User:Katangais/sandbox/Ratel

Positive experiences producing multiple variants of the Eland armoured car prompted Sandock-Austral to design the Ratel with maximum modularity in mind, and a number of variants with different forms of armament proliferated. A 90mm Denel GT-2 gun is installed on the Ratel-90 variant; 72 rounds of high explosive, high explosive anti-tank (HEAT), and canister ammunition are carried along with a reduced infantry squad of six. The Ratel-90 was used essentially as a makeshift assault gun, although it was hampered in this role by a lack of a gun stabiliser, somewhat austere fire control, and the omission of powered traverse. Initially, the gun was impossible to fire while the Ratel was in forward motion. This was rectified somewhat by South African engineers, which fitted all GT-2s in SADF service with an improved recoil system, making fire on the move theoretically possible. However, the turret is only fitted with a hand traverse mechanism, which results in a poor rate of engagement on the move and continued difficulty engaging from anything but a short halt position. The HEAT round has a muzzle velocity of 750 m/s, and a maximum range of 1,200 metres. It could not penetrate the frontal armour of main battle tanks such as the T-54 and T-55 except with multiple hits at close range, although it was more effective against their vulnerable rear and side armour. The HE round has a muzzle velocity of 650 m/s and a maximum range of 2,000 metres.

The Ratel-60 variant is armed with a breech-loading 60mm Denel K1 gun-mortar, designated in South African Army service as the M2. The gun-mortar could fire a high-explosive projectile at a muzzle velocity of 200 m/s out to a maximum range of 2,000 metres in the indirect fire role, or 300 metres in the direct fire role. Two types of high-explosive mortar ammunition were originally produced for this weapon: the M35/47, which had a range of 1,600 metres, and the M61, which had a range of 2,000 metres. The M2 can also fire canister, smoke, and illumination rounds. The Ratel-60 carries 45 mortar projectiles in addition to an infantry squad of seven.