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FV 701 Ferret Mark 2 Scout Car Series

Ferret Mark 2/3

Specifications

Country of Origin/Used by:	Great Britain and many others including Australia, France, Indonesia, New Zealand, Singapore and the United Nations.
First Produced/Service Dates:	See below for dates for specific sub-variants
Manufactured by:	The Daimler Company, Ltd.
Crew:	2-3 Depending on Variant
Armament:	Main: (1) .30 cal. Browning or 7.62mm GPMG Light Machine Gun; Mark 2/6 Only: Also fitted with (2) Vigilant Anti-Tank Missiles
Engine:	6 Cylinder Gasoline (Rolls-Royce B60 Mk 6A)
Miscellaneous Info:	The Ferret Series of Scout Cars was developed soon after World War Two to replace the Daimler Dingo Scout Cars still in service.  Its official name is "Car, Scout, 4x4, Liaison (Ferret)". Like the Dingo, the Ferrets were designed to take on the liaison and reconnaissance roles for the British Armed Forces. Thusly, the initial Ferret Series consisted of the Mark 1 and the Mark 2 Variants.  However, over its long career, the Ferret Series would eventually expand into five (5) "Marks" and over a dozen sub-variants. A fairly common occurrence was the conversion and re-conversion of the different marks of Ferrets to other variants and back.  One common change seen was the conversion of Mark 1 or Mark 1/1 vehicles to the Mark 2 or Mark 2/3 Ferrets by the addition or removal of the turret assembly.  In a few cases, these conversions were done in the field; And in at least one case, a Mark 1/1 was converted to the Mark 2/3 standard by the fitting of a turret, but using a locally constructed superstructure. The Mark 1 and Mark 2 series vehicles were to be replaced by the CVR(W) Fox Armored Car and Vixen Liaison Vehicle starting during the 1970's.  However, that was not the case as only a relatively small number of Foxes were built and the Vixen was cancelled in 1975. Notable Mark 2 Variants Mark 2 (1952): The earliest vehicles produced in this series and the base for all subsequent sub-variants covered on this page. Early Mark 2's used the same two-door turret as the one mounted on the Saracen Mark 1 APC. However, soon after the first vehicles were built, all subsequent models were fitted with larger diameter turrets (760mm vs. 710mm). Mark 2/2: Sub-variant only used in Malaysia during the mid-to-late 1950's. (Usually Mark 2's were converted in local workshops by adding an armored collar extension between the hull and turret.  This was done to increase the vehicles' height for easier observation. These vehicles were also fitted with a 3-door turret instead Mark 2/3 (1958): This sub-variant was one of the most common of all Ferrets produced.  It was improved and most notably, fitted with additional armor during production. The new armor protection consisted of increases to the side plates (from 6, 8 or 10mm to 12 or 16mm), rear panel (from 6 or 8mm to 12mm), hull floor (from 6 to 10mm), and engine floor (from 4 to 6mm). Mark 2/4 (1967): Mark 2 variant later retrofitted with heavier armor (versus at production). FV 703 Mark 2/6 (1963): Anti-Tank sub-variant mounting two (2) Vigilant anti-tank missiles on standard Mark 2 turret. Carried two (2) spare missiles on the side of hull. Mark 2/7: A Mark 2/6 sub-variant with its Vigilant Missiles removed. Essentially a Mark 2/3 with some slight differences.
Data Sheet Available:	None Available

