Scorpion TOW Vehicle

     Notes:  During the first Persian Gulf War between Iran and Iraq in the 1980s, Iraq captured several Iranian Scorpion light tanks.  In trade for some spare parts for its US-made vehicles, Iraq gave Jordan 19 of the Scorpions.  (Iraq used older US equipment and vehicles, as she was a US ally until Saddam Hussein came into power.)  Jordan took the turrets off these vehicles and replaced them with a TOW II ATGM launcher.  The engine is a Perkins Jaguar J60 Mk 100b 4.2-litre gasoline engine, a variant of a sports car engine, which develops 195 horsepower, giving this vehicle incredible agility and speed for a tracked vehicle. The usual Scorpion turret is removed and replaced by an elevating turntable for the TOW launcher, and the interior given over to a ground launcher, equipment, and ammunition storage.  To the right of the launcher and gunner’s station is a commander’s position, with a pintle-mounted machinegun.

     Twilight 2000 Story: These vehicles were rarely used outside of Jordan during the Twilight War, though some were used on the West Bank of the Jordan River against Israeli forces. 

     Merc 2000 Story: Jordan is marketing its modification to countries who want some more mobile TOW platforms.