The Ferret armoured car, also commonly called the Ferret scout car, is a British

armoured fighting vehicle An armoured fighting vehicle (British English) or armored fighting vehicle (American English) (AFV) is an armed combat vehicle protected by vehicle armour, armour, generally combining operational mobility with Offensive (military), offensive a ...

designed and built for

reconnaissance In military operations, military reconnaissance () or scouting is the exploration of an area by military forces to obtain information about enemy forces, the terrain, and civil activities in the area of operations. In military jargon, reconnai ...

purposes. The Ferret was produced between 1952 and 1971 by the UK company

Daimler Daimler is a German surname. It may refer to: People * Gottlieb Daimler (1834–1900), German inventor, industrialist and namesake of a series of automobile companies * Adolf Daimler (1871–1913), engineer and son of Gottlieb Daimler * Paul Da ...

. It was widely used by

regiment A regiment is a military unit. Its role and size varies markedly, depending on the country, military service, service, or administrative corps, specialisation. In Middle Ages, Medieval Europe, the term "regiment" denoted any large body of l ...

s in the

British Army The British Army is the principal Army, land warfare force of the United Kingdom. the British Army comprises 73,847 regular full-time personnel, 4,127 Brigade of Gurkhas, Gurkhas, 25,742 Army Reserve (United Kingdom), volunteer reserve perso ...

, as well as the

RAF Regiment The Royal Air Force Regiment (RAF Regiment) is part of the Royal Air Force and functions as a specialist corps. Founded by Royal Warrant in 1942, the Corps carries-out security tasks relating to the protection of assets and personnel dedicated ...

and

Commonwealth A commonwealth is a traditional English term for a political community founded for the common good. The noun "commonwealth", meaning "public welfare, general good or advantage", dates from the 15th century. Originally a phrase (the common-wealth ...

countries throughout the period.

History

The Ferret was developed in 1949 as a result of a British Army requirement issued in 1947. 'Light reconnaissance cars' existed during the

Second World War World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

, notably the

Daimler Dingo The Daimler scout car, known in service as the Daimler Dingo (after the Dingo, Australian wild dog), is a British light, fast four-wheel drive reconnaissance vehicle also used for liaison during the Second World War. Design and development ...

. Given its experience with the successful Dingo (6,626 produced and one of two British AFVs produced throughout WWII) Daimler was awarded a development contract in October 1948, and in June 1950 the first prototype of the Car, Scout, 4×4, Liaison (Ferret) Mark 1 was delivered. Designated the FV 701(C), it was one of several versions resembling the original Daimler scout cars, and represented the basic model Ferret. This shared many similar design features with the Dingo, notably the H form drive train in which a central differential eliminates loss of traction due to wheel-slip, and parallel drive shafts considerably reduced the height of the vehicle (roughly equivalent to that of a tracked AFV) compared to conventional armoured car designs. Like the Daimler scout car, the Ferret suspension consisted of pairs of transverse links and single coil springs, the wheels driven by Tracta constant-velocity joints, but the Ferret benefited from epicyclic reduction gears reducing transmission torque loads, essential with the six cylinder 4.26 litre water-cooled Rolls-Royce B.60 petrol engine. Connected by a fluid coupling to a pre-selector five speed epicyclic gearbox, all gears available in reverse, in its original form, the Ferret produced at 3,300 rpm and at 3,750 in its final form. This improved

power-to-weight ratio Power-to-weight ratio (PWR, also called specific power, or power-to-mass ratio) is a calculation commonly applied to engines and mobile power sources to enable the comparison of one unit or design to another. Power-to-weight ratio is a measurement ...

, longer wheelbase ( compared with the Dingo's ) and the fitting of larger 9.00×16

run flat A run-flat tire is a pneumatic vehicle tire designed to resist the effects of deflation when punctured, allowing the vehicle to continue to be driven at reduced speeds for limited distances. First developed by tire manufacturer Michelin in the 1930 ...

tyres increased speed and mobility over broken ground. Compared with the Daimler Dingo and Canadian Ford Lynx, the Ferret featured a larger cabin, directly mounted to the hull (the Ferret is much noisier than Dingo, lacking a

monocoque Monocoque ( ), also called structural skin, is a structural system in which loads are supported by an object's external skin, in a manner similar to an egg shell. The word ''monocoque'' is a French term for "single shell". First used for boats, ...

body). steel plate protects the crew from shell splinters at most angles except directly overhead because the basic vehicle was open-topped and unarmed, with the exception of six forward-firing

grenade launchers A grenade launcher is a weapon that fires a specially designed, large caliber projectile, often with an explosive, smoke, or gas warhead. Today, the term generally refers to a class of dedicated firearms firing unitary grenade cartridges. The mo ...