Photos

Reference	Source/Provider
Ferret Scout Car Series Instructional Hull & 3D Electrical Diagram (Driver and Maintenance School - Bovington Camp: Circa 1994)	Clive Elliott - Editor of The Shorland Site
Ferret Series Scout Car Instructional Hull/Interior Photos (The Tank Museum - Bovington, UK)	Keith Paget - Northampton, UK
Ferret Series Scout Car Instructional Hull Photos (The Tank Museum - Bovington, UK)	Dennis Trowbridge - Bristol, UK
Ferret Mark 2 Scout Car ("Cut Away") Photo (Imperial War Museum - Duxford)	Jacques Dujardin - France
Ferret Mark 2 Scout Car ("Cut Away") Photos (Imperial War Museum - Duxford	Patrick Keenan - Editor
Ferret Mark 2 Photo	The Massimo Foti Collection
Ferret Mark 2 Scout Car Photos	The David Haugh Collection
Ferret Mark 2 (34 BA 92) and Mark 2/3 Scout Car (00 DD 44) Photos (Borneo - Circa 1965)	Imperial War Museum
Ferret Mark 2 Scout Car Photo (Cyprus - Circa 1964)	Imperial War Museum
Ferret Mark 2 Scout Car with Mine Destroyer (In Cyprus?) Photo	The David Haugh Collection
Australian Ferret Mark 2 Scout Car Photos (RAAC Museum -Puckapunyal)	Brad James - Australia
Australian Ferret Mark 2 Scout Car Photos (Army Museum Bandiana - Australia)	Ley Reynolds (Platypus Publications) - Australia
French Ferret Mark 2 Scout Car Photos	French Établissement de Communication et de Production Audiovisuelle de la Défense (ECPAD)
French Ferret Mark 2 Scout Car with 75mm Recoilless Rifle Photo	The David Haugh Collection
New Zealand Ferret Mark 2 Scout Car Photo	The David Haugh Collection
Ferret Mark 2 or 2/3 Scout Car Photos	The Massimo Foti Collection
Ferret Mark 2 or 2/3 Scout Car Photo	Robert Goldman - Kfar Saba, Israel
Ferret Mark 2 or 2/3 Scout Car Photos	Christophe Jacquemont
Ferret Mark 2 or 2/3 Scout Car Photos	Patrick Keenan
Ferret Mark 2 or 2/3 Scout Car Photo	Marius van Aardt - South Africa
Australian Ferret Mark 2 or 2/3 Scout Car Photos	The Australian War Memorial
United Nations (Nepal) Ferret Mark 2 or 2/3 Scout Car Photo	U.S. National Archives
"Malayan" Ferret Mark 2/2 Photos	The Australian War Memorial
"Malayan" Ferret Mark 2/2 Photos	Imperial War Museum
Ferret Mark 2/3 Scout Car Photos	Major (Retired) Don Allen - Orleans, Ontario Canada
Ferret Mark 2/3 Scout Car Photo	Dave Chaney - Portland, OR USA
Ferret Mark 2/3 Scout Car Photos (Latrun)	Rob Goldman
Ferret Mark 2/3 Scout Car Photos (Military Vehicle Show - Kemble, UK 2005)	David Green - Oxfordshire, UK
Ferret Mark 2/3 Scout Car Photos	The David Haugh Collection
Ferret Mark 2/3 Scout Car Photos	The Imperial War Museum
Ferret Mark 2/3 Scout Car Photos	Patrick Keenan
Ferret Mark 2/3 Scout Car Photos	Keith Paget
Ferret Mark 2/3 Scout Car Photos	Lt. Col. (Ret.) Dick Taylor (RTR) - Blandford Forum, Dorset, UK
Ferret Mark 2/3 Scout Car Photos (1970's-1980's-With Captions)	Lt. Col. (Ret.) Dick Taylor (RTR)
Ferret Mark 2/3 Scout Car Photos (Military Vehicle Show - Kemble, UK 2005)	Dennis Trowbridge
Ferret Mark 2/3 Scout Car Photos	Robert Yalden - Wiesbaden, Germany
French Ferret Mark 2/3 Scout Car Photo	The David Haugh Collection
UN Ferret Mark 2/3 Scout Car Photos (Tank Museum - Bovington)	Ken Adolphe - Bristol, UK
UN Ferret Mark 2/3 Scout Car Photos	The Massimo Foti Collection
UN Ferret Mark 2/3 Scout Car Photo (War & Peace Show - Beltring, UK -2005)	Dennis Trowbridge
Ferret Mark 2/3 Scout Car with ENTAC Missile System (Army Museum at Bandiana, Australia)	Nick - Australia
Ferret Mark 2/4 Scout Car Photos (Army Museum at Bandiana, & RAAC Museum: Puckapunyal, Australia)	Nick - Australia
Ferret Mark 2/6 Vigilant Anti-Tank Missile Vehicle Photos	British Ministry of Defence
Ferret Mark 2/6 Vigilant Anti-Tank Missile Vehicle Photos (The Tank Museum - Bovington, UK)	Peter Brown - Wimborne, Dorset, England
Ferret Mark 2/6 Vigilant Anti-Tank Missile Vehicle Photos	The Massimo Foti Collection
Ferret Mark 2/6 Vigilant Anti-Tank Missile Vehicle Photos  (The Tank Museum - Bovington, UK)	David Green
Ferret Mark 2/6 Vigilant Anti-Tank Missile Vehicle Photo	Lt. Col. James Loop Collection via the David Haugh Collection
Ferret Mark 2/6 Vigilant Anti-Tank Missile Vehicle Photos (The Tank Museum - Bovington, UK)	Dennis Trowbridge
Ferret Mark 2/7 Scout Car Photo	Peter Brown
Ferret Mark 2/7 Scout Car Photos	"From Salekhard"

References Available

Online

Printed

Reference	Author
British Armoured Cars Since 1945	Simon Dunstan
British Infantry Brigade Berlin: Armoured Vehicles of the... (Tankograd British Special No. 9001)	Andreas Kirchhoff
"Daimler Ferret" (March 2013 Issue of Military Machines International Magazine)	Geoff Fletcher
Daimler "Ferret" Scout Car - Armored/Wheeled Fighting Vehicle Data #2	David R. Haugh
Encyclopedia of Armoured Cars	Duncan Crow & Robert J. Icks
"Ferreting Around" (March 2016 Issue of Classic Military Vehicle Magazine)	Paul Abbitt & Robert Davies
"Ferreting Around" (October 2021 Issue of Classic Military Vehicle Magazine)	Vicky Turner
Ferrets and Fox - AFV Weapons Profile #44	R.M. Ogorkiewicz
"Ferret Scout Car in Canadian Service, The" (Service Publications)	Colin MacGregor Stevens
Ferret Scout Cars: In Detail" (G 030) (Wings and Wheels Publications)	Kevin Browne, et al
Ferret: the FV 700 Series In British Army Service	Pat Ware Warehouse Military Vehicle Datafile
"Fixing Up a Ferret" (July 2025 Issue of Classic Military Vehicle Magazine)	Craig Moore
Operation Granby: Desert Rats Armour & Transport in the Gulf War (Concord Publications)	Bob Morrison
Wheeled Armoured Fighting Vehicles In Service	B.T. White

Hobby Modeling

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Model Photos