Radkampfwagen 90
Contents
Description
The Radkampfwagen 90 is a rank VII German light tank
with a battle rating of 9.7 (AB/RB/SB). It was introduced in Update 1.97 "Viking Fury".
General info
Survivability and armour
The Radkampfwagen 90, being a light tank, is surprisingly survivable. When talking about the survivability of this vehicle, it is best to separate the tank into two parts, the turret, and the hull.
The Hull
The hull of the Radkampfwagen 90 is the weakest part of the tank. While the hull does have "spaced armour", this is deceiving, as this will only protect you from HESH shells, and at 9.0, HESH is effectively useless, and in any case, most players will not be using it as their main shell. When hit by HEATFS, the hull of the Radwagen is very prone to hullbreak, but when hit with APFSDS, the tank can possibly survive a few hits, as long as the ammo is not detonated. In conclusion, the Radwagen's hull, at least from the front, can protect against non-apfsds autocannons, but the sides will be easily penned by even the Russian 14.5mms, and the rear by American .50 cals.
The Turret
The turret of the Radkampfwagen 90 is surprisingly bouncy and well armored. It features, at least on the front and sides, spaced armour, but as mentioned before, this will only protect you from HESH rounds. However, the turret of the Radwagen is very hard to hullbreak, even when using HEATFS. The turret face also features many weird angles, that have the possibility of richocheting enemy rounds off of the sides. Another thing to note is that because of the large amounts of empty space in the turret, coupled with the lower damage of modern rounds, can allow you to survive multiple hits to the turret, even sometimes with enemy shells doing no damage. However, as with any armour, this should never be relied on, and should only be used as a last ditch effort.
In conclusion, you can take hits sometimes, but in any case, it is better to not get spotted or hit in the first place, and to get the first shot off.
Armor Composition
- High Hardness Rolled Armor
- Rolled Homogeneous Armor
- Cast Homogeneous Armor
- Gun Steel
Armour | Front (Slope Angle) | Sides | Rear | Roof |
---|---|---|---|---|
Hull | 38 mm (75°) Upper Glacis
38 mm (46°) Frontal Plate Spaced Armor (29 mm HHRA, 200 mm Air, 38 mm RHA) Lower Glacis 10 mm Sponsons |
10 mm Upper
29 mm Lower |
15 mm Engine Compartment
10 mm Sponsons |
20 mm Crew Compartment
10 mm Sponsons 5 - 15 mm Engine Deck |
Turret | 50 mm Upper Front
Spaced Armor (38 mm HHRA, 127 mm Air, 84 mm RHA) Lower Front 33 mm (67°) Upper Mantlet Spaced Armor (33 mm HHRA, 120 mm Air, 26 mm RHA) Lower Mantlet 38 mm Mantlet Sides |
Spaced Armor (38 mm HHRA, 127 mm Air, 84 mm RHA) Side Front
Spaced Armor (16 mm HHRA, 80 mm Air, 29 mm RHA) Side Rear |
29 mm + 10 mm | 20 mm Turret Roof
50 mm Rear Mantlet Top |
Table Key:
- HHRA = High Hardness Homogeneous Armor
- RHA = Rolled Homogeneous Armor
Notes:
- There is a lining of 16 mm RHA between the sponsons and the crew compartment, creating spaced armor on the sides of the vehicle.
- There are optics apertures at the sides of the turret, which have a 50 mm armor plate and a 8 mm armor plate, along with the 20 mm optics. These are essentially a hole in the spaced armor of the turret sides, but most rounds go through the spaced armor anyway so it isn't really a weakness.
- Turret Ring - 50 mm
- Tires and Suspension - 10 mm
Mobility
Game Mode | Max Speed (km/h) | Weight (tons) | Engine power (horsepower) | Power-to-weight ratio (hp/ton) | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Forward | Reverse | Stock | Upgraded | Stock | Upgraded | ||
Arcade | 112 | 39 | 30.8 | 1286 | 1,584 | 41.75 | 51.43 |
Realistic | 101 | 36 | 734 | 830 | 23.83 | 26.95 |
Armaments
Main armament
The L7A3 105 mm gun mounted on the Radkampfwagen 90 is the same as the gun that the Leopard 1 series uses, and is the same in many aspects. Similar to the Leopard A1A1, the gun is equipped with a two-plane stabilizer allowing for firing on the move. The gun also has faster targeting speed at 5.1 degrees per second compared the the Leopard 1's 3.1 degrees per second in the vertical plane, but the turret traverse speed of the Radwagen, or horizontal targeting speed, certainly leaves something to be desired. A unique thing about this particular L7 is that it fires one of the best L7 APFSDS shells in the game, with higher penetration than even the first Rheinmetall 120 mm L44 APFSDS shell.
