FV 4333 Stormer
Alvis Vehicles in the 1970s built the original Stormer armoured personnel carrier (APC), then known as the FV4333, using components of its Scorpion Combat Vehicle Reconnaissance (Tracked) range. Production of the Stormer began in 1982: three for the USA to evaluate and 25 for Malaysia to use in an APC role. Based on the Alvis Scorpion CVR(T) model, the Stormer (a stretched Spartan) was a further development primarily for export. In 1980, Alvis [now BAE Systems Land Systems] purchased the manufacturing and marketing rights of the FV4333 from the British Ministry of Defence. The vehicle was originally designed by the Military Vehicles and Engineering Establishment (which no longer exists as such), with the first prototype made a brief appearance at the mobility demonstration at Bovington during the 1978 British Army Equipment Exhibition. In June 1981, Alvis announced that its development of the FV4333 had been designated Stormer.
The Stormer improves upon the form and function established by the Scorpion, while retaining its powertrain and general shape to be logistically friendly. The hull was lengthened to increase internal volume, and this lengthening required an additional roadwheel on each side of the fuselage for better ground weight transfer and propulsion. The overall shape remains largely in line with the entire CVR(T) line, with well-sloped glacis panels forward, a flat unobstructed fuselage roofline and an angled fuselage rear surface. The drive sprocket is mounted on the front and the chain idler is mounted on the rear. Smoke grenade launchers are installed in the upper area of the glacis panels (two rows of four grenades each), and roof hatches provide the required situational awareness.
There is a large rectangular door on the rear wall of the fuselage for passengers to get on and off. A typical operator has just two people -- a driver and a commander sitting side by side -- and the interior seats can accommodate up to nine passengers. The driver sat on the left front of the fuselage with the hatch on the front wing and the engine on his right. The commander's position is right behind the driver, and his hatch is on the hull roof.
Production of the Stomer family has been completed and the vehicle is no longer being marketed by BAE Systems Land Systems. Throughout the vehicle's life cycle, various BAe system models were eventually introduced, including Armored Battlefield Ambulance, Armored Rescue Vehicle (ARV), and Mortar Transporter (81mm and 120mm Transporter types), among others. The Stormer 30 is proposed as an armored kill AFV with a 30mm dual feeder Jungle King II autocannon and optional TOW Anti-Tank Missile (ATGM) launcher.
The British Army, which selected Stormer in 1986 to carry the SMS Starstreak High-Velocity Missile (HVM) system, used three versions of the vehicle: as a platform for the HVM system; a reconnaissance vehicle for HVM units; and a flatbed fitted with the Alliant Techsystems Volcano anti-tank mine-scattering system. Stormer can use various weapon systems, such as a two-person turret armed with a 25mm cannon. There is a wide range of optional equipment, including a nuclear-biological-chemical protection system; an amphibious kit; passive night-vision equipment; and an air-conditioning system.
The Shielder Anti-Tank System gives commanders the facility to create anti-tank barriers quickly and effectively. The system consists of modular dispensers which can be fired to either side or to the rear, mounted on a flat bed version of the Stormer Armoured Personnel Carrier. The anti-tank mines have a programmable life, at the end of which they self-destruct. Shielder will only lay anti-tank mines - The British Army does not use anti-personnel mines. These mines are carried in canisters, (each of which hold six mines) with up to 40 canisters on a launcher rack. These are on the rear of the Stormer flatbed and discharge the anti-tank mines either side as the vehicle moves across the terrain. A dispenser control unit provides fire signals, testing and arming of the self-destruct mechanism.
The Stormer, like its Scorpion counterpart, can be adapted to serve a variety of battlefield and peacetime roles. The Alvis Stormer Starstreak is one such adaptation, capable of mounting 8 Starstreak High Velocity Missiles in the air defense role. Other duties for this weapons system include ambulance, battlefield recovery and command and control - not to mention its original armored personnel carrier role. The tracked Stormer vehicle provides a mobile platform for the Starstreak High Velocity Missile (HVM) system giving the detachment protection and excellent mobility with eight ready to fire missiles and a further nine stowed inside. The HVM system is a low level Close Air Defence (CAD) system with a rapid engagement capacity developed and optimised to counter the Attack Helicopter threat. This highly flexible system is also capable of being fired using the Lightweight Multiple Launcher or from the shoulder. The missile employs a system of three dart type projectiles which can make multiple hits on the target. Each of these darts has an explosive warhead. The system is fitted with a roof-mounted Air Defence Alerting Device, providing target detection and prioritisation. A panoramic weapon sight is located at the front right of the vehicle.
The Stormer took advantage of the existing technology of the now BAE Systems Land Systems Scorpion CVR(T) family and many of the proven components have been used. The hull of the Stormer is wider than the CVR(T) and its original gasoline engine was replaced by a Cummins or Perkins Engines Company turbocharged diesel engine. In order to achieve a higher usable space and payload capacity, the vehicle was added in addition to various minor changes to a running roller at 6 and is provided with a circuit-efficient engine. The vehicle length has been increased from 4.36 m to 5.27 m.
The Stormer HVM (High Velocity Missile) is a short-range air defense system. It was developed primarily to counter the threat of attack helicopters and low-flying aircraft posed to armored formations. This air defense system is in service with the British Army. The first of 151 systems entered service in 1997. The only export operator is Oman.
This air defense system is equipped with Starstreak HVM missiles. Launchers are located towards the rear together with their target sensors. The Starstreak missiles have a two-stage solid propellant rocket motor and travel at more than three times the speed of sound (Mach 3.5). Each missile contains three high-density darts with impact fuses and explosive warheads, to make multiple hits on the target. The darts are released as the second stage of the motor burns out. Missiles have a range of 1 500 - 5 500 meters and can counter even high performance low-flying aircraft. Service ceiling for these missiles is 1 000 m. The Starstreak HVM has a semi-automatic line of sight laser beam riding guidance. Missiles are guided on the target by the operator, who tracks the target using the optically stabilized sight.
It is worth noting, that the Starstreak missiles are also effective against ground targets. It is estimated, that darts have sufficient kinetic energy to penetrate the front armor of an IFV. Eight ready to fire missiles are stored in the launchers and up to 12 reload missiles are carried inside the hull. It is worth mentioning that the Starstreak missiles are also launched form a three-round lightweight launcher and a man portable shoulder launcher.
Vehicle has a roof-mounted panoramic weapon sight and an air defense alerting device for target recognition and prioritization. The Stormer air defense system is capable of rapid engagement and has a high hit probability. Vehicle has a crew of three, including commander, operator and driver. This air defense system is based on a modified Alvis Stormer armored personnel carrier chassis. Vehicle is powered by a Perkins turbocharged diesel engine, developing 250 hp. It seems that this missile carrier is amphibious with some preparation. Sources from the UK MoD claim, that since 2009 Stormers are being gradually decommissioned, mainly because the threat of an airborne attack on Western forces has almost completely disappeared.
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