Difference between revisions of "Ratel 90"

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{{About
 +
| about = British light tank '''{{PAGENAME}}'''
 +
| usage = other versions
 +
| link = Ratel (Family)
 +
}}
 
{{Specs-Card
 
{{Specs-Card
 
|code=uk_ratel_90
 
|code=uk_ratel_90
−
|images={{Specs-Card-Image|GarageImage_{{PAGENAME}}.jpg}}
+
|images={{Specs-Card-Image|GarageImage_{{PAGENAME}}.jpg|ArtImage_{{PAGENAME}}.jpg}}
 
}}
 
}}
  
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With a needed playstyle keen to recon and opportunistic target eliminations by flanking, the Ratel 90 is currently the fastest vehicle available for the British tree at the rank.
 
With a needed playstyle keen to recon and opportunistic target eliminations by flanking, the Ratel 90 is currently the fastest vehicle available for the British tree at the rank.
  
−
Unfortunately, the vehicle is fast not because of a good engine, but instead because of the cutback of any armour. Players accustomed to holding off some shells in similar ranked vehicles as the [[Tortoise]] will have troubles surviving in this IFV. So instead ''it shall be played similarly to the [[Charioteer Mk VII|Charioteer]]'', now with more cooperative abilities as the scouting.
+
Unfortunately, the vehicle is fast not because of a good engine, but instead because of the cutback of any armour. Players accustomed to holding off some shells in similar ranked vehicles as the [[Tortoise]] will have troubles surviving in this IFV. So instead it shall be played similarly to the [[Charioteer Mk VII|Charioteer]], now with more cooperative abilities as the scouting.
  
 
== General info ==
 
== General info ==
Line 18: Line 23:
 
{{Specs-Tank-Armour}}
 
{{Specs-Tank-Armour}}
 
<!-- ''Describe armour protection. Note the most well protected and key weak areas. Appreciate the layout of modules as well as the number and location of crew members. Is the level of armour protection sufficient, is the placement of modules helpful for survival in combat? If necessary use a visual template to indicate the most secure and weak zones of the armour.'' -->
 
<!-- ''Describe armour protection. Note the most well protected and key weak areas. Appreciate the layout of modules as well as the number and location of crew members. Is the level of armour protection sufficient, is the placement of modules helpful for survival in combat? If necessary use a visual template to indicate the most secure and weak zones of the armour.'' -->
−
''Describe armour protection. Note the most well protected and key weak areas. Appreciate the layout of modules as well as the number and location of crew members. Is the level of armour protection sufficient, is the placement of modules helpful for survival in combat? If necessary use a visual template to indicate the most secure and weak zones of the armour.''
 
  
−
'''Armour type:''' <!-- The types of armour present on the vehicle and their general locations -->
+
'''Armour type:'''  
−
<!-- Example: * Rolled homogeneous armour (Front, Side, Rear, Hull roof)
+
 
−
* Cast homogeneous armour (Turret, Transmission area) -->
+
* Rolled homogeneous armour (hull, turret, cupola)
 +
* Cast homogeneous armour (gun mantlet)
 +
* Wheel (tires, suspension rods)
 +
* Bulletproof glass (driver windows)
  
 
{| class="wikitable"
 
{| class="wikitable"
Line 28: Line 35:
 
! Armour !! Front (Slope angle) !! Sides !! Rear !! Roof
 
! Armour !! Front (Slope angle) !! Sides !! Rear !! Roof
 
|-
 
|-
−
| Hull || 15 mm (30°) ''Front plate''  
+
| Hull || 15 mm (30°) ''Front plate'' <br>10 mm (75°) ''Upper Glacis''<br>20 mm (30°) ''Lower plate''  
−
10 mm (75°) ''Upper Glacis'' 20 mm (30°) ''Lower plate''  
 
 
| 8 mm (26°) ''Top'' <br>10 mm (2-27°) ''Bottom'' || 10 mm (0-43°) || 6 mm
 
| 8 mm (26°) ''Top'' <br>10 mm (2-27°) ''Bottom'' || 10 mm (0-43°) || 6 mm
 
|-
 
|-
−
| Turret || 12 mm (30°) ''Turret front'' <br>12 mm (8°) ''Gun mantlet'' || 10 mm (17-21°) || 10 mm (16°) || 10 mm (16°) ''Front part''
+
| Turret || 12 mm (30°) ''Turret front'' <br>12 mm (8°) ''Gun mantlet'' || 10 mm (17-21°) || 10 mm (16°) || 10 mm (16°) ''Front part''<br>10 mm ''Rear part''<br>8 mm ''Gunner hatch''
−
10 mm ''Rear part''
 