105 mm L7A3 | Turret rotation speed (°/s) | Reloading rate (seconds) | |||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Mode | Capacity | Vertical | Horizontal | Stabilizer | Stock | Upgraded | Full | Expert | Aced | Stock | Full | Expert | Aced |
Arcade | 42 | -9°/+20° | ±180° | Two-plane | 22.8 | 31.6 | 38.4 | 42.5 | 45.1 | 8.7 | 7.7 | 7.1 | 6.7 |
Realistic | 14.3 | 16.8 | 20.4 | 22.6 | 24.0 |
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 | ||
DM12 | HEATFS | 400 | 400 | 400 | 400 | 400 | 400 |
DM502 | HESH | 127 | 127 | 127 | 127 | 127 | 127 |
DM23 | APFSDS | 337 | 335 | 330 | 322 | 314 | 306 |
DM33 | APFSDS | 408 | 405 | 398 | 389 | 379 | 370 |
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% | |||||||
DM12 | HEATFS | 1,173 | 10.5 | 0.0 | 0.1 | 1,270 | 65° | 72° | 77° |
DM502 | HESH | 732 | 14.85 | 0.4 | 0.1 | 4,310 | 73° | 77° | 80° |
DM23 | APFSDS | 1,455 | 3.79 | N/A | N/A | N/A | 78° | 80° | 81° |
DM33 | APFSDS | 1,455 | 3.79 | N/A | N/A | N/A | 78° | 80° | 81° |
Ammo racks
Full ammo |
1st rack empty |
2nd rack empty |
3rd rack empty |
4th rack empty |
5th rack empty |
6th rack empty |
Visual discrepancy |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
42 | __ (+__) | __ (+__) | __ (+__) | __ (+__) | __ (+__) | __ (+__) | __ |
Machine guns
The coaxially mounted 7.62 mm MG3A1 is, in most situations, not useful. While being able to "blind" opponents by shooting at their optics, as with any MG, and able to easily dispatch of vehicles with exposed crew that have uptiered themselves, such as the M56, 2 factors really hold this MG back from being truly useful. These are:
- The MG is mounted coaxially, limiting its traverse and AA capabilities (especially against helicopters)
- This MG has very low penetration, as almost any thin armoured plate can withstand its fire
7.62 mm MG3A1 | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Mount | Capacity (Belt capacity) |
Rate of fire (shots/minute) |
Vertical guidance |
Horizontal guidance |
Coaxial | 4,000 (1,000) | 1,200 | N/A | N/A |
Usage in battles
General Playstyle
The Radkampfwagen 90, due to it's speed, may be used in a flanking manner, being able to go around the enemy and surprise them where they do not expect. When flanking, it is recommended to use roads if possible, as the Radwagen is a wheeled vehicle, and rough terrain will slow it down. However, even offroad, the vehicle is still capable of speeds that are much higher than many other contemporary MBTs. The scouting ability of the Radwagen can also be very useful, as it can help you support your team without risking the possibility of being spotted/noticed by firing your gun. The only downside to this playstyle is that the Radwagen is unusually large in size, most notably the hull, which makes it easier to be spotted.
The Radkampfwagen may also be used in a playstyle of a fast MBT. While the hull of the Radwagen is weak, not really well armoured, and prone to hullbreak, and easy to hit, the turret of the vehicle has multiple well angled and very bouncy plates, both interior and exterior, which allows the turret to sometimes take hits without damage, or even ricochet some shells. This bouncy turret can be used in a hull-down position, like a ridgeline, or a pile or rubble. However, it is important to note that even though enemy shells have a chance of bouncing, it is best not to rely on this, and to use the vehicle's stabilizer and situational awareness to get the first shot off.
Arcade Battles
In Arcade, the playstyle of the Radwagen changes a bit. Due to markers that will tell everyone where the Radwagen is, flanking is not as good of a strategy. However, the vehicle retains all other advantages, and due to the slight engine boost in arcade, will be able to hit very high speeds even offroad. Of course, enemies will also be faster in general, which makes this extra speed redundant. The vehicle's scouting abilities are useful in aiding the team. Your gun, for its tier, is good, and its decently low shell drop will aid in those long range shots that are common in arcade. Just remember - this is a light vehicle in a gamemode where it can't really hide, so when playing this vehicle in Arcade, be cautious.
