4x4s.org NAMED MODEL · 1978
NAMED MODELMilitary · UKUnited Kingdom

Spartan (FV103)

The original petrol FV103 Spartan is the low-roof CVR(T) personnel carrier, with a commander cupola and machine gun in place of the reconnaissance turret.

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Spartan (FV103) — Бронетранспортёр Fv103 Spartan на площади Свободы во время демонстрации военной трофейной техники, Владикавказ.Rartat · CC BY 4.0 ↗
BASE VEHICLEScorpion (FV101 CVR(T), 1973–)BUILT BYAlvis, CoventryIN SERVICE1978OPERATED INUnited Kingdom, BelgiumPRODUCTIONFV103 total unconfirmed

The record

Supplied FV101/FV103 Wikipedia pages read. The FV103 current infobox mixes later dimensions/mass/engine data. Original petrol model uses80km/h supported by US Army Worldwide Equipment Guide2015, ground systems PDF page49 (printed23): FV103 artillery/engineer carrier, three crew plus four dismounts, one7.62mm MG,483km range; family190hp petrol6 and8smoke dischargers. Source https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/1f/WorldwideEquipmentGuide_2015_Ground_Systems.pdf . Power141.7kW, mass8200kg approximate original combat weight from queue/context; latter is not a measured empty weight. https://thearmedforces.ca/vehicles/fv103-spartan.html museum confirms approximately8tonnes but its preserved vehicle has a later5.9diesel; its96km/h is not used for this petrol model. Crusader80 collection page could not be opened because of an invalid certificate, not bypassed.

Queue approximately2.3m 'to hull roof' conflicts with photographs: model low roof1.84m, cupola2.12m, gun2.38m including sight, aerials higher. Shared base hull remains4.39m excluding fittings rather than falsely claiming CAD-exact5.1m dimensions. Precise torque unsupported;178Nm is a derived default, not a historical claim. Grip.88 drag3.5 steer.85 accel1 are gameplay tuning. High power/mass outside ordinary4x4 range reflect tracked armour. Shared MG/armour/four paired smoke salvos with5s reload, not physical weapon performance.

UK manufacture and UK/Belgium service supported; prepopulated country values preserved. Family-wide approximately3000 count is not FV103-specific;967 reported by secondary FV103 page remains an estimate, not independently verified production total. No later diesel upgrades or taller ambulance/command hull copied.

Specification

MANUFACTURED1978–
ENGINE4.2-litre petrol inline-sixJaguar J60
PRODUCTION RUNFV103 total unconfirmed; 967 reported in secondary history, distinct from queue family-wide total
COUNTRY OF ORIGINUnited Kingdom
OPERATED INUnited Kingdom, Belgium
STATUSin service
TOP SPEED80 km/h original petrol vehicle
COMBAT WEIGHTApproximately 8,200 kg (provisional)
PETROL ENGINE POWER141.7 kW (190 hp)
CREW AND PASSENGERS3 crew plus 4 dismounts
RECORD KINDNamed model
MODEL LINECVR(T)
FAMILYCVR(T)
BODY STYLEapc
CATEGORYMilitary · UK

Catalogue fields describe the vehicle's structure and body as this registry records it. They are not certified factory measurements, and no performance figures are published here.

Variants & colours

Base model variants

Factory colours

  • Deep Bronze Green

Codes on hover. Hex values are representative approximations of period paint unless a source states a measured value.

AI rendering impression

An AI rendering impression starts from a 3D model of this vehicle, which an image model then paints into a scene. It is an artist's impression of the type, made to give a feel for the vehicle in its element — not a photograph, and not a record of any particular vehicle.

Proportions, fittings, markings, colours and the setting can all drift from the original in the process. For the vehicle's actual details, rely on the specification, the photographs and the cited sources on this page.

Sources

  1. 1FV103 history and variant specifications ↗SOURCE
  2. 2US Army Worldwide Equipment Guide 2015, PDF page49 / printed23 ↗SOURCE
  3. 3Museum preserved later diesel example; not petrol speed source ↗SOURCE
  4. 4Inspected supplied photograph 1 ↗SOURCE
  5. 5Inspected supplied photograph 2 ↗SOURCE
  6. 6Inspected supplied photograph 3 ↗SOURCE
  7. 7Inspected supplied photograph 4 ↗SOURCE
  8. 8Inspected supplied photograph 5 ↗SOURCE
  9. 9Inspected supplied photograph 6 ↗SOURCE
  10. 10Inspected supplied photograph 7 ↗SOURCE
  11. 11Inspected supplied photograph 8 ↗SOURCE
  12. 12Inspected supplied photograph 9 ↗SOURCE
  13. 13https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FV103_Spartanhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FV103_Spartan ↗REFERENCE

Registry record updated 2026-09-28T06:26:55.856Z · status: researched