−
 
 
−
8 mm ''Gunner hatch''
 
 
|-
 
|-
 
| Cupola || colspan="3" | 8-10 mm (spherical) || 8 mm (46-85°) ''Hatch''
 
| Cupola || colspan="3" | 8-10 mm (spherical) || 8 mm (46-85°) ''Hatch''
Line 41: Line 44:
 
|}
 
|}
  
−
'''Notes:''' <!-- Any additional notes which the user needs to be aware of -->
+
'''Notes:'''
−
<!-- Example: * Suspension wheels are 20 mm thick, tracks are 30 mm thick, and torsion bars are 60 mm thick. -->
+
 
 +
* Wheels and suspension are 10 mm thick.
 +
* Belly is 8 mm thick.
  
 
=== Mobility ===
 
=== Mobility ===
Line 60: Line 65:
 
{{main|GT-2 (90 mm)}}
 
{{main|GT-2 (90 mm)}}
  
−
The Ratel 90 uses the GT-2, a licensed copy of the French 90 mm DEFA F1 low pressure cannon. The Ratel 90 comes with a stock OCC 60-62 HEATFS ammunition, capable of penetrating most tanks at its BR at any distance. Since the OCC 60-62 is a HEAT-FS shell, most of the damage will be spalling, meaning that the commander must know the opposing vehicle's crew layout and take out the most critical parts and crew members.
+
The Ratel 90 uses the GT-2, a licensed copy of the French 90 mm DEFA F1 low pressure cannon. The Ratel 90 comes with a stock OCC 60-62 HEATFS ammunition, capable of penetrating most tanks at its BR at any distance. Since the OCC 60-62 is a HEATFS shell, most of the damage will be spalling, meaning that the commander must know the opposing vehicle's crew layout and take out the most critical parts and crew members.
  
 
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"
 
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"
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==== Ammunition ====
 
==== Ammunition ====
−
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"
+
{{:GT-2 (90 mm)/Ammunition|OCC 60-62, OE 90 F1, OFUM PH90-F2}}
−
! colspan="8" | Penetration statistics
 
−
|-
 
−
! rowspan="2" data-sort-type="text" | Ammunition
 
−
! rowspan="2" | Type of<br>warhead
 
−
! colspan="6" | Penetration @ 0° Angle of Attack (mm)
 
−
|-
 
−
! 10 m !! 100 m !! 500 m !! 1,000 m !! 1,500 m !! 2,000 m
 
−
|-
 
−
| OCC 60-62 || HEATFS || 320 || 320 || 320 || 320 || 320 || 320
 
−
|-
 
−
| OE 90 F1 || HE || 13 || 13 || 13 || 13 || 13 || 13
 
−
|-
 
−
|}
 
−
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"
 
−
! colspan="10" | Shell details
 
−
|-
 
−
! rowspan="2" data-sort-type="text" | Ammunition
 
−
! rowspan="2" | Type of<br>warhead
 
−
! rowspan="2" | Velocity<br>(m/s)
 
−
! rowspan="2" | Projectile<br>Mass (kg)
 
−
! rowspan="2" | Fuse delay<br>(m)
 
−
! rowspan="2" | Fuse sensitivity<br>(mm)
 
−
! rowspan="2" | Explosive Mass<br>(TNT equivalent) (g)
 
−
! colspan="3" | Ricochet
 
−
|-
 
−
! 0% !! 50% !! 100%
 
−
|-
 
−
| OCC 60-62 || HEATFS || 750 || 8.95 || 0.05 || 0.1 || 877.7 || 65° || 72° || 77°
 
−
|-
 
−
| OE 90 F1 || HE || 640 || 10.45 || 0 || 0.1 || 945 || 79° || 80° || 81°
 
−
|-
 
−
|}
 
−
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
 
−
! colspan="7" | Smoke shell characteristics
 
−
|-
 
−
! Ammunition
 
−
! Velocity<br>(m/s)
 
