Raketenjagdpanzer 2 (History)

Development

The Raketenjagdpanzer 2 was similar to the Raketenjagdpanzer 1, but based on the heavier chassis and hull used by the KanJPz , instead of the HS.30 hull. It still carried the Nord SS.11 ATGM though. The RakJPz 2 was much faster, better armored, had a longer range, and more reliable than the Raketenjagdpanzer 1. As such, it was used into the 1980's whereas the RakJPz 1 was used for a much shorter time. Hanomag and Henschel produced prototypes from 1963 to 1965, when the Bundeswehr placed an order for 318.

Design

Hull

As it used the same hull and chassis as the KanJPz, the RakJPz 2 was nearly identical in most aspects. The crew compartment was arranged differently, though. The driver maintained the same position, but the commander's position was moved to the right front of the crew compartment. Between and slightly behind the driver and commander was the gunner, located slightly in front, but between the missile launchers. The loader was moved to the center rear of the crew compartment, between and behind the missile launchers. The commander and driver each had hatches, but the commander did not have a cupola.

Armament

The RakJPz 2 differed from the KanJPz in that it did not have the 90 mm gun, but instead had two launchers for Nord SS.11 ATGM's. The launchers would automatically reload by retracting into the hull through hatches. The Nord SS.11 missile was a manual command to line-of-sight (MCLOS) wire-guided missile. It had 6.8 kg warhead, and could penetrate 600 mm of RHA, and its maximum range was 3 km. There were still two 7.62 mm MG3 machine guns, but in different locations. The ring-mounted MG3 was moved with the commander's hatch, and the mount was changed to a pintle mount. The second machine gun was located in the right side of the glacis, in a ball mount.

Production and Service

318 vehicles were produced by Henschel and Hanomag, entering service in 1967. They equipped tank destroyer companies of panzer-grenadier brigades and panzer brigades. In panzer brigades each tank destroyer company had a total of 13 RakJPz 2, while a panzer-grenadier brigade had a total of 8 RakJPz 2. By 1978 the RakJPz 2 was unable to compete with new Soviet designs, and needed upgrading to stay in service. As such, all but two RakJPz 2 received an upgrade, with HOT (High Subsonic, Optical, Remote-Guided, Tube-Launched) missiles replacing the SS.11 missiles. The final product of the upgrade included applique armor. This version became known as the Raketenjagdpanzer 3 or Jaguar 1. The upgrades were completed by 1982. The Jaguar 1 later received upgrades and became the Jaguar 1A3.

Specifications

General

• Crew: 4 (Commander, Driver, Operator, Loader)
• Total Weight (Battle Ready): 23 tons
• Length: 8.75 m (28 ft 8 in)
• Width: 2.98 m (9 ft 9 in)
• Height: 2.1 m (6 ft 10 in)
• Engine: 29,4l MTU MB 837 Aa V8 Water-Cooled Multi-Fuel Diesel 500 hp (368 kW)
• Suspension: Torsion Bar

Performance

• Operational Range: 385 km (239 mi)
• Maximum Speed (On-Road): 70 kph (43.5 mph)

Armor / Armament

• Armor Thickness: 10-50 mm (.39-1.97 in)
• Main Armament: 2 × Nord SS.11 ATGM Launchers (14 Missiles)
• Secondary Armament:
  • 2 × 7.62 mm MG3 Machine Guns (4,000 Rounds)
  • 8 × Smoke Dischargers

Operators

West Germany

Between 1963 and 1965 and between 1967 and 1968, Henschel and Hanomag built 318 Raketenjagdpanzer 2 for the Bundeswehr.

Jaguar 1 / Raketenjagdpanzer 3

Development

The Jaguar 1, also known as the Raketenjagdpanzer 3, was developed from the RakJPz 2. In 1978, the RakJPz 2 had become obsolete, and all but two received an upgrade. After the upgrade, they became known as Jaguar 1. The upgrade included a change from SS.11 missiles to HOT missiles, and included additional armor. The upgrades were finished by 1982.

Design

As the Jaguar 1 was an upgrade to the RakJPz 2, it was identical in many aspects. The main differences were additional armor, and the two SS.11 missile launchers being replaced by one HOT missile launcher. The armor upgrade mainly consisted of applique armor. The applique armor consisted of perforated steel plates covered by a rubbery substance. The applique was added to the front and sides of the hull. In addition, it received sideskirts visually similar to those on the Leopard series of main battle tanks. The HOT (High Subsonic, Optical, Remote-Guided, Tube-Launched) missiles had a much greater performance than the SS.11 missiles. HOT missiles are remotely guided, meaning they have a slightly longer range than the SS.11 wire-guided missiles. HOT missiles have a range of 3.75 km, whereas SS.11 missiles only have a range of 3 km. Whereas SS.11 missiles have a maximum speed of 190 m/s, HOT missiles have a maximum speed of 864 k/h. In addition, SS.11 missiles only penetrate 600 mm RHA, while HOT missiles penetrate 800 mm.

Production and Service

The Jaguar 1 served into the 1990's. It received upgrades along the line, including improved HOT-2 missiles, and possibly even HOT-3 missiles, which have a penetration of 1250 mm RHA. Upgrades to the optics, and the addition of thermal imaging equipment resulted in the Jaguar 1A3 variant. Austria also operated several Jaguar 1's until 2006.

Specifications

General

• Crew: 4 (Commander, Driver, Operator, Loader)
• Total Weight (Battle Ready): 25.7 tons
• Length: 8.75 m (28 ft 8 in)
• Width: 2.98 m (9 ft 9 in)
• Height: 2.55 m (8 ft 4 in)
• Engine: 29,4l MTU MB 837 Aa V8 Water-Cooled Multi-Fuel Diesel 500 hp (368 kW)
• Suspension: Torsion Bar

Performance

• Operational Range: 385 km (239 mi)
• Maximum Speed (On-Road): 70 kph (43.5 mph)

Armor / Armament

• Armor Thickness: 10-50 mm (.39-1.97 in) + Applique Armor
• Main Armament: 1 × HOT Missile Launcher (20 Missiles)
• Secondary Armament:
  • 2 × 7.62 mm MG3 Machine Guns
  • 8 × Smoke Dischargers

Operators

West Germany

316 RakJPz 2 were upgraded to the Jaguar 1 standard by 1982, and entered service with the Bundeswehr, serving until 2005.

Austria

Austria operated Jaguar 1 tank destroyers until 2006.