Latvia commits CVR(T) armoured vehicles to bolster Ukraine defenses
The Latvian portal Delfi reports that Latvia will provide Ukraine with CVR(T) tracked armoured reconnaissance vehicles. The local ministry received this equipment in 2015 based on an order placed the previous year.
Riga announced that it would send CVR(T) armoured vehicles to the front in Ukraine, which were purchased in the United Kingdom a few years ago, reports the Latvian portal Delfi, which confirmed this information with the local press department of the Ministry of Defence. Latvia did not disclose how many machines would go to the front as part of the latest support, but the Ukrainians did. The Ukrainian Ministry of Defence announced the aid package includes nine CVR(T) vehicles.
Latvia will deliver CVR(T) vehicles to Ukraine
It is worth noting that this country, which borders Russia, ordered 123 CVR(T) vehicles in 2014. The first machines were to be delivered to the army in 2015, and four years later, in 2019, Riga signed another contract with the United Kingdom to purchase additional vehicles of the mentioned type.
It is unclear which specific machines will go to Ukraine as part of Latvia's support. CVR(T) is an extensive family of British light fighting vehicles developed for the British Army in the late 1960s and early 1970s. This group of vehicles includes various versions: light tanks (FV101 Scorpion), tank destroyers (FV102 Striker), armoured personnel carriers (FV103 Spartan), or light tanks armed with a 30 mm cannon (FV107 Scimitar).
Analysts provide several possibilities
Although representatives of Latvia and Ukraine did not specify which version of the CVR(T) will reach the front, analysts at the Defence Express portal suggest that the support from the country bordering Russia most likely concerns the aforementioned FV103 Spartan. These machines were previously delivered to Ukraine through partner state assistance and volunteer-organized projects.
These armoured personnel carriers are powered by a Jaguar J60 gasoline engine, which generates about 190 horsepower (HP) and propels the structure to 80 km/h. Inside, there is space for a seven-person crew, who can use a GPMG 7.62 mm machine gun for defence or attack.
Defence Express also notes that CVR(T) versions of the FV101 Scorpion (approximately 170 units) were also delivered to Ukraine in the past, so this version cannot be ruled out as potential support from Latvia to Ukraine. This equipment also has the same engine as the CVR(T) in the transport version. However, the Scorpion differs from it with a smaller cabin. Inside is space for a three-person crew, and the vehicle's armament consists of an L23A1 76 mm cannon with an L43A1 7.62 mm machine gun.
