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The Ratel-90, the standard mechanised infantry fire-support combat vehicle of the SADF, has a two-seater turret with a 90mm low-velocity gun and 7.62 machine-gun coaxially mounted. Another machine-gun can be mount-ed on the mounting above the rear of the hull. Crewed by four men, the commander, gunner, driver, and radio operator, and seating space for another seven infantry-men, 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-90 Fire-Support Vehicle
Scotia 1/300th scale miniature supplied and painted by Anthony van Dijk of the Peninsula Wargames Group
| Specifications |
| Weight |
19 tonnes |
| Length |
7.212 m |
| Width |
2.5.16 m |
| Height |
2.915 m |
| Crew |
4 + 7 |
| |
|
| Armor |
20 mm |
| Primary armament |
90 mm low velocity gun |
|
| Secondary armament |
1 x 7.62 mm MG (coaxial), 7.62 mm MG (anti-aircraft), 1 x 7.62 mm MG (anti-aircraft), 2 x 2 smoke grenade dischargers |
|
| Engine |
D 3256 BTXF 6-cylinder in-line turbocharged diesel 282 hp (210 kW) |
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| 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
Order this and other miniatures from SA Miniatures:
Scotia 1/300th Scale Modern South African Forces: Ratel 90
Scotia 1/300th Scale Modern South African Forces: Ratel 20 APC
Scotia 1/300th Scale Modern South African Forces: Ratel Command
Scotia 1/300th Scale Modern South African Forces: Ratel 60
Scotia 1/300th Scale Modern South African Forces: Ratel SP 81mm
Scotia 1/300th Scale Modern South African Forces: Ratel 20 ARV
And for more...
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