Tanks Chats

In this week's video, David Willey continues David Fletcher's CVRT Tank Chats series, delving into the fascinating history of the Scimitar Mark 1 & Scimitar Mark 2. David provides an in-depth look at the development of these two iconic tracked vehicles, exploring their unique features and capabilities. He also examines how they have evolved over the years, and been used in various military operations.
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00:00 | Intro
00:54 | Historical Context
03:19 | CVRT & CVRW
05:40 | Family Development
10:40 | Production
11:25 | Usage & Specs
16:15 | Evolution & Service
#tankmuseum #tankchats #DavidWilley #Scimitar

[@thetankmuseum]

Hi there Tank Nuts! What do you think of David's take on the CVRT family? Let us know in the comments.

[@neiloflongbeck5705]

Liked his nickname for them - Scimitty

[@Alendo]

There were vehicles in the video? All I could see was David in the most magnificent looking trenchcoat and I want one!

[@lilandry]

Aren't those machines were bought by Ukrainian public donations?

[@hanshull6687]

Brilliant description of the vehicles and their history. I especially appreciate David's rundown on where the CVRTs fit in the doctrinal picture, as combat vehicles don't just run around by themselves.

[@warlord195711]

He tells us they're being sold off, but doesn't tell us the price.

[@bigredjeepyj3436]

Can we just take a minute and admire David's dapper attire? Stay classy, David. Great episode.

[@mozki1]

With you there.....love the coat....

[@ArturdeSousaRocha]

Came here to see how many people noticed. Stylish indeed.

[@danq.5140]

I feel like he just rolled up in an MG Mgb

[@Moggy471]

That is a proper coat.

[@markholmphotography]

Great job, interesting information and excellent delivery.

[@perwahloo3499]

Any British boy of a certain age now would’ve had a Scorpion Tank for his Action Man. Unforgettable fun.

[@johnsowerby7182]

I remember that one. Had it myself...

[@bob_the_bomb4508]

It even appeared in Doctor Who - as a real tank!

[@alanwilkin8869]

Yip

[@babaganoush6106]

And if you want a real one Brightwells Auctions have lots last time I looked they were at £2000. Auction ends tomorrow I think.

[@wbertie2604]

I had one. My pride and joy. Then I got to go in the real thing. I'm hoping to go armoured paintballing this year

[@CaptainScorchMane]

With David standing in that coat, he looks like he's trying to sell the tanks to someone in a car park behind a local train station, cash-in-hand.

[@conordia6906]

Arfur Daly 😂

[@romavictor1SPQR]

Petition for you to stock that amazing coat in the shop

[@Alendo]

😂

[@math1ass10]

We use the fv107 variant here in Latvia, we are very fond of it and you used a photo of us using it in the thumbnail, very nice :)

[@Cervando]

I think the replacement for the Scorpion family, the Ajax, should be renamed Achilles as it proving to have many heels. It's bizarre considering they were working off a proven vehicle in the ASCOD. It takes a special kind of ineptitude to screw it up as much as they have.

[@K_-_-_-_K]

Yup Should of just bought the cv90

[@derekp2674]

Did they learn from the team that made SA80? or did they manage it all by themselves?

[@yereverluvinuncleber]

@@K_-_-_-_K Should 'have'

[@stephen7571]

@@derekp2674 I think it was the SA 80 teams children who grew up, who came MOD designers and carried on with that noble tradition of vast incompetence.

[@Ph33NIXx]

In the danish army we have what we call "DK solutions" its a term covering when Denmark takes a shelf ware, put on some new requirements and come up with a new worse system plagued with problems. Ive started to believe its easier to design something from the ground up to do something specifik, than take something excisting and bend it into fitting another roll. Just a general observation.

[@bob_the_bomb4508]

I’m still nostalgic for my Spartan. How else can you transport a BV at 100 kmh except in a CVR(T)?

[@normanedwards7220]

Corwen, fox ,

[@normanedwards7220]

.....cvrw....fox ,

[@bob_the_bomb4508]

@@normanedwards7220 only in a straight line though :)

[@qetrix1794]

Really love to hear David Willey. Im from Germany and can listen to him easily. He speaks verry unterstandible, also foreign people like me

[@well-blazeredman6187]

Very interesting - and I hadn't heard of Scimitar 2 before. What a tremendous acquisition success story the CVRT family is.

[@wessexdruid7598]

And then - there was Ajax. We used to be able to do it right 😞

[@wombatski100]

Me neither

[@HannibalOfTyre]

Awesome coat Mr Willey!

