The Wiesel 1 was further a part of various experiments involving the vehicle including a cargo hauler, machine gun carrier, ATGM carrier with HOT missile support, radar carrier and a model outfitted with the heftier 25mm autocannon - but none of these were adopted.
The Wiesel 2 (developed by MaK, now a part of Rheinmetall Landsystemes) is a dimensionally larger version driven by the more powerful Volkswagen Straight 4 turbo-diesel of 109 horsepower. This model first appeared in 1994 and sports a running length of 4.78 in length with a height of 2.17 meters and a width of 1.87 meters. The increase in length has added a new roadwheel to each side of the vehicle and the hull has also been raised for improved ground clearance. Weight is near 10,500lb.
Like the Mark 1, the Wiesel 2 has been evolved to fulfill a variety of needed battlefield roles including command post, engineering vehicle, reconnaissance vehicle, Command and Control (C2) vehicle, weapons carrier, radar carrier and the like. Prototypes of this mark have included a small Armored Personnel Carrier (APC), ambulance, remote-controlled vehicle, recoilless gun carrier, resupply vehicle, and ATGM carrier (HOT missiles).
The Wiesel 2 entered service in 2001. Both versions are air-transportable by medium-lift helicopters or medium-class fixed-wing transports. However, it is not an air-droppable system as four pilot vehicles were lost testing this capability during trials.
The German Army has taken on a stock of 343 Wiesel 1 forms and 179 Wiesel 2 forms. It has used these in various peacekeeping endeavors throughout the world.
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