fitted to the hull over the front wheels (normally carrying smoke grenades), a feature found on all subsequent marks and models. However, the Ferret normally carried a .303" (7.7 mm)

Bren light machine gun The Bren gun (Brno-Enfield) was a series of light machine guns (LMG) made by the United Kingdom in the 1930s and used in various roles until 1992. While best known for its role as the British and Commonwealth forces' primary infantry LMG in Worl ...

or a pintle-mounted .30" (7.62 mm) Browning light machine gun in addition to the crew's personal weapons. Ferret Mark 2 Ferret Mk2 armored car

Compared to the lightly armed and protected Mark 1, the Mark 2 was designed from the outset to mount a .30" (7.62 mm) Browning in a one-person traversable turret, at the cost of one crew member. While this offered better crew protection and protected the exposed gunner, the turret raised the height of the vehicle.

Service

Mark 1 and Mark 2 Ferrets were used by Australian Military 1953-70, at which time Australian military forces disposed of them at public auction. The Sri Lanka Army used Mark 1 and Mark 2 Ferrets from 1955 to 1999, with the last decade in a non-front line role. The

Sri Lanka Armoured Corps The Sri Lanka Armoured Corps (SLAC) provides the armour capability of the Sri Lanka Army, with vehicles such as the T-55#Modernization, T-55AM2 main battle tank; the BMP development, BMP infantry fighting vehicle; and the BTR-80 and WZ551 armoured ...

still retains a few operational Ferret Mark 1 for ceremonial use, while some Mark 2s are

gate guardians A gate guardian or gate guard is a withdrawn piece of equipment, often an aircraft, armoured vehicle, artillery piece, or locomotive, mounted on a plinth and used as a static display near to and forming a symbolic display of "guarding" the main ...

or in museums. According to the US Military, 20 national armies were operating the Ferret in 1996. In 2025 a video was released showing a Ferret Mk1 with added drone defenses in action in Ukraine.

Production

A total of 4,409 Ferrets, including 16 sub-models under various Mark numbers, were manufactured between 1952 and 1971, when production ceased. It is possible to upgrade the engine using the more powerful FB60 version from the Austin Princess 4-Litre-R; this upgrade providing a gain over the standard B60 engine.

Operators

Current operators

* : 30 received in 1971. * : 15 active as of 2024. SIPRI reports 8 received. * : 8 active as of 2024. SIPRI reports 32 received in 1973, 1981. * : 55 in service as of 2024. * : An unknown number in service with Indian Police as of 2024. 50 received between 1956-57. * : 12 in active service as of 2024. SIPRI reports 20 received in 1964. * : 10 received in 1968. * : 10 received in 1972. * : 40 Mk 4 variant received in 1981, 1995. * : 6 in active service as of 2024. 15 received in 1965. * : At least one Mk1 purchased privately. * : 15 operational as of 2024. 30 received in 1960.

Former operators

* : 65 received between 1968-71. * : 265 received in 1956-57. * : 8 received in 1972. No longer in service. * : 1 * * : 124. SIPRI reports delivery of 120 Ferrets in 1957. * : 200 received in 1956-57; likely replaced by the

Panhard AML The Panhard AML (''automitrailleuse légère'', or "light armoured car") is an armoured car with reconnaissance capability. Designed by Panhard on a lightly armoured 4×4 chassis, it weighs an estimated 5.5 tonnes, and is thus suitable for airbo ...

Defence Update (International)
'. Defence Update G.m.b.H., 1984, 1984–85 Volume Collected Issues 48–58. * : 8 received in 1969. * : 30 received in 1961. * : Used by the

Royal Hong Kong Regiment The Royal Hong Kong Regiment (The Volunteers) (RHKR(V)) (), formed in May 1854, was a local auxiliary militia force funded and administered by the colonial Government of Hong Kong. Its powers and duties were mandated by the Royal Hong Kong R ...

Ferretscoutcar HK coastal defense museum

* : 50 received in 1970-71. * : 25 received between 1953-55. * : 15; Mk 4 variant, received in 1962. * : 180 received between 1954-69. * : 5; possibly donated by Jordan * : 15 received in 1966. * : 92; Mk 2 variant, received between 1962-64. (Some still active in Royal Malaysian Police and also used as ceremony vehicle by Malaysian Army) * : 6 Mk 2, 1 Mk 1, operated by 11 Infantry Recce Company * : 9; Mk 2 variant, received between 1960-61. * : 40 received between 1961-63. * * : 15 received between 1964-65. * : 10 received in 1954. * : 32; Mk 4 variant * : 10 received in 1968. * : 45 * : 30 received in 1968-69. * : 18 received in 1961, 1999. * : 231. SIPRI reports 60 received in 1963-64. * : 15 received in 1967 * : 42 received in 1960 and 1990. * : 88 received between 1960-1963. * * : 30 * : 28 received in 1964.