[@zopEnglandzip]

Absolute beast innit

[@DavidLee-df888]

Definite Arthur Daley vibes, especially since he mentions selling these things...

[@CrazyWelshy]

I needs it

[@joebfnl1079]

Bet that coat cost no less than $600?.

[@jonsaxby7683]

Scimitar 1 had air-conditioning as part of a theatre upgrade for Herrick in the form of tubes you could shove into your body armour, it wasn't great but they were better than having nothing at all which we found out when the Aircon units themselves started to break down

[@andrewbarratt8551]

Excellent piece of work David. Your Tank Chats are the highlight of my Friday lunchtime

[@Cubcariboo]

Came for the CVR{T}, Stayed for the super duper model! Hello David, I hear GQ calling!💣😎

[@peterking8586]

I remember the RAF regiment being trained by my regiments gunnery instructors. I use to joke about my company car being a Jaguar, due to Scorpions engine.

[@clangerbasher]

I am glad the Army saw fit to continue the trend of easily transportable and light vehicles for reconnaissance and cavalry tasks with Ajax.

[@razor1uk610]

...even though it seems Ajax has some severe resonance problems, that likely can only be solved with much thicker plates and an increased numbers of structural webbing gussets, within the construction, to absorb & dampen the resonances, that will naturally occur & spread within the aluminium alloy's structural matrix itself. and its own elastic properties, without it being too brittle to survive service lifespan..??

[@clangerbasher]

@@razor1uk610 Well it could certainly do with more weight, not. 😁

[@Petriefied0246]

Ajax weighs four times as much, it's not really comparable.

[@clangerbasher]

@@Petriefied0246 Jokes sort of sail past you don't they?

[@Petriefied0246]

@@clangerbasher it's the internet, people post comments like that in full seriousness.

[@whya2ndaccount]

Love the coat! Takes me back - spent a month as an Exchange LT in BAOR patrolling the inner German border. Loved the combination of Jaguar engine and black ice (an unknown entity to someone from down under).

[@KHGrinderboy]

Loved the CVRT, was an awesome vehicle, very capable, very quick. Extreme fun to drive and relatively easy to look after.

[@Landogarder]

Nice to see this. I was a Scimitar commander for 2 years and Striker shooter for 3 years. (76 - 81). The Striker was very accurate. I fired 14 missiles and never missed.

[@Th3Bishop3]

I've waited a while for the Scimitar to be done after Mr. Fletcher did the scorpion, upset that he's retired now and can't do this one himself but loved watching this regardless.

[@Alendo]

Is he retired?

[@Th3Bishop3]

@@Alendo He just recently retired from doing tank chats, there's a recent video on it if you look at the channels videos.

[@curtinj98]

I used to see train loads of this family of vehicles coming from the Alvis plant and passing my school in Coventry. Later, I watched the Jaguar engines being assembled at the Radford engine plant. One man was responsible for ensuring they were built to MOD spec.

[@juanzulu1318]

Great vid presented by a very stylish gentleman. Greetings from Germany

[@tonyjedioftheforest1364]

Why do we remove vehicles from service before a replacement is in place?

[@garrywatters1140]

Was attached, as REME, to 3 cav units that had these CVRT variants. Loved working on them. Absolutely brilliant bits of kit.

[@cerbuscankerous3714]

Thanks for catching me up, I did six years in these during the 80s, they were awesome bits of kit. The roll over protection was overdue as they weren't very forgiving of novice drivers but in experienced hands these could show a clean pair of heels to just about anything and sneak with the best.

[@FelixBillson]

Came for the tanks, staying for David W's incredible coat. Any links to where I can get one please?

[@PaulKnights]

Mackinaw / Jeep Coat

[@dogsnads5634]

Depends on the version of FCASW. The supersonic variant will likely have 300 miles +, but the stealthy, subsonic version will have substantially more range than Storm Shadow. Both are going to happen.

[@dulls8475]

I spent one year in a fox and 2 in a scimitar. Great fun.

[@catlee8064]

Loved my Scimitar...with the old jag engine you could blow the limiter....get a good turn of speed out of it!

[@UKJOHNTY]

I had 2 in my troop in Wulfenbuttell 1985 that could hit 70 mph

[@davidty2006]

Might want to have seatbelts in the thing if you want to go faster.

[@dogsnads5634]

You are mistaken. F-35B and C do not have internal guns, both would use the same podded gun. It does add a lot of drag though... The UK has also decided not to purchase any...

[@martintabony611]

Drivers training on CVRT used to bugger off to Scarborough for they day while we were stuck on the training area with MBT 😀

[@TonyBelas]

what a fantastic presentation! packed with information, David at the top of his game.

