SABRE C.V.R. T

CVRT Sabre

The Sabre CVRT (Combat Vehicle Reconnaissance (Tracked)) is really a bit of a Hybrid being the turret of a Fox CVRT grafted on to the hull of a Scorpion CVRT. The concept behind the hybridization was to solve some of the stability issues experienced with the FV107 Fox by creating a lower profile. The Sabre itself proved to have some flaws discovered during early combat exercises and as a result several modifications were made. The smoke grenade launchers were redesigned and the 7.62mm GPMG was replaced by the L94A1 7.62mm chain gun.

The Sabre was introduced in 1995 but the combination of Fox turret and Scorpion hull was not really a success and the Sabre was withdrawn in 2004.

ARMAMENT

The CVRT Sabre is fitted with the low profile, fox rotating turret and armed with a 30mm L21 RARDEN cannon which was hand fed with clips of 3 rounds each, 33 such clips were carried. A co-axial 7.62mm L37A2 machine gun supplied with 2,600 rounds of ammunition completed the armament. You will notice smoke discharges on both sides of the turret, which would provide a readily available smoke screen, which can be used to permit the vehicle to be manoeuvred under cover. The smoke discharges are designed to fire No. 80 grenade using fuse, electric No. F103 Mk 2 and 3 as a propellant.

ENGINE

The original engine was a Jaguar J60 4.2 litre, in-line, 6 cylinder petrol engine, coupled to a TN15X, cross drive, hot shift, 7 speed gearbox and was replaced in later models with a Cummins BTA 5.9 litre diesel engine developing 190 hp with a David Brown TN15 transmission, giving the vehicle a top speed in excess of 50 mph. In the late 1990’s some of these vehicles were fitted with an upgraded Cummins BTA 5.9 diesel, delivering 190 hp (142 kW).