Stormer APC, UK

Saxon APC

The Saxon wheeled APC was developed by GKN Defence to provide a relatively low cost APC based on a revised Bedford 4x4 truck chassis and other commercially available components such as the engine and transmission. Developed from the earlier and less protected AT 104, the base model was the AT 105 which later became the Saxon before being ordered by the British Army in 1983 to provide United Kingdom-based infantry battalions to travel to North-West Europe in an emergency and still retain a measure of operational protection and mobility once arrived.

The Saxon is thus basically an armoured truck with limited cross country mobility but still capable of operating in forward areas.

The hull is welded steel with V-shaped under-chassis plates to deflect mine detonations. Seating is provided in the rear for up to ten troops, although eight is a more comfortable load if all their equipment is included - there is an equipment stowage area on the hull roof, Two doors are provided, one each side, plus another at the rear. The commander has a fixed cupola over which a 7,62 mm MG can be mounted on an unprotected pintle, although some Saxons operating in the former Yugoslavia were modified by the Army to accommodate small one-man MG turrets taken from old FV432 APCs.

British Army Saxon variants include a recovery vehicle with a side-mounted winch, and a command vehicle, some of which are operated by Royal Artillery air defence regiments. Special Saxons procured for operations in Northern Ireland include the Saxon Patrol with a Cummins 160 hp diesel engine and special internal security (IS) equipment such as a barricade removal device and spotlights; there is also a Northern Ireland armoured ambulance,

Other Saxon variants, some of which have been exported to nations such as Hong Kong, Oman, Malaysia and Nigeria, are usually configured as IS vehicles.

Crew: 2

Seating: up to 10 Weight: (combat) up to 11,200 kg Length: 5.35m Width: 2.5m

Height: 2 19m Ground clearance: 0.33 m

Track: 2.06m Max speed: (road) 100 km/h Fuel capacity: 296 litres Range: 660 km

Fording: 1 m Vertical obstacle: 0.45 m

Engine: Perkins 210 Ti diesel Power output: 210 hp Suspension: leaf spring Armament: 1 x 7.62 mm MG Variants: See text