−
! Projectile<br>Mass (kg)
 
−
! Screen radius<br>(m)
 
−
! Screen deploy time<br>(s)
 
−
! Screen hold time<br>(s)
 
−
! Explosive Mass<br>(TNT equivalent) (g)
 
−
|-
 
−
| OFUM PH90-F2 || 640 || 10.2 || 13 || 5 || 20 || 50
 
−
|-
 
−
|}
 
  
 
==== [[Ammo racks]] ====
 
==== [[Ammo racks]] ====
−
<!-- [[File:Ammoracks_{{PAGENAME}}.png|right|thumb|x250px|[[Ammo racks]] of the {{PAGENAME}}]] -->
+
[[File:Ammoracks_{{PAGENAME}}.png|right|thumb|x250px|[[Ammo racks]] of the {{PAGENAME}}]]
−
<!-- '''Last updated:''' -->
+
<!-- '''Last updated: 2.7.0.171''' -->
 
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
 
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
 
|-
 
|-
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! 5th<br>rack empty
 
! 5th<br>rack empty
 
! 6th<br>rack empty
 
! 6th<br>rack empty
 +
! 7th<br>rack empty
 +
! 8th<br>rack empty
 
! Visual<br>discrepancy
 
! Visual<br>discrepancy
 
|-
 
|-
−
| '''53''' || __&nbsp;''(+__)'' || __&nbsp;''(+__)'' || __&nbsp;''(+__)'' || __&nbsp;''(+__)'' || __&nbsp;''(+__)'' || __&nbsp;''(+__)'' || __
+
| '''53''' || 51&nbsp;''(+2)'' || 47&nbsp;''(+6)'' || 41&nbsp;''(+12)'' || 35&nbsp;''(+18)'' || 23&nbsp;''(+30)'' || 11&nbsp;''(+42)'' || 6&nbsp;''(+47)'' || 1&nbsp;''(+52)'' || No
 
|-
 
|-
 
|}
 
|}
 +
'''Notes''':
 +
 +
* Shells are modeled individually and disappear after having been shot or loaded.
 +
* Racks 7 and 8 are first stage ammo racks. They total 10 shells and get filled first when loading up the tank.
 +
* These racks are also emptied early: the rack depletion order at full capacity is: 7 - 8 - 1 - 2 etc. until 6.
 +
* Simply not firing when the gun is loaded will move ammo from racks 1 to 6 into racks 8 then 7. Firing will interrupt the restocking of the ready racks.
 +
* Turret empty: 35&nbsp;''(+18)'' shells
  
 
=== Machine guns ===
 
=== Machine guns ===
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! Mount !! Capacity (Belt) !! Fire rate !! Vertical !! Horizontal
 
! Mount !! Capacity (Belt) !! Fire rate !! Vertical !! Horizontal
 
|-
 
|-
−
| Coaxial || 3,600 (250) || 500 || N/A || N/A
+
| Coaxial || 3,750 (250) || 500 || N/A || N/A
 
|-
 
|-
 
| Pintle || 2,000 (250) || 500 || -10°/+3° || ±120°
 
| Pintle || 2,000 (250) || 500 || -10°/+3° || ±120°
Line 177: Line 145:
 
* Scouting, smoke grenades and smoke shells provide great supporting abilities
 
* Scouting, smoke grenades and smoke shells provide great supporting abilities
 
* Large vehicle size helps with the 90 mm gun recoil
 
* Large vehicle size helps with the 90 mm gun recoil
 +
* The large size of the vehicle paired with plenty of empty space gives it extremely high survivability in some scenarios
  
 
'''Cons:'''
 
'''Cons:'''
Line 188: Line 157:
 
