Ferret armoured car
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Ferret Scout Car | |
---|---|
Ferret Mk 2 of South African Defence Force. | |
Type | Wheeled armoured fighting vehicle |
Place of origin | United Kingdom |
Service history | |
In service | 1952–1991 (UK) |
Wars | Malayan Emergency Algerian War[1] Aden Emergency Biafra War Black September The Troubles Dhofar Rebellion Portuguese Colonial War[2] Lebanese Civil War Somali Civil War South African Border War First Sudanese Civil War Second Sudanese Civil War Suez Crisis Sri Lankan Civil War Ugandan Bush War Internal conflict in Myanmar Iran–Iraq War Invasion of Kuwait Syrian Civil War |
Specifications | |
Mass | 3.7 t |
Length | 12 ft 2 in (3.7 m) |
Width | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) |
Height | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) |
Crew | 2 (commander, driver/radio operator) |
Main armament | 7.62×51mm NATO GPMG if fitted .30 M1919 Browning machine gun |
Secondary armament | none |
Engine | Rolls Royce B60 Inlet over Exhaust I6 petrol 130 hp (97 kW) |
Power/weight | 35.1 hp/tonne (26.2 kW/tonne) |
Suspension | 4×4 wheel |
Operational range | 190 mi (310 km) |
Maximum speed | 58 mph (93 km/h) |
The Ferret armoured car, also commonly called the Ferret scout car, is a British armoured fighting vehicle designed and built for reconnaissance purposes. The Ferret was produced between 1952 and 1971 by the UK company Daimler. It was widely adopted by regiments in the British Army, as well as the RAF Regiment and Commonwealth 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, notably the Daimler Dingo.
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.
Given the designation FV 701(C) it was one of several versions but the one that most closely resembled 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.[3]
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 that reduced transmission torque loads, essential given the more powerful 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 being available in reverse, in its original form the Ferret this installation produced 116 bhp (87 kW) at 3,300 rpm and 129 bhp (96 kW) at 3,750 in its final form.
This improved power-to-weight ratio, longer wheelbase (2.29 m (7.5 ft) as compared with the Dingo's 1.98 metres (6.5 feet)) and the fitting of larger 9.00×16 run flat tyres both increased speed and mobility over broken ground.
When compared with the Daimler Dingo and Canadian Ford Lynx, the Ferret featured a larger fighting compartment, directly mounted to the hull (a feature that made the Ferret much noisier than Dingo, which lacked a fully monocoque body).
Constructed of 6–16 mm (0.24–0.63 in) steel plate protecting the crew from shell splinters at most angles except directly overhead, as the basic vehicle was open-topped and unarmed, with the exception of six forward-firing grenade launchers 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 or a pintle-mounted .30" (7.62 mm) Browning light machine gun[3] for defensive purposes, in addition to the crew's personal weapons.
Ferret Mark 2
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/5d/Ferret_Mk2_armored_car.jpg/220px-Ferret_Mk2_armored_car.jpg)
In contrast 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-man fully traversable turret, at the cost of one crew member. While this offered better crew protection and protected the otherwise dangerously exposed gunner, the turret raised the height of the vehicle and thus made it more conspicuous; in consequence, the choice of fit depended on the nature of the mission.
In general terms, the most successful wheeled armoured vehicles have been purpose-designed and the lightest, commensurate with their mission, being at the least disadvantage in relation to tracked vehicles in terms of ground pressure, which largely governs off-road performance.[3]
Small and fast enough to be useful in an urban environment, but sufficiently strong and agile to negotiate rugged terrain off-road, the Ferret, while no longer in service in the British Army, is still operated by several Commonwealth countries and has proven popular with private collectors due to the compact size and affordable price, e.g. around $20,000 to $30,000 in the United States, $40,000 to $60,000 in Australia and New Zealand and around $9,000 in the Czech Republic.[4]
Mark 1 and Mark 2 Ferrets were used by Australian Military forces from 1953 to 1970, at which time Australian military forces disposed of them at public auction.
According to the US Military, 20 national armies were operating the Ferret in 1996.[5]
Production[]
A total of 4,409 Ferrets, including 16 sub-models under various Mark numbers, were manufactured between 1952 and 1962, 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 55 bhp (41 kW) gain over the standard B60 engine.[citation needed]
Operators[]
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/af/Ferret_operators.png/400px-Ferret_operators.png)
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c7/UNOSOM_Ferrets.jpg/280px-UNOSOM_Ferrets.jpg)
Current operators[]
Abu Dhabi: 65[6]
Bahrain: 8[6]
Burma: 45[6]
Brunei[7]
Gambia: 8[6]
Jamaica: 15; Mk 4 variant[6]
Jordan: 180[6]
Kenya: 20[6]
Kuwait: 90[6]
Madagascar: 10[6]
Malawi: some donated by South Africa[8][7]
Nepal: 40; Mk 4 variant[6]
Nigeria: 40[6]
Oman: 15[6]
Pakistan: 90 [6][9]
Qatar: 10[6]
Saint Kitts and Nevis: 3
Sudan: 40–50[6][10]
Uganda: 15[6]
Zambia: 28[6]
Former operators[]
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/83/13e_RDP_Larrieu203.jpg/220px-13e_RDP_Larrieu203.jpg)
Australia: 265[6]
Biafra: 1[11]
Burkina Faso: 30[6]
Cameroon: 8[6]
Canada: 124[12]
Central African Republic: 10[6]
France: 200;[6] likely replaced by the Panhard AML[13]
Ghana: 30[6]
Hong Kong: Used by the Royal Hong Kong Regiment.[14]
Indonesia: 55[6]
Iran: 50[6]
Iraq: 20[6]
Lebanon: 5; possibly donated by Jordan[15]
Libya: 15[6]
Malaysia: 92; Mk 2 variant[6] (Some still active in Royal Malaysian Police)
New Zealand: 9; Mk 2 variant[6]
Netherlands: 6 Mk 2, 1 Mk 1, operated by 11 Infantry Recce Company[16]
North Yemen[7]
Portugal: 32; Mk 4 variant[17]
Rhodesia
Saudi Arabia: 30[6]
Somalia: 18[6]
South Africa: 231[18]
South Yemen: 15[6]
Sri Lanka: 42[6]
United Kingdom[15]
Zaire: 30[6][7]
Zimbabwe: 10[19]
Variants[]
There are several Marks of Ferret, including those with varying equipment, turret or no turret and armed with Swingfire anti-tank missiles. Including all the marks and experimental variants, there have probably been over 60 different vehicles.
