FV106 Samson
TypeArmoured recovery vehicle
Place of originUnited Kingdom
Production history
No. built136[1]
Specifications
Mass8.7 tonnes
Length5 m (including Vice and bench)
Width2.4 m
Height2.8 m (Including A-frame)
CrewCommander, driver and crew
Main
armament
1 x 7.62 mm L7 GPMG
Secondary
armament
8 Smoke dischargers
EngineJaguar 4.2 litre petrol
Operational
range
483 Km
Maximum speed 72 km/h

FV106 Samson was a British Army armoured recovery vehicle, one of the CVR(T) family. The main role of this vehicle was to recover the CVR(T) family of vehicles, but could also recover other light tracked vehicles such as the FV430 series.

Design and features

The Samson was conceived in the early 1970s with the final design entering production in 1978. The hull is an all-welded aluminium construction. It usually carries a crew of three operating a 3.5T capstan winch that can also be utilised in a lifting configuration. It carries suitable equipment to enable a 4:1 mechanical advantage with 228m of winch rope. This winch is capable of recovering up to 12 Tonnes of vehicle. A manually operated earth anchor is situated at the rear to anchor the vehicle while operations are carried out.

Rear view of a Samson showing the rear crew hatch, A-frame and anchor

The Samson can be fitted with a flotation screen so it can be operated amphibiously using its own tracks at 6.5 km/h or at 9.6 km/h if also fitted with a propeller kit. The Samson can also be fitted with a full NBC protection unit.[2]

Operators

A single Samson accompanied the two troops of Blues and Royals CVR(T)s to the Falklands War.[3]

Map of FV106 operators in blue

Current operators

Examples on display

The REME Museum has an example of a Samson on display in The Prince Philip Vehicle Hall.

See also

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to FV106 Samson.
  • Foss, C and Gander, T, "Jane's Military Logistics" (1988) 9th edition
  1. ↑ Staff Writer, "FV106 Samson: Armored recovery vehicle", Military Today, retrieved 15 November 2021
  2. ↑ Gordon L. Rottman (1 January 1993). Armies of the Gulf War. Osprey Publishing. p. 21. ISBN 978-1-85532-277-6.
  3. ↑ "Falklands CVR(T)s - Tracked vehicles - HMVF - Historic Military Vehicles Forum".
  4. ↑ Ministry of Defence (4 September 2014). "Latvian army purchases UK armoured combat vehicles". Gov.uk. Archived from the original on 29 September 2014. Retrieved 19 August 2017.
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