[@lkchild]

Probably one of the most informative tank chats in the series - keep up the good work.

[@timothyirish4590]

Great video of scimitar development and service life.I was fortunate enough to serve in a scimitar troop in BAOR for many years before my regiment re roled to MBT Chieftain.I was also the vehicle commander of the Warrior 2 you now have in the museums collection.I firmly believe that WCSP should have been the replacement vehicle for CVR(T). Keep the tank chats coming please.

[@Ayns.L14A]

Is that you PADDY???????

[@timothyirish4590]

@@Ayns.L14A yes marra

[@Ayns.L14A]

@@timothyirish4590 lol thought so Yareet??

[@timothyirish4590]

@@Ayns.L14A wayeye,you ?

[@Ayns.L14A]

@@timothyirish4590 I Mate Canny, enjoying my retirement wor lass works from home her turn to pay the bills LOL!!!

[@charlescaudell9493]

Much appreciated, more in depth look at this family of vehicles.

[@craigcollings5568]

So knowledgable. I could listen to this man all day.

[@Daniel-S1]

Thanks + I like the phrase 'not mature enough technology' - a concise and accurate use of the English word 'mature' in a context (at least in my experience) unusual but absolutely perfect.

[@jtmcgee]

I enjoy the informative, interesting and entertaining videos your team puts out. Thank you.

[@Kumimono]

I want to be David Willey when I grow up. Excellent presentation of an interesting subject.

[@JamesLaserpimpWalsh]

Thanks for the vid. Loved these. Well, the Scorpion as well obviously.

[@jm9371]

Great synopsis of the Scorpion family. As a Canadian, I always referred to all these vehicles as 'Scorpions'. I learned a lot from this video.

[@ejbronwasser1624]

Another great piece David. One note, another big advantage of wheeled reconnaisance is that the vehicles are a lot quieter compaired to tracked vehicles. The M113 C&V I commanded, you could hear coming miles away.

[@markfryer9880]

I can confirm that statement! A few years ago I was at a friend's place on a main road in a Melbourne suburb and we could hear this incredible tearing and thrashing noise. Curious, we went out the front and looked down the hill and coming down the hill on the other side of the valley and then up past us were several versions of the Australian Army M113, with the distinctive Australian Army Camouflage Pattern. The lead vehicle had the Comander's Cupola fitted with twin .30 Calibre MGs. I can no longer recall how the other M113's were configured. They were doing a Road Run from the local Army Base, Simpson Barracks to where I don't know, but we could sure hear them coming and going! What a noise! Mark from Melbourne Australia My friend and I had both served in the Reserves in a Signals Unit at Simpson Barracks.

[@doc.j.7246]

Another fantastic video - David's looking very stylish too!

[@dillank3240]

Great video, well presented as always. Mr Willey is looking rather dapper today.

[@tonyshield5368]

Had a troop of Scorpions (is that the correct term for a group of them?) on our base in Cyprus in '74 during the invasion, very reassuring for us. Provided cover for our Colonel to go to the Turks and ask them not to attack here as we are British. Watching them wander around our base at high speed was exhilerating to watch - wish I'd been able to get a ride in one of them.

[@rieger.design]

Thank you for yet another educative video. Im pretty surprised that you did not mention the "British Jeep" - the universal carrier as one of the predecessor of this vehicle. To me it looks like a direct predecessor of this vehicle

[@normanedwards7220]

I was a commander on both fox , and scorpion , I personally preferred fox , much quieter, almost equally as mobile , and much faster to get you in or out of trouble , the rarden was a amazing weapon , very much under rated , you needed to fire one to appreciate one , it was good , optics were outstanding , day and night vision , they deserved a much better write-up than they had , the only people who appreciated them were those who crewed them ,

[@c.j.zographos3713]

Top notch, as always; I forget that the other services find armoured vehicles useful.

[@nickyhnell211]

excellent informative as always

[@darrenjosephgregory]

Love the CVRT I always find myself lingering around the collection at Bovington. Not sure why I like them, I think it is their small form factor. Yes the big tanks are cool but there is something special about CRVT.

[@wessexdruid7598]

I always thought the same about Fox and Ferret.

[@davewedgbury1583]

Excellent upload on this great vehicle. For something that has been around for so long not alot of detailed information out there.

[@Okanagan_modeler]

Great video very informative

[@zhexuwu6449]

Happy New Year to the Tank Chat team!

[@1701enter]

Excellent thank you

[@haldorasgirson9463]

I love the family vehicle names. They make sense. Samaritan for an ambulance. Sultan for command... Hah!

