Puma Infantry Fighting Vehicle

Germany IFV October 22, 2020

Puma Infantry Fighting Vehicle

Efran Syah       Comment   

The Puma is a German infantry fighting vehicle (IFV) (Schützenpanzer or short SPz) designed to replace the aging Marder IFVs currently in service with the German Army.

Production of the first batch of 350 vehicles began in 2010 and is scheduled for completion by the third quarter of 2020. A second batch of 210 Pumas has received funding. Mass production began on 6 July 2009. The companies responsible for this project are Krauss-Maffei Wegmann and Rheinmetall Landsysteme, who created a joint venture in the form of Projekt System Management GmbH (PSM).

The Puma is one of the world's best-protected IFVs, while still having a high power-to-weight ratio. SAIC offered a derivative of the Puma as its contender in the now cancelled American GCV Infantry Fighting Vehicle program.

The Puma, while externally not very different from existing IFVs, incorporates a number of advances and state-of-the-art technologies. The most obvious of these is the incorporated ability to flexibly mount different armour. Another feature is the compact, one-piece crew cabin that enables direct crew interaction ("face-to-face"; like replacing the driver or gunner in case of a medical emergency) and minimizes the protected volume.

The cabin is air conditioned, NBC-proof with internal nuclear and chemical sensors and has a fire suppressing system using non-toxic agents. The engine compartment has its own fire extinguishing system. The only compromise of the otherwise nearly cuboid cabin is the driver station, located in a protrusion in front of the gunner, in front of the turret.

The outer hull (minus the turret) is very smooth and low to minimize shot traps and the general visual signature. The whole combat-ready vehicle in its base configuration will be air transportable in the Airbus A400M tactical airlifter.

Its 3+6 persons crew capability is comparable to other vehicles of comparable weight, like the US American M2 Bradley IFV, the same as in the Marder, but smaller than the 3+8 of the CV9030 and CV9035.

The primary armament is a Rheinmetall 30 mm MK 30-2/ABM (Air Burst Munitions) autocannon, which has a rate of fire of 200 rounds per minute and an effective range of 3,000 m. The smaller 30×173mm cartridge offers major weight saving advantages for example in comparison to the Bofors 40 mm gun mounted on the CV9040 because of a much lower ammunition size and weight. The belt feed system also gives a large number of rounds ready to fire, while the 40mm offers only 24 shots per magazine. This is not a problem in a CV9040, but would force the Puma off the battlefield to reload the unmanned turret.

There are currently two ammunition types directly available via the autocannon's dual ammunition feed. One is a sub-calibre, fin-stabilised APFSDS-T (T for tracer), with high penetration capabilities, mainly for use against medium armoured vehicles. The second is a full-calibre, multi-purpose, Kinetic Energy-Timed Fuse (KETF) munition, designed with the air burst capability (depending on the fuse setting) for ejecting a cone of sub-munitions. The ammunition type can be chosen on a shot to shot basis, as the weapon fires from an open bolt, meaning no cartridge is inserted until the trigger is depressed. The ammunition capacity is 400 rounds; 200 ready to fire and 200 in storage.

Keeping the weight within the 35-ton limit also led to a smaller calibre for the secondary armament, a coaxially mounted 5.56 mm HK MG4 machine gun firing at 850 rounds per minute and with an effective range of 1,000 m. The ammunition capacity is 2,000 rounds; 1,000 ready to fire and 1,000 in storage. While this is a smaller weapon than the western standard secondary armament (7.62 mm caliber MG), it offers the advantage that the crew can use the ammunition in their individual firearms. In situations where the lower range and penetration of the 5.56 mm rounds is an issue, the high ammunition load of the main gun enables the vehicle crew to use one or two main gun rounds instead. The gun housing can also host the 7.62 mm MG3. In next years, the MG4 will be replaced by MG5

To combat main battle tanks, helicopters and infrastructure targets, such as bunkers, the German Puma vehicles will be equipped with a turret-mounted EuroSpike Spike LR missile launcher, which carries two missiles. The Spike LR missile has an effective range up to 4,000 m and can be launched in either the "Fire and Forget" or "Fire and Observe" mode.

