FV701 Ferret AA (Oerlikon KAA) - the bird-hunting Ferret

Sebbo_the_Plebbo · August 15, 2026, 2:25pm

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FV701 Ferret AA (Oerlikon KAA)

Introduction

The Ferret originated from a late-1940s British requirement for a compact 4×4 scout car to replace the wartime Dingo. Daimler, highly regarded as a result of the huge success of the Daimler, received the development contract in 1948. Trials led to adoption in 1952; the first production Mk 2 was completed around mid-1952, with the open-topped Mk 1 following later that year. The Mk 1 was intended primarily for liaison and reconnaissance, while the turreted Mk 2 carried a .30-in Browning and became the principal reconnaissance version. Development continued through progressively improved marks: the Mk 2/3 introduced additional armour and became the most numerous production configuration; the Mk 4 brought larger 11.00×20 wheels, strengthened suspension, disc brakes and amphibious capability; and the Mk 5 combined the improved chassis with an aluminium turret carrying twin Swingfire ATGW launchers. There were also numerous specialist and interim conversions, including the Mk 2/6 with Vigilant ATGW, the Orange William experimental missile vehicle, and numerous field conversions between marks. Production ran from 1952 to 1971, with 4,409 Ferrets built, approximately 1,700 of them exported, overall a huge success for a post-war British AFV.

As a consequence of its combination of compact dimensions, four-wheel drive, good cross-country mobility and a very low silhouette, which made it useful for reconnaissance, liaison, internal security and specialist tasks, the Ferret remained in service around the world long after newer CVR(W) vehicles were introduced. Owing to it’s proliferance and widespread adoption, there are a number of unique experimental variants of the Ferret.

One such unique variant of the Ferret was constructed and demonstrated in the 1960s, which saw the Ferret fitted with a ring-mount open topped turret mounting a 20mm Oerlikon KAA cannon. The KAA is a potent post-war autocannon, boasting very high fire rate of up to 1,000rpm, and a very high muzzle velocity of up to 1,150m/s. This Ferret modification was carried out for potential export to an African client (likely Rhodesia), but unfortunately this never came to fruition.

In-game, this vehicle would provide Britain with a unique and powerful anti-air that could potentially sit around 5.7-6.0, being a good option to alleviate the currently huge 5.3 - 8.3 SPAA gap.

Specifications

Spoiler

Chassis (Ferret Mk 2/3)