FV434
The FV434 is the Armoured Repair Vehicle variant of the British Army's FV430 series of armoured fighting vehicles. Introduced in the 1960s primarily as a means of quickly changing Chieftain MBT power packs in the field, it is operated by the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (REME). It is still used by the REME.
| FV434, Armoured Repair Vehicle | |
|---|---|
 FV434 on display | |
| Type | Armoured Repair/Recovery Vehicle |
| Place of origin | United Kingdom |
| Production history | |
| Manufacturer | GKN Sankey |
| Specifications | |
| Mass | 17.5 tons (17.5 t) |
| Length | 5.88 m (19 ft 3 in) |
| Width | 2.8 m |
| Height | 2.77 m |
| Crew | 4 troops |
| Armour | 12.7 mm max |
Main armament | 7.62 mm L7 GPMG |
Secondary armament | none, defensive smoke dischargers |
| Engine | Rolls-Royce K60 multi-fuel 240 hp |
| Power/weight | 15.7 hp/tonne |
| Suspension | torsion-bar, 5 units each side |
| Maximum speed | 29 mph (47 km/h) |
Description
Officially designated FV434 Carrier, Maintenance, Full Tracked, the FV434's primary role is to repair disabled and damaged vehicles, but it also has a limited recovery capability. It is fitted with a crane (capable of lifting up to 3 tons) to assist its work in repairing armoured and un-armoured vehicles. The FV434 is capable of changing other FV430 series power packs, however, it is unable to handle the power pack the British Army's Challenger 2 main battle tank - this is done by Challenger armoured recovery vehicle in forward areas and soft skin repair vehicles in base areas.
In addition to the crane, the FV434 is fitted with a fold-away work bench to the rear of the vehicle. Like its personnel carrier version, it is capable of amphibious operations with the aid of a flotation screen. Once in the water, it is propelled by its tracks at up to 5.6 km/h. It is crewed by four soldiers: commander, driver and two fitters.
Examples on display
The REME Museum of Technology has an example of a FV434 demonstrating the change of a power-pack on a FV432.
The Norfolk Tank Museum has a restored and running example currently on display.
References
Bibliography
- Foss, C. and Gander, T. Jane's Military Vehicles and Ground Support Equipment (1984)