FV432

Alvis FV432 APC ( U K)

KEY RECOGNITION FEATURES

• Glacis plate slopes at about 60' with horizontal hull roof extending to rear, vertical hull rear with large door opening left

• Driver front right, engine to his left and machine gunner to his rear, troop compartment rear with four-part circular roof hatch above, two parts opening left and right. Vertical hull sides with exhaust pipe on left side and NBC pack protruding on right side

• Suspension each side has five road wheels, drive sprocket front, idler rear, two trackreturn rollers. Upper part sometimes covered by skirt

SPECIFICATIONS

Crew: 2+10

Armament:

Ammunition: 1 x 7.62mm MG, 2 x 3 smoke grenade dischargers 1,600 x 7.62mm

Length:

5.251m Width: 2.8m Height including MG: 2.286m Height hull top: 1.879m Ground clearance: 0.406m Weight, combat: 15,280kg Weight, empty: 13,740kg Power-to-weight ratio: 15.7bhp/tonne Ground pressure: 0.78kg/cm' Engine: Rolls-Royce K60 No 4 Mk 4F 2-stroke 6-cylinder multi-fuel developing 240bhp at 3,750rpm Maximum road speed: 52.2km/hr Maximum road range: 480km Fuel capacity: 454 lit Fording: 1.066m Vertical obstacle: 0.609m Trench: 2.05m Gradient: 60% Side slope: 300/0 Armour: 12mm (maximum) Armour type: Steel NBC system: Yes Night vision equipment: Yes (passive for driver)

Above: FV432 ambulance (Richard Stickland)

DEVELOPMENT

FV432 series was developed to meet requirements of British Army in the late 1950s with first prototype completed in 1961. Production undertaken by Sankey, today known as Alvis Vehicles, from 1962 with first production vehicles completed in 1963 and over 3,000 built by production completion in 1972. The FV432 has now been supplemented by the Warrior MCV although the FV432 is expected to remain in service in specialised roles such as mortar, ambulance and signals for many years.

FV432 is all-welded steel with engine front left, driver front right and hatch to his rear, 7.62mm GPMG is normally mounted on roof although some have 7.62mm MG turret. Troops sit on bench seats, five each side facing, and enter via large door in rear. Four-part circular roof hatch over top of troop compartment.

VARIANTS

Many FV432s have Peak one-man turret mounted above rear troop compartment armed with 7.62mm GPMG. Ambulance model is unarmed and carries both seated and stretcher patients. Command, has extensive communications equipment and optional tent erected at rear. Maintenance carrier (FV434) has different hull and crane for removing powerpacks in field. Mortar carrier has turntable-mounted 81mm mortar in rear firing through roof. Minelayer, tows Bar minelayer rear. Engineers also use FV432 to tow mine-clearing system such as Giant Viper. Recovery, has winch mounted in vehicle rear. Artillery command has Field Artillery Computer Equipment. Royal Artillery also uses it with sound ranging system. FV432 with Fox turret, training role FV432 with Cymbeline radar FV439 is specialised Royal Signals vehicle. Some of the FV438 Swing-fire ATGW vehicles were converted into Wavell electronics carriers.

STATUS

Production complete. In service with UK.

MANUFACTURER

Alvis Vehicles Limited, Telford, Shropshire, England, UK.

Above: FV439 signal vehicle (Richard Stickland)

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