== History ==
 
== History ==
 
<!-- ''Describe the history of the creation and combat usage of the vehicle in more detail than in the introduction. If the historical reference turns out to be too long, take it to a separate article, taking a link to the article about the vehicle and adding a block "/History" (example: <nowiki>https://wiki.warthunder.com/(Vehicle-name)/History</nowiki>) and add a link to it here using the <code>main</code> template. Be sure to reference text and sources by using <code><nowiki><ref></ref></nowiki></code>, as well as adding them at the end of the article with <code><nowiki><references /></nowiki></code>. This section may also include the vehicle's dev blog entry (if applicable) and the in-game encyclopedia description (under <code><nowiki>=== In-game description ===</nowiki></code>, also if applicable).'' -->
 
<!-- ''Describe the history of the creation and combat usage of the vehicle in more detail than in the introduction. If the historical reference turns out to be too long, take it to a separate article, taking a link to the article about the vehicle and adding a block "/History" (example: <nowiki>https://wiki.warthunder.com/(Vehicle-name)/History</nowiki>) and add a link to it here using the <code>main</code> template. Be sure to reference text and sources by using <code><nowiki><ref></ref></nowiki></code>, as well as adding them at the end of the article with <code><nowiki><references /></nowiki></code>. This section may also include the vehicle's dev blog entry (if applicable) and the in-game encyclopedia description (under <code><nowiki>=== In-game description ===</nowiki></code>, also if applicable).'' -->
−
 
+
[[File:Ratel 90 South-Africa.jpg|x200px|left|thumb|none|An assortment of Ratel IFVs, with a Ratel 90 in the foreground center.]]
 
The Ratel 90 was based on the Ratel 20 but with significant changes. The main feature of the Ratel 90 is a Denel DT-2 90 mm low velocity gun in the turret from the Eland 90 armoured car. Additionally, the hull roof was reinforced and the amount of troop hatches on top was reduced from four to two. Space for one of the passengers was removed to provide space for more 90 mm ammunition.
 
The Ratel 90 was based on the Ratel 20 but with significant changes. The main feature of the Ratel 90 is a Denel DT-2 90 mm low velocity gun in the turret from the Eland 90 armoured car. Additionally, the hull roof was reinforced and the amount of troop hatches on top was reduced from four to two. Space for one of the passengers was removed to provide space for more 90 mm ammunition.
  
Line 203: Line 172:
  
 
----
 
----
−
 
 
=== [[wt:en/news/7067-development-ratel-90-the-bush-breaker-en|Devblog]] ===
 
=== [[wt:en/news/7067-development-ratel-90-the-bush-breaker-en|Devblog]] ===
 +
[[File:SANDF Armed Forces Day 2017 - South African Army Ratel IFV (32921886001).jpg|x250px|right|thumb|none|A side view of a Ratel 90.]]
 
In the late 1960s, the South African military began changing its doctrine towards highly mobile warfare, embodied by small mechanized infantry units. The change in doctrine was necessitated when the military realized that heavy armour faced extreme difficulties operating in rural areas of the country. As a result, the army needed a new ICVnot only to ferry troops into battle but also to actively support them in the field. To that extent, a basic requirement for an ICV was formulated and a number of both domestic and well as foreign designs were evaluated.
 
In the late 1960s, the South African military began changing its doctrine towards highly mobile warfare, embodied by small mechanized infantry units. The change in doctrine was necessitated when the military realized that heavy armour faced extreme difficulties operating in rural areas of the country. As a result, the army needed a new ICVnot only to ferry troops into battle but also to actively support them in the field. To that extent, a basic requirement for an ICV was formulated and a number of both domestic and well as foreign designs were evaluated.
  
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;Skins
 
;Skins
  
−
* [https://live.warthunder.com/feed/camouflages/?vehicleCountry=britain&vehicleType=tank&vehicleClass=light_tank&vehicle=uk_ratel_90 Skins and camouflages for the {{PAGENAME}} from live.warthunder.com.]
+
* [https://live.warthunder.com/feed/camouflages/?vehicle=uk_ratel_90 Skins and camouflages for the {{PAGENAME}} from live.warthunder.com.]
  