In addition to the usual smoke-grenade launchers with 8 shots, there is a 6-shot 76 mm launcher at the back of the vehicle for close-in defence. The main back door can be opened halfway and enables two of the passengers to scout and shoot from moderate protection.

The Puma was designed to accommodate additional armor, initially planning to offer three protection classes which are wholly or partly interchangeable. Protection class A is the basic vehicle, at 31.5 metric tons combat-ready weight air transportable in the A400M. Protection class C consists of two large side panels that cover almost the whole flanks of the vehicle and act as skirts to the tracks, a near-complete turret cover and armor plates for most of the vehicle's roof. The side panels are a mix of composite and spaced armor. It adds about 9 metric tons to the gross weight. Originally, there was also a protection class B designed for transport by rail. However, it became obvious that class C lies within the weight and dimension limits for train/ship transportation, thus class B was scrapped.

The Puma is protected by AMAP composite armour, the AMAP-B module is used for protection against kinetic energy threats, while AMAP-SC offers protection against shaped charges.

Specifications

• Mass: 31.45 t (level A), 43 t (level C)
• Length: 7.6 m
• Width: 3.9 m (uparmored)
• Height: 3.6 m
• Crew: 3 + 6
• Armor: modular AMAP composite armour
• Main armament: 30 mm MK30-2/ABM autocannon 400 rounds
• Secondary armament: 5.56 mm HK MG4 machine gun, to be replaced by the 7.62 mm MG5 2,000 rounds Spike LR anti-tank guided missile; 6-shot 76 mm grenade launcher
• Engine: MTU V10 892 diesel, 11.1 litres 800 kilowatts (1,100 hp) at 4,250 r/min
• Power/weight: 18.6 kW/t
• Suspension: hydropneumatic
• Operational range: 460 km (road)
• Maximum speed: 70 km/h (road)

Operators

Germany; Chile; Croatia; United States

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BMP-3 Infantry Fighting Vehicle

IFV Russia July 11, 2020

BMP-3 Infantry Fighting Vehicle

Efran Syah       Comment   

(Vitaliy Ragulin / Wiki Common)

The BMP-3 is a Soviet and Russian infantry fighting vehicle (IFV), successor to the BMP-1 and BMP-2. The abbreviation BMP stands for boevaya mashina pehoty (literally "infantry fighting vehicle").

(Vitaly V. Kuzmin / Wiki Common)

The BMP-3 is designed and produced by the Kurganmashzavod ("Kurgan Machine Building Plant") some variants however are built by the Rubtsovsk Machine Building Plant (RMZ). The BMP-3 infantry fighting vehicle entered production in the late 1980s.

(Vitaly V. Kuzmin / Wiki Common)

The vehicle has an unconventional layout. The engine is in the back of the vehicle to the right (unlike most other IFVs, which have the engine located forward in the hull). As a result, the driver is seated forward in the hull (in the center) together with two infantrymen (one on each side of the driver).

The vehicle has a double bottom and the engine is located under the floor of the vehicle (troops enter/leave the vehicle over the engine). The remaining five infantrymen are seated aft of the two-man turret.

(Vitaly V. Kuzmin / Wiki Common)

The engine is the V-shaped UTD-29 diesel engine, which produces 500 hp.

The transversal mount of the engine enables the wheel drive, cardan shaft for the waterjet drives and electric bilge pump to be located underneath. Transmission is hydromechanical with a hydrostatic gearbox for the steering gear and power take-off for the water jets.

The BMP-3 vehicle weighs 18.7 t and is capable of a maximum speed of 70 km/h and range of 600 km on roads,  an altitude of operation of up to 3,000 m and it is transportable by train, truck, sea, and air.