Variants

There are several Marks of Ferret, including those with varying equipment, turret or no turret and armed with

Swingfire Swingfire was a British wire-guided anti-tank missile developed in the 1960s and produced from 1966 until 1993. The name refers to its ability to make a rapid turn of up to ninety degrees after firing to bring it onto the line of the sighting ...

anti-tank missiles. Including all the marks and experimental variants, there have probably been over 60 different vehicles. ;Mk 1 * FV701C * Liaison duties * No turret * Armament .30" (7.62 mm) Browning MG ;MK 1/1 * Fitted with thicker side and rear hull plates during manufacture * Sealed hull for fording * Armament .30" (7.62 mm) Browning MG ;Mk 1/2 * As Mk 1/1 but fitted with fixed turret with hinged roof door * Crew of three * Armament Bren LMG, later GPMG ;Mk 1/2 * As Mk 1/1 but fitted with flotation screen * Armament .30" (7.62 mm) Browning MG Armored-car-batey-haosef-7-2

;Mk 2 * Original reconnaissance vehicle with 2-door turret from

Alvis Saracen The FV603 Saracen is a six-wheeled armoured personnel carrier designed and produced by Alvis Car and Engineering Company, Alvis from 1952 to 1976. It has been used by a variety of operators around the world and is still in use in secondary role ...

APC * Armament .30" (7.62 mm) Browning MG ;Mk 2/1 * Original Mk 1 with 2-door turret from Alvis Saracen APC * Armament .30" (7.62 mm) Browning MG with Bren LMG stowage ;Mk 2/2 * Original Mk 1 with extension collar and 3-door turret * Armament .30" (7.62 mm) Browning MG ;Mk 2/3 * As original Mk 2 but fitted with thicker side and rear hull plates during manufacture * Armament .30" (7.62 mm) Browning MG ;Mk 2/4 * Original Mk 2 but fitted with welded-on appliqué on side and rear of hull and turret * Armament .30" (7.62 mm) Browning MG ;Mk 2/5 * As Mk 1 fitted with appliqué plates as the Mk 2/4 * Armament .30" (7.62 mm) Browning MG with Bren LMG stowage ;MK 2/6 * FV703 * As Mk 2/3 converted as carrier for * Vigilant antitank missile * Armament .30" (7.62 mm) Browning MG and four missiles mounted in boxes, two on each side of turret * Used by British Army and

Abu Dhabi Abu Dhabi is the capital city of the United Arab Emirates. The city is the seat of the Abu Dhabi Central Capital District, the capital city of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, and the UAE's List of cities in the United Arab Emirates, second-most popu ...

;Mk 2/7 * FV701 * As Mk 2/6 stripped of anti-tank missiles after Vigilant withdrawn from service ;Mk 3 * Basic hull for Mk 4 and 5 * Larger wheels * Heavier armour * Stronger suspension * Flotation screen ;Mk 4 * FV711 * Reconnaissance vehicle with 2-door turret from

APC * Also Mk 2/3 rebuilt to new specification * Armament .30" (7.62 mm) Browning MG Ferret Mk5 1 Bovington

;Mk 5 * FV712 * Mk 3 hull with unusual wide flat turret for

anti-tank missiles and L7 GPMG ;Ferret 80 * A new light reconnaissance vehicle proposed by Alvis in 1982, with only one non-operational mock up produced. * New armoured aluminium hull with a

Perkins Perkins is a surname derived from the Anglo-Saxon corruption of the kin of Pierre (from Pierre kin to Pierrekin to Perkins), introduced into England by the Norman Conquest. It is found throughout mid- and southern England. Another derivation com ...

T6 diesel engine but incorporating many existing Mk 4 and Mk 5 components. * 2-door turret from

or Helio FVT900 turret. * Armament: L37

7.62mm The 7.62 mm caliber is a nominal caliber used for a number of different cartridges. Historically, this class of cartridge was commonly known as .30 caliber, the equivalent in Imperial and United States Customary measures. It is most com ...

machine gun (2-door turret) or 20 mm autocannon with 7.62 mm coaxial machine gun (FVT900 turret).

References

Bibliography

External links

Ferret Scout Car in Canadian Service

Oshawa, Ontario, Canada

King's Own Royal Border Regiment Museum
Carlisle Castle, Cumbria, England has an example on display {{Authority control Airborne fighting vehicles Scout cars of the United Kingdom Scout cars of the Cold War Cold War armoured fighting vehicles of the United Kingdom Daimler military vehicles Military vehicles introduced in the 1950s Wheeled reconnaissance vehicles