FV106 Samson

Armoured recovery vehicle

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.

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]

Current operators

Togo One in service
Belgium
Brunei Darussalam – 2 vehicles in service
Latvia^[4]
Oman – 3 vehicles in service
Philippines – 6 vehicles in service
Thailand
United Kingdom – No longer in service with the British Army and Royal Air Force.
Ukraine - 5 vehicles from the United Kingdom in 2022

Examples on display

Philippines

FV106 Samson retired Philippine Army is on outdoor static display at Fort Bonifacio in Taguig, Philippines.^[5]

United Kingdom

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

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to FV106 Samson.

Foss, C and Gander, T, "Jane's Military Logistics" (1988) 9th edition

^ Staff Writer, "FV106 Samson: Armored recovery vehicle", Military Today, retrieved 15 November 2021
^ Gordon L. Rottman (1 January 1993). Armies of the Gulf War. Osprey Publishing. p. 21. ISBN 978-1-85532-277-6.^{[permanent dead link]}
^ "Falklands CVR(T)s - Tracked vehicles - HMVF - Historic Military Vehicles Forum".
^ 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.
^ https://philstarlife.com/living/406958-best-of-the-best-museums-in-philippines