(Vitaly V. Kuzmin / Wiki Common)

The BMP-3 engine is a diesel four-stroke, liquid-cooled design. The suspension is independent, with a torsion bar and six hydraulic shock absorbers. Steering is by gear differential with hydrostatic drive.

The track adjusting mechanism is remotely controlled from the driver's station, with tension force indication. The water-jet propulsion unit is single-stage, axial, auger-type.

(Vitaly V. Kuzmin / Wiki Common)

The BMP-3 is one of the most heavily armed infantry fighting vehicles in service, original version of BMP-3 has a turret fitted with a low-velocity 2A70 100 mm rifled gun, which can fire conventional shells or 9M117 Bastion ATGMs (AT-10 Stabber). 40 100 mm-rounds and 8 ATGMs are carried.

A 2A72 30 mm dual feed autocannon with 500 (300 HEI and 200 APT) rounds and a rate of fire of 350 to 400 RPM, and a 7.62 mm PKT machine gun with 2,000 rounds, all mounted coaxially in the turret.

The main gun elevates from −5° to +60°. There are also two 7.62 mm PKT bow machine guns, again with 2,000 rounds each. The BMP-3 is capable of engaging targets out to 5,000–6,000 m with its ATGM weapon system 9K116-3 "Basnya". With conventional ammunition, such as the HE-Frag shell 3OF32, the 2A70 gun has a range of 4,000 m.

All weapons can be fired from the halt, on the move, and afloat with the same effectiveness. The ability to hit targets on the move with missiles was successfully demonstrated during competitive evaluations in the UAE in 1991.

(Vitaly V. Kuzmin / Wiki Common)

The turret is fitted with the 2K23 system, which consists of an autoloader with 22 rounds (the remaining 18 rounds are stored in the hull), a 1V539 ballistic computer, a cross-wind sensor, a 2E52-2 stabilising system, a 1D16-3 laser range finder, a 1K13-2 gunner's sight/guidance device, a PPB-1 gunner's sight and an OU-5-1 IR searchlight. Optional autoloader for ATGM missiles is also available.

(Vitaly V. Kuzmin / Wiki Common)

The commander has a combined optical sight 1PZ-10, a day/night vision device TKN-3MB and an IR searchlight OU-3GA2.

Since 2005, the BMP-3 can be fitted with a new fire control system from the "Peleng" Joint Stock Company from Belarus. This consists of a SOZH-M gunner's main sight with an integrated laser range-finder and missile-guidance channel, a Vesna-K targeting system with thermal imaging camera and automatic target tracker AST-B, an armament stabilisation system, a ballistic computer with data input sensors and a PL-1 IR laser projector.

Since 2017, the BMP-3 is fitted with a new fire control system from the "Vologda Optical-Mechanical Plant" from Russia. This consists of a Sodema two-plane stabilized gunner's main sight with an integrated laser range-finder and missile-guidance channel plus a SOZH-M thermal imaging camera.

BPM-3 at parade in Moscow 2018. (Dmitriy Fomin / Wiki Common)

The BMP-3 can be fitted with the Arena defensive aids suite, developed by KBM Kolumna. The system consists of target detection and tracking radar, computer and processing unit and protective ammunition.

The system is automatic: the radar passes tracking data to the computer, which selects the number of ammunition rounds and controls firing. The selected ammunition is then expelled as a directed field. The vehicle can also be fitted with the Shtora defensive aids system which counters anti-tank guided weapons with SACLOS (semi-automatic command to line-of-sight).

BMP-3 PVO anti aircraft variant presented at Expo Army 2018. (Boevaya mashina / Wiki Common)

The hull and turret are made of a high-strength aluminum alloy, with the front of the hull being provided with an extra steel plate welded over it plus spaced armor from the trim vane.

The turret is also provided with a thick steel spaced armour shield over its frontal arc. Over the frontal arc, the vehicle is protected against 30 mm gun rounds at a range of 200 m.

