Armour in Canada: Ferret Scout Car

Ferret Scout Car

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3194306)

Two Canadian soldiers scan the Egypt-Israel frontier from their Ferret during a desert patrol in 1962.

Ferret Scout Car Mk. 1, 56 Recce Squadron, UNEF, Egypt, 1957. Left to Right: Sgt Robert Slaney, L/Cpl Belfontain, Tpr Cooper, out on petrol along the Frontier between Israel/ Egypt. Photo taken by Scovil Brown from another Ferret in the Troop of four.

Ferret Scout Car Mk 1, CFR 54-82592, standing on a section of Bailey Bridge, Champlain Ave., West of the Carleton Barracks Officer’s Mess, New Brunswick Military History Museum, 5 Canadian Division Support Base gagetown, New Brunswick.

Ferret Scout Car

Ferret armoured Scout car was designed by the British for reconnaissance purpose and was produced between 1952 and 1971. It was built from an all-welded monocoque steel body, making the vehicle lower but also making the drive extremely noisy inside as all the running gear was within the enclosed body with the crew. Four-wheel drive was incorporated together with “Run flat” tires (which kept their shape even if punctured in battle thus enabling a vehicle to drive to safety). The Canadian Army had 124 in service from 1954 to 1981, serving with the 8th Canadian Hussars (Princess Louise’s), and C Squadron, The Royal Canadian Dragoons, Royal Canadian Armoured Corps and 5th Canadian Division Training Centre at CFB Gagetown until they were replaced by the Lynx tracked reconnaissance vehicles.

(Author Photo)

Ferret Scout Car Mk 1, CFR 54-82608. New Brunswick Military History Museum Vehicle Park, 5 Canadian Division Support Base gagetown, New Brunswick.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 4949387)

Ferret Scout cars, 4th Infantry Brigade, 1958.

(DND Photo)

Hiller CH-112 Nomad helicopters in service with 8th Canadian Hussars Ferret Scout cars, Germany, ca 1960s.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 4235843)

Hiller CH-112 Nomad helicopters in service with 8th Canadian Hussars Ferret Scout cars, Germany, ca 1960s.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 4235862)

Hiller CH-112 Nomad helicopters in service, hovering over 8th Canadian Hussars Ferret Scout cars, Northern Germany, ca 1960s.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 4234827)

Ferret, 8th Canadian Hussars, Germany, ca 1964.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 4234829)

Ferret, 8th Canadian Hussars, Germany, ca 1964.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 4234835)

Ferret, 8th Canadian Hussars, Germany, ca 1964.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 42216644)

Ferret Scout car, 4 Fd Sqn RCE, R22eR M113s swimming the Weser River, Ex Rob Roy, Sep 1967, Germany.

(Author Photo)

Ferret Scout Car Mk 1, Garrison Petawawa Museum and the Canadian Airborne Forces Museum, No. 1 of 3.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 4235204)

RCD Ferret, UN patrol, Middle East.

(Author Photo)

Ferret Scout Car Mk 1, RCD lines, 4 CDSB Petawawa, No. 2 of 3.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 4235957)

RCD Ferret on patrol in Cyprus.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 4235954)

RCD Ferrets with gun turrets on UN patrol, Cyprus.

(Author Photo)

Ferret Scout Car Mk II. LGen E.C. Ashton Armoury Museum, 724 Vanalman Ave, Victoria, British Columbia.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 4235910)

Ferret Scout car, LdSH, Cyprus.

(Anthony Sewards Photo)

Ferret Scout Cars colour party. The Historic Vehicle Troop has six Ferrets, all runners. LdSH secure compound. 5 Canadian Support Base Edmonton, Alberta.