FV101 Scorpion CVR(T)

The FV101 Scorpion CVR(T), Combat Vehicle Reconnaissance (Tracked), manufactured by Alvis in Coventry, was introduced into service in 1972 and served with the British Army and RAF Regiment until 1994. It saw combat during both the 1982 Falklands War, the Gulf War of 1991, and the Battle for the Fireplace, under the command of my flock headed Action Man when Palitoy released their Action Man Scorpion Tank into the hands of this very excited schoolboy in 1972!

Although weighing in at 8-tonnes, the Scorpion was designed to be amphibious, with flotation screen deployed, to operate in boggy conditions, and to be easily shipped by air, with two Scorpions being able to be carried in a C-130 Hercules transport aircraft. As a light tank, the Scorpion entered service modestly armed, with a 76mm main gun, 7.62mm machine gun and six smoke grenade dischargers in the turret. Fitted with a Jaguar 4.2-litre petrol engine, it had a maximum speed of 50 miles per hour on land and close to 4 mph on water!

Driver in the front, recruited from a set of NATO troops

The kit I managed to procure for this build was actually the original 1975 Airfix kit and thus the very one I could have made as a mini-me to my Action Man's Palitoy version! In spite of its age, small scale and minimal number of parts, it is surprisingly well detailed and of a better fit to many of a much younger age. I fitted a driver in the front, recruited from a set of NATO troops and left the gunner's hatch in the turret open and vacant to fit with a Port Stanley diorama I have planned to share towards the end of this project ... so watch this space.

The source model is the original Airfix kit from in 1975

Two troops (3 and 4) from B Squadron, The Blues and Royals, travelled with 9 CVR(T) vehicles 4 Scorpions, 4 Scimitars (basically a Scorpion with a 30mm gun) and a single Samson (a Scorpion with a vehicle recovery hook in place of its turret) aboard the requisitioned Truck Ferry, M/V Elk, while crews embarked on the SS Canberra. After engaging in range practice on Ascension Island, the Scorpions and accompanying CVR(T)s were loaded aboard HMS Fearless in readiness for the amphibious landing at San Carlos Bay on 21-May.

After the initial landing had taken place the beachhead was first enlarged in preparation for the move on Stanley. During this time the Scorpions and Scimitars provided perimeter security from dug-in positions and with the loss of the Atlantic Conveyor, even assisted the then limited helicopter force as logistics carriers, shuttling stores from one place to another. 

Argentine Panhard and British Scorpion side by side on the modelling mat 

In a terrain which prevented the the 90mm, much larger gunned, Argentine Panhard AML-90 armoured cars from even leaving Port Stanley, the Scorpion was to ably support British ground forces in a number of operations, including 

* 5 Commando in their move along the northern route to attack Two Sisters 11-12 June
* 3 Para in their move to Teal Inlet and the taking of Mount Longdon 11-12 June
* 2 Para in the Battle of Wireless Ridge 13-14 June
* Scots Guards during the Battle of Mount Tumbledown 13–14 June 
 

Two techniques used by the British employing the CVRs proved very successful. The first involved a diversionary attack on the night of 12 June. In the attack, the Scots Guards employed 4 Troop in a reconnaissance role and then a direct fire role in support of the diversionary assault. The impact of the use of the CVRs was instrumental deceiving the enemy. The other technique employed by the CVRs was known as “zapping”: …the CVR crew would engage the Argentine position with a brief burst of 7.62mm machine gun fire provoking a response, which was promptly silenced by either the Scorpion’s 76mm or Simitar’s 30mm main gun, firing HESH (High-explosive squash head rounds). It is said that few Argentines felt able to reply after being zapped!

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The model

Brand: Airfix
Title: Scorpion Tank
Number: 01320-4 (Also listed as 02312-6)
Scale: 1:76
Released: 1975 | Initial release - new tool