Based on the Ratel-20, the standard mechanised infantry combat vehicle of the SADF, the Ratel-81 has no turret but an 81 mm mortar is installed in the crew compartment for use as a fire support platform. A machine-gun can be mount-ed on the mounting above the rear of the hull. The Ratel has two side doors and a small door in the rear of the hull, with hatches on the roof. Its armour only protects against small-arms fire and shrapnel, and the vehicle is well and truly mine-protected. The bottom of the hull is angled and reinforced so as to deflect mine blasts out to the sides. Four firing ports in the hull sides also have bullet-proof vision blocks. It is powered by a 230 kW twelve litre, six-cylinder diesel engine with an automatic transmission. Weighing 18.5 tons when combat-loaded, it can achieve a road speed of 105 km/h and has a range of 1,000 kms. the bottom of the hull is angled and reinforced so as to deflect mine blasts out to the sides

SADF Ratel-81 Combat Support Vehicle

Scotia 1/300th scale miniature supplied and painted by Anthony van Dijk of the Peninsula Wargames Group

Specifications
Weight	18.5 tonnes
Length	7.212 m
Width	2.5.16 m
Height	2.915 m
Crew	4 + 7
Armor	20 mm
Primary armament	81 mm M3 Mortar
Secondary armament	1 x 7.62 mm MG (anti-aircraft)
Engine	D 3256 BTXF 6-cylinder in-line turbocharged diesel 282 hp (210 kW)
Power/weight	15.24 hp/tonne
Suspension	Wheeled 6x6, 350mm clearance
Operational Rnge	1000 km
Speed	105 km/h (road); 30 km/h (off-road)

For more detail on the Ratel IFV, see Wikipedia.com