In addition to "hard" protection, the BMP-3's self-sealing fuel tank is located in front of the driver, directly behind the front armour plating. It is specially constructed to act as armour, effective against shaped charge warheads as well as any auto-cannon shells that managed to go through the front armour.

The BMP-3 can create a smoke screen by injecting fuel into the exhaust manifolds. A chemical agent detector, an FVU filtration system, an automatic fire extinguisher and six 902V "Tucha-2" 81 mm smoke grenade launchers are standard.

BMP-3 PVO anti aircraft variant presented at Expo Army 2018. (Boevaya mashina / Wiki Common)

BMP-3 Varian:

• BMP-3 – Basic version
• BMP-3M – New engines and turret with a new ATGM system 9K116-3 Basnya
• BMP-3M Ataka – BMP-3M version with a two men turret
• BMMP – Version for naval infantry, fitted with the turret of the BMP-2
• BMP-3K – Tactical command variant
• BMP-3F – Specially designed for operations at sea
• BT-3F – Amphibious version based on BMP-3F
• BRM-3K – Surveillance and reconnaissance variant
• BMP-3 Dragoon – New IFV version with an unmanned turret
• BREM-L – Armoured recovery vehicle
• BMP-3 "Khrizantema-S" – Self-propelled anti-tank version
• 9P163M-1 "Kornet-T" – Anti-tank version with Kornet (AT-14) missile system
• 2S18 "Pat-S" – Self-propelled version of the 152 mm howitzer 2A61 "Pat-B"
• DZM "Vostorg-2" – Combat engineer vehicle
• UR-07 – Mine clearing system
• UNSh – Basic chassis for specialised variants
• KhTM – Driver trainer
• Hermes or TKB-841 – Air-defence vehicle
• 2S31 Vena – Self-propelled mortar carrier
• 2S38 ZAK-57 Derivatsiya-PVO – Self-propelled air defense
• UDAR UGV – Unmanned ground vehicle
• Vikhr UGV – Unmanned ground vehicle
• Prokhod-1 – Unmanned mine-clearing vehicle.

BMP-3M Dragoon at Army-2016. (Boevaya mashina / Wiki Common)

BMP-3 current operators:

• Azerbaijan – 100 BMP-3M.
• Cyprus – 43 delivered in 1995–1996.
• Indonesia – 54 BMP-3F & 1 BREM-L currently in service, with another 22 BMP-3F ordered in 2019 along with 21 BT-3Fs.
• Iraq – Application for 500.
• Kuwait – Currently it has about 200 in service.
• Libya – 14 9P157-2 tank destroyers in service.
• Morocco – 60 BMP-3 ordered from Russia to supplement the T-72BV.
• Nicaragua
• Russia – 720.
• Sri Lanka - 45.
• South Korea – 33 delivered in 1996–1997 to pay off Russian debt, and another 37 in 2005.
• Turkmenistan – 4
• Ukraine – 4
• United Arab Emirates – 250 for Abu Dhabi and 402 for Dubai
• Venezuela – 130 BMP-3M, 10 BREM-L and some BMP-K.

BMP-3 specifications
Mass: 18.7 t
Length: 7.14 m
Width: 3.2 m
Height: 2.4 m
Crew:

• 3 (commander, gunner, driver)
• 7 troopers (+ 2 additional seats)

Armor:

• Aluminium alloy + steel, 35mm+ frontally, all around small arms fire protection up to 12.7mm

Main armament:

• 2K23 turret with 100 mm gun/launcher 2A70 (able to fire shells or the 9M117 Bastion ATGM)
• 30 mm autocannon 2A72 and 7.62mm PKT machine gun or Bakhcha-U turret (2A70, 2A72
• PKMT machine gun, and a new fire control system) or B05Ya01 Berezhok turret with 2A42
• AGS-30 grenade launcher, Kornet-EM, and PKT machine gun or AU-220M Baikal remote weapon station turret with 57 mm BM-57 autocannon and 7.62mm PKMT machine gun

