Representing a complete family of armored vehicles, the Ratel has been broadly adapted to specific battlefield roles. The original production version was the Ratel 20 which featured a French-based turret emplacement mounting a 20mm cannon. This variant was subsequently improved in two production marks (Mk II and Mk III). The Ratel 60 followed with a traversing turret (reconstituted from Eland 60 series armored cars) and a 60mm mortar for indirect fire support. The similar Ratel 80 made use of an 81mm field mortar but lacked a traversing turret. The Ratel 90 included a 90mm cannon (based on the French GIAT F1) as well as interior room for up to six troops (the latter rarely practiced in operational service). The Ratel 120, as its designation suggested, was a prototype fielding a 120mm mortar - though never accepted for serial production. The Ratel was also produced as a dedicated command vehicle with increased communications facilities and a crew of nine. A turret was retained though armed with only a 1 x 12.7mm heavy machine gun for basic self-defense. The Ratel EAOS (Enhanced Artillery Observation System) was, naturally, an artillery-spotting vehicle. The Ratel ZT3 sported an all-new turret that introduced provision for up to 3 x anti-tank guided missiles with reloads (the ZT-3 missile was featured early, then upgraded to "Leopard" missiles later) but was essentially the same chassis and hull of the Ratel 20 series. A logistical variant existed in two prototype models, interestingly, these being designed with eight-wheel support. Another version was finished as a battlefield workshop intended to supply in-the-field mechanical support.
Beyond its main armament, the Ratel could be fitted with a 7.62mm coaxial machine gun (if equipped with a turret) as well as an additional 1 x 7.62mm general purpose machine gun(s) on the turret roof for countering low-flying aircraft or enemy infantry attempting to assail the vulnerable regions of the vehicle. Another 7.62mm machine gun could be added to the hull roof. For additional self-defense, the Ratel was further equipped with 4 x smoke grenade dischargers, this useful for covering an advance or screening a retreat.
Ratels were effectively fielded by South African warplanners in various regional and local conflicts to which the Ratel family gave good service - especially in the anti-armor, command and infantry support roles. In practice, the Ratels were steady performers, utilizing their array of armaments to good effect even against combat tanks. While not inherently designed to directly counter threats from the then-modern Main Battle Tanks fielded in the region, Ratels equipped with either anti-tank guided missiles (ATGM) or 90mm cannons could effectively "knock out" such systems with some skillful maneuvering - this proven in combat actions against Soviet-built tanks during the South African Border War (1966-1989). Of course its own light protection often exposed crews to deadly enemy return fire as armor thickness (up to 20mm) was only really adequate against small arms, artillery "spray" and small-caliber cannons. On today's modern battlefield, however, the Ratel is wholly outclassed against the latest MBTs in service - though the Ratel was never really designed for such direct action to begin with so the comparison is moot.
The Ratel IFV is named after the native "Honey Badger", a fierce, hair-covered carnivore utilizing its agility and imposing claws to good effect. Sandock-Austral is now under the Land Systems OMC defense banner, under ownership of BAE Systems. Some 1,350 Ratels were reportedly produced for both local and export use.
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