| FV102 Striker | |
|---|---|
 Privately owned FV102 Striker | |
| Type | Anti-tank missile carrier |
| Place of origin | United Kingdom |
| Service history | |
| Used by | UK |
| Wars | 2003 invasion of Iraq |
| Production history | |
| Manufacturer | Alvis |
| Produced | 1972-1985 |
| No. built | 350 |
| Specifications | |
| Mass | 8.1 tonnes |
| Length | 4.8 m |
| Width | 2.4 m |
| Height | 2.2 m |
| Crew | 3 |
| Armour | 12.7 mm |
Main armament | Swingfire in five bins with 5 reloads |
Secondary armament | 1 x 7.62 mmL7 GPMG 2 x 71mmLyran mortars (Belgium only)[1] |
| Engine | Cummins BTA 5.9-litre diesel. 190 hp (142 kW) |
| Power/weight | 23.5 hp/tonne |
| Suspension | torsion bar |
Operational range | 756 km (470 mi) |
| Maximum speed | 80 km/h |
TheFV102 Striker was theanti-tank guided missile carrier in theCombat Vehicle Reconnaissance (Tracked), CVR(T) family and served in theBritish Army.
FV102 Striker was theSwingfirewire-guidedanti-tank missile carrying member of theCVR(T) family. The FV102 Striker was externally very similar to theFV103 Spartan but carried fivemissiles in a ready-to-fire bin at the back of the vehicle. Five reload missiles were carried in the vehicle. The bin was elevated to 35° (622mils) for firing. The targeting sight could be demounted and operated at a distance from the vehicle which could remain in cover, even completely screened as the missile can turn up to 90° after launch to come onto the target heading. The missiles were originally steered byjoystick control using manual command to line of sight (MCLOS). This was later updated to the semi-automatic command to line of sight (SACLOS) system where the controller merely sights the target.[2] Secondary armament was ageneral purpose machine gun.
The Striker was developed for theBritish Army to fire the Swingfire missile. The first production vehicles were delivered in 1975 and used in British Army service by theRoyal Artillery anti-tank guided missile batteries. The vehicle initially was powered by theJaguar J60 4.2-litre 6-cylinderpetrol engine - the same as used by several Jaguar cars. This was then replaced by aCummins BTA 5.9diesel engine, as used in British ArmyFV107 Scimitars, under the CVR(T) life extension programme.
The Striker entered service in 1976 with theRoyal Artillery of theBAOR, but then was transferred to theRoyal Armoured Corps where they served information reconnaissance regiments. On 24 March 2003, during the2003 invasion of Iraq, a Striker destroyed an IraqiT-55 tank with an anti-tank missile.[3] The FV102 Striker was withdrawn from British Army service as the Swingfire missile was replaced by theJavelin missile in mid-2005.
