Combat Vehicle Reconnaissance (Wheeled) Explained

The Combat Reconnaissance Vehicle (Wheeled), abbreviated to CVR(W), was a line of vehicles to replace the Ferret Armoured Car in British Army service.

Two variants were planned:

• Fox (FV721) – fitted with a high velocity 30 mm L21 RARDEN cannon, the same as fitted to the FV107 Scimitar Armoured Reconnaissance Vehicle a member of the Combat Vehicle Reconnaissance (Tracked) family
• Vixen – to replace Ferret in the liaison role, armed with no more than a light machine gun but with space for 4 including the crew.

Vixen was developed but was cancelled in the Mason defence review of 1974–75, and never reached service. Fox was deployed with both Regular Army and Territorial Army units but gathered a poor image due to some accidents where the vehicle tipped overprobably due to a combination of the high centre of gravity and poor driving.