Wiesels for Ukraine? Ukraine Veteran's View

In this video we look at why the Wiesel could have a significant impact on the battlefield in Ukraine, this information is based on the views of a German combat engineer that is fighting with the Ukrainian Legion. Additionally, I interviewed a Leopard 2 gunner that faced Wiesels in exercises. We discuss mobility, maneuverability, the terrain in Ukraine, maintainability, firepower and detection.
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Disclaimer in 2018, 2019 & 2020 I was invited by the Panzermuseum Munster.
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Zwilling, Ralph: Waffenträger Wiesel 1 - Mobile Weapon Platform. Tankograd Publishing - Verlag Jochen Vollert: Erlangen, Germany, 2009.
Rheinmetall Defence: Route clearance package, www.rheinmetall-defence.com/e..., last accessed: 16th September 2020
MHM Dresden: Wiesel 1 (MK 20) air-transportable armoured vehicle Germany, 1991. Information Plate at MHM Dresden, Germany, date of publication unknown. Last physical access: 8th November 2019.
Dewitz, Christian: Mit Hightech gegen Heimtücke. In: Bundeswehr-Journal 18, März 2013. www.bundeswehr-journal.de/2013... last accessed: 16th September 2020.
Kanig, Christian: Bundeswehr beauftragt FFG mit der Modernisierung des Waffenträgers Wiesel 1. In: Europäische Sicherheit & Technik, 25. November 2019. esut.de/2019/11/meldungen/rue...
Hilmes, Rolf: Kampfpanzer Leopard 1. Entwicklung - Serie - Komponenten. Motorbuch Verlag: Stuttgart, 2019.
00:00 Intro
00:34 Wiesel Basics - Wiesel 101
00:59 Technical Data
1:31 Power to Weight & Range
2:53 Mobility in Difficult Terrain
3:30 Combat Engineer’s Points
03:45 Maneuverability & Surprise
5:45 The Wiesel is Smol
06:43 Ukraine Terrain & Combat Conditions
09:26 Russian Ground Surveillance Radar
10:09 Military History Group
10:22 Maintainability
11:08 Firepower
11:42 Wiesel Tactics
13:13 Wiesel with ATGM
13:40 The Mud?
13:59 Urban Combat Experience
14:43 Conclusion
#Wiesel #ukrainewar #WieselForUkraine

[@MilitaryHistoryVisualized]

Full Interview with Leopard 2 Gunner: kzbin.info/www/bejne/pGTJqnxtmJxjh6M Would the trenches be a problem for the Wiesel: kzbin.infoUv-wrftmxcI » Stukabook - Doctrine of the German Dive-Bomber - stukabook.com » The Assault Platoon of the Grenadier-Company November 1944 (StG 44) - sturmzug.com » Panzer: Army Regulation Medium Panzer Company 1941 - www.hdv470-7.com » IS-2 Stalin's Warhammer - www.is-2tank.com » StuG: Ausbildung, Einsatz und Führung der StuG Batterie - stug-hdv.de » Achtung Panzer? Zur Panzerwaffe der Wehrmacht - panzerkonferenz.de » Panzerkonferenz Video - pzkonf.de

[@matthewcherrington2634]

Behold the modern panzer 2

[@blokeVB]

Invisible to drones

[@mrkiplingreallywasanexceed8311]

Excellent! I enchoyt ze ferry efficient Cherman commentary!❤

[@user-hc5mf1kh3n]

Вотети танчики преминяли в, революции 17 года

[@user-hc5mf1kh3n]

Не позортись это чермет

[@Rakadis]

I had the pleasure of serving with German forces in Afghanistan in the mid 2000s. They had a good number of Wiesels and they performed great. Combined with our CV-90s working together we solved a lot of missions in very interesing ways. The flexibility was fenomenal.

[@iivin4233]

Do you have any stories to share?

[@LaserVelociraptor]

.

[@NMFalconry]

You lost that war.

[@notaspy1227]

Ah a fellow infantryman judging by the spelling of “phenomenal”.

[@notaspy1227]

@@nemiw4429 Lol we get it you have a degree in under water basket weaving.

[@CyrrusNL]

I had the distinct displeasure of fighting against the Wiesels operated by the Gefechtsübungszentrum Heer. We got our asses handed to us in a rather humiliating fashion by the ATGM Wiesels on our first run. They came at us through a forested area that we had pegged exclusively for dismounted infantry. The speed plus ambush effect basically enabled the Wiesels to kill a significant portion of a tank company and get away without losses. We were much better prepared on the second run. The Wiesels were still effective, the personnel of the Gefechtsübungszentrum Heer knows every centimeter of the terrain with will exploit that knowledge mercilessly, but we were able to put up a decent screen against them as well. My point is that the Wiesel really relies excessively on its ability to speed and ability to come at you from unexpected vectors. It's a surgical scalpel more than a Rambo knife and should be wielded with care, precision, and expertise.

[@lqr824]

What optics did you have that you couldn't spot the heat plumes etc.?

[@CyrrusNL]

@@lqr824 You missed the point. It had nothing to do with technology. It had everything to do with the tactical versatility the Wiesel has due to its small size and maneuverability.

[@lqr824]

@@CyrrusNL OK, it's small and maneuverable. I get it. What optics did you have that you couldn't spot the heat plumes etc.? Is it too small or low-powered to be visible on IR?

[@markus717]

In other words, it's perfect for NATO-trained Ukrainians to outflank, surprise & rout RuZZian mobik-convict forces. It sounds perfect to scout ahead & secure the flanks while doing a thunder-run with the few, say, Challenger MBT's that the Ukrainians have.

[@Elkarlo77]

@@lqr824 It has a conventional Car Engine in it. Together with the Cooling System and Exhaust System. Which means that the Engine has lower Emissions: Accustics and Heat then a 'normal' Tank or IFV Engine which are derived from Truck engines, or Costum Build would have. You can literally still talk normaly when one drives by. Together with their small size it enables them to hide in the Treeline and behind bushes. With late 90's IR not to spot, don't know about modern IR. Had the pleasure to see or not see when i was on Tank Driving School in Hammelburg in '99 when they were Training for KRK or KFOR. You see simply a Treeline in IR with older IR-Systems till THEY decide to break out of the woods. World of Tanks Bush Mechanics works for them. Which is intresting, as Russians Tanks don't have access to the modernised LeClerc any longer and have to rely on domestical produced IR Systems which compare to the Systems we used in the 90's. Don't know if more high resolution Systems would help to spot them behind the bushes.

[@j.f.fisher5318]

Ever since reading about the battle of Hurtgen Forest in WW2 and the limitations the forest imposed on tanks, I've felt the Wiesel is an underrated combat vehicle

[@juanmarelli7450]

Hurtgen Forrest was fullfil of Hill's, and was a Forrest, not a line of trees..if not, why hetzer wasnt used..was an infantry environment, thats all

[@kloschuessel773]

Its the velociraptor of tabks

[@johanderuiter9842]

Don't forget who slaughtered these hillbillies in that forest and other places where uncle sam didn't have a 10 to 1 superiority in numbers.

[@Opa_der_Kranke]

@@johanderuiter9842 Hurtgen forrest was Uncles Sams own little Stalingrad.

[@j.f.fisher5318]

@@johanderuiter9842 there is this thing called "history" you might want to check out some time.

[@l.m.crawford2480]

I was in a unit that portrayed the opposition force for U.S. Army units training at Ft. Polk, LA in the late 90s and early 2000s.... whenever the German airborne units rotated through with their Wiesels on partnership exercises, we took heed. The Wiesels (and their crazy assed crews) would chase you deep into the woodline, into the deepest swamps- they did not care. We had to scamper for long distances and at a high rate of speed to try to get away from them. In my opinion (based on anecdotal experience), I believe that the Wiesel would have a very positive impact on the war in Ukraine against the Russians.

[@ceejfletcher]

u think they need 7.62 0r 50 cal? also

[@l.m.crawford2480]

@Christopher T m'eh, maybe on the ATGM versions, but in both vehicles, the gunner could hop up really quick with a battle rifle or carbine to handle close threats, again, in my opinion. Adding a CSW would just give a 2 man crew more to maintain/ operate/ worry about.