 
;Images
 
;Images
Line 232: Line 201:
 
* ''reference to the series of the vehicles;''
 
* ''reference to the series of the vehicles;''
 
* ''links to approximate analogues of other nations and research trees.'' -->
 
* ''links to approximate analogues of other nations and research trees.'' -->
−
 
−
;Vehicles with similar chassis
 
−
 
−
* [[Ratel 20]]
 
−
* [[ZT3A2]]
 
  
 
;Related service history
 
;Related service history
Line 258: Line 222:
 
* [[wt:en/news/7067-development-ratel-90-the-bush-breaker-en|[Devblog] Ratel 90: The Bush-Breaker]]
 
* [[wt:en/news/7067-development-ratel-90-the-bush-breaker-en|[Devblog] Ratel 90: The Bush-Breaker]]
  
 +
{{TankManufacturer Sandock-Austral}}
 
{{Britain light tanks}}
 
{{Britain light tanks}}
 +
 
[[Category:Wheeled ground vehicles]]
 
[[Category:Wheeled ground vehicles]]

Latest revision as of 10:06, 14 January 2024

Rank VI USA | Premium | Golden Eagles
A-10A Thunderbolt (Early)
This page is about the British light tank Ratel 90. For other versions, see Ratel (Family).
Ratel 90
uk_ratel_90.png
GarageImage Ratel 90.jpg
ArtImage Ratel 90.jpg
Ratel 90
Britain flag.png Britain
IV Rank
Battle rating:
AB RB SB
6.3 6.3 6.3
Class:
Research:46 000 Specs-Card-Exp.png
Purchase:155 000 Specs-Card-Lion.png
Show in game

Description

The Ratel 90 is a rank IV British light tank with a battle rating of 6.3 (AB/RB/SB). It was introduced in Update "Ixwa Strike".

The Ratel 90 is an IFV designed to provide fire support for the Mechanized South African Battalions in combat. It was modified to this duty with the identical turret found on the Eland 90 Mk.7.

With a needed playstyle keen to recon and opportunistic target eliminations by flanking, the Ratel 90 is currently the fastest vehicle available for the British tree at the rank.

Unfortunately, the vehicle is fast not because of a good engine, but instead because of the cutback of any armour. Players accustomed to holding off some shells in similar ranked vehicles as the Tortoise will have troubles surviving in this IFV. So instead it shall be played similarly to the Charioteer, now with more cooperative abilities as the scouting.

General info

Survivability and armour

Smoke grenades
Creation of a smoke screen in front of the vehicle
Armourfront / side / back
Hull20 / 10 / 10
Turret12 / 10 / 10
Crew3 people
Visibility84 %

Armour type:

  • Rolled homogeneous armour (hull, turret, cupola)
  • Cast homogeneous armour (gun mantlet)
  • Wheel (tires, suspension rods)
  • Bulletproof glass (driver windows)
Armour Front (Slope angle) Sides Rear Roof
Hull 15 mm (30°) Front plate
10 mm (75°) Upper Glacis
20 mm (30°) Lower plate 		8 mm (26°) Top
10 mm (2-27°) Bottom 		10 mm (0-43°) 6 mm
Turret 12 mm (30°) Turret front
12 mm (8°) Gun mantlet 		10 mm (17-21°) 10 mm (16°) 10 mm (16°) Front part
10 mm Rear part
8 mm Gunner hatch
Cupola 8-10 mm (spherical) 8 mm (46-85°) Hatch

Notes:

  • Wheels and suspension are 10 mm thick.
  • Belly is 8 mm thick.

Mobility

Speedforward / back
AB117 / 20 km/h
RB and SB106 / 18 km/h
Number of gears8 forward
2 back
Weight20.1 t
Engine power
AB538 hp
RB and SB282 hp
Power-to-weight ratio
AB26.8 hp/t
RB and SB14.0 hp/t
Game Mode Max Speed (km/h) Weight (tons) Engine power (horsepower) Power-to-weight ratio (hp/ton)
Forward Reverse Stock Upgraded Stock Upgraded
Arcade 117 20 20.1 437 538 21.74 26.77
Realistic 106 18 249 282 12.39 14.03

