View source for Fox (Combat Vehicle)

{{about|the hovercraft|other uses|Fox}}
{{InfoBoxCombatVehicle
| image = Fox.jpg
| name = Fox Armored Car
| manufacturer = [[Valiant Systems]]<ref name="TRO:3085p14+">''Technical Readout: 3085'', pp. 14–15: "Fox Armored Car"</ref>
| production year=3084
| year reference=<ref name="MUL">''[http://www.masterunitlist.info/Unit/Details/1151/ MUL online date for the ''{{PAGENAME}}'']''</ref>
| Mission = Recon
| Type = Hovercraft
| cost = 1,791,300<ref name="MUL"/>
| Tech Base = [[Inner Sphere]]<ref name="TRO:3085p14+"/>
| mass = 20<ref name="TRO:3085p14+"/>
| armor = [[StarSlab/2]]<ref name="TRO:3085p14+"/>
| engine = [[Nissan 195 XL]]<ref name="TRO:3085p14+"/> 
| comsys = [[QuasComm 5.3]]<ref name="TRO:3085p14+"/>
| T&T = [[TacTOM IV]]<ref name="TRO:3085p14+"/>
| heat sinks = 10 [[Heat Sink|single]]
| speed = 226
| Crew = 3
| armament = 
* 1x [[ER medium laser]]
* 2x [[small pulse laser]]
| BV (1.0) = 
| BV (2.0) = 549<ref name="TRO:3085p14+"/><ref name="MUL"/>
}}

==Description==
Developed as a more advanced replacement for the [[Savannah Master]], The '''Fox Armored Car''' was a light scout and reconnaissance [[hovercraft]] used by the [[Federated Suns]] and [[Republic of the Sphere]] in the early [[thirty-second century]].<ref name="TRO:3085p14+"/>

Denied access to the cheap and effective hovercraft as relations worsened with the [[Lyran Alliance]] prior to the [[FedCom Civil War]], the [[Armed Forces of the Federated Suns]] commissioned [[Valiant Systems]] to develop a homegrown replication. Unfortunately additional requests to improve its armor coverage, speed and weaponry delayed development of a prototype until after the FedCom Civil War had concluded, when the AFFS was allowed to purchase the Savannah Master once more. The heavy matériel losses suffered in the [[Jihad]] finally gave Valiant the opportunity to release the Fox in [[3085]], manufacturing it from [[Johnsondale]] for the AFFS and for the [[RAF]] from a subsidized factory on [[Achernar]].<ref name="TRO:3085p14+"/>

The Fox Armored Car was easily superior to the Savannah Master, but at the cost of the increased fragility and much heftier price tag. Built around a Nissan 195 [[XL fusion engine]], the Fox was capable of reaching up to 226 km/h, while its five and half tons of armor are better than average for its weight.<ref name="TRO:3085p14+"/>

==Weapons and Equipment==
Improving on the Savannah Master's single standard [[medium laser]], the Fox carried a more powerful Bright-Bloom [[ER medium laser]] for use against other [[Combat Vehicle]]s, [[BattleMech]]s and hardened targets, supported by a pair of [[Magna 200P]] [[Small Pulse Laser]]s for anti-[[infantry]] duties, all carried in the hovercraft's turret. Even with these abilities the Fox was better used for forward observation, as a spotter and high speed reaction unit rather than as a stand-up combatant its weapon load would suggest.<ref name="TRO:3085p14+"/>

==Variants==
*;Flamer : A relatively simple factory manufactured variant introduced in [[3084]]<ref>''[http://www.masterunitlist.info/Unit/Details/1150/fox-armored-car-flamer/ MUL online date for the Fox Armored Car (Flamer) variant]''</ref> of the Fox swapped one of the Small Pulse Lasers for a [[Flamer]].<ref name="TRO:3085p14+"/> BV (2.0) = 530<ref>''Record Sheets: 3085 Unabridged - The Cutting Edge'', p. 13</ref>

*;Variable-Speed Pulse Laser : Intended to make the Fox more effective against non-infantry targets at range, this variant replaced both Small Pulse Lasers with a single [[Variable-Speed Pulse Laser]],<ref name="TRO:3085p14+"/> introduced also in [[3084]].<ref>''[http://www.masterunitlist.info/Unit/Details/1152/fox-armored-car-vsp/ MUL online date for the Fox Armored Car (VSP) variant]''</ref> BV (2.0) = 543<ref>''Record Sheets: 3085 Unabridged - The Cutting Edge'', p. 14</ref>

*;Dark Age :  A variant sighted in the [[Dark Age era]] replaced the Small Pulse Lasers with a pair of [[Machine Gun]]s. BV (2.0)= 350<ref>''Record Sheets: MechWarrior Dark Age I'', p. 21</ref>

*;Interdictor : This Dark Age variant introduced in [[3088]]<ref>''[http://www.masterunitlist.info/Unit/Details/6749/fox-armored-car-interdictor/ MUL online date for the Fox Armored Car (Interdictor) variant]''</ref> removes the turret assembly and replaces it with a Guardian ECM suite. It keeps the ER medium laser, but replaces the Small Pulse Lasers with a pair of Machine Guns. BV (2.0) = 547<ref>''Record Sheets: 3145 New Tech, New Upgrades'', p. 40</ref>

=== Custom Variants ===
*;Bola variant : Designed by infantry cadets at [[Ritza Academy]] and first used in [[3150]], this variant carries a bola thrower in the turret, with an effective range of around three hundred meters for its four shots. For defense, it has only a single small pulse laser. It was meant to work in conjunction with a custom harpoon-launching [[Vedette]] to trap and knock down 'Mechs. No stats have been given for this variant.<ref>''Iron Dawn'', chs. 3 (designers) and 25 (design)</ref>

==Notable Crewmembers==
:''See [[:Category:Notable Fox (Combat Vehicle) Crewmembers]]''

==Vehicle Gallery==
<gallery>
Image:Fox Armored Car.jpg|Dark Age Fox Armored Car
</gallery>

==References==
<references/>

==Bibliography==
* ''[[Iron Dawn]]''
* ''[[Record Sheets: 3085 Unabridged - The Cutting Edge]]'' 
* ''[[Record Sheets: 3145 New Tech, New Upgrades]]''
* ''[[Record Sheets: MechWarrior Dark Age I]]''
* ''[[Technical Readout: 3085]]''


[[Category:Combat Vehicles|Fox Armored Car]]
[[Category:Hover Combat Vehicles|Fox Armored Car]]
[[Category:Light Combat Vehicles|Fox Armored Car]]
[[Category:20 ton Combat Vehicles|Fox Armored Car]]
[[Category:Federated Suns Combat Vehicles|Fox Armored Car]]
[[Category:Republic of the Sphere Combat Vehicles|Fox Armored Car]]