[@h8GW]

Why could you not "take them out", though? Seems more prudent trying to escape one.

[@tavish4699]

@@ceejfletcher for what ? the whole point of them is to not engange with infantry for long periods of time shoot and scoot

[@l.m.crawford2480]

@h8GWBî oh trust me- we would do what we could to get at them- including bait them into a box attack/ baited ambush. But as you said- depending on what phase of the exercise was, dictated how we reacted to them. During decentralized ops, when we were meant to lay low and harass key targets and targets of opportunity, we would break contact- but with the Wiesel, it was extremely difficult. They are quiet, fast, and can almost go anywhere that a person can walk.

[@LVArturs]

Scary little forest goblins these Wiesels are.

[@nv3858]

It seems like everyone loves this vehicle ❤

[@clevermcgenericname891]

To bad Ukraine isn't a forest.

[@ericvandenavond8748]

Duende tank

[@IvanTre]

Given how popular .50 machineguns are over there, this wouldn't end well unless we're talking atgm carrier use. And even there you'd probably want a 2m aiming turret so you can aim from cover. Bringing indirect fire takes longer..

[@Kevin-bl6lg]

Dropping Wiesel from air and loaded with explosives would be a smart move. Edit: of course no crew in the Wiesel!!

[@TheChieftainsHatch]

I am a definite Wiesel fan, but i think it more a product of its task and time. Whilst i disagree with basically nothing you say in the video, I would be cautious of giving the impression it is suited for being a large scale issue tankette. That sort of thinking got folks into trouble in the 1920s and 30s. The idea of a small armored fire support vehicle has merit (though note the US has picked a 40-ton vehicle for the role) but if you really do need a small thing, i wonder if an RCV isn't a better option, especially if the German Army can't afford to donate any Wiesels due to its own needs and the unique mission set the vehicle was created for.

[@MilitaryHistoryVisualized]

> Whilst i disagree with basically nothing you say in the video Yes! > The idea of a small armored fire support vehicle has merit (though note the US has picked a > 40-ton vehicle for the role) Was there any ever incident in US history, where someone decided to with the smaller (or even medium) option? I mean it is "go big or go home" after all :)

[@leonfa259]

@@MilitaryHistoryVisualized I always wondered why so few of them were produced, at a million a piece (maybe even less for the Wiesel 1) it seams great to be rushing the Battlefield with a thousand of them. The main disadvantage to me seams to be that even squad machine guns can take the out easily. Also the cheap cost makes them much more attritable. The THeMIS of Milrem seams like a modern equivalent.

[@janniemeyer9951]

The 3rd world use of gun mounted Toyota Land cruisers have proven how important speed, versatility and surprise is. That’s how Ukraine Oblast was liberated. The Wiesel will do the same, maybe a bit modernised but still fantastic design!

[@tripod222]

It really would depend a lot on what context you use it in. If a squad light machine gun can punch every 10th round through the armor, that is going to be an issue. It's a scout vehicle. It can be used for more in a pinch, and my impression is that frontline soldiers love flexibility and options. That being said, this thing does not want to stick around an alert enemy. And concerning "attritability", it still costs a million which is not nothing, plus casualties are still casualties (loss of trained personell, morale issues, etc), so throwing them into a fight where the enemy starts shooting back, e.g. in a fire support role, seems, imho, a misapplication of the platform. Of course it's still better than driving a pickup truck through the woods :P

[@IkeanCrusader1013]

​@Leon FA not just any squad machine gun no, it would require something like a 14.5mm from the front, and 12.7 or up will take it out from the sides

[@9thbloodandfire508]

Former German OR-8 tank platoon leader here. I can fully support the statements of the Leo gunner, and also the opinion of this combat engineer. This little buggers can be like ants on an elephants foot. And for certain scenarios, like operations in the depth of the field to raid Russian supply, I can easily imagine Weasels. Also, they might give a mobility and support moment in trench warfare, as well as ambushes against armor. Good video!

[@brettk9316]

And this won't be tipping/falling over all the time? It's design looks off to me? Maybe I am mistaken here?

[@alfredfabulous3640]

...ja, ja, großmäulig wie immer. Bis dann der _russische Winter_ einsetzt, dann zeigt sich der Wert von "Dschörmann Hai Teknolodschi" = Wundebar anzuschauen bei der Parade, kaum zu gebrauchen wenn es ernst wird = SCHROTT! !!

[@0Turbox]

I see also some use in town fighting. They have the size of a van, paint the roof Ferrari red, park in a parking lot beside other cars, and you're safe from Drones 😄

[@HereticalKitsune]

Wiesel holds a special place in my heart. Drove in one as a kid when visiting the Erprobungsstelle in Meppen and the most memorable thing was its speed. That little weapon carrier is FAST! After that I served in an airborne support battalion and the repair group was working on several Wiesel. My unit, basically a warehouse like Amazon, also had tracks and spare parts for them. In basic training I also saw the Mk 20 version shooting its cannon one night. Small, fast, I can see how it could be useful in Ukraine.

[@Tscharlieh]

This was my word right from the beginning: Send Wiesels to Ukraine, especially in the terrain settings of Ukraine it would have been very valuable: Low profile, good passage through forests, Milan anti-tank, autocannon for urban warfare, easy to relocate via helicopters and planes, etc. Perfect for „hit and run“ tactics.

[@brookwhiteman9810]

But dude if you had the stugna on the top you could operate it from the inside making it a lot more safe. Yeah to reload it would be the same but still

[@j.f.fisher5318]

Forest was what I was thinking too.

[@j.f.fisher5318]

​@@brookwhiteman9810 but if you shoot a tank, relocating to avoid counterfire before reloading is a good idea.

[@tomreid5002]

LMAO! What a bot

[@SeamyEmail]

3 men 2 drones 1 Tesla and a shit load of fire and forget shoulder fired missiles to go tank hunting. Silent, light weight, no gasoline required, portable power bank, no heat signature, fastest production car on the market. It pulls sentry duty when you are not in it. 8 remote view cameras. At 40 Gs, dollar for dollar, the best fighting platform on the planet, being ignored by everyone. It will even go home when you tell it to, or come when you call. You may not like Elon, but he makes the car you need.

[@colbunkmust]

I love the Wiesel; it's so cute, and the ability to carry a bunch of AT missiles and hide in most places a tank can't get to makes it punch way above it's weight.

[@TheDude50447]

I think the biggest drawback is that for the missile variant you need 3 people packed together. So if spotted and hit you lose just as many people as the regular T series tank. And in such a small vehicle I guess any serious hit will kill or severly injure all 3 crewmembers.

[@Sippi81]

@@TheDude50447 good point

[@littlekong7685]

@Stezika15 And silent enough you can sneak up on sentries and knife em in the back =p But seriously as second line defensive support these could be useful. Run them up to counter Russian probes or infantry strikes while heavier elements get moving, they just have to pin or distract for a moment and the Russians will be stopped for much, much longer without knowing the wiesel has long since left and artillery/armour has been notified. They will either think its a BMP or an infantry crew and fight accordingly.

[@SnakebitSTI]

It's such a wittle tank! It's adorable!

[@danbusey]

Gotta love a cute tank. 😂

[@Yardbird68]

My mate from Germany, ex-BW, told me when I visited him in the early 2000's, how before the BW had the Wiesel, that they would lose performing war games with the US Army. But, when they began to use the Wiesels during the next war games with the US, the US would lose, for part of the reasons as mentioned in this excellent video, the Wiesel is easy to hide and can maneuver the flanks quite quickly. My mate also said, after a few more loses. The US tried to get the rights to build some in the US, but the Germans said NO. 😄🙂

[@lqr824]

> My mate also said, after a few more loses. The US tried to get the rights to build some in the US, but they said no. This part doesn't sound believable. The US always wants to build armaments domestically, and I think the brilliance here is the overall conception, not the fine details of the engineering.

