Let’s have a look at an interesting addition to Britain’s ground forces tree, which is fully capable of speeding around the battlefield and being a nuisance for the enemy team when it arrives in the next major update: say hello to the FV721 Fox!
FV721 Fox: A Light Tank for Great Britain at Rank IV
Features:
- 30 mm L21A1 automatic cannon.
- Separate stock SAP and HEI belt; APDS belt as unlock.
- Great top speed!
- Light armor.
- No thermals.
Vehicle History
[expand type=details]
In the 1960s, the British Army was looking to replace their outdated Ferret and Saladin armored cars with a more capable vehicle that featured the 30 mm L21A1 RARDEN cannon. Development of the FV721 Fox started in 1965 by Daimler with the first prototype ready and shown to the British Army in 1967. After successful trials, full-scale production of the Fox was given the go ahead and was completed by 1973. Over 300 were built, where most were operated by Britain which are now out of service, and some by Malawi and Nigeria that are still in service today in very limited numbers.
[/expand]
Meet the FV721 Fox!
The Fox is a 4 x 4 wheeled light tank that features the 30 mm L21A1 automatic cannon and a fantastic top speed, overall helping bolster some of Britain’s mid-rank tank lineups. Arriving to the game in the Alpha Strike major update, the Fox is an opportunistic predator that’s fast, nimble and up to the task, so let’s take a look at its lethality!
Perhaps the most notable feature of the Fox is its 30 mm L21A1 automatic cannon that can also be found on the Warrior. This gun is capable of firing APDS shells, significantly improving armor penetration compared to the default SAP only belt, and are best fired at the sides and rear of enemy tanks. This, coupled with an excellent turret rotation speed means you’re going to be able to pick and prioritize the right targets as you please. However, it’s good to keep in mind that the fire rate is still slower compared to other automatic cannons found on other light tanks in-game, which is one of the biggest drawbacks to the L21A1. Be sure to aim and pick your shots wisely!
Interesting: “FV” in FV721 stands for “Fighting Vehicle”. The number 721 can be broken down into two parts: the 700 series of vehicles based on the Ferret armored car, and the 20 series based on Combat Reconnaissance Vehicles (Wheeled) of the British Army.
Such a small and light vehicle typically means great mobility, and this is exactly what the Fox is going to offer! Its engine, capable of outputting up to 190 hp, coupled with its mass of about 6 tons is going to provide a power-to-weight ratio of about 31 and speeds of up to 99 km/h. Thanks to this, the Fox is going to have a good time on road and even off-road where it will be able to provide supporting fire through flanking and pouncing on unsuspecting enemy vehicles, plus of course scouting for allies.
Coming in with a very low weight and having an excellent top speed can only mean one thing though, and that’s poor protection. The Fox has light aluminum alloy armor which is enough in most areas to protect against small machine guns and even .50 cals, but does mean it’s going to become perfect prey for any larger caliber weapon, aircraft and artillery strikes. On the flip side, the Fox has one particular advantage, and that’s the fact that it’s a very small vehicle, perfect for sneaking around and changing positions on the battlefield.
Zitat:
In your matches by Chris, Community Manager: “Overall use the speed to your advantage! I would recommend flanking and only shooting frontally to take out an enemy’s gun barrel or tracks, and shoot to the side for the crew or ammo for the kill shot. Prioritize taking out your targets wisely due to the gun’s slower rate of fire. Spot for your teammates to rack up points and have some fun (if it’s safe) by speeding to capture points to help your team win the battle (but wait for your teammates to capture too if they’re nearby)!”
With that, we’ve reached the end of this dev blog! The FV721 Fox is going to be a handy addition to Britain, providing it with some great mobility and firepower in battle. Be sure to keep an eye out on our website for more dev blogs that we’ll be releasing, but until then, happy battles ahead!
