question Saracen ACV / Ambulance hatches

[Cold_War_Collection]

Hi All,

 

Does anyone know if the forward rooftop sliding hatches on the ACV or Ambulance version of the Saracen, are the same as the rear? does it employ the same mechanism and design?

 

 

as some can guess, we still are looking for a rear roof hatch, so after looking at a picture of an ACV range target, it looks like the roof hatches are at least close in size.

 

as always, many thanks

 

Nick

 

CWC Canada

[scott9643]

Our ACV had the sunshine roof in the rearward position which we've removed to repair. We've taken the fixed plate out of the front with a view to fitting the slider in the forward position and the frame fits in exactly and all the bolt holes line up, so I would say that the same would fit in either position

[Starfire]

I thought that the Mk 5 and 6 Saracens only ever had a fixed roof at the rear.

 

Cheers,

Terry

[Cold_War_Collection]

I thought that the Mk 5 and 6 Saracens only ever had a fixed roof at the rear.

 

Cheers,

Terry

 

Yes, they did generally, the odd part with ours, is that it had a Mk 3 rear sliding roof installed, and it seemed to have been there during the up-armor process.

 

during a previous partial strip down about 15 years ago, the roof was taken off, and lost !

 

but the pics are pretty clear that it came off the ship with the old roof in place

 

strange, but true !

 

cheers

 

nick

[scott9643]

I thought that the Mk 5 and 6 Saracens only ever had a fixed roof at the rear.

 

Cheers,

Terry

 

Ours is a Mk 5 and it all looks as though the sunshine roof in the rear is an original fitment. Other Mk 5 ACVs I've seen though do have the fixed plate in the rear but a turret in the front. Must have made it awkward for the radio operator.

 

 

This a well published photo inside an ACV and note there isn't a commanders seat for a turret and by the looks of the light coming in, the sun roof is open above the radios and clearly shown above the operators head and in the top left corner are the drain pipes for the sliding roof. I'd love some detailed photos of the inside of an ACV in service. Can anybody help?

[ericferret]

I have been trying to find a photograph of the top surfaces of a Saracen ambulance to determine how it differed from a standard APC. There seems to be a number of possibilities:

 

Opening hatch at rear with turret access plated over with an oblong panel,

opening hatch front and rear,

opening hatch at the rear with the turret access blanked with a circular panel

Front and rear hatches blanked off

 

Were any ambulances built by Alvis or were they all conversions?

Any help with the search for a clear photo would be appreciated.

 

ericferret

[fv1609]

There seem to be a range of vehicles classed as "Saracen Ambulance"

 

A compilation of FVRDE codes up to 1971 lists two ambulance versions:

 

FV605

FV611A (overseas customers)

 

Somewhere I have seen something based on a FV610 in ambulance role, which I suspect is the FV611A. FV605 falls off the radar & may have been an allocation but not proceeded with.

 

All EMERs from 1955 - 1973 lists all the variants but no mention of "ambulance". This first appears in 1974 as "Ambulance Mk 5". In Pat Ware's lists he refers to FV611A as Ambulance Mk 5.

 

The EMER conversion Saracen Mk 2 to ambulance role appears in 1975.

 

The EMER Data Summary 1975 describes only one ambulance, the APC with "Conversions to role". Further on there is the comment it may be with or without turret.

 

There was a bit of discussion here:

 

http://hmvf.co.uk/forumvb/showthread.php?17005-Armoured-Ambulances&highlight=saracen+ambulance

Edited March 13, 2015 by fv1609
FV611A not FV1611A !

[Sean N]

.. which I suspect is the FV1611A...

 

Your Humber 1 ton obsession coming out again, Clive?!

[fv1609]

Oh what a giveaway! Just seemed more natural to write that! I better go and correct that.