[@Yardbird68]

@@lqr824 I think you didn't understand what I was saying. It was the "Germans" saying no; not allowing the US the rights to build the Wiesel.

[@Indiana_Jesus]

​@Yardbird68 yes but the US prefers to build/design their own things than buy from other countries

[@Yardbird68]

@@Indiana_Jesus Really? Then why does the Abrams M1A1 and M1A2 tank use as their main armament, the M256 120 mm smoothbore gun, designed by Rheinmetall AG of Germany, manufactured under license in the U.S. by Watervliet Arsenal, New York., then?😉

[@powerdriller4124]

If Putin wants to replicate a Weissel, he is not gonna care much for copyrights.

[@clydeosterhout1221]

During the battle for Hue, the USMC used a number of very tiny Ontos tracked vehicles to great advantage. Armed with 6 106 mm recoilless rifles they would drive around a corner, let lose with a full volley, and the quickly retreat before any counter measures could be taken. Almost any weapon system can be effective if used imaginatively and efficiently.

[@grahamstrouse1165]

Ontos was a crazy little vehicle! It’s value was highly situational but when used in properly it could really pack a punch.

[@AW-ix5qg]

A decent crew can make wonders with bad equipment. However, give them something decent like an Ontos or Wiesel...that's how legends are written.

[@Gearedfilm57]

This has to be one of the coolest military vehicles still in use today!

[@kloschuessel773]

Its probably what tank drones will be

[@jehoiakimelidoronila5450]

Yep. Give it take, we're going to have unmanned "drone tanks" the size of them wiesels

[@AbuHajarAlBugatti]

​​@@jehoiakimelidoronila5450yeah russia already uses them. I thinn a bit smaller even. Remote controlled mini tanks were spotted already

[@niko7626]

@@AbuHajarAlBugatti sure bro, whatever you say

[@AbuHajarAlBugatti]

@@niko7626 yes the Uran-9 and have used it in syria since 2018 aswell "bro". Oh wait youre german you are all uneducated and Ignorant anyway and all rude and antisocial so your comment is no surprise

[@01Ezio]

Again a very good video, like always. Most viewers should watch the other video about the Wiesel 1, to get a better idea of this tankette. For the lazy ones: Don´t think of the Wiesel 1 like it is a tank. Think of it like it is a 20mm autocanon or an ATGM Launcher on tracks. That´s it, the infantry gets their firepower for their center of gravity. It´s not that well protected, only rifle rounds shouldn´t penetrate. But it brings thermal optics and you can drive this thing nearly everywhere you can walk. You can find possible paths for Wiesel 1 by stretching your arms left and right and walk. If you don´t touch a tree, a wall or something else, the Wiesel 1 will fit. If you can walk over it, the Wiesel 1 will drive over it. It´s very interesting that the gunner thinks Wiesel 1 are everywhere. Mostly they are not, but they can be everywhere very quickly.

[@thelazy0ne]

Thanks 😏

[@corneliusmcmuffin3256]

Even a mosin with AP ammo could probably penetrate the sides of a Wiesel.

[@userequaltoNull]

​@@corneliusmcmuffin3256 I mean, yeah, mosins use the same ammo as PKM, and specialized AP ammo to the sides isn't generally what is meant by "rifle caliber protection"

[@redstar96gr57]

Isn't the point to make the "enemy" think they're everywhere? This would be a great asset.

[@01Ezio]

@@redstar96gr57 it´s a great asset. But not everyone can work with it. Had some allied forces on a training mission that had no idea how to use Wiesel 1 for their task.

[@mustafamustermann3859]

I have a few years of experience with Wiesel 1 TOW up to the level of platoon commander (only in exercises though). I am skeptical about its use in offensive operations. Wiesel commanders have the unfortunate tendency to get to greedy. You have to take risks in offensive maneuvers. This will often pay off as long as you are facing tanks and mounted infantry. A single dismounted concealed sentry or sniper in your flank can be a huge problem though. Medium machine guns in your flank give you a bad time when you are on the move. An Infantry section can cause huge damage when they manage to ambush you on your little flanking trips. The autocannons are often not able to protect you in such situations and have similar problems once they get caught at close distances. Drone surveillance might be both an amplifier and a solution to this problem. It is true that they are very efficient vs tanks in the defensive though. Against Abrams battalions, kill rates of 1:5 were not unheard of in exercises. The steeper trajectory and better capabilities of Eurospike would probably open up even more options for ambushes and firing positions. After all, the main problem of ATGMs is to get them to a nice and stealthy position. On the defense, you have far better options to protect yourself vs prolonged artillery strikes as well. You are usually in reserve and can support several infantry units in a huge area. Basically the classic tank hunter role with a lot of planned flanking positions. Infantry tells you where your prey is and you weasel your way through the woodwork to your shooting gallery. The mud might be an issue, but you can pretty much always recover stuck vehicles with a rope and another Wiesel of the platoon very quick.

[@j.f.fisher5318]

Supporting infantry clearing woodlines would seem the most efficient mission to me.

[@mustafamustermann3859]

@@j.f.fisher5318 Provided you can use the range of the autocannons, yes. In my experience, such positions can usually also be reached by bigger vehicles. A regular armored IFV or even APC is usually better in such situations in my opinion. 7.62 can cause serious damage to all parts of the vehicle at short ranges. Everything bigger than than is a real issue. The gimmick Wiesel 1 can do for you much better is bringing your ATGMs to odd places real quick. Mobile 20 mm is obviously nice as direct fire support for infantry, too. APCs, MBTs or IFV usually can overwatch Woodlines just as well though. They have better protection and often better optics.

[@Floletni]

​@@mustafamustermann3859 I think a Wiesel is better when you attack and there a lot of forest or trees. IFV or even APC can only operate on roads or path. A wiesel can support the infantry direct in the forest with its autocannon and supress the enemy better than other vehicels. Around for example Dibrowa it can be very usefull.

[@westphalianstallion4293]

Wiesel, especially alone, in the offense..."sporty" if you get my rough translation. To support an infantry attack as an assault gun its golden. In my Opinion the Wiesel is by its designe the best "light mobile firepower solution" for light/airborne infantry. The technique is a bit outdated.

[@westphalianstallion4293]

@@mustafamustermann3859 As someone who has too much experience in walking and running behind those Wiesel. Were there any fieldmodifications where it was tried to put on some footholds/ Trittbretter on the back or side, so it can carry a few troopers on the side or back? Like the urban assault pickups special police units use. I really like Wiesel as the good old "Frontfeuerwehr", to make use of their speed as well, and if I can carry 4 to 6 extra troops, maybe even with heavy weapons, tankrider style to support the engaged troops it can make a significant difference.

[@schullerandreas556]

I wrote my bachelors thesis on a simulation of a Wiesel 2 driving characteristics on different types of soil. On very soft soil the Wiesel drawbar pull(Zug) decreases rapidly and the slip(Schlupf) increases. All due to the extremely low ground pressure. How can I explain it.... tracked vehicles have a great advantage over wheeled vehicles on soft terrain, they distribute the weight over a large contact area and do not sink in. But there is a sweet spot for that, because if the terrain is too soft and you dont have enough ground pressure your slip increases, that means that you slide, steering, braking and accelerating becomes very hard and unresponsive. So there are terrains that the a MBT like a Leopard can manouver in without problems but a Wiesel would have a hard time moving in.

[@Frank7748124]

I like the Wiesel but I was thinking that those narrow tracks may have trouble in soft soil. Does Ukraine deal with the same soft soil that Russia is known for?

[@samfetter2968]

​@@Frank7748124 take it from someone that drove a Wiesel for 3 years...nope. A Wiesel has a ground pressure of 3kg per square cm. That thing can drive over your feet with its almost 3 tons and nothing would happen to your feet. Tracks it leaves on gras up to 15cm growth length are vanished after a couple hours. We drove these things in Ukraine like soil during times of heavy rain for weeks...no Wiesel ever got stuck. Not even in terrain that the Leo2s hat turned into a cesspool of mud. It is really hard to get them stuck. I managed it once in 3 years 😏

[@axelhopfinger533]

@@samfetter2968 And even if, giving them slightly wider "Ostketten" for even better weight distribution and traction should solve that.