Modifications and economy

Repair costBasic → Reference
AB1 745 → 2 533 Sl icon.png
RB2 136 → 3 101 Sl icon.png
SB2 780 → 4 036 Sl icon.png
Total cost of modifications40 100 Rp icon.png
77 300 Sl icon.png
Talisman cost1 400 Ge icon.png
Crew training45 000 Sl icon.png
Experts155 000 Sl icon.png
Aces630 Ge icon.png
Research Aces440 000 Rp icon.png
Reward for battleAB / RB / SB
100 / 130 / 160 % Sl icon.png
160 / 160 / 160 % Rp icon.png
Modifications
Mobility Protection Firepower
Mods new wheels.png
Tires
Research:
2 700 Rp icon.png
Cost:
5 200 Sl icon.png
185 Ge icon.png
Mods new car suspension.png
Suspension
Research:
1 800 Rp icon.png
Cost:
3 500 Sl icon.png
125 Ge icon.png
Mods new tank break.png
Brake System
Research:
1 800 Rp icon.png
Cost:
3 500 Sl icon.png
125 Ge icon.png
Mods new tank filter.png
Filters
Research:
2 500 Rp icon.png
Cost:
4 800 Sl icon.png
175 Ge icon.png
Mods new tank transmission.png
Transmission
Research:
2 600 Rp icon.png
Cost:
5 000 Sl icon.png
180 Ge icon.png
Mods new tank engine.png
Engine
Research:
2 600 Rp icon.png
Cost:
5 000 Sl icon.png
180 Ge icon.png
Mods tank tool kit.png
Improved Parts
Research:
2 700 Rp icon.png
Cost:
5 200 Sl icon.png
185 Ge icon.png
Mods extinguisher.png
Improved FPE
Research:
1 800 Rp icon.png
Cost:
3 500 Sl icon.png
125 Ge icon.png
Mods tank reinforcement uk.png
Crew Replenishment
Research:
2 500 Rp icon.png
Cost:
4 800 Sl icon.png
175 Ge icon.png
Mods smoke screen.png
Smoke grenade
Research:
2 600 Rp icon.png
Cost:
5 000 Sl icon.png
180 Ge icon.png
Mods new tank horizontal aiming.png
Horizontal Drive
Research:
2 700 Rp icon.png
Cost:
5 200 Sl icon.png
185 Ge icon.png
Mods tank cannon.png
Adjustment of Fire
Research:
1 800 Rp icon.png
Cost:
3 500 Sl icon.png
125 Ge icon.png
Mods airstrike.png
Airstrike
Research:
1 800 Rp icon.png
Cost:
3 500 Sl icon.png
125 Ge icon.png
Mods new tank vertical aiming.png
Elevation Mechanism
Research:
2 500 Rp icon.png
Cost:
4 800 Sl icon.png
175 Ge icon.png
Mods tank ammo.png
90mm_CN90_Smoke_ammo_pack
Research:
2 500 Rp icon.png
Cost:
4 800 Sl icon.png
175 Ge icon.png
Mods art support.png
Artillery Support
Research:
2 600 Rp icon.png
Cost:
5 000 Sl icon.png
180 Ge icon.png
Mods scouting.png
Improved optics
Research:
2 600 Rp icon.png
Cost:
5 000 Sl icon.png
180 Ge icon.png

Armaments

Main armament

90 mm GT-2 cannon
Ammunition53 rounds
First-order10 rounds
Reloadbasic crew → aces
8.7 → 6.7 s
Vertical guidance-8° / 15°
Main article: GT-2 (90 mm)

The Ratel 90 uses the GT-2, a licensed copy of the French 90 mm DEFA F1 low pressure cannon. The Ratel 90 comes with a stock OCC 60-62 HEATFS ammunition, capable of penetrating most tanks at its BR at any distance. Since the OCC 60-62 is a HEATFS shell, most of the damage will be spalling, meaning that the commander must know the opposing vehicle's crew layout and take out the most critical parts and crew members.

