Alvis Stalwart

The Alvis Stalwart HMLC (High Mobile Load Carrier) is an amphibious truck of the British Army.

German tank crews called after the Korean War a very robust, all-terrain and buoyant supply vehicle. They had at that time suffered from permanent supply difficulties and abgetürmt out of necessity Centurion tanks and converted to supply vehicles.

Based in Coventry Alvis company took the suggestions and developed at its own expense - a job with military requirement was not before - with the equivalent of about € 5.5 million, based on their FV 600 series ( Alvis Saracen, Saladin Alvis and Alvis Salamander ), the Stalwart.

The development and subsequent field trials in England, Germany and Yemen lasted from 1959 until 1966. During that year the Stalwart Mk.I (FV 620) was introduced into the British Army. Alvis also tried to sell to friendly countries to drive by driving the vehicle was offered in a multitude of variants.

After the first 15 pure testing and test vehicles with chassis numbers from 1 to PV PV 15, which introduced Stalwart Mk.1 and Mk.2 but only in versions Transfer Vehicle ( FV620 FV622 and ), artillery limber and tractor with Atlas Hiab crane or ( FV623 ), as well as workshop and salvage car ( FV624 ) was (also with crane) built. From the beginning of the series construction in 1966 until the cessation of production in April 1971 1110 Stalwart were built. 125 of them belonged to the Mk.1 series. Of the 970 Mk.2 Stalwart only 24 were sold to foreign buyers. These included the Federal Republic of Germany ( 2), Austria (3 ), Sweden ( 18) and Thailand ( 1). To a large export order in other importing countries did not happen.

In 1981, the serviceability of these vehicles has been drastically changed. Due to the introduction of new technologies, especially through the improvement of bridge construction by pioneers with bridge -layers, pontoon or bank setting vehicles, amphibious capability of the Stalwart was no longer needed. From the vehicles float drives and rudders were removed and scrapped. The Stalwart was now a highway truck among many. In 1993, the last Stalwart was retired. Since 1988, the BAOR (British Army of Rhine ) sold these vehicles to private interests.

In the spring of 1999, the last two Stalwart of BAOR in Mönchengladbach were auctioned.

Specifications STALWART HMLC Mk.2

  • Length 6.35 m
  • Width 2.56 m
  • Height 2.40 m ( with crane, folded) 3.30 m
  • Track width 2.40 m
  • Wheelbase 1.53 m 1.53 m
  • Ground clearance 0.42 m
  • Empty weight 8636 kg, with crane 9938 kg
  • Loaded weight 14,224 kg, with crane 15,554 kg
  • Vmax (Country) 64 km / h, Vmax (water) 10 km / h
  • Range max 640 km
  • Engine: Rolls Royce B81 - Mk8B / 2 8 Zyl..Reihenmotor / Otto with 6.522 cc / 220 PS
  • Consumption 71 liters per 100 km
  • Tires 14.00 x 20
Amphibious vehicle Alvis Car and Engineering Company Alvis Saladin Limbers and caissons British Army of the Rhine
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