[@gaptaxi]

I like the, ``AJAX is supposed to be replacing them?´´ Brilliant video though and the flotation screens were removed after QDG did a river crossing in Germany that turned out to be a farce, I got over the other side but had to stand up and almost bent the left tiller getting over, weeks late a bod from ATDU turned up and later the screens were removed which then gave the vehicles much more space for Bins and beer storage!

[@davidbutterfield2949]

Excellent video, thanks 👍🏻🇦🇺

[@jon9021]

David…the most interesting man in the world.

[@rettichdergeile9361]

That Jacket is absolutely dazzling

[@tokolima21]

i love these videos, and damn David looking dope as always

[@paulsee2037]

Brilliant!

[@2534will]

the new filtration system in 2010 was a godsend . we had to stop every half hour and bang out the old air filter due to sand restricting the intake . The new centrifugal air cleaner never needed no where near as much maintenance . was fun to drive in afghan but compared to the jackal it was left in the dust (no pun intended) lol Glad i got to enjoy my career with scimitar tho . Thanks David another cracking video and looking very dapper here sir

[@gaughantony]

That’s some coat David

[@robloseby3631]

Great fun to drive and gun. 25 years crewing it.

[@dand5593]

All the best and be well and healty! Another great David! Well done, you and you team!

[@RobFeldkamp]

You look great man!

[@matthewkubinec1620]

I feel like BAe missed a trick not proposing the CVRt family as a drone platform to compete with the Weisel.

[@RM-vj4ni]

I feel like hardly anyone has heard of the Scimitar, just the Scorpion. By the way, like the coat David

[@StevoIRL]

Given how prevalent it has been in the news it would great if we could get a tank chat on the leopard 2.

[@michaelmulligan0]

Didn’t realise the Scimitar 2 hull were grand new! Was CVR(T) still in production then?

[@chriskortan1530]

Excellent video! Although you may be getting a call from The Chieftain for having track tension way down at third on the list.

[@markleggott7703]

Spent from 2005 til they went out of service on cvr(t) was a great machine served in afghan with them and one point on video scimitar had aircon fitted from 2007 in theatre sultan and samaritan didn't. Problem we found due to all the extra armour the extra weight they didn't upgrade engine or gearbox so kept wearing out. But still a good machine

[@maxsuicide4767]

Quick tank chat before you jet off for Paris Fashion Week? Looking sharp!

[@dand1947]

he got the IED protection measures wrong. The antennas on the rear "spoiler" are there to protect against remote controlled IEDs, whereas the two boxes on the front that were highlighted are to protect against IEDs that are triggered through passive infra red - although scimitars fitted with these served in Afghan, they were a hangover from the Iraq campaign, so if a scimitar had them, it had also served in Iraq.

[@ZacharyReynolds-fv2vy]

wonderful

[@nickraschke4737]

Awesome.

[@TheJamesvgnr]

Taking Driving lessons in a Land Rover as a soldier based at Catterick Camp in the 1970's,I suffered the indignity of being overtaken by one of these on a Public Road! (Or it could've been a Scorpian,but it passed so quickly that I couldn't really tell!)

[@jpevans01]

Love the video - but love the coat even more David!!

[@ataxpayer723]

He must shop at the same Gentleman's Regimental Outfitters as my Grandad!

[@robertchubb5602]

...and the more the upgrades..the tighter the turret became for the crew...Christ it was (and is now!) TIGHT in there...especially the turret!

[@Buttmunch284]

This is going to be a good one. Back in 24 mins. 😂

[@daispy101]

Interesting how it was developed with the lighter footprint weight - presumably to survive anti-personnel mines but not trigger anti-tank mines triggered by weight?

[@russell6341]

I recently watched the episode where David said he was going to hang it up and retire this brings a smile to my face I already miss the rumpled little professor thanks again and another great one

[@Rusty_Gold85]

I was only thinking they would be still useful in the rear lines defending Truck convoys and supply routes either in your home land or behind the front

[@jep77ray]

Yay, new chats

[@piotrrajmundkoprowski4732]

Sir, this is university level talk.

[@Paveway-chan]

Question: at around 12:40 you mention that the 30mm cannon is very small and compact inside the vehicle. Is this a consequence of it not having an automatic loading mechanism like contemporary 20 & 25mm cannons? As in, to make it as compact as it is they had to dispose of an automatic loader?

[@petersmithm9]

Didn't like working on the Fox or the 432/30 sighting systems. Those night vision sights were a nightmare.