[@donknizi9792]

Just a matter of changing rubber sections with off road ones. Not developed for peacetime Germany but easy to do

[@arumatai]

@@samfetter2968 at only 3kg /cm2.... would they even set of an antitank mine? most AT mines need >100kg to go off and the trigger certainly isn't bigger than 15 or so cm2...

[@fnorgen]

Well I'm sold. In a fire support role it would inspire much more confidence than an armoured Humvee with a .50 on the roof. Should be a very cost effective solution to a lot of problems that don't strictly need the firepower of an entire tank.

[@j.f.fisher5318]

Yeah but I'd assume much better able to follow infantry into a wooded area compared to a hummvee.

[@patrick4391990]

great topic, I've been talking about the great fighting value of the TOW Wiesel for years. I was neither a weasel nor a leopard man myself, but I got to know both very intensively in combat exercises and encouraged their crew. The silhouette and maneuverability of the Wiesel made it a very serious opponent of the main battle tanks. very cheap to produce and very easy to drive.

[@flashnfantasy]

The mortar version of the weasel would be helpful in clearing trenches. The mortar has a range of 8km/5mi, and the weasel could be combined with drone operators. Due to it's size and mobility it would be ideal to drive very close to the frontlines.

[@SlavicCelery]

Why not just use a HMMV to carry both the mortar and the drone crew? *Shrug* the hummer is cheaper and easier to repair.

[@doorcf]

@@SlavicCelery the hummer isn't a dedicated mortar carrier, said mortar must be either towed and detached or if carried by the hummer itself dismounted unless said hummer is heavily modified (mortars have quite the recoil) at which point it isn't really cheap anymore, also by being tracked the wiesel has less ground pressure. Also you forgetting the ammo.

[@CorePathway]

Wiesel II w/ 120mm mortar is a fantastic shoot and scoot rig.

[@SlavicCelery]

@@doorcf The hummer carries more, and there are open topped mortar carriers. When it comes down to it, it's still significantly cheaper. I'm not saying it's always the right call or anything like that. But, how many mortar Wiesels are there right now? And now think about how many hummers there are.

[@doorcf]

@@SlavicCelery The open topped hummers still are either used to tow or carry the mortars, the only mortar carrier (think mortar spg) need mortars with recoil mechanisms like cardom and even then. A hummer with a mortar is not that much more useful to all the other mortar + tow vehicle combos the ukrainians have been using since forever.

[@echohunter4199]

I’m a retired US Army Tank Destroyer and used the TOW system. The Wiesel is an incredible vehicle as a tank killer, it’s small and easy to camouflage. As tank destroyers we have to displace to an alternate firing position after we fire our first missile and a tracked vehicle makes it easy and has a low chance of getting stuck like a Jeep or HMMWV would. A small vehicle can weave through forests and do it quietly so we’re often overlooked since tanks are usually busy looking for many other things. Being a Tank Destroyer requires an intelligent leader who can analyze the terrain and consider the enemies abilities and likely course of actions upon contact. To maneuver closer to an enemy tank, I’ll call in fire support from artillery or heavy mortars, this will also serve to create a smoke screen when I request white phosphorus mixed with HE rounds. Artillery fire will also cause the enemy to button up and respond to the barrage by moving into the wood line where I’m waiting to engage at my will where I’m safer. I can hit targets out to 4,000 meters and I prefer to engage at 2,500-3,000 meters but I can engage at just 150 meters if necessary. It’s a game of shoot and scoot, we’re usually used to slow down an enemy formation causing them to deploy and spread out which will slow their advance. I anticipate their artillery strikes once they spot me or they’ll hit suspected positions where I would likely be so I have to consider this and make sure I don’t set myself up for failure. If I can slow a unit down, it buys time for our tanks to get in position and coordinate heavy air strikes and more artillery missions. As I displace rearward, I use artillery as a shield to help distract the enemy from shooting at me as I move my vehicles in more open terrain. We bound backwards by sections (2 vehicles at a time) so one section is covering me as I displace past them and set up a position to cover their bound.

[@WotansCry]

no kidding - in regards of Ukraines Situation: we see now alot of trench attacks. I think a wiesel or two for every platoon would give them just the right tool and support they would need to storm a russian trench. Its armor is weak but still enough to be immune to small arms fire.

[@STRYKER1467]

Im not sure if the AT Missile variant is useful in ukraine, the russian tanks specialiced in heat protection on their tanks and an ATGM is technically a heat propelled missile, thats why i think the MK20 version is better and should be used for infanty support.

[@echohunter4199]

@@WotansCry we all know the easiest way to deal with a trench defense line is to just assault it and cross the thing doing 50 MPH. They’ll likely have land mines but it’s east to breach the minefield with MICLIC’s (MCLC) then pound it with WP rounds from artillery then blast through the lines and go deep past their layers until the units are in the rear area then unleash mayhem.

[@lqr824]

@@STRYKER1467 Remember Russia is fielding lots of T-55's now. And even if a tank isn't destroyed, blowing up a few sensors, breaking the treads, or demoralizing the crew will all be a lot better than NOT doing so. The missile will be fine.

[@STRYKER1467]

@@lqr824 we all saw those T55s on the trains but literally no one saw them on the battlefield yet and thats kinda odd, theres literally no footage of them lol im starting to belive putin trolled us all.

[@charliefoxtrott1048]

Don't know why but they remind me in a very roughly comparison to the PT-boats of WWII - for example in the pacific theatre those small boats where running circles around the big ships, harrasing them with their torpedos and M2 guns and creating havoc.

[@marcusott2973]

You have such great content, love to hear about this modern day tankette.

[@Flakfire]

Had hoped to see these from the beginning, so I'm glad someone is giving them a proper look. Based on the combat scenarios out of Ukraine, they seem a major asset for defensive operations and flanking maneuvers. Everyone counts them out because of the armor, but too few people see speed, size and concealment as armor (especially at a time when modern ATGM systems can break anything on the market anyway). I have always been surprised that Switzerland did not acquire any Wiesels because they seemed perfect for operations in urban or forested environments - essentially the same terrain in Ukraine.

[@wastedangelematis]

A huge upgrade from units in jeeps for sure

[@KenshiroPlayDotA]

7:45 : Protection against indirect fire should be much greater for main battle tanks when compared to the Wiesel. One would need access to the detailed armor profile of an MBT to draw clover-leaf vulnerability pattern as for the Tiger in the Tigerfibel, but let's suppose that a 152mm shell landing within 25m of the tank would destroy or seriously damage it (it was within 30m with 155mm shells in the "Who Says Dumb Artillery Rounds Can’t Kill Armor?" article by Major Durham). Neglecting the size of the tank to draw a circle from its center of mass, this means any impact in a circle covering 1,963 square meters would destroy or seriously damage the tank. The biggest difference with the Wiesel is that an MBT has an area about 4 times larger to get direct hits. On the other hand, the Wiesel, according to Tank Encyclopedia, has an armor thickness of 6-8mm, which is way less than any surface on an MBT and about the protection afforded by modern body armor with ceramic plates. So the area in which a 152mm shell could land to destroy or seriously damage a Wiesel would be much larger ; if it's a 40m radius, then the area is 5,026 m2. So the real protection advantage of the Wiesel against indirect fire when compared to an MBT is its extra stealth, reducing the likelihood it will be targeted in the first place.

[@NonEuclideanTacoCannon]

_"Wiesels for Ukraine"_ is a phrase I've been wanting to see for a while. Lets go!

[@cmdr.tigirius6757]

The engine is from Volkswagen/Audi and was used in the Typ43/44 Audi 100TD. I had this motor as a non turbo and it was awesome and reliable. It only needs diesel and a oil change every 15k km. Nothing else ;)

[@JRBendixen]

Germans are #1 with diesel engines.

