Saxon Armoured Vehicle

Saxon in operation

Saxon out and about

Saxon Armoured Personnel Carrier

The Saxon is a highly effective armoured personnel carrier. It is mainly used by the British Army but it is also supplied in a small number to a wide range of overseas organizations. At first, the Saxon was developed by GKN Sankey. However, all the earlier projects are due to be replaced by the latest and innovative systems called Future Rapid Effect System. The Saxon was designed and built in order to perform battlefield troop transfer; the armoured vehicle can carry 10 men. Long journeys could take place thanks to this effective and armoured vehicle that can guarantee the safety of its occupants. This lightly armoured and wheeled vehicle is easy to maintain (due to part availability) and all the possible operating costs will thus be reduced. Saxon is armoured against the shell splinters and small-arms fire. Although, its design was not intended to try and stand up to the powerful anti-vehicle weaponry.

Saxon Armored Personnel Carrier is armored against shell splinters and small-arms fire. Still, its design was not intended to try and stand up to the powerful anti-vehicle weaponry. Saxon Armored Personnel Carrier has just one machine gun in order to provide the local air defense. 10 men can be carried by this armored vehicle.

Saxon Armored Personnel Carrier was acquired for the military service in order to serve as a troop carrier. It can also be used in riots with different and extendable wings. These wings may play the role of some protective shields but the Saxon Armored Personnel Carrier can also be used as an ambulance on the battlefield. The ones that are used as ambulances will come with some minor modifications. For instance, wire cutters and searchlights will be installed in order to guarantee the success of the internal security operations. The first Saxon Armored Personnel Carrier was used in Germany back in 1983 in order to equip the infantry battalions.

Battlefield Deployment

Nowadays, the Saxon Armored Personnel Carrier is used by several battalions in the Royal Army. It has also been deployed in former Yugoslavia because this mine-proof vehicle can become quite useful. Saxon Armored Personnel Carrier is also deployed in Afghanistan, Malaysia, Bahrain, Hong Kong, Iraq and Brunei.

Saxon Armored Personnel Carrier was designed as a light APC that can be used for all rapid deployment units. Depending on the various needs of the battlefield and country using it, the position of the driver will vary from right to left. The driver has the overhead hatch and the engine is right below him. The troop compartment is right at the rear and it has a door on either side of the vehicle's hull. Double doors can also be found at the rear.

Saxon Armored Personnel Carrier is a sort of wheeled Armored Personnel Carrier capable of crossing rough terrains. It can also ford water obstacles up to almost 100 cm depth. The Saxon Armored Personnel Carrier has amazing battlefield mobility. This simple and armored vehicle is extremely versatile. The current Saxon variants that can be found in service are likely to include the Royal Electrical and the Mechanical Engineers recovery vehicle. Saxon Armored Personnel Carrier can be used as an armored ambulance on the battlefield. Its deployment reaches a wide range of options. For instance, the Saxon Armored Personnel Carrier may play the role of the command post vehicle. It can be used as an internal security version. And there are plenty of such vehicles that were modified in order to carry the necessary and highly-effective L37 General Purpose Machine Gun turret. Saxon Armored Personnel Carrier was designed and developed as a private venture. Therefore, it uses all the standard and commercial components. This standard equipment is likely to include the power-assisted steering. The optional equipment may include the firing ports/vision devices and the necessary air conditioning. Saxon Armored Personnel Carrier may also come along with optional barricade remover and searchlight. Grenade launchers and run-flat tires can be installed in order to increase the efficiency of the Saxon Armored Personnel Carrier.

Saxon Armament

The Saxon armament includes a 7.62mm machine gun. The standard Saxon Armored Personnel Carrier has a just one man who manually operated the existing turret that is armed with the 7.62mm machine gun. But the vehicles that are used for support are likely to be armed with the pintle-mounted machine gun. The night vision equipment of the Saxon Armored Personnel Carrier is fitted according to the existing standards.

The special and internal features of the Saxon Armored Personnel Carrier's cabin can reduce all the secondary mine explosion and weapon effects on the military crew. The self-protection conditions are enhanced thanks to the suspended seats. These seats are adjustable because they are not fixed on the floor of the vehicle. The anti-mine seats are extremely efficient because they avoid the direct transmissions of shockwaves. The crew will be prevented from experiencing the harmful effects of the mine or weapon explosions. If the Saxon Armored Personnel Carrier is provided with a heated and air-conditioned cabin, the crew is likely to be more protected because the cabin will be fitted with the resistance roll bar.

Even a windscreen and a canvas roof can be found installed on the Saxon Armored Personnel Carrier because they can improve the safety conditions instantly. All the doors are likely to be fitted with some dismountable and sliding windows in order for the crew to get out as soon as the danger is imminent. These windows and doors are especially designed and built in order to withstand every possible shockwave that can affect the crew unless they are using the properly equipped Saxon Armored Personnel Carrier. Saxon Armored Personnel Carrier is armored in order to withstand the possible impact coming from bullets, shells or shrapnel. The crew will be protected from the enemy fire because the design of this vehicle determines the exact type and quantity of armor that will be used in order to build this extremely effective vehicle.

Propulsion / Engine

The Saxon Armored Personnel Carrier has a special Cummins BT 5.1 engine. This engine is used instead of the standard Bedford 6-cylinder that is usually installed on other APC versions. Saxon Armored Personnel Carrier may also come along with other enhancements. For instance, it can provide the necessary roof-mounted searchlights. Improved Armor can also be expected in the case of the Saxon Armored Personnel Carrier. Even an effective barricade removal device can be installed on this vehicle in order to make it more efficient. The anti-mine devices transform the Saxon Armored Personnel Carrier into a reliable combat partner.

Saxon Armored Personnel Carrier is used by the present British Army but the overseas organizations are highly interested to purchase this vehicle too. But the earlier projects, namely AT104 and AT 100 IS will soon be replaced with the revolutionary technology implied by the so-called Future Rapid Effect System. This system will provide the current market with upgraded versions of the Saxon Armored Personnel Carrier. These upgraded versions will meet the long-term needs of every army.

Variants / Upgrades

They are likely to be deployed on various and rapid interventions because their design will be improved in order to endure the peace enforcement and peacekeeping operations. The major combat operations will be supported in an effective and successful manner. The first upgraded and FRES version of the Saxon Armored Personnel Carrier will enter the market in 2012. A vehicle integrator will carry out the entire integration of all the complex systems that can be found in the Saxon Armored Personnel Carrier platform.

These upgraded systems will include the command and control, the necessary communications, the vehicle electronics, the defensive aid systems, the weapons and the sensors. This integrator is likely to be responsible for the proper integration across the newly released FRES vehicle families. It will take proper care of the interoperability between the upgraded FRES vehicles and some other armed forces systems.

Another interesting case study when it comes to the upgraded versions of the Saxon Armored Personnel Carrier is the brake upgrade. This brake upgrade can extend the capability and service life of every Saxon Armored Personnel Carrier. Actually, no defense vehicle is likely to be the exception from this rule. Saxon Armored Personnel Carrier is to be regarded as a highly versatile and armored vehicle that can offer the necessary protection against the small arms fire. But its standard configuration can be improved by this brake upgrade. The braking performance can be improved and the latest research has proven that this challenge may come along with the wanted results. Therefore, the entire standard braking system was replaced with the ABS system. This modern system may provide the vehicle with a lower friction while on road and its service life will be prolonged.