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Ratel 20



Overview

Ratel 20

Ratel 20 in the field during an exercise.
Source: EDR On-Line - © Copyright lies with original owner

Origin
South Africa
Type
Infantry fighting vehicle
Entered service
1976
Status
In service
Development
1972
Developer
South Africa - Springfield Büssing
Production
1976 - mid 1980's (Ratel 20)
Producer
South Africa - Sandock Austral
Number produced
About 1.400 including variants
Designations
Ratel
Afrikaans for "honey badger"
Notable users
South Africa
Jordan
Morocco

Details

Facts Ratel 20
General
Origin
South Africa
Type
Infantry fighting vehicle
Crew
3+9 (commander, driver, gunner + 9 troops)
Dimensions
Weight
18.5 t combat load
Length
7.21 m
Width
2.52 m
Height
2.39 m
Main armament
Type
20mm GI2 autocannon
Mount
Main gun in turret
Ammunition
1.200 rounds
Elevation
-8 to +15 degrees, powered
Traverse
360 degrees, powered
Stabilizer
No, but can fire on the move at very low speed
Coaxial armament
Type
7.62mm MG4 CA machine gun
Mount
Coaxial with main armament
Ammunition
6.000 rounds in total, 100 rounds ready to fire
Secondary armament
Type
7.62mm MG4 AA machine gun
Mount
Pintle mount at rear of vehicle
Ammunition
6.000 rounds in total, 100 rounds ready to fire
Traverse
Manual traverse and elevation
Chassis
Chassis type
Wheeled
Configuration
6x6
Wheelbase
2.8 m + 1.4 m
Tire size
14.00 x20
Automotive
Engine
Büssing D 3256 BTXF 12-liter six-cylinder liquid-cooled turbo diesel
Power
282 hp at 2.200 rpm
Transmission
Renk HSU 106
Automatic, 6 forward, 2 reverse
Fuel
480 L
Mobility
Speed
105 km/h on road
30 km/h off road
Range
1.000 km on road
600 km off road
Power to weight ratio
15.2 hp/t
Turn radius
8.5 m
Obstacle crossing
Ground clearance
0.34 m
Wall
0.6 m
Trench
1.2 m
Gradient
27 degrees
Fording
1.2 m
Protection
Armor type
Steel
Armor thickness
20 mm hull front
8 to 10mm hull sides and rear
Smoke system
2x2 81mm smoke grenade dischargers

Variants

Ratel 90

Variant armed with 90mm gun. Fitted with the turret used on Eland 90 (AML-90). Used for fire support, anti-tank and APC.

Read more about Ratel 90

Ratel 60

Variant armed with 60mm gun-mortar. Used as fire support vehicle. Often issued to combat engineers.

Read more about Ratel 60

Ratel Command

Command post variant. Similar turret as Ratel 20, but fitted with 12.7mm M2HB.

Read more about Ratel Command

Ratel 81

Mortar carrier. Fitted with 81mm M-3 mortar on a turntable.

Read more about Ratel 81

Ratel ZT-3

Tank destroyer with ZT-3 Swift anti-tank missiles. Final variant to be produced.

Read more about Ratel ZT-3

Media

Related articles

20mm Giat M693

The Ratel 20 is armed with a 20mm Vektor GI2 autocannon, which is the South African production variant of the French M693.

Read more about 20mm Giat M693