- Mk 1
- FV701C
- 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
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/8f/Armored-car-batey-haosef-7-2.jpg/220px-Armored-car-batey-haosef-7-2.jpg)
- Mk 2
- Original reconnaissance vehicle with 2-door turret from Alvis Saracen 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
- 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 Alvis Saracen APC
- Also Mk 2/3 rebuilt to new specification
- Armament .30" (7.62 mm) Browning MG
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f7/Ferret_Mk5_1_Bovington.jpg/220px-Ferret_Mk5_1_Bovington.jpg)
- Mk 5
- FV712
- Mk 3 hull with unusual wide flat turret for Swingfire anti-tank missiles and L7 GPMG
- Ferret 80
References[]
- ^ http://tenes.info/nostalgie/BLINDES/Auto_Mitrailleuse_AM_20_dans_le_Constantinois
- ^ Abbott, Peter; Rodrigues, Manuel (1998). Modern African Wars 2: Angola and Mozambique 1961-74. Osprey Publishing. p. 11.
- ^ Jump up to: a b c Ogorkiewicz, R.M. (1972). AFV Profiles 44 Ferrets and Fox. Profile Publications.
- ^ "vozidlo Ferret | EARMYSHOP". earmyshop.cz. Retrieved 15 February 2021.
- ^ "Anti-Armor Weapons Subcourse" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 9 December 2017. Retrieved 9 December 2017.
- ^ Jump up to: a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah "Trade Registers". Armstrade.sipri.org. Retrieved 3 November 2015.
- ^ Jump up to: a b c d Christopher F. Foss (1976). Jane's World Armoured Fighting Vehicles (1976 ed.). Macdonald and Jane's Publishers Ltd. pp. 156–157. ISBN 0-354-01022-0.
- ^ Christopher F. Foss (16 May 2000). Jane's Tanks and Combat Vehicles Recognition Guide (2000 ed.). Harper Collins Publishers. pp. 386–391. ISBN 978-0-00-472452-2.
- ^ "Pakistan Land Forces military equipment and vehicles of Pakistani Army".
- ^ Richard Lobban Jr. (2010). Global Security Watch: Sudan (2010 ed.). Greenwood Publishing Group. p. 182. ISBN 978-0-313-35332-1.
- ^ Jowett, Philip (2016). Modern African Wars (5): The Nigerian-Biafran War 1967–70. Oxford: Osprey Publishing Press. pp. 24–46. ISBN 978-1472816092.
- ^ "Canadian Ferrets – All 124 listed by CAR / CFR – www.captainstevens.com". Retrieved 15 February 2021.
- ^ Defence Update (International). Defence Update G.m.b.H., 1984, 1984–85 Volume Collected Issues 48–58.
- ^ "RHKR Equipment - Vehicle". www.rhkr.org. The Royal Hong Kong Regiment (The Volunteers) Association. Archived from the original on 16 June 2021. Retrieved 16 June 2021.
- ^ Jump up to: a b Christopher F. Foss (2001). Jane's Armour and Artillery (2002 ed.). Macdonald and Jane's Publishers Ltd. p. 260. ISBN 978-0710623096.
- ^ Fabrique - Daimler Ferret Mk.II. "Daimler Ferret Mk.II - Zoeken in de collectie - Nationaal Militair Museum". NNM. Retrieved 25 May 2020.
- ^ Keegan, John (1983). World Armies (Second ed.). Basingstoke: Palgrave-Macmillan. ISBN 978-0333340790.
- ^ "Lesakeng". South African Armour Museum. 6 December 2012. Archived from the original on 3 July 2013. Retrieved 2013-06-18.
- ^ Simon Baynham (1992). Zimbabwe in transition (October 1992 ed.). Almqvist & Wiksell International. p. 240. ISBN 978-9122015086.
External links[]
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Ferret armoured car. |
- Ferret Scout Car in Canadian Service
- Warwheels.net
- Ferret Walk Arounds on Prime Portal
- The Ontario Regiment (RCAC) Ferret Club, Oshawa, Ontario, Canada
- [1]
- King's Own Royal Border Regiment Museum, Carlisle Castle, Cumbria, England has an example on display
- 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