[@franccosta69]

just makes me want to buy a wiesel and put a stage 3+ on it XD

[@Scoti17]

@@franccosta69 how about a Wiesel GTD? :D

[@knutgut1]

I was a german Paratrooper 1991-99 .And i love our little Sweetheart Wiesel.Its unvelievable fast.

[@philchristmas4071]

I've always thought the wiesel was a genius idea by the Germans. I know we've tested them in the US with the mortar system. 🇺🇸🤝🇩🇪

[@giftzwerg7345]

Dam that sounds devious, Getting shelled from infantry places only to scoot away like a car while beeing bullet proof,

[@jam67uk]

Your icons for 'Mobility', 'Surprise' & 'Camouflage' are EXCELLENT 😂

[@galesams4205]

I served in vietnam centrail highlands on a M-48 52 ton tank. The APC were faster at 45 mph and a good tank with 25 mph. The enemy had the T-63 russian made and T-62? the american M-48 Had a 90 mm main gun . The Wiesel could never handle a anti-tank mine.

[@tadasdovii8262]

Have eperience facing them in heavy MILES system equiped exercises. Those little flees was extremely mobile, hard to spot, and sometimes was making so unexpected actions that even very experienced nco was speaking about them as most annoying oponent. My AT team guys was braging that they are too small and too agile to take good aim on them. Same was spoken by US tank crews, who was many times cought in ambushes in totaly unexpected places. There is some advantages : its smaler than toyota hillux, often can be repaired with civilian parts by any civilian experienced with audi or wv cars, incredibly silent, mobile. From logistic perspective its probably best solution. If they would be used by military with little uniform and bureucracy issues i would afraid to fight vs them. In high mobility operation they would be nightmare.

[@frankgulla2335]

Thanks for an insightful description of this little Wiesel and its uses.

[@vicnighthorse]

I have a curiously potent affection for AFVs like this.

[@petesheppard1709]

Almost criminally underappreciated. Small (tiny!) size, nimbleness and firepower; it should have been a no-brainer for light infantry/airborne units. It may be that to many, it looks 'cute' rather than 'powerful'.

[@alessandromazzini7026]

Just send Wiesel and R3 Capraia and we are Gold (May Need to build some of the latter tho😂)

[@rsfaeges5298]

Very interesting! Excellent to have the views/experience of the two Users (Leopard gunner & Combat Engineer).

[@GazzaBoo]

Anyone who has seen a weasel hunting knows exactly why this is called a weasel. Small, fast, agile and deadly against much larger prey. It's a ferocious little hunter. I think these would be ideal in Ukraine. Add an external bin for some Javelins and a Stinger and you have a very potent, high-mobility death machine that looks like a toy. 🥰

[@fgregerfeaxcwfeffece]

That doesn't even seem like too much of a stretch. The anti tank version already comes with a guided missile. So that's probably already in the specs.

[@samfetter2968]

​@@fgregerfeaxcwfeffece Wiesel1 comes with either a TOW launcher plus a MG3, or a 20mm autocannon. Wiesel2 adds a 120mm mortar variant, a stinger AA variant and a medivac variant to the family. They are all air transportable. They are designed to give light infantry formations some heavy punch that can keep up with them.

[@NesconProductions]

Great information (as always..) here & would say the name Wiesel is perfect for this vehicle (seen one recently defend itself valiantly in a trench from a Ukrainian soldier - who kindly provided the 🦦 a means to climb out on his own)! Would add that there is a version of the Wiesel (Wiesel 2 Air Defence Weapon Carrier _Ozelot_ ) that carries four ready-to-fire Stinger or vertical firing LFK NG SAM missiles. Would envision either missile could engage ground targets in a pinch. Would also imagine 🤔 such vehicles would be very useful to Ukrainian forces. The more common models of the Wiesel seem best suited for an ambushes or fighting from prepared (semi-dug in) locations but having the added capability to move through forest cover (thus to a degree able to avoid locations where mine fields are most commonly planted) unique among armored vehicles that are able to employ such considerable firepower (missiles or cannon). The ability to help the infantry clear out enemy trench positions with TOW / Spike missiles or 20mm cannon at closer range the Wiesel could prove very useful as well. PS - If one were to get stuck in the mud probably could get a few guys to push it out 😁. In tough cases a local farm tractor or Toyota Highlander would do the trick 😉. Also might be time for the German military to consider a follow-on Wiesel 3 for last Wiesel 2's were built almost 20 years ago.

[@scotsbillhicks]

Not that Ukrainian farmers have any expertise in this respect…

[@samfetter2968]

​@@scotsbillhicks probably would tow them straight home to keep it, cause "it looked cute" 😆

[@JustSomeCanuck]

So, it's basically a modern Renault FT-17, which had either a machine gun or a larger anti-tank gun in the turret and was designed to run all over the battlefield causing general chaos. Also, clearly the best vehicle for pumping up the crowd while waving a giant foam finger 🤪

[@wilsonli5642]

This is a fascinating little vehicle. I'm actually shocked that it's Western and not former Soviet - it seems like as a fast, cheap, easy to maintain vehicle, it would have fit very well with their armored doctrine!

[@MrHodoAstartes]

Not at all! Soviet doctrine expected enormous tank battles with artillery and air support. This thing can't carry troops, it can't break through NATO lines, and it can't lob shells beyond the horizon. Basically useless for their doctrine. Conversely, Germany envisioned a defense-in-depth scenario where the German tank force would pick off as many T-72 as possible at range, then maneuver and retreat. The entire point of the Bundeswehr was to delay Russian assaults long enough for America, France and Britain to mobilize their forces and push the Russians back. Hence why Germany used to be dotted with hidden landing strips, bunkers, command posts etc. There was a plan for defending every house, every hill. In this, airborne troops needed to cause mayhem in the rear of Russian forces, needle flanks, cut supply. And for this the Wiesel is ideal. It can support an infantry raid, hose down enemies from ambush, hit hard and retreat into the forest. It's a support platform for mobile infantry on a chaotic battlefield where much bigger things lurk. So yeah. Not really anything like the Russian doctrine of overwhelming air landings supported by heavy helicopters and aerial bombardment. Wiesel fits much better with the German TTV doctrine. That is "Tarnen, Täuschen und Verpissen" - Camouflage, Deceive and Piss off. Meaning the enemy should not know where you are or what's happening and by the time they find out you better be elsewhere.

[@SofaKingShit]

@@MrHodoAstartes And that is perhaps why Germany was fighting in places like North Africa and the Russian steppes whilst Russia has essentially only ever fought along it's own borders. Because of their Russian expansionist doctrines correct?

[@mytwocents2817]

It´s used and designed for german paratroopers it had to be that small to fit into planes that carried paratroopers and it had to be agile and yet a threat. But yes its ambivalent the unusual thing is that it ist german and not overdesigned and good to maintain, but on the other hand it´s functional which is another german thing.

[@majungasaurusaaaa]

They have their airborne IFV.

[@alternativ5400]

Eine Fülle genialer Graphiksymbole: Treffend, einfach, ästhetisch. Respekt!

[@jbarbeau92]

There’s a good KZbin breakdown demonstrating the lethality of tankettes against tanks in WWII. “When Cockroaches Hunted Panzers” it’s about a Polish TKS commanded by Roman Orlik taking out 3 German tanks in an ambush.

[@maurycygrabara1269]

It is a pity that so few tankettes in Poland were equipped with HMGs.

[@danielkol477]

Good, now google "cherrypicking"

[@jbarbeau92]

@@danielkol477 lol I’m obviously not saying they’re foolproof, just a historical example of an extremely well commanded tankette performing above expectations, demonstrating the necessary tactics but that it isn’t entirely impossible.

