FV721 Fox Combat Vehicle Reconnaissance (Wheeled)

Gary's Combat Vehicle Reference Guide

The Fox is air portable and normally operates attached to armored and mechanized infantry battalions. The Fox armored car is a further development of the Ferret light scout car.

The Fox has an all-welded aluminum armor hull and turret that protects against medium and heavy machine gun fire and field artillery splinters. The driver sits in front and has an integral periscope/hatch cover that lifts and opens to the right. The centered turret holds the commander/loader on the left and gunner on the right. They each have a rear-opening hatch cover.

The commander has a periscopic binocular instrument on a rotating mount. The gunner has two periscopes and a periscopic binocular daylight sight linked to the main gun. There is a passive night sight mounted to the right of the main gun. A flash shutter operated from the gun firing circuit protects the image intensifier from gun muzzle flash. There is a wiper and washer and armored cowl kept over the sight.

In the rear of the turret are the radios. The engine and its auxiliaries, including gear boxes, are mounted as a powerpack that can be removed through the rear. The engine is a militarized Jaguar XK engine, and has a reduced compression ratio to use military gasoline. British Army vehicles have electronic ignition. Horizontal twin radiators are set across the top to the rear of the engine.

Without preparation, the Fox can ford one meter of water. A flotation screen may be erected in two minutes. The front of the flotation screen has transparent panels for viewing. All Foxes are equipped with a bilge pump. With the flotation screen erected, the Fox is propelled and steered across rivers by its wheels.

The Fox is air transportable. Three fox vehicles can be carried in a C-130 Hercules aircraft; two for parachute drop.

Standard equipment includes infrared/white light headlamps, commander's spotlight, external side stowage boxes, drinking-water tank, electric distribution box with a cooking vessel socket, and inter-vehicle starting socket. Optional equipment includes navigation aids, powered traverse, nuclear and chemical detection equipment, and a ZB 298 surveillance radar on the left side of the turret.

These vehicles have been phased out of British service.

Recognition Features:

• Two large wheels on each side.
• Large, flat undercut turret with a square bin in the rear.
• Long, thin gun in the turret.
• Hull larger than the Ferret hull.

Panga Armored Reconnaissance Vehicle

Developed for export to Malaysia, the Panga has a redesigned hull and a one-man turret with 12.7mm M2 HB machine gun. This model has the following features:

• Two-man crew.
• 5,840 kg combat weight.
• Spare tire is on the right side.
• Additional external stowage.
• Another periscope on either side of the driver's hatch.
• Vapor-cycle air-cooling system.
• Hub winching equipment for self recovery.
• Improved vehicle lighting.
• Engine fire-extinguishing system.
• Dual circuit brakes.
• Electrically-operated tire pump.
• Trench crossing channels on the front.
• Flashing lights.
• Public address system.

Fox/25-mm McDonnell Douglas Helicopters Chain Gun

This vehicle is the basic Fox equipped with a one-man, electric-driven turret. The turret is armed with a 25mm M242 Chain Gun and coaxial 7.62mm machine gun. The vehicle carries a minimum of 250 rounds of 25mm and 1,500 rounds of 7.62mm ammunition. Options include a stabilization system, escape hatches, limited slip differential, crew air cooling, and increased fuel capacity.

Fox/MILAN

This is a basic Fox equipped with a one-man all-welded steel turret. A 7.62mm McDonnell Douglas Helicopters Chain Gun is mounted in the forward part of the turret. The vehicle carries 2,600 rounds of ammunition.

Mounted on the roof of the turret on the left side is a twin launcher for the Euromissile MILAN 2,000 meter ATGW with a minimum of six missiles carried in reserve. The MILAN launcher and its integral sight can be elevated and traversed independently of the turret.

A bank of four electrically-operated smoke dischargers are mounted on each side of the forward part of the turret. The commander/gunner has one periscopic sight for aiming the machine gun and four vision blocks. Optional equipment includes escape hatches, limited slip differential, air cooling for the crew, 16 grenade launcher configuration, and increased fuel capacity.

Fox/Scout

This is essentially the Fox/MILAN with the MILAN installation removed and the hole blanked. The conversion can be achieved in a matter of minutes using simple equipment. Armament consists of the 7.62mm Chain Gun and four smoke dischargers.