Secondary armament: 2 × 7.62 mm PKT machine guns
Engine: UTD-29M diesel 500 hp (375 kW)
Power/weight: 27 hp/tonne
Suspension: torsion bar
Operational range: 600 km (370 mi)
Maximum speed:

• 72 km/h (45 mph) (road)
• 45 km/h (28 mph) (off-road)
• 10 km/h (6.2 mph) (water)

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Bradley Fighting Vehicle (BFV)

IFV July 08, 2020

Bradley Fighting Vehicle (BFV)

Efran Syah       Comment   

A Bradley Fighting Vehicle. (U.S. Army / Sgt. Timothy Kingston)

The Bradley Fighting Vehicle (BFV) is a fighting vehicle platform of the United States manufactured by BAE Systems Land & Armaments, formerly United Defense. It was named after U.S. General Omar Bradley.

The Bradley is designed to transport infantry or scouts with armor protection, while providing covering fire to suppress enemy troops and armored vehicles.

M2A3 Bradley Fighting Vehicle. (Winifred Brown / Wiki Common)

The Bradley was developed largely in response to the Soviet BMP family of infantry fighting vehicles, and to serve as both an armored personnel carrier, and a tank-killer. One specific design requirement was that it should be as fast as the then new M1 Abrams main battle tank so they could maintain formations while moving.

M2A3 Bradley Fighting Vehicle crew shoots the vehicle’s M242 Bushmaster 25mm Chain Gun. (Winifred Brown / Wiki Common)

The several Bradley variants include the M2 Bradley infantry fighting vehicle and the M3 Bradley cavalry fighting vehicle. The M2 holds a crew of three (a commander, a gunner, and a driver) along with six fully equipped soldiers. The M3 mainly conducts scout missions and carries two scout troopers in addition to the regular crew of three, with space for additional BGM-71 TOW missiles.

Bradley Fighting Vehicle training. (U.S. Army / Spc. JD Sacharok)

The gunner is equipped with a Raytheon integrated sight unit (ISU) which includes a day / thermal sight of magnification ×4 and ×12. An optical relay provides the image of the gunner’s sight to the commander.

The gunner also has periscopes for forward and side observation. A daytime sight system for the gunner or commander is provided as backup to the primary sight.

The driver is equipped with three forward periscopes plus one periscope to the left. The central periscope can be replaced with the Northrop Grumman (formerly Litton) AN/VVS-2 driver’s night viewer with a 25mm second-generation image intensifier. Upgraded M2 Bradleys are equipped with the DRS Technologies driver’s vision enhancer (DVE).

The M2 Bradley Fighting Vehicle fires its 25 mm Bushmaster main gun. (U.S. Army / 1st. Lt. Joseph Brown)

The Bradley is equipped with the 25 mm M242 Bushmaster as its main weapon. The M242 is a single-barrel chain gun with an integrated dual-feed mechanism and remote feed selection.

The cannon has 300 rounds of ammunition in two ready boxes (one of 70 rounds, the other of 230 rounds), with an extra 600 rounds in storage for the M2 Infantry Fighting Vehicle variant or 1,200 stowed rounds for the M3 Cavalry Fighting Vehicle variant.

The two ready boxes allow a selectable mix of rounds, such as the M791 APDS-T (Armor-Piercing Discarding Sabot (with) Tracer) and M792 HEI-T (High Explosive Incendiary (with) Tracer) rounds.

A Soldier waves from inside an M2A3 Bradley Fighting Vehicle during gunnery training at the Doña Ana Range Complex, N.M., Aug. 3, 2018. (Winifred Brown / Wiki Common)

It is also armed with an M240C machine gun mounted coaxially to the M242, with 2,200 rounds of 7.62 mm ammunition.