[@eliasblum753]

Interesting that the requirement is for a 'reconnaissance' vehicle, but they design it with a whole range of 'light cavalry' roles in mind - colonial policing, airfield defence. (Also, David is rocking a very smart coat, gloves and hat combination!)

[@cra83]

Is uncle Albert and Rodney in the back David? 😉 looking smart!

[@Mark-ec3xc]

Loving the coat.

[@ChopperMeir]

I can't explain why but I've always wanted to drive one of these

[@haldorasgirson9463]

3 round burst capability is more than enough. If you aren't displacing after firing 3 rounds from a vehicle with such minimal armor, then you are inviting an RPG-7 suppository.

[@billballbuster7186]

The army never wanted CVR(W) Fox, that was foisted on the army as part of a sales drive by the Government. It did not work as the more sensible AML-90 dominated the market. CVR(T) was developed because the Saladin weighed over 12 tons, too heavy for airportability. Scorpion did the same job but better weighing only 7 tons.

[@dougstubbs9637]

The outstanding thing about the Rarden cannon, despite the limitations of the three round clips, was only 14% of overall length protuded into the turret interior. Ever been cramped AF in a Bradley turret ?

[@jonathanhopkins4042]

very accurate but it did have it's downsides, the rarden rash for example.

[@jimmydesouza4375]

I don't know, it seems like it'd be worse to be dead because you only had 3 rounds than to be a little cramped.

[@jonathanhopkins4042]

@@jimmydesouza4375 I am going back almost 40 years now to my Rarden course, but effectively you have six rounds rapid, three in the gun and another three in a clip that can be inserted by the loader when you are firing. However if you are firing in automoatic mode you lose some of the accuracy. The rarden in single shot mode is very, very accurate, but in automode the play in the turret gearing means the gun flutters a bit- you can acccomodate a bit by bracing the turret with your body, but it's most effective making sure your first shots counts, and if it doesn't then you run away - the CVR's reverse at up to 70 mph.

[@jimmydesouza4375]

@@jonathanhopkins4042 What is the purpose of the loader considering that it's three shells on some kind of holder? It looks like it could be done one handed by the gunner.

[@jonathanhopkins4042]

@@jimmydesouza4375IN CVR turrets the commander also doubles as the loader, so the drill is that the commander determines what is going to be fired, either the co-ax or the main gun and which type of round shot(AP) or shell (HE), at the same time as he is loading he will give the gunner the fire order - the gunner will align the weapon with the target and then engage. Depending on the nature of the threat the commander will have selected the next clip and have that in the breach.

[@davidwhite503]

Thank you for another outstanding video!

[@billevans7936]

Pretty Darn Cool...!!

[@davidgoodnow269]

Nice for its role, I like the speed and low ground pressure; That 10× sight makes sense with the low capacity and slow firing rate -- it emphasizes _where_ a gunner hits. But dropping amphibious swimming ability just doesn't make sense in a reconnaissance tank that may be the _only_ armored support in a global expanse of potential operations. Also, _more smoke dischargers,_ or _a way to quickly reload them while busy!_ The mine-resistant design features of the Scimitar II are very welcome, and something very overlooked -- as was air conditioning and NBC equipment and protocols in the original Scorpion and Scimitar, again because of the global planned nature of deployment. For countries that still use this, I have to look at other turret and gun options. If the recoil and effectiveness are a good fit, why not the 30mm chain-gun on the American AH-64 Apache attack helicopter? I could see having a high- (anti-aircraft , canyons) and low- (hull down in a wadi or muddy bank) angle cannon mount with independent co-axial .30 caliber Browning and an independent sponson 30 or 40 mm grenade launcher for indirect fire. Javelin or MLAW can be carried, of course. It's a wonder that the Scimitar I doesn't have a mount or bracket for a Carl Gustov (not mentioned?)!

[@damon1957ful]

In the late 70s we had a scopion reported to have touched 65mph on the bovington rig road and was veay stable

[@iainmcclure416]

Legend has it that a Scorpion driver was spot-fined by the West German police for speeding. Heard the story in RGD mess. Seems possible

[@1971stretch]

Great video as always. But that coat and cap are giving off Del boy vibes. Like David is trying to flog these on the used car lot...one careful owner...😁

[@mnlivestreaming6713]

Spotto! Pretty sure, the M113s pictured at 6:00 are Australian Army!

[@rokuth]

Most recent news is that the 30 or so Scimitar 2s will be going to Ukraine. They seem to have a fondness for the CVR(T) series as they have been operating Spartans given to them in 2022.

[@66kbm]

Ask anyone in the Falklands conflict if they had any doubts about the CVRT Scimitar or Scorpion?