[@danielkol477]

@@jbarbeau92 so you didn't google cherrypicking

Many interesting points. I also heard from an international Legion fighter that his german comrades would like Wiesel during the battle for Kherson. I wonder if those guys said that because it is the best vehicle for the job or if they were Paratroopers and therefore the Wiesel was the vehicle they knew. Which remindes me of the Falklands War and the CVRTs. The then Captain Fields of the Blues and Royals wrote in his book that the capabilities of the CVRTs were not well understood by the Commandos and Paras because they had no inimiate knowledge and apparently expericene with those light tanks. A fact that led to them arguably beeing under utilize till the last night of the war. In any event this underscores the importance of combined arms training and familirazatio with all weapons available to an army. PS: And of course MHV has a shot of a Wiesel standing between trees ready to illustrate exactly what is beeing said :)

[@swunt10]

Jäger in the regular Panzer Divisions also use the Wiesel. Sadly our always incompetent MoD decided to now replace the Wiesel in the Panzer Divisions with Boxer. Another oversized heavy vehicle that wouldn't stand a chance at a front line.

[@terminusest5902]

The 120mm mortar variant is also an excellent system. Useful to support light infantry units. Very good targeting system but it is very costly. The 20mm canon may be useful against drones. The 20mm, 120mm, and TOW can complement each other very well. Also a Stinger SAM and radar version. The mortar can fire IR smoke to cover other Weasels and prevent accurate enemy fire. The Weasles need to shoot and scoot.

[@bobbyileta6185]

Again a superb video. Had some experience with the Wiesel1 as a Fallschirmjäger. Not as quiet Like the Luchs(old Bundeswehr recon vehikel) or Fenek, but I had some nearby axident/overrolling cause you dont recognise These dammed rubber tracks. At the Balkan the BW recognise, the "Rohrerhöhung" so you culd shoot at hilly terrain.. Same in Afgh.. The max speed at roads, could reach 120km/h. The engin is limited at 80km/h, but it is easy to bypass. But the main thing is the cost factor.. A used Wiesel cost nearly nothing in relation to a Leopard2.. The Wiesel was designt for the cold war theatre in Europe. For me as a old Paratrooper, is the "end of live" desission from the BMVG about the Wiesel a wrong way.

[@len2063]

Mobility is very important and being smal, fast and silent helps a lot. Small mobile hybrids vehicles that can act intelligent is probably the future.

[@hollismccray3297]

Small but fierce. You make some very good points in the video. The Wiesel should also be easier to maintain in improvised facilities instead of needing to be hauled back to facilities with specialized equipment.

[@sebastiankumlin9542]

Yes, I've been thinking about this system. I think it could work well.

[@viandengalacticspaceyards5135]

There may be another factor; price. I don't know the cost, but I suppose you get a number of Weasels for the price of a Leo. Not saying that's a replacement, but I can imagine that several Weasels scooting around could in some situations be more upsetting than having one big target.

[@knoll9812]

If the Russians are stalking a Leo they may get taken out by a Wiesel

[@strongback6550]

I like these little things. They're very cool

[@brunsheimmasterbaitwilfrie2811]

Back in the 80's there was a saying in germany, that the Bundeswehr existed to keep warsaw pact troops busy until real soldiers arrived from overseas. And indeed its equipment looked like a peculiar mix of sometimes very advanced but peculiar and sometimes rather puny systems, seemingly centered on the aim of producing most of it at home, if nothing else. Only since the invasion of Ukraine I really got to appreciate, what a BRILLIANTLY thought through combined arms system it represented for its task. And its sole task really was to take the fun out of a soviet invasion into western germany, bogging it down and then chopping it up. Being kind of a one trick pony made it so ill equiped for what was required of it later on. But since the invasion of Ukraine I repeatedly find myself musing of how usefull it were for Ukrainians to have this or that - though often modernized, especially if armed with rockets of course - piece out of BWs inventory of old, not only Gepards and Leos. To give an example: Everyone back then wondered why germany did'nt buy something like Apache attack helicopters, but went instead with strapping 6 AT missiles to a tiny unarmored civilian grade helicopter you can basically shot down with a pistol, but were to be employed in a fashion in which the enemy only got to see them for a couple of seconds, as mobile AT-systems. Seeing now of how little use those fancy russian attack helicopters are for attacking something effectivly without dying on the one hand and seeing those tank columns and all those tree lines in Ukraine, I realize how a couple of these could have ruined more than one day for russians.

[@tomwhite7983]

What is most remarkable about the Wiesel is how similar, though modern, it is to the Light Mk VI used by the British in early ww2. The Light was very numerous but not regarded as a particularly effective war-time combat vehicle. Yet, here we see a modern equivalent of the same vehicle once again in use. I imagine the two biggest factors that make it work in a modern sense are better communications to facilitate a concentration of force, and a more effective range of firepower options to allow it to handle more situations.

[@christopherwebber3804]

Yes there was a lot of talk before WW2 about using swarms of small tanks, which in the end, didn't work. The Italians had a similar problem with the L3. However most of the Mk VI tanks were only armed with a .5 in heavy machine gun. What's changed is the ability to mount a missile system with long range tank killing capability. It should be noted that the WW2 German Puma armoured car had its 50mm AT gun removed and replaced by a 20mm because the commanders were using it as a tank destroyer instead of a recce machine and it sounds like the weasel would suffer from the same problem.

[@cx3268]

Seems some countries are getting rid of their obsolete equipment. Any and all new machines to that area raises the issue of maintenance & parts to keep them functioning. Training is also an issue to use any new equipment properly.

[@openphoto]

They'll all get the new USA gear, but it will be a purely coincidence

[@Thisandthat8908]

i mean it's basically a tracked carwith a big gun. You'd expect combat experienced Ukrainians to get on top of it rather quickly.

[@HingerlAlois]

Wiesel 1 are going to be in active German service until circa 2030 when they get replaced by a new air transportable armored weapons carrier (27mm machine cannon or MELLS anti-tank missiles).

[@gerdmeyer1601]

Also, we should not forget how much time you need to build a Tank. Building new Wiesel should we way faster and cheaper. Maybe they can experiment a little, if they can put a 25mm Bushmaster or a 30mm Autocanon on it, maybe with an addodional Maschinegun. Maybe to heavy for Wiesel 1, but maybe doable with Wiesel 2. Reason is: Weapons aviable. I don´t know if there are enough 20mm guns around to put on a Wiesel. Most IFV have 25mm and bigger Autocanons, that means you can borrow them from them, they are currently manufactored for them. I don´t think, the exact 20mm Autocanon from the Wiesel is currently manufactored, means they would have to restart production, and that could be longer than the other parts of the vehicle. As for the missle variant: Wiesel 2 with a remote turret with at least 2 missles should be not a big problem, but needs development time.

[@sebastienhardinger4149]

Great video - never heard of that system but it seems like a natural fit

[@leandrogoethals6599]

The sonic and chaos emblem had me rollin :)

[@dreed7312]

I like it. I think a company of these split between the 20mm and the atgm could bring a lot of quick moving firepower with good fuel economy. 80 litres to go over 200 kilometers seems pretty good compared to other vehicles. There isn't much room for ammo, so if they survive long enough in an engage.ent they will need resupply often.

[@waynegriswold8953]

remote control airplanes and multirotors (aka drones) have shifted war tremendously! is recce a thing of the past? not quite but how it is preformed is being changed like night and day! the sneakiness of a tank is less important now because you can just send a drone up to check things out and then once you know that next hill or next point your taking is clear or not you know how to proceed! with all that being said i love the Wiesel! i want one just to drive to work!

[@user-zx7dp3qp6u]

I was station in Germany in 1980 and served with some German outfits that had these little jewels I was truly impressed with the tow variant ruff riding but would go almost anywhere and get there quickly. My kidneys haven't been the same since my first ride in one but a good peace of kit

[@user-hy9eu9rd3h]

Thank you ! Waiting for Wiesels!

[@ditzydoo4378]

the Weasel in ambush scenarios as seen in the Ukraine punches way above its weight and would be a very good fit for hit and run, scouting and interdiction rolls requiring limited support.

[@aaronleverton4221]

One of your major points at the end is about the powerpack for the Wiesel and it's civilian origin/ease of maintenance. Wouldn't Scorpion family also tick the box on that criteria while delivering most of what Wiesel is capable of, but swapping the extreme lack of size for greater availability?