For engaging heavier targets (such as when acting in an antitank fashion), the Bradley has a TOW missile system on board, which was changed to fire TOW II missile from the M2A1 model onwards.

M2 infantry Bradleys also have firing ports for a number of M231 Firing Port Weapons (FPWs), providing a means for the occupants to fire from within the vehicle and replacing the top-side gunners on the M113-based Armored Cavalry Assault Vehicles, though the M231 is rarely employed.

Bradley Fighting Vehicle. (Mark6mauno / Wiki Common)

The Bradley is equipped with a VTA-903T engine from Cummins Engine Co of Colombus, Indiana. The hydromechanical transmission HMPT-500 from Combat Propulsion Systems, a Division of L-3 Communications, provides three speed ranges. The engines provide a maximum speed of 66km/h.

A U.S. Army soldier keeps watch from the hatch of his Bradley Fighting Vehicle at the National Training Center in Fort Irwin, Calif., on Feb. 24, 2013. (DoD / EJ Hersom, U.S. Army)

The Bradley is highly capable in cross-country open terrain, in accordance with one of the main design objectives of keeping pace with the M1 Abrams main battle tank. The Bradley was initially designed to float by deploying a flotation curtain around the vehicle, allowing it to "swim" at a speed of 4.5 mph (7.2 km/h). Later armor upgrades have negated this capability.

An M3A1 Bradley Cavalry Fighting Vehicle belonging to the Montana Army National Guard demonstrates turret stabilization capabilities during a circular pivot steer at an Open House at Malmstrom Air Force Base, Montana. 2 August 2011. (Roger M. Dey / Wiki Common)

The use of aluminum armor and the storage of large quantities of ammunition in the vehicle initially raised questions about its combat survivability. Spaced laminate belts and high-hardness steel skirts have been added to improve the side protection of later versions, although this increases overall weight to 33 tons.

In friendly fire incidents in Desert Storm, many crew members survived hits that resulted in total losses for lighter U.S. Marine Corps LAV-25 vehicles.

All versions are also equipped with two four-barreled smoke grenade launchers on the front of the turret for creating defensive smoke screens, which can also be loaded with chaff and flares.

Soldiers in a Bradley fighting vehicle fire rounds during a live-fire exercise at Camp Aachen in Grafenwoehr, Germany, Jan. 12, 2019. (Army Sgt. 1st Class Ronald Lee)

The Bradley Urban Survival Kit (BUSK) is an upgrade similar to the M1 Abrams TUSK kit. It decreases the vulnerability of Bradleys in urban threat environments.

The kit includes a more powerful spotlight, a wire mesh protector to keep the optics from getting scratched, and nonconductive arched strips of nylon that push away fallen electrical wires (power line protection) that would endanger crews, additional armor on the underside, and a bullet-resistant transparent shield for the commander outside the turret.

It also includes sensors and a software package to quickly detect when components are wearing out and simulation software so the gunners could train more realistically.

3-7 Infantry Regiment Bradley Fighting Vehicle is guarding the highway to Saddam International Airport in Baghdad on 10 April 2003. (U.S. Army / SGT Igor Paustovski)

The M3 Cavalry Fighting Vehicle was originally planned to be named after General Jacob L. Devers, but it was decided the Bradley name would apply to both, since both vehicles are based on the same chassis (they differ in only some details). The M2 carries a crew of three and a six-man infantry squad. The M3 carries the crew of three and a two-man scout team and additional radios, TOW and Dragon or Javelin missiles.

U.S. Army Soldiers provide security around a local town during Decisive Action Rotation 15-05 at the National Training Center in Fort Irwin, Calif., March 3, 2015. (U.S. Army / Sgt. Charles Probst/Released)

Specifications
Mass: 27.6 t (4,350 st)
Length: 6.55 m (21.5 ft)
Width: 3.6 m (12 ft)
Height: 2.98 m (9.8 ft)
Crew: 3 + variable number of passengers depending on variant
Armor:

• Spaced laminate armor: 14.5-30mm all around AP protection (Depending on variant).
• Explosive reactive armour: RPG protection.

