The British FV430 & FV432 Family Background
The FV430 is a tracked chassis used to build a family of vehicles on, of which the most famous is the FV432 APC.
The FV430 was developed in the late 1950’s and entered service in the 1960’s with the British Army, well before the CVR(T) family of vehicles, which was developed as a replacement to the FV430 family, however the FV430 vehicles are still to this day in service with the British Army, even despite the introduction of the Warrior IFV.
Playlist Of TankNutDave Driving FV432 APC & Teaching how to drive one
The British FV430 & FV432 Family Commonalities
The FV430 is an all steel welded construction giving protection against artillery shell splinters and Machine Gun fire.
The vehicle uses a Rolls-Royce K60 multi-fuelled engine, which generates 240hp. Like most APC’s it is located at the front of the vehicle (it can be accessed via the large hatch in the front of the vehicle) with the driver sitting to its right, with the commander sitting behind the driver. He can operate a 7.62mm (GPMG) mounted on his cupola. The rear section of the vehicle serves the purpose for what variant of the family is. It is fully amphibious with preparation and powered by its tracks.
The British FV430 & FV432 Family Variants:
10 variants have been or are still in service with the British Army
FV431 Armoured load carrier
one prototype produced, Alvis Stalwart 6×6 vehicle selected instead for load carrier role.
FV432 Armoured Personnel Carrier
See below.
FV433 Field Artillery Self-Propelled “Abbot” Gun
105 mm self propelled gun built by Vickers Click Here to view.
FV434 ARV
REME Maintenance carrier with hydraulically driven crane.
FV435
Wavell communications vehicle
FV436 Command and control
some fitted with Green Archer radar, later Cymbeline radar.
FV437 Pathfinder vehicle
based on FV432 with integral buoyancy and other waterjets – prototyped only.
FV438 Swingfire
It had two firing bins and could carry fourteen missiles, which could be reloaded from inside the vehicle. Instead of using the mounted guidance system a control unit could be deployed and the missiles aimed and fired from up to 100 metres away, allowing the vehicle to remain completely hidden from the enemy; the Swingfire missile was capable of making a ninety-degree turn immediately after firing.
FV439 Signals vehicle
Many variants.
The FV432
The vehicle entered production with British Firm Sankey in 1962 with production ending in 1972, by which stage 3000 had been built in 3 separate marks (Mk).
APC – Various upgrades have been implemented to the sighting equipment and relocation of the external sections of the NBC system. In the APC role, the vehicle can carry ten troop who sit on benches facing each other.
Ambulance – carries both seated and stretcher patients.
Command – carries communication equipment and optional tents can be erected round and connecting to the vehicle.
Mortar Carrier – is a 81mm mortar mounted on a turntable for directional firing without moving the vehicle with the roof hatches open for firing.
Minelayer – tows a Bar minelayer in the rear.
Artillery command – carries BATES ( Battlefield Artillery Target Engagement System) for The Royal Artillery.
FV432 Bulldog
A recent upgrade programme has seen the delivery of over 100 up-armoured and upgraded FV430 troop carriers (Bulldog). Mechanised Infantry use the Bulldog APC as a form of protected mobility to move around the battlefield. Bulldog offers protection against small arms and artillery fire and provides good strategic and cross-country mobility.
For counter-insurgency operations the up-armoured FV430 provides a similar level of protection to Warrior and the vehicle is able to carry out many of the same tasks as Warrior, thereby relieving the pressure on heavily committed Warrior vehicles in armoured infantry battle groups.
The British FV430 & FV432 Family Status
FV432 variants remain in service with the Infantry – command vehicles, 81mm mortar carriers and ambulances.
FV434 recovery vehicle is still in service with the REME.
Bulldog remains in service.