[@ajohnymous5699]

It would be an easier target for Russian radar systems to detect and engage, and it might not be as capable as traversing Ukraine's forested areas of other hard to traverse areas compared to the Wiesel. It could fill a similar role to an extent but would likely be used in a different capacity compared to the Wiesel.

[@aaronleverton4221]

@@ajohnymous5699 There is nothing "stealth" about Wiesel. It is made of ferrous metal and Scimitar/Striker/Sabre are all less then 40cm taller and less than 60cm wider. I'm the first to admit I'm not up on modern Russian radar, but the kinds of forests being described in the video would suggest a lot of clutter and most of what I've been reading lately has been all about infra-red, not radar.

[@anadin0612]

Great work let's hope someone who can, can put your super idea into action.

[@Robin6512]

Great. This something I said in the beginning of the start of the war. Also the mortar version is very interesting.

[@deanstuart8012]

Why do i keep thinking of Lt. Gruber's "little tank"?

[@barrythatcher9349]

😂😂😂 Rene, would you like to come for a ride in my little tank? 😂😂😂

[@gigiopincio5006]

now i want one

[@mikejfranklin7000]

The Wiesel seems like a really useful weapon system. There will be situations where its manoeuvreability is compromised, but to a layman like me it looks great. It may look top-heavy, but if it can drive on a sideways slope of 30 degrees it must be fairly stable. Presumably, the main weight is low down.

[@billyslide7645]

The Wiesel reminders me a lot of the US Marines ‘Ontos’ from the 50s and 60s. Small, quick, and with 6 105mm Recoilless rifles. Seems it would be used in a similar manner.

[@samfetter2968]

The first concepts were exactly that. So you are spot on

[@christophero1969]

Thanks!

[@MilitaryHistoryVisualized]

Thank you!

[@CookieMonster-nt8hh]

one of my friends used to drive Pumas with the German military. he has similar tales of Wiesels outmaneuvering them, being rather hard to hit and a general menace in exercise. but where the Wiesel really shines is its air mobility. Though unlikely to be useful right now, we just might see some airborne operations with Ukraine's Mi-8 or Mi-17 fleet. in lack of other Western alternatives (besides hmmwv and the like) and afaik BMDs, the Wiesel might be an enabling factor, making airborne assault either more effective of even viable in the first place

[@lokket9995]

Nice explanation.

[@joebloggs430]

A wiesel armed with a short-range mortar system + drone for attacking trenches could be very effective.

[@maineiacman]

I think the Wiesel would be a perfect design to upgrade upon for a new light tank. Make it even smaller with automation and maybe an electric version if you can get it to have 200+ miles of range without being to heavy or big.

[@1LEgGOdt]

You do understand that a Li-Ion battery fire is much harder to put out than a gas or diesel fire? Plus a Li-Ion fire burns hotter than a gas or diesel fire. And in a combat environment how would you provide a reliable and safe location for recharge? Gas and Diesel Turbine engines are far better suited for combat vehicles. Plus some of the engines that are in Modern MBTs and combat vehicles are designed with engines that can run on other types of flammable fuels from normal low grade gasoline and diesel, kerosene, filtered cooking grease and even alcohol

[@scratchy996]

The problem is the gun size, more specifically the recoil. The 20mm gun on the Wiesel has 1 metric ton of recoil. A bigger gun would push the vehicle around. If you want a 30mm gun, you need something the size of the FV107 Scimitar. Electric is not feasible, you can't just stop the war to bring a recharging station to the front lines and wait for hours until you charge those things. Diesel-electric hybrid would be a good idea, since you can drive silently for a short distance.

[@maineiacman]

Tanks going to burn if hit by a missle regardless. For charging the battery would need to be 200 miles of range, with turbine generators on trucks behind the frontline providing 90% charge in 15-30 minutes.

[@unskilled822]

@@1LEgGOdt imagine carriying a mission with 100 of those mini wiesels then after some time, 7 of them burn and create wildfire engulfing the entire forest and wiesels lol

[@unskilled822]

@@scratchy996 diesel electric would probably work since diesel is not as reactive to fire, but still would need to be inside some protection to lower the incredibly hot temperature electric batteries can reach if it burns, for electric batteries i wonder if it would work an emergence system that encloses completely the litium battery to deplete oxygen but dunno.

[@kimgosseye8588]

Seems excellent in deed!

[@mr6johnclark]

The Wiesel is one vehicle that would be interesting to update with the latest tech, From a mounted Javelin missile systems, to hard kill systems, to mounts to mountings for switchblade drones to extremely powerful engines with a possibilty for hybrid engines. What i wonder is how these lighter tanks fare against Ukranian mud?

[@tsclly2377]

True.. at least for the AFU demonstrated style, but too late.. They should have been manufacturing these years ago.. or after you did the first video on this.. I'd use the larger version.. with a 23mm auto-cannon.. and a 3-5 man (= driver) open top version as a basic carrier (all guns dis-mountable).. this would replace most of the civilian vehicles that are now required.. but as I say... too late.

[@SouthParkCows88]

Everybody breaking out the equipment in storage for this conflict. 😂

[@SouthParkCows88]

@@waffins7057 like lend lease in HOI4 give away your obsolete equipment.

[@johngriffiths118]

Shame no one kept Universal Carriers after the War

[@hisdadjames4876]

And an opportunity to demand replacement with state of the art weapons🥳 War is always the friend of the military and its supporting industry. More guns, less butter..hoorah!🤷‍♂️

[@nobodyherepal3292]

@@johngriffiths118except farmers 😊

[@HingerlAlois]

Wiesel 1 are in active service with the German military. They will be replaced from 2030 onwards by a new vehicle (Luftbeweglicher Waffenträger) that’s probably going to be armed with a Mauser BK-27 machine cannon (the same as used by the Eurofighter for example) in the machine cannon version and MELLS in the anti-tank version.

[@markusdegenhardt8678]

I have asked myself often if the wiesel would be a good weapon for Ukraine. And eventhough i love this vehicle, i came to the conclusion that the ukrainian Battlefield wouldnt provide many useful opportunitys for a wiesel. This video has changed my opinion about that completly. Thanks Bernhard

[@speakeasy366]

The wiesel would probably be very useful against low flying helicopters and infantry. Small size also makes it a hard target to hit and see.

[@STRYKER1467]

there is just one issue, the armor can be penetrated by 7.62 rounds already which mean even the AKM is able to kill the crew inside.

[@tavish4699]

@@STRYKER1467 first of all i doubt that and secondly even if true it is not a problem for the role it is supposed to be used in

[@STRYKER1467]

@@tavish4699 thats offical its even stated in the manual but this tank was never meant to be shot at to begin with, cant help you if you dont even believe the official statements.

[@Yuki_Ika7]

i love the Wiesel! it would be awesome to see Ukraine get some of these!

[@biggiouschinnus7489]

A lot of this reminds me of the point in favour of the Universal Carrier during WWII: Light, small, incredibly versatile, and cheap. What I wonder is if there might be a possibility for infantry battalions organised to use the Wiesel in a similar manner to the way the Universal Carrier was used - as a jack-of-all trades.

[@The43rdHammer]

Fascinating! So Weasels working alongside the MBT and army air corps / air force seem to be the conclusion to my eyes - combined arms

[@user-tb8yx5nj2d]

Amazing little tanket ✌️. Im sure it could be a very handy little weapon for Ukraine in the environment they are fighting in.

[@ochjoo77]

I think the Wiesel is a pretty under rated tool.

[@davidsoulsby1102]

A very similar vehicle to the British Scorpion which, unfortunately is not made anymore. I did read that Ukraine had been looking at civilian owned and some Asian and Southern Asian countries still have them in service. I think this type of vehicle along with even smaller units the German airborne use could be of great help. Especially the AT versions. The auto canon would provide perfect covering fire for infantry.