Main armament:

• 25 mm M242 Bushmaster chain gun
• BGM-71 TOW anti-tank missile

Secondary armament: 7.62 mm M240 machine gun
Engine: Cummins VTA-903T diesel 600 hp (450 kW)
Power/weight: 19.74 hp/ton
Suspension: torsion bar
Operational range: 400 km (250 mi)
Maximum speed: 56 km/h (35 mph)

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South Africa : Ratel IFV

IFV June 16, 2020

South Africa : Ratel IFV

Efran Syah       Comment   

(Image via zen.yandex.ru)

The Ratel is an Infantry Fighting Vehicle (IFV), the South African National Defence and the battalions of mechanized infantry force, and its name is derived from an African animal known in English as the Honey Badger (Ratel), which has a reputation as a fierce fighter.

(Image via forum.worldoftanks.ru)

It was the first wheeled infantry fighting vehicle to enter service worldwide and was built on a modified MAN truck chassis. The Ratel was designed in response to a South African Army specification for a light armoured vehicle suited to the demands of rapid offensives combining maximum firepower and strategic mobility.

(Image via edrmagazine.eu)

The first Ratel prototype appeared in March 1972, and serial production commenced in 1976. Rights to the original prototype were also sold to Belgium, which produced an amphibious derivative known as the SIBMAS.

The Ratel was produced in three distinct marks between 1976 and 1987, when production ceased. All three marks were modified for a number of diverse battlefield roles. Specialised variants of the Ratel carried mortars, anti-tank guided missiles, or a turret-mounted 90 mm rifled gun.

Varian & Derivative

• Ratel 20 - Original version. French designed turret
• Ratel 60 - Crew of 3 plus 7 infantry. Turret is identical to that of the Eland 60 with a 60 mm breech-loading mortar
• Ratel 81 - No turret. An 81 mm mortar is installed in the crew compartment for use as a fire support platform
• Ratel 90 - Crew of 3 plus 6 infantry. Turret is identical to that of the Eland 90. Primary role: fire support for the Mechanized Battalions
• Ratel 120 - 120 mm mortar carrier. Prototype only
• Ratel Command - Crew of 9 men. Two-seater turret with a 12,7 mm machine gun
• Ratel EAOS - Enhanced Artillery Observation System
• Ratel Maintenance - setup as a mobile workshop
• Ratel ZT3 - Anti-tank guided missile turret. With a rack containing 3 anti-tank missiles ready for launch and additional missiles stored within the hull
• Ratel Logistic - 8x8 logistic vehicle. Only 2 prototypes were built
• Ratel AA - Anti-aircraft platform. Jordanian variant only, modified by KADDB before entering service with the JAF. New turret armed with a twin 23 mm cannon removed from Ukrainian supplied BTR-94
• Iklwa - A prototype built by BAE Systems Land Systems South Africa that is based on the Ratel but with the hull and drive train upgraded and the engine moved from the rear to the front

(Image via edrmagazine.eu)

The vehicle is not amphibious and is not fitted with an NBC overpressure system. Most production model Ratels did not have any specialised night vision equipment. As an interim measure, the SADF occasionally issued Ratel crews with night vision goggles, which aided navigation in the Angolan bush where the use of headlamps was precluded due to proximity to enemy positions.

This was impractical for night fighting as muzzle flashes could blind the crew and the bulky goggles hampered movement and reaction speed in the turret. In the 1990s, Denel Land Systems developed night sights which could be fitted on new Ratel-20 turrets or retrofitted on older turrets.

(Image via Twitter)

The Ratel possesses rear-mounted engine and fighting compartments, while its turret ring and driving compartment are located towards the front of the vehicle. It has a long, box-shaped hull with slightly sloped vertical sides and rear.

