of three smoke dischargers on each side of the engine, behind the headlights. Behind the driver is a gunner, who operates the small turret and also serves as vehicle commander. To the left of the gunner is a passenger seat (usually taken by the section leader), and to the right is the radio operator’s station, with a medium radio (GURPS High-Tech, p. 38). A small emergency escape hatch on each side allows egress over the middle wheels, accessible from the radio operator and front passenger positions. In the rear are two benches running along the sides of the vehicle, each long enough to seat four passengers, facing inwards. Double doors at the rear are the main access for the vehicle. Three gun ports (GURPS High-Tech, p. 228) on each side, another on each of the rear doors, and a large sliding panel in the roof allow passengers to see and shoot out. The roof panel opening has a ring mount for a Bren gun (GURPS High-Tech, p. 133), supposedly for air-defence.
The turret (just big enough for the gunner's head, shoulders, and arms) is armed with an unstabilised L3A4 machine gun (the British designation for the Browning M1919A4, GURPS High-Tech p. 132) with 250 rounds of .30-06 ammunition. A periscopic sight and 200-yard searchlight are provided for the gunner. The entire back half of the turret roof and two panels of the turret rear are hinged, allowing the gunner to climb out for a better view. Turret rotation is manual, taking four Ready manoeuvres to change facing.
In the early 1960s, the weapons were exchanged for ones which used 7.62×51mm NATO standard ammunition. These were the L8A1 (an FN MAG variant, GURPS High-Tech, pp. 134-135) in the turret and the L4A4 Bren (GURPS High-Tech, p. 133) in the exposed mount.
The FV603B (Personnel Carrier Mk.2) has a much more reliable hydraulic system (HT 10f) and a redesigned turret hatch. The three-part opening is replaced with a simple L-shaped hatch which swings back to form a seat, allowing the gunner to sit with only his legs inside the vehicle, for a better view (and a bit of fresh air). FV603C (Personnel Carrier Mk.2) is the same as FV603B but fitted with a reverse flow cooling system which makes it significantly more comfortable in hot weather. A version of the FV603C was made without a roof or turret, for sale to Kuwait.
The Mk.5 APC Kremlin (“Fortress”) is an up-armored modification of an FV603B, for internal security duties. It lacks gun ports. The Mk. 6 is the same modification applied to an FV603C.
The Armoured Command Vehicle Mk.1 is an FV603A with the turret removed (Loc 6WX), the seating re-arranged with seats in the centre facing out (Occ 2+6), some folding tables, a large radio (GURPS High-Tech, pp. 37-38), and an externally mounted portable gasoline generator (GURPS High-Tech, p. 14). A canvas extension can be mounted at the rear while the vehicle is parked, providing more work space. The ACV Mk. 2 is the same conversion applied to an FV603B. The FV604 ACV is essentially the same as the ACV Mk. 2 with a slightly different layout, either keeping the turret with the weapon removed, or removing it and fitting the Bren gun ring in its place. It could have canvas extensions fitted to either side.
The FV610 Armoured Command Post is an unarmed artillery direction and command vehicle. It has a taller hull than the FV603. Two large radios are carried, with their operators seated on either side of the driver, while three passenger seats on the right of the vehicle face the folding tables on the left, which have two more seats under them (only usable when the tables are stowed). From 1969 it is fitted with the FACE (Field Artillery Computer Equipment), a Complexity 2 transistor computer system with good-quality software (gives +1 to Artillery skill, each program covers one model of gun) stored on punched mylar tapes, a primitive terminal, and a teletype printer (GURPS High-Tech, pp. 18-22), which takes up the left of the vehicle (Occ 3+3).
The FV611 Armoured Ambulance (Occ 2+6) is based on the FV610 hull. The right hand radio operator’s position remains and has a medium radio, while to the left of the driver is a rear-facing seat for a medical orderly. The left hand side has two positions for stretchers (one above the other) and the right has three seats for ‘walking wounded’ casualties or stretcher bearers. Similar ambulances have been converted from FV603s by simply removing the weapons and replacing seats with stretcher positions.
From the 1990s, a ‘repower’ package (HT 12, Range 300, +$50k) replaces the gasoline engine with a more reliable and efficient diesel one, as well as upgrading the electrical systems.
DRIVING/TL (HEAVY WHEELED)
| TL | Vehicle | ST/HP | Hnd/SR | HT | Move | LWt. | Load | SM | Occ. | DR | Range | Cost | Loc. | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7 | Saracen Mk. 1 | 107 | −1/4 | 9f | 1/22 | 11.2 | 1.8 | +4 | 3+9 | 40/35 | 240 | $100k | t6WX | [1][3][4][5] |
| 7 | Saracen Mk. 3 Open Roof | 104 | −1/4 | 10f | 1/22 | 10.6 | 1.8 | +4 | 3+9 | 40/35 | 250 | $90k | O5W | [1][5] |
| 7 | Saracen Mk. 5 | 113 | −1/4 | 10f | 1/20 | 12.4 | 1.2 | +4 | 3+9 | 70/35 | 220 | $110k | t6WX | [2][3][4][5] |
| 7 | FV610 ACP | 111 | −1/4 | 10f | 1/20 | 12.3 | 1.9 | +4 | 3+5 | 40/35 | 220 | $120k | 6W | [1][3][5] |
[1] Higher DR is for body front. Lower DR is for body sides, underside, and rear.
[2] Higher DR is for body front and sides. Lower DR is for body underside, and rear.
[3] Body top has DR 22.
[4] Turret has DR 45 on front, 30 on sides, and 22 on rear and top.
[5] Run-flat tires (GURPS High-Tech, p. 229).