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Saxon | |
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![]() A Hong Kong Police Force Police Tactical Unit Saxon AT105, all retired in 2009. | |
Type | Armoured personnel carrier |
Place of origin | United Kingdom |
Service history | |
Used by | Operators |
Production history | |
Manufacturer | GKN Sankey Formerly by Alvis plc |
Specifications | |
Weight | 10.6 tonnes |
Length | 5.17 m (17 ft 0 in) |
Width | 2.49 m (8 ft 2 in) |
Height | 2.63 m (8 ft 8 in) |
Crew | 2 |
Primary armament |
7.62 mm MG |
Secondary armament |
none |
Engine | Bedford 500 6-cyl diesel 164 hp (122 kW) |
Payload capacity | 10 passengers |
Suspension | Wheel 4x4 |
Operational range |
510 km (320 mi) |
Speed | 96 km/h (60 mph) |
The Saxon is an armoured personnel carrier used by the British Army and supplied in small numbers to various overseas organisations. It was developed by GKN Sankey, from earlier projects, AT 100 IS and AT104, and is due to be replaced by the Future Rapid Effect System. It was first produced by Alvis plc.
Design[]
The Saxon was intended to act as a cheap but efficient "battle-taxi" for units that would have to make long journeys from the UK to reinforce the BAOR. It was made as a relatively low cost armoured personnel carrier based on a revised Bedford M series 4x4 truck chassis and other commercially available components.[1] As a lightly armoured wheeled vehicle it is much faster - especially on roads - and easier to maintain than a tracked vehicle. Indeed, it shares many parts with commercial trucks, reducing the operating cost. It is armoured against small-arms fire and shell splinters, but is not intended to stand up to any anti-vehicle weaponry. The vehicle has a single machine gun for local air defence, and can carry up to ten men.
The Saxon's hull is welded steel with V-shaped under-chassis plate to deflect mine detonations with seating provided in the rear for up to ten troops, although eight is a more comfortable load if all their equipment is included.[1] There is an equipment stowage area on the hull roof.[1]
Some Saxon IS, or Saxon Patrol, vehicles were acquired for service in Northern Ireland, serving both as troop carriers and used in riots with extendible wings to be used as protective shields as well as being used as ambulances. These have various minor modifications compared to the normal version, such as searchlights and wire cutters, intended for internal security operations.
History[]
The first operational Saxons were deployed in Germany in 1983, to equip mechanised infantry battalions. The Saxon is now withdrawn from service in HM Armed Forces, but 147 are kept in storage. The Saxon has been deployed to places such as Bahrain, Brunei, former Yugoslavia, Malaysia, Oman, Iraq and Afghanistan.
Variants[]
The Saxon can be fitted out as:
- AT105A - Ambulance
- AT105E - Turret armed with one or two machine guns
- AT105MR - 81 mm mortar
- AT105C - Command vehicle
- ARV - Recovery vehicle
Operators[]

A British Army Saxon ARV on display at the REME Museum painted in UN colours.
Former Operators[]
Hong Kong - Hong Kong Police Force Police Tactical Unit.[2] All retired in 2009 and replaced by Unimog U5000s.[2]
UK - British Army. All taken out from service.
See also[]
- Cambli International Thunder 1
- Cadillac Gage Ranger
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 "Saxon". Military Today. Archived from the original on 2013-01-13.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 "New Armoured Personnel Carrier on the way". Hong Kong Police Force. Archived from the original on 2013-01-13. Retrieved on 2013-01-13.
- Armed Forces of the United Kingdom, Charles Heyman. Leo Cooper, 2003.
External links[]
- Technical Data Sheet and pictures to www.ArmyRecognition.com
- Khakicorpsimports.com
- Saxon at army.mod.uk
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Template:MRAP vehicles
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