The hull is of all-welded construction, with a maximum armour thickness of 20 mm on the hull front. Each Ratel hull is protected against 7.62×39 mm armour-piercing ammunition at any angle; it is also capable of stopping 12.7×108 mm armour-piercing ammunition on the frontal arc. The bottom of the hull structure is blastproof and vee-shaped to deflect mine explosions away from the passengers and crew.

(Image via edrmagazine.eu)

The Ratel's crew consists of a section commander, driver, turret gunner, and rear gunner. In addition to the crew, an attached infantry section of nine is carried in the fighting compartment of the vehicle. There are three firing ports with vision blocks on either side of the fighting compartment. Passenger capacity may be reduced to six or seven if additional ammunition racks or radio equipment is carried.

(Image via Twitter)

The Ratel's standard armament is a 20 mm F2 M693 automatic cannon manufactured under licence as the Denel GI-2. The autocannon may be elevated to a maximum of +38° for use against low-flying, fixed wing aircraft and helicopters.

The dual-feed system allows the gunner to swap between different projectile types fed from either chute as needed. Two types of ammunition can be selected: a high-explosive (HE) round with a range of 2,000 metres, or an armour-piercing tungsten carbide (APTC) round with a range of 1,000 metres.

(Image via edrmagazine.eu)

A co-axial 7.62mm Browning M1919 machine gun is mounted to the left of the main armament on nearly all variants of the Ratel. Aside from the co-axial machine gun, a second 7.62mm Browning M1919 is carried at the rear of the vehicle's hull for anti-aircraft purposes. Both the Ratel-60 and Ratel-90 are also armed with a third 7.62 mm M1919 on their turret roofs. A maximum of 6,000 rounds of 7.62 mm ammunition are carried within the vehicle.

(Image via worldmilitaryintel.blogspot.com)

All models of the Ratel have a 6x6 drive configuration with the long armored steel hull being specially contoured underneath to minimize land mine damage, if necessary the Ratel can travel with two wheels missing. In the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) the use of wheeled armored vehicles has always been an advantage. For decades South Africa was involved in conflicts where their forces had to travel great distances with a little logistical support. The Ratel's wheeled configuration was perfect for prolonged journeys.

(Image via edrmagazine.eu)

The Ratel is powered by a six-cylinder, liquid-cooled, turbocharged D 3256 BTXF diesel engine. This is housed in an engine compartment at the rear left of the hull and coupled to a fully automatic RENK HSU 106 automatic gearbox with six forward and two reverse gear ratios. The gearbox can be operated manually and has a mechanical emergency gearshift.

Production history
Designer: Springfield Büssing
Designed: March 1972
Manufacturer: Sandock Austral
No. built: 1,381

Specifications
Mass:
- 18.5 t (Ratel-20/Ratel-60)
- 19 t (Ratel-90)
Length: 7.21 m (23 ft 8 in) (hull)
Width: 2.5 m (8 ft 2 in)
Height:
- 2.39 m (7 ft 10 in) (Ratel-20)
- 3.11 m (10 ft 2 in) (Ratel-60)
- 2.91 m (9 ft 7 in) (Ratel-90)
Crew: 3 (commander, gunner, driver) + maximum 9 passengers
Main armament: GT2 90 mm (depending on the variant)
Secondary armament:
- 7.62 mm Browning M1919 coaxial machine gun
- 7.62 mm Browning M1919 machine gun on rear ring mount
- 7.62 mm Browning M1919 machine gun on turret roof (Ratel-60/90)
- 3,600 - 6,000 stowed rounds of 7.62 mm ammunition
Engine: Büssing D 3256 BTXF six-cylinder turbocharged diesel 205 kW (275 hp) at 2,200 rpm
Power/weight: 11.36 kW/t (0.00691 hp/lb)
Ground clearance: 0.34 m (1 ft 1 in)
Fuel capacity: 530 L (140 US gal)
Operational range: 1,000 km (620 mi)
Maximum speed: 105 km/h (65 mph)

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