by Roland Remp.
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DESCRIPTION The SALADIN is a six wheeled heavy armoured car, weighs 11 tons and based on the FV 600 family. It was designed and built on 10 years of experience and service with the SARACEN APC.
Prototypes were built in 1953; These were submitted to FVRDE for assessment. The pre production vehicles underwent trials for gun range and accuracy, as well as armour proving and anti tank capabilities at British Army and BAOR. The SALADIN becomes the standard armoured car in service of the British Army and also in addition to the commonwealth and some other states.
The SALADIN was designed for a worldwide requirement on all round armoured cars, usefull at global wars or internal security situations. It´s performance is resumed on following pages and in the mirror of these military/tactical requirements:
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FIREPOWER
The SALADIN mounted a 3“ (76mm) main gun, suitable for use with HE rounds, HESH rounds against medium tanks or scatter rounds for use agains infantry. Muzzle velocity gives an effective strike at normal firing ranges. All SALADINs are able to fire anti tank rounds, and with it´s ability mixed units with recon- and supply vehicles need no futher requirements. Every vehicle mounted two 0,30“ Browning machine guns; one in the fighting comparement coaxial to the main gun, the other is fitted on a traverseing mount on the turret in front of the commander. Stowage within the hull was provided for 42 rounds 3“ and 3000 rounds 0,30“. The turret is turnable on full 360° degree. Traversing was by power-assisted manual operation.
PROTECTION
The hull and turret is welded armoured steel and gives all-round protection agains rifle fire from any direction, .50 calibre weapons, and close detonation of anti tank mines up to 10 kg.
RADIO
The SALADIN is screened and secures the radio equipment (HF and VHF) against radio interference to a minimum.
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CREW
The three-man crew is placed in the turret (commander/loader and gunner/operator) and centrally in the hull (driver). The small turning circle of the vehicle, the hydraulically-assisted steering and braking system in addition to the high reverse speed do not need a second driver.
COMFORT and SAFETY
In addition on these marks, all instruments and controls are easy to use. If the turret is closed, a periscope gives all round sight. That is very important at nuclear warface. The power assist brakes, -steering and turret traversing discharge the crew at most. The pre selective gearbox with the fluid coupling discharge the driver and gives safety at all.
TACTICAL MOVEMENT
The cooling fans noise and engine noise are so low, that an noiselessness approach at a mission is possible.
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GENERATOR
The SALADIN is fitted with a two speed generator, designed to maintain maximum generator-output at low engine speeds. This gives an advantage at observation posts.
SIGHT
To improve the sight of the turret-crew, the turret is positioned to the front of the vehicle as possible. The main arnament is able to fixed a target without showing the rest of the vehicle. That is very important at house to house battles, street patrols or observation posts.
MOVING ABILITY
The small turning circle, the power assist steering and the pre selector gearbox in addition to the great sight-out of the vehicle was judged in trials with success. That was done by a british armoured regiment in Germany and independent trials in England.
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CROSS-COUNTRY
The cross-country power of the vehicle is exceptional. It is faster than similar vehicles and in cross-country power superiority to them. This superiorority is the reason of the all-six-wheel-power in addition to torsions bar suspension, with all six wheels being independently sprung. The easy to shift gearbox is the best choice for the driver and it allows him to select the next gear he requires and change when the gear is needed. The right choice of transmission ratio gives the best engine power in all ranges.
OBSTACLES
Water: The SALADIN is able to wade a depth of 3 feet 6“ with no special preparation to the hull. With use of a wading kit it is able to wade at 7 feet. (This wading kit can be fitted by the crew) Ditch crossing: 5 feet ( 1,52 m) without any preparation. Max. side gradient: gradients up to 46% are able. Vertical obstacles: The SALADIN is able to conquer a vertical obstacle up to 1 feet 8“ from a stop. The obstacle will be conquered like a tracked vehicle.
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MAX. RANGE
Without any additional fuel, the range on the road is 250 miles. On european cross-country it reduced to 150 miles.
REPAIR and SERVICE
In reflection to this terms it becames highest urgency. The engine is to serve through the rear fighting compartment wall. Hinged top engine doors are opened from middle to outside and the rear hinged hull plate is opened from top to bottom. All engine service is easy to do and to make in shortest time. The access plates and plugs allow the service of all transmissions and gearboxes. Wheel suspension is served from outside.
REPLENISHMENT
To complete ammunition, fuel, oil or cooling fluid no stored equipment has to move. The turret is not to rotate for that.
STOWAGE
The equipment and crew stowage is carried in various watertight bins.
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TECHNICAL DATA
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Armoured steel thickness
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Hull |
Turret |
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Front ... ... |
12mm & 14mm |
30mm |
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Sides ... ... |
16mm & 14mm |
16mm |
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Rear ... ... |
16mm & 12mm & 8mm |
16mm |
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Top ... ... |
12mm & 10mm |
10mm |
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Bottom ... ... |
12mm & 8mm |
N/A |
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Dimensions
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. |
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High ... ... |
7 ft. 5 in. ( 2,26m) |
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Wide ... ... |
8 ft. 4 in. (2,54m) |
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Length ... ... |
16 ft. 2 in. (4,93m) |
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W/gun ... ... |
17 ft. 4 in. (5,28m) |
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Axle to axle ... ... |
5 ft. (1,52m) |
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Ground clearance ... ... |
1 ft. 4 3/4 in. (43,7cm) |
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Battlefield weight ... ... |
11 tons 2 cwt. (11.200 kg) |
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Armament
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. |
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1 x ... ... |
76mm QF Gun with 42 rounds |
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2 x ... ... |
30 Browning machine gun with 3000 rounds |
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1 x ... ... |
Carbine, Machine, Sten 9mm with 160 rounds |
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2 x ... ... |
Nebelwerfer with 24 Nebelgranaten, (meaning smoke grenade discharger with 24 smoke grenades) |
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9 x ... ... |
Handgrenades |
The turret can be traversed manually by means of the traverse handle. Power assistance to the manual operation can be effected through a torque amplifier.
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Periscopes
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Driver ... ... |
3 |
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Commander/Loader ... ... |
5 |
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Gunner/Operator ... ... |
1 |
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Engine
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. |
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Type ... ... |
Rolls Royce B80 Mk.6D Petrol |
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Cylinder ... ... |
8 in line |
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max. output ... ... |
160 hp/ 3750 rpm |
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Voltage ... ... |
24 Volt |
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Transmission: ... ... |
6x6 |
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Gearbox: ... ... |
Daimler, syncronised, 5 gears forward and rearward |
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Coupling: ... ... |
Daimler, fluid coupling |
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Brake: ... ... |
15 inch diameter power assist discbrakes |
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Handbrake: ... ... |
Manual to all wheels |
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Performance
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. |
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Max. speed ... ... |
45,5 mph |
(73,2 km/h) |
at engine speed 3750 rpm |
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Average speed ... ... |
27,5 mph |
(44,25 km/h) |
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Average max. cross- country speed ... ... |
20,0 mph |
(32,2 km/h) |
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Max. gradient climbable ... ... |
24 degree |
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Ditch crossing ... ... |
5 ft. |
(1,52m) |
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Wading ... ... |
3 ft. 6 in. |
(1,07m) |
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W. wad.kit ... ... |
7 ft. |
(2,23m) |
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Turning circle: ... ... |
48 ft. |
(14,63m) |
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Crew ... ... |
3 |
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Radio equipment ... ... |
The vehicle can be equiped with any choice of radios |
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With best regards
Roland
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