Ratel ZT3: Ingwe Slinger

The Ratel ZT3 is a South African tank destroyer in the British tech tree. It is part of the Ratel family of fighting vehicles, a series of 6-wheeled IFVs developed to replace the obsolete Alvis Saracen APC in South African service. The Ratel ZT3 is a later variant of the Ratel platform fitted with the turret that houses a 7.62mm Browning MG4 machine gun and ZT3 ATGMs. With a top speed of 65 mph and the ability to carry a tandem charge ATGM that can penetrate 1000 mm of armour, it is an excellent tank destroyer. However, with minimal armour protection and a large silhouette, the ZT3A2 must be played according to its strengths.

Weaponry

The main armament of the Ratel ZT3 is the ZT3 ATGM. It is a South African beam-riding ATGM that is also found on the Superhind squadron helicopter. It can only be fired when the vehicle is stationary. The Ratel ZT3 fires two types of this missile, which the stats can be found below:

The ZT3 ATGM is a more than capable ATGM for the enemies it will face, it is capable of one-shotting most enemies with its 2.8 kg of explosive mass, including MBTs. The ZT3A2 missile comes with a tandem-charge warhead, allowing it to defeat ERA if the target has it, at the cost of a slightly decreased speed over the non-tandem-charge missile. The launcher can fire and guide all 3 missiles at once, so firing two in quick succession just to make sure you kill your target is a possibility. 

Mobility

The Ratel ZT3 has a top speed of 65 mph (104 km/h) and decent acceleration. You will easily be able to outpace heavy tanks and other slow-moving teammates at the starting rush for the capture points, especially on urban maps. It should be noted that the Ratel ZT3 is lighter than both previous Ratel variants in the game. This means that your acceleration is actually the fastest compared to the other Ratels.

The wide turning circle that comes with wheeled vehicles is a downside, especially when coupled with the huge size of the Ratel platform, so it's difficult to manoeuvre quickly. As with all wheeled vehicles, it is useful to brake when turning, as, due to being wheeled rather than tracked, the Ratel does not lose too much forward momentum while cornering, which can end the vehicle up crashing into a building or other immovable object. This sudden uncontrolled stop can seriously endanger the vehicle if you are close to the enemy.

Avoid direct contact with the enemy if possible, especially as you cannot fire missiles from the launcher when on the move. Try to flank around the enemy or race to good sniping or ambush spots. The Ratel ZT3 performs better on larger maps, as those have the required space to accelerate to higher speeds. The 65 mph (104 kph) top speed is difficult to achieve in normal matches, so you will probably be travelling at between 20 to 40 mph depending on the terrain, the amount of mobility modifications researched and the direction of travel.

Armour & Survivability

Due to the Ratel’s poor armour and large ammo, its survivability is quite sub-par, even compared to many of its contemporaries. However, the Ratel ZT3 has the improvement of 1 extra crew member, with a loader in the hull sitting next to the ammo. This allows you to survive a few hits that would have knocked out the other Ratel variants. Further, the missile launcher can be used to peek over cover, and the high body of the Ratel platform allows you to look over hills and fire at enemies with relative impunity, as the destruction of the launcher does not normally mean an instant kill, and it can be easily repaired with the parts modification.

As with all Ratels, it is best to avoid being shot in the first place, as almost any hit will send you straight back to the hangar. To improve survivability, try to steer clear of direct engagements by flanking or laying in ambush. If the enemy sees you, use the good reverse speed to get yourself out of trouble, use the smoke grenades or smoke shell to mask your vehicle or shoot them before they can target you.

Try and avoid vehicles such as the Marder 1A3, XM800T and Soviet light tanks such as the BMP family in close quarter engagements, as the high ROF autocannons will quickly shred through the Ratel.

Tactics

The least effective tactic of using the Ratel ZT3 is in a direct firefight. The low crew count, large size and weak armour do not combine to make a useful brawler, as does the inability to fire when moving. The Ratel ZT3's playstyle should focus on using cover to increase survivability and quick blows to enemy tanks.  Use the high mobility as a fast-moving flanker and make use of the high positioning of the launcher to peek over hills.

The Ratel is a wheeled vehicle, and when coming out of spawn, you can travel faster than the majority of your teammates. This allows you to get to good positions before the enemy can see you, further boosting your chance of survival. The Ratel ZT3 has Gen 2 Thermals, which – once unlocked – are very useful for spotting enemies, allowing you to comfortably locate and destroy enemies, even though you lack the scouting ability. Unfortunately, the laser rangefinder is largely useless, as it does not affect your missile launcher nor machine gun. I would recommend avoiding this modification until the very end.  The 4.0x–12.0x zoom on the Gunner sight allows the Ratel to sight enemies over long distance, and when coupled with the aforementioned Thermals, it allows you to pick and choose your targets long before they know you are there.

If the situation becomes unfavourable, pop smoke and disengage, as your armour is not going to block even the HMGs of most enemies at this BR. CAS is a particular nightmare too, as the cannons carried by enemy aircraft you will face can shred through the paper-thin armour with ease, and the Ratel ZT3 lacks a roof-mounted machine gun, leaving you defenceless even to lightly armoured helicopters.

I would also like to thank Typhоeus for editing the article and Keebird for working their magic with the screenshots!