§ Earl Attleeasked Her Majesty's Government:
When the FV430 range of armoured personnel carriers was first developed in its current form; and [HL1094]
Whether the FV432 armoured ambulance can be penetrated by a .50" AP machine gun or sniper round; and [HL1095]
For how much longer the FV430 range of armoured personnel carriers will remain in service; and [HL1096]
What is the maximum road speed of the FV432 armoured ambulance; and how this compares with CVR(T) and the Warrior ranges of light armoured vehicles; and [HL1097]
What is the mean distance between engine power pack failures for the FV430 range of armoured personnel carriers; and [HL1098]
What type of radio is fitted to the FV432 armoured ambulance; and what is its maximum reliable range when mobile. [HL1099]
§ The Minister of State, Ministry of Defence (Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean)The FV430 series completed development in the early 1960s, and entered service in 1964. On present plans the vehicles will be progressively replaced between 2006–2018 by the Future Command and Liaison Vehicle, the Multi-Role Armoured Vehicle, and the Armoured Battlegroup Support Vehicle. The reliability of the power pack varies with environmental conditions and terrain. The vehicles achieve some 3,500 miles between engine failures.
On the specific questions relating to the FV432—the armoured ambulance variant—the vehicle is fitted with the Clansman VRC 353 radio and the maximum road speed is 30 mph, which compares to 46.5 mph and 45 mph for the Warrior and CVR(T) variants respectively. Information regarding the vulnerability of the vehicle to certain types of munitions, and the operating range of the radio, is classified and, therefore, withheld in accordance with Exemption 1 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information, which relates to defence, security and international relations.