A look ahead at what new weapons and vehicles will enter service next year and updates on research and development programmes.
Tanks & Armoured Vehicles
FV307: An RDF vehicle with hull of the FV306/02 light ARV using the FV300 series light tank chassis. To enter service in 1949.
FV311: An armoured carrier variant of the FV300 series light tank chassis using the hull of the FV310 Armoured Carrier but fitted for carriage of cargo and ammunition. These will equip Armoured Divisions as resupply vehicles for armoured and artillery units. To enter service during 1949.
FV3806: An armoured self-propelled 7.2in howitzer, chassis uses Centurion components. Will complement the FV3805 5.5inr SPG in equipping the heavy artillery companies. To enter service during 1949.
FV4224 Armoured Vehicle Royal Engineers (ARVE): a variant of the Centurion Mk 4 modified as a replacement for the Armoured Engineer Chassis (A26) fitted with the 6.5in demolition gun in a modified turret, hydraulic bulldozer blade and attachment points for various equipment to be pushed or towed To enter service during 1949.
Heavy Tank FV214 Conqueror: a variant of the FV221 Canernarvon but fitted with a new turret armed with a new QF Mk I 32pdr gun. The turret will also feature a rotating commander's cupola with a coincidence rangefinder as part of the fire-control system, enabling the gunner to engage a target while the commander searches for a new one. The first of four prototypes began testing in 1949 and the first of 120 on order will enter service during 1951.
FV601 Alvis Saladin Armoured Car: Developed by Alvis as part of the 600 series of 6x6 wheeled armoured vehicles from 1949. This large 6x6 armoured car carries a crew of three and is armed with a 76mm low-recoil gun and two MGs, armour is 32-8mm thick and is powered by a 170hp Rolls-Royce B80 petrol engine. Maximum speed is 44mph and range is 248 miles. Began prototype testing in 1949 and to enter service in 1951.
FV701 Daimler Ferret Scout Car: Developed by Daimler in 1946 to replace the ‘Dingo’ with two crewmen and armed with a single .303in Vickers MG in a turret. A Rolls-Royce 129hp B60 petrol engine is fitted for a maximum road speed of 57mph and a range of 190 miles. Armour is 16-8mm thick. Entered service in 1949.
Carrier Tracked No.3 Mk I FV401 Cambridge: Designed in 1947 by Rolls-Royce as an improved Oxford with simpler box hull with sloped frontal glacis and new torsion-bar suspension and a 160hp Rolls-Royce B80 petrol engine. The Cambridge can carry eight infantry and two crewmen with provision for one TADEN LMG for self-defence and 25-12mm thick armour. Maximum speed is 33mph and range 145 miles. Entered service in 1949.
In development is the FV402 observation vehicle variant with roof armour and armoured hatches which will enter production in 1950.
FV603 Alvis Saracen: Developed by Alvis as part of the 600 series of 6x6 wheeled armoured vehicles from 1949. This large 6x6 armoured personnel carrier has a crew of two and can carry ten infantry. It is armed with a single .303in Vickers MG in a turret (that fitted to the Ferret scout car) and a TADEN MG can be mounted above the rear hull roof hatch. The 160hp Rolls-Royce B80 petrol engine is mounted in the nose of the vehicle and the armour is 16-8mm thick. Maximum speed is 44mph and range is 248 miles. Began prototype testing in 1949 and to enter service in 1952.
Small Arms
Rifle No.7 Mk I FN FAL: Due to expense of the EM-2 due to its high production costs, the Army in early 1949 ordered 750,000 FN FALs to equip units overseas. All are produced under licence by Sterling Armaments Co.
Calibre: 7x43 British
Action: gas-operated, tilting breechblock
Length: 1.1m, 0.53m barrel
Weight: 4.45 to 5.15 kg
Magazine: 20-round magazine
MV: 823m/s
ROF: 600 rpm (cyclic)
Effective range: 800m depending on sights
Sights: iron sights
9mm Machine Carbine No.3 Mk II (Sterling): fitted with a folding stock for use by parachute troops, introduced in 1949.
7.92mm BESA Medium Machine Gun No.2 Mk I/ Mk I*:development of this new machine gun by the Birmingham Small Arms Company to replace the venerable Vickers Mk. I began in late 1948 and the first prototypes began firing trials in 1949. The gun was designed principally for use in armoured vehicles, either as a fixed co-axial weapon or as a pintle-mounted weapon for AA use. As the Royal Armoured Corps supply chain is separate, it was decided to adopt a new cartridge for use in armoured vehicles, the 7.92mm x 57 Mauser. The gun will enter full scale production in 1950.
Weight: 47 lb (21 kg) empty
Length: 43.5 in (1,100 mm)
Barrel length: 29 in (740 mm), 4-groove rifling with Right Hand twist.
Cartridge: 7.92×57mm Mauser
Action: gas automatic
Rate of fire: 450-550rpm (Mk I), 750-850rpm (Mk I*)
Muzzle velocity: 2,700 ft/s (823 m/s)
Feed system: 225 metal link belt
Anti-Aircraft Guns
Ratefixer: a 3.7in AA rate of fire improvement programme using autoloader technology which began in 1947 which led to the Ordnance QF 3.7in Mk III, the programme has now been concluded in 1949 with trials achieving a rate of fire of 75rpm.
Radio-Location Sets
Control RDF Type 10: target-indication set for Chain Home, 90 miles range. Entered service in 1949.
Wednesday, April 17th 2024, 1:13am
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