Crew: 3 + 6 Command Post Personnel
Main Armament: 1 × 12.7mm Heavy MG
Secondary Armament:
- 1 × 7.62mm co-axial MG
- 1 × 7.62mm GPMG in AA mount on rear of vehicle
- 1 × 7.62mm GPMG on commander’s cupola
- 4 × 81mm smoke grenade launchers
Ammunition:
- 300 rounds 12.7mm
- 3000 rounds 7.62mm
Combat Mass: 18ton
Hull length: 7.21m
Width: 2.7m
Height: 2.755m
Engine: 12 litre six cylinder in line turbo diesel
Power output: 230kW
Fuel: 480 litres
Road Speed: 105km/h
Off Road Speed: 30km/h
Road Range: 1000km
Off Road Range: 600km
Gradient: 27º
Step: 0.6m
Trench: 1.15m
Ford: 1.2m
Description
The primary purpose of the Ratel Infantry Combat Vehicle (ICV) series was to produce an indigenous South African built Infantry Fighting Vehicle. The result was the main series variant, the Ratel 20 ICV. All other series variants stem from this vehicle, including the Ratel 12.7 Command Vehicle (CV). The purpose of this variant was to provide a dedicated vehicle to assist commanders and Artillery Forward Observer Officers in their duties. 195 were built over its lifetime in the Mark 2 & 3 configurations.
Although the introduction of the Ratel 20 CV was successful, it was determined that an improved command vehicle could be built, which eliminated the main drawbacks of that new variant. Those deficiencies were, limited space in the turret due to the size of the 20mm cannon, a reliable air-conditioning system and radio communications. Improvements were thusly made, most visibly the removal of the 20mm cannon and 7.62mm co-axial machine gun. These were replaced by 12.7mm heavy machine gun. Like the Ratel 20 and 60 CV's, the new 12.7 CV also used the specialized command hull which included an (improved) air conditioning system, the fitting of map boards/working tables, better lighting and additional (improved) communications equipment. However, the turret was a modified design based upon the one mounted on the Ratel 60 ICV. Surprisingly the more comfortable seating in the previous command vehicle versions were not added due to them supposedly taking up too much space.