Realistic Battles
In Realistic, the Radwagen's speed and scouting abilities are even more prominent. As mentioned above, it can flank around the enemy with stealth, and either scout enemies for the team or quickly knock them out with its very punchy gun. The team also will benefit from its scouting abilities, as in a gamemode without enemy markers, intel of the enemies whereabouts can be crucial to the team's victory.
Modules
Tier | Mobility | Protection | Firepower | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
I | Tires | Parts | Horizontal Drive | DM502 | DM23 | |
II | Suspension | Brake System | FPE | Adjustment of Fire | Airstrike | |
III | Filters | Crew Replenishment | Elevation Mechanism | Improved optics | NVD | |
IV | Transmission | Engine | Smoke grenade | Artillery Support | DM33 | Rangefinder |
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Introduces a new playstyle option for top-rank German lineups
- Complement the lack of scout vehicles top-rank German lineups
- Has DM23 APFSDS rounds as stock ammunition
- Is very mobile and very fast on both roads and cross-country terrain
- Has DM33 rounds available for research
- Deadly when facing lower-ranked opponents
- Remains competitive even when uptiered and gun still performs well even at 10.3
- 8.7 reload stock, can be further improved with crew training
- Hull is resistant against most heavy machine guns
- Spaced armour in the front and is resistant against low calibre SPAA
- Same turret as the Leopard 2K, can sometimes bounce shots
- Extremely effective in the hands of experienced players
- Is not sluggish at low speed
Cons:
- Does not have anti-aircraft machine gun
- Can be hull-broken
- Slower reverse speed than other wheeled vehicles
- Does not have thermal sights, putting it at a disadvantage of other vehicles of similar BR
- Wheeled vehicles means it will suffer on certain terrain and cannot pivot turn
- Has a large profile because of large turret
- Slower than average turret rotation
- Is littered with ammo
- Requires deep knowledge and keen situational awareness to play effectively
History
In the early 1980s, the German Federal Ministry of Defence, known as the Bundesministerium der Verteidigung (BMVg) in German, initiated a program to produce an eight-wheeled combat vehicle. The reason for the program's creation was the success of the Spähpanzer 2 Luchs and the Transportpanzer Fuchs, along with vehicles operated by other countries, such as the French AMX-10RC. Daimler-Benz was tasked with the construction of such a vehicle, and the requirements were for an 8 x 8 wheeled combat vehicle with a weight of less than 30 tons and a powerful armament and adequate armour. The first prototype was built in 1983, and was first known as the Demonstrationsfahrzeug Rad (demonstration vehicle wheeled) and then the Experimentalfahrzeug Rad (8×8), meaning experimental vehicle wheeled (8×8). It finally received the name Radpanzer 90, and it is known as the Radkampfwagen 90 in War Thunder. The final production model was completed in 1986. It featured a rear-mounted engine, had an independent suspension for the wheels, and the turret was that of the Leopard 1A3. The Radpanzer 90 never entered service, but the information gathered from the program was later used in the development of the GTK Boxer wheeled vehicle.
Media
- Skins
- Videos
See also
Links to the articles on the War Thunder Wiki that you think will be useful for the reader, for example:
- reference to the series of the vehicles;
- links to approximate analogues of other nations and research trees.
External links
Bibliography
- Radpanzer 90. (2020, February 22). In Wikipedia. https://de.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Radpanzer_90&oldid=197067150
Germany light tanks | |
---|---|
Pz.II | Pz.II C · Pz.II C (DAK) · Pz.II C TD · Pz.II F · Pz.Sfl.Ic |
Sd.Kfz.234 | Sd.Kfz.234/1 · Sd.Kfz.234/2 · Sd.Kfz.234/2 TD |
Marder | Marder A1- · Marder 1A3 · Begleitpanzer 57 · DF105 |
SPz PUMA | PUMA · PUMA VJTF |
Wheeled | Sd.Kfz.221 (s.Pz.B.41) · Class 3 (P) · Radkampfwagen 90 |
Other | Ru 251 · SPz 12-3 LGS |
Argentina | TAM · TAM 2C · TAM 2IP · JaPz.K A2 |
Czechoslovakia | Pz.35(t) · Pz.38(t) A · Pz.38(t) F · Pz.38(t) n.A. · Sd.Kfz. 140/1 |
France | Pz.Sp.Wg.P204(f) KwK |
Lithuania | Vilkas |
USA | leKPz M41 |
USSR | SPz BMP-1 |