90 mm GT-2 Turret rotation speed (°/s) Reloading rate (seconds)
Mode Capacity Vertical Horizontal Stabilizer Stock Upgraded Full Expert Aced Stock Full Expert Aced
Arcade 53 -8°/+15° ±180° N/A 22.7 31.4 38.1 42.1 44.8 8.71 7.70 7.10 6.70
Realistic 14.2 16.7 20.2 22.4 23.8

Ammunition

Penetration statistics
Ammunition Type of
warhead 		Penetration @ 0° Angle of Attack (mm)
10 m 100 m 500 m 1,000 m 1,500 m 2,000 m
OCC 60-62 HEATFS 350 350 350 350 350 350
OE 90 F1 HE 13 13 13 13 13 13
Shell details
Ammunition Type of
warhead 		Velocity
(m/s) 		Projectile
mass (kg) 		Fuse delay
(m) 		Fuse sensitivity
(mm) 		Explosive mass
(TNT equivalent) (g) 		Ricochet
0% 50% 100%
OCC 60-62 HEATFS 800 3.65 0.05 0.1 877.7 65° 72° 77°
OE 90 F1 HE 640 5.27 0.2 0.1 945 79° 80° 81°
Smoke shell characteristics
Ammunition Velocity
(m/s) 		Projectile
mass (kg) 		Screen radius
(m) 		Screen deploy
time (s) 		Screen hold
time (s) 		Explosive mass
(TNT equivalent) (g)
OFUM PH90-F2 640 5.4 9 5 20 50

Ammo racks

Ammo racks of the Ratel 90
Full
ammo 		1st
rack empty 		2nd
rack empty 		3rd
rack empty 		4th
rack empty 		5th
rack empty 		6th
rack empty 		7th
rack empty 		8th
rack empty 		Visual
discrepancy
53 51 (+2) 47 (+6) 41 (+12) 35 (+18) 23 (+30) 11 (+42) 6 (+47) 1 (+52) No

Notes:

  • Shells are modeled individually and disappear after having been shot or loaded.
  • Racks 7 and 8 are first stage ammo racks. They total 10 shells and get filled first when loading up the tank.
  • These racks are also emptied early: the rack depletion order at full capacity is: 7 - 8 - 1 - 2 etc. until 6.
  • Simply not firing when the gun is loaded will move ammo from racks 1 to 6 into racks 8 then 7. Firing will interrupt the restocking of the ready racks.
  • Turret empty: 35 (+18) shells

Machine guns

7.62 mm Browning MG4 machine gun (coaxial)
Ammunition3 750 rounds
Belt capacity250 rounds
Reloadbasic crew → aces
10.4 → 8.0 s
Fire rate500 shots/min
7.62 mm Browning MG4 machine gun
Ammunition2 000 rounds
Belt capacity250 rounds
Reloadbasic crew → aces
10.4 → 8.0 s
Fire rate500 shots/min
Main article: Browning MG4 (7.62 mm)
7.62 mm Browning MG4
Mount Capacity (Belt) Fire rate Vertical Horizontal
Coaxial 3,750 (250) 500 N/A N/A
Pintle 2,000 (250) 500 -10°/+3° ±120°

Usage in battles

The Ratel 90 is a vehicle that should be used primarily in a support or defensive role. In the support role, it is recommended that you stick with your teammates, specifically behind them. Focus on scouting targets for your team. You should stay behind your teammates due to the vehicle's lack of armour, ineffective even against small arms. In the defensive role, you chose a firing spot and cover a certain line of sight with a cover nearby, peaking out only to fire. In both roles, you should make extensive use of your binoculars to scan for and scout targets.

Pros and cons

Pros:

  • Great penetration and adequate ballistics; currently the first accessible vehicle in the British ranks with HEAT rounds
  • Adequate mobility once fully upgraded (on roads and optimal terrains)
  • Scouting, smoke grenades and smoke shells provide great supporting abilities
  • Large vehicle size helps with the 90 mm gun recoil
  • The large size of the vehicle paired with plenty of empty space gives it extremely high survivability in some scenarios

Cons:

  • Gun is not stabilized, the vehicle needs to stop to fire accurately; HEAT requires a very precise firing
  • Huge size, hard to conceal and difficult to manoeuvre in close quarters
  • Very unreliable armour and only 3 crew members; easily destroyed on all angles even with 12.7 mm MG
  • Despite good top-speed, acceleration is not great on rough terrain; low power-to-weight ratio (14 HP/t)
  • Wheeled configuration and underpowered engine struggles on deep sand and snow

History

An assortment of Ratel IFVs, with a Ratel 90 in the foreground center.