[@JonMartinYXD]

I wonder if a Wiesel could be made electric, or at least a hybrid. Use the internal combustion engine to get near the front, shut it down, wait to cool down, then go silent and cool for the mission. A big battery would also help when hidden in a tree line in an overwatch role: sensors and turret could be used with the engine turned off. Two people sitting inside a Wiesel are going to be less noticeable in IR because their body heat will be dissipated over the much larger surface area of the Wiesel.

[@swunt10]

They build an electrically driven Wiesel powered by a diesel generator. It worked exceedingly well sind it didn't need a gear box and the electric motors where in the drive wheels. It needed less maintenance and had higher acceleration than a normal Wiesel. But the german MoD is stupid and don't support the Wiesels. They even try to get rid of it. Probably because the military industrial complex makes more money from selling big, high maintenance vehicles

[@JonMartinYXD]

@@swunt10 Cool, and not cool.

[@bremnersghost948]

Various British CVRT's have proven to be excellent in Ukraine terrain, Wiesel should be as good.

[@davidty2006]

Wiesel is Scimitar just way smaller.

[@rat488]

I had no idea this tank existed and I was wondering when we would see what we could do with a really small tank and everything about this tanks abilities seems amazing!

[@russellvonastel7111]

Very good video,and accurate, thank you

[@davidjohnston6547]

When used properly with infantry the Wiesel would be a menace on the battlefield, giving added firepower where needed and taking out lightly armored targets quickly with hit and run tactics and leaving the enemy in disarray. It can also be used to bolster defensive positions being able to quickly move to needed areas providing much needed firepower. It's small and very maneuverable, easily hidden, and has the firepower infantry might need.

[@holylingus]

They should make a remote or AI controlled variant of the Wiesel.

[@phil3114]

they already have en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SYRANO

[@j.f.fisher5318]

The US Army has something similar in development too. Chieftain did a video on it.

[@shaneintheuk2026]

If there’s one lesson of this war it’s how poorly prepared we are. It’s amazing how difficult everyone is finding getting ammunition and equipment. In a way it’s helpful as a wake up call to the West that fancy weapons aren’t much use without logistical support.

[@goetzliedtke]

That's why Chieftain says the Sherman was the best tank of WWII. Everything about it was from a logistics point of view. The side that gets to the battle first with the most will almost always win.

[@highlorddarkstar]

It is a truism that Armies are always prepared for the last war. Which, fortunately, was true for the Russians as well.

[@maximilliancunningham6091]

Thank You.

[@JoeWalker98]

Its like a tracked quad bike that had a big gun or launcher for the size, and you get frag protection. Perfect scout, reccy, flanker, spotter, td, and rapid urgent cargo unit.

[@MagicRabbit]

If the videos keep going into that direction, we will have something like "Walther P99 - Better than F22 Raptor?"

[@marcwilliams2504]

this is an excellent weapon system. I tried to get the US Army to acquire them to assist with airfield seizures and airfield security operations. But of course, they said no.

[@danielkol477]

Good now tell us your honest opinion about BMD series and their performance in Gostomel/Bucha/Irpin triangle i.e. airfield seizure/security operations.

[@powerdriller4124]

If Putin wants to replicate a Weissel, he is not gonna care much for copyrights.

[@bernardotorres4659]

It is a very intriguing little tank , like a weasel it can get in to any place taking advantage of it small size .

[@thiswildridecalledlife9194]

So the narrow tracks.What is the weight distribution per inch? My thinking is on it's use in mud and soft ground.Such as the fields of farmland in the spring.

[@sevenproxies4255]

What kind of protection does a Wiesel offer? It's so small so I have to ask. Will it protect the crew against HMG ammunition like .50 BMG or similar? If so, then I'd imagine it's quickness and small size would make it very useful.

[@MilitaryHistoryVisualized]

Only regular rifle not HMG, at least according to the sources I used. Someone commented something different.

[@zhufortheimpaler4041]

STANAG 4569 Level 1-2. So NATO standard 5.56x45mm ball and 7.62x51mm ball from 30m away, sovjet standard 7.62x39mm ball from 30m. MAAAYBE 7.62x51mm API from 30-50m (STANAG 4569 Lvl3)

[@sevenproxies4255]

@@MilitaryHistoryVisualized Thanks for the reply! I must admit I'd feel a little skittish about driving one if a burst of HMG fire might take me out inside it. 😄 While dedicated anti-tank weaponry is of course a risk, HMG's tend to be more prevalent on vehicles in modern warfare.

[@brexxes]

​@@sevenproxies4255 slap some ERA on it ¯⁠\⁠_⁠(⁠ ͡⁠°⁠ ͜⁠ʖ⁠ ͡⁠°⁠)⁠_⁠/⁠¯

[@mustafamustermann3859]

The protection vs rifle rounds is a little bit misleading for a few reasons. I was told in training that the 7.62 can get lucky pens at funny angles. Once fire is incoming in a forest or similar places, you have the option to close the hatch or leave your head exposed. When you are between obstacles, turning and driving backward is extremly akward. It also has a lot of weak spots which turn you into a sitting duck. The fuel tank at the back is self sealing, but the skins is some fibreglass material. Bumping into a tree makes a hole, as well as one or two magazines of a rifle. There are some of those spots that are not supposed to be hit by a lot of rifle rounds. The autocannon cannot shoot 360 and turns relativly slow via hand crank. All in all: getting shot at is not recommended

[@noobster4779]

Its pretty simple really: Do you want a 20mm canon firering at your enemy directly next to you or not? While the Wiesel doesnt have any significant armor, how much does that actually matter? 90% of anti tank weapons in 2023 are overkill and can destroy most armored vehicles anyway. The armor part of IFVs and tanks has in my opinion become significantly less important compared to the manouverbility and firepower aspects of tanks. I mean the Leoapard 2 since his 2A5 version is literally designed to be hiding behind a hill and just show his turret at an angle because it is the best way to survive and from how Turkey fucked up in Syria with their Leopard 2 A4s its pretty clear even old soviet atgms could be a threat to western tanks...not to mention IFVs. We a currently at the point where any side in a conflict is properly overlysaturated with atni tank weapons for the infatnery as the russians found out the very painful way in spring 2022. So basically for the same reason why the Leopard 1s and T55s, Marders and BMPs are still usefull in Ukraine, the Wiesels would be as well. Even if you dont have sufficent armor to take a shot, it still is a big difference if you show up with a 20mm canon and thermal optics if your enemy doesnt have eather. And we should always remember weapons are designed for use and losing some or a lot is part of that. Tanks were never undestroyable death machines, they were expected to get destroyed in large numbers but still were valuable and significant in warfare. And in the case of Ukraine, whats better: A soldier with an AK running around with his body armor or a soldier in a Wiesel with a 20mm canon. Both can die but I would rather take my chances in the little rost bucket where I can at least fire back or see the enemy before he sees me.

[@user-yj8vj3sq6j]

>While the Wiesel doesnt have any significant armor, how much does that actually matter? a lot. It can be penetrated by simple HMG

[@noobster4779]

@@user-yj8vj3sq6j So like 90% of vehicles used in this war? And based on most oävombat videos there doesnt seem to be a lot of heavy MG units on eather side around. Its mainly standart grunts with assault rifles and anti tank weapons. And again, how good is your chance with body armor against a HMG? At least in a Wiesel you can try to supress the enemy HMG with 20mm or try to get the fuck out quickly.... Thermals are also very useful in that regard compared to an average soldiers eyeball and if you get the Wiesel crew into direct contact with a hovering scouting drone it is propably even more effective in dealing with potential threats. I mean its hardly less effective "armor" then all the Mraps, Humvees etc. NATO has send Ukraine already And you are a LOT harder to hit by an enemy soldier that is stressed and doesnt exactly have 10/10 aim with his HMG compared to huge Humvees or Mraps... And again, a 20mm canon is better then no 20mm canon :)

[@user-yj8vj3sq6j]

@@noobster4779 >So like 90% of vehicles used in this war? nah, If we're talking about AFV - Bradley, Striker, Marder, BMP -2/3 - can't be penned by .50 BMG, at least in frontal arc

[@tavish4699]

mythoughts especially the overkill part