The Ratel 90 fire-support variant mounts a 90 mm low velocity gun. It is an unusual vehicle in that it can carry an infantry squad while retaining a 90 mm turret gun.
The low-velocity 90mm gun is generally considered to be inadequate for facing modern main battle tanks, but it is quite capable against armoured personnel carriers or other lighter vehicles, exposed infantry, buildings or entrenchments. The gun cannot be fired from a moving Ratel because the fire-control system is not stabilised.
On the rare occasions when SADF Ratels have encountered enemy armour they achieved success through manoeuvrability, firing at very short ranges. The 61 Mechanised Infantry Battalion Group found that it took multiple hits from 90mm guns to disable Angolan T-55s and T-62s. The SADF vehicles had to attack in groups, fire from point-blank range, and hit the tanks in the engine vents, turret rims, or similar weak points in order to have an effect!
This product was added to our catalog on Thursday 01 January, 1970.