The Ratel 90 was based on the Ratel 20 but with significant changes. The main feature of the Ratel 90 is a Denel DT-2 90 mm low velocity gun in the turret from the Eland 90 armoured car. Additionally, the hull roof was reinforced and the amount of troop hatches on top was reduced from four to two. Space for one of the passengers was removed to provide space for more 90 mm ammunition.

The Ratel 90 was designed to be used in the infantry support role but during the South African Border War they were forced into the anti-tank role. Against the initial T-34-85 tanks used by the FAPLA, the Ratel 90 proved to be a very deadly adversary. But once the FAPLA began receiving newer Soviet and Cuban T-54, T-55, and T-62 tanks, the Ratel 90 was forced to use its high mobility to outmanoeuvre the enemy tanks. Once the Ratel 90 was on the flank, they had to fire multiple 90 mm HEAT rounds into the enemy tanks, often aiming for weak points such as the engine and turret ring.

Operators

  • South Africa
  • Morrocco
  • Ghana
  • Rwanda
  • Djibouti
  • Central African Republic (CAR)

Devblog

A side view of a Ratel 90.

In the late 1960s, the South African military began changing its doctrine towards highly mobile warfare, embodied by small mechanized infantry units. The change in doctrine was necessitated when the military realized that heavy armour faced extreme difficulties operating in rural areas of the country. As a result, the army needed a new ICVnot only to ferry troops into battle but also to actively support them in the field. To that extent, a basic requirement for an ICV was formulated and a number of both domestic and well as foreign designs were evaluated.

The domestic Springfield-Büssing company developed a promising six-wheel ICVprototype, called the Buffel, constructed on the basis of a MAN truck. The further developed Buffel prototype was eventually selected for procurement and entered service with the military as the 'Ratel'. Production of the Ratel began in the mid 1970s, after a limited initial batch of production vehicles successfully underwent testing. Being a family of fighting vehicles, the Ratel came in various modifications, including the base model armed with a 20 mm cannon, two mortar versions, a close fire support variant armed with a 90 mm gun, as well as a command and ATGM carrier modifications.

Ratels served in numerous conflicts since their first introduction in the mid 1970s, with nearly all of its active service taking place on the African continent. The Ratel 90 saw its first combat use in 1980 during the South African Border War, where Ratel 90 anti-tank teams came face to face with T-54/55s on multiple occasions. By the end of production in 1993, some 1304 Ratels were produced across all variants. Due to its simplistic design and perfect fit for the dry climate of sub-Saharan Africa, the Ratel proved at home in the Middle East and north-west Africa. As a result, around a dozen more nations, excluding South Africa, still operate the Ratel ICV.

Media

Skins
Images
  • Ratel 90 WTWallpaper 01.jpg
  • Ratel 90 WTWallpaper 02.jpg
  • Ratel 90 WTWallpaper 03.jpg
  • Ratel 90 WTWallpaper 04.jpg
  • Ratel 90 WTWallpaper 05.jpg
  • Ratel 90 WTWallpaper 06.jpg

See also

Related service history
Similar playstyle

External links


Sandock-Austral
Ratel  Ratel 90 · Ratel 20 · ZT3A2
Eland  Eland 90 Mk.7

Britain light tanks
A13  A13 Mk I · A13 Mk I (3rd R.T.R.) · A13 Mk II · A13 Mk II 1939
A15  Crusader II · Crusader "The Saint" · Crusader III
A17  Tetrarch I
IFV  Warrior · Desert Warrior (Kuwait)
Wheeled  Daimler Mk II · AEC Mk II · Fox · Vickers Mk.11
Other  VFM5
South Africa 
SARC  SARC MkIVa · SARC MkVI (2pdr) · SARC MkVI (6pdr)
Ratel  Ratel 90 · Ratel 20
Rooikat  Rooikat Mk.1D · Rooikat 105 · Rooikat MTTD
Other  Concept 3 · Eland 90 Mk.7
USA  Stuart I · Stuart III

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