Swift and Deadly | Ratel Infantry Fighting Vehicle

[@tb100]

I've had the privilege of operating in Ratels for a brief period as a young man. It truly impressed me and I can best describe it as a Rolls Royce of the bush, as it simply glided over rough terrain. Took me as an infantryman many miles in comfort compared to other transport (even had aircon!) plus it packed one heck of a punch. We loved the Ratel.

[@CunovonDurckheim]

Which one did you operate? The ratel 20 or 90?

[@hugovermaak6233]

Me too

[@CunovonDurckheim]

@@hugovermaak6233 which one did u operate

[@henrojansen7638]

Goeie werk op Rolls Royce van die bos😂 En dankie vir jou diens.

[@neelstheron3252]

I was a qualified ratel driver in the old SANDF. It is really a remarkable vehicle in the sense that you can drive it at 60 km/h in the field. The gearbox was also designed to be unbreakable.

[@muffinatordlux]

My dad told me they would drive almost full speed forward and just slap it in reverse...ratel would just click click click and then start moving backwards...?

[@tripwire8457]

Old SANDF? Really?

[@PhillipTurner-z7y]

Sadf?

[@AndreZA979]

@@tripwire8457 Why, is there a new one or is it just a state welfare disbursement SOE? 🤣

[@tripwire8457]

@@AndreZA979 Yes. There is no old SANDF. It's the old SADF and the new SANDF. It became the SANDF after 1994. Before that it was the SADF. The same with the police. It's the old SAP (before 1994) and the new SAPS (after 1994).

[@sebastiangeller8637]

Interesting video and fighting vehicle. The South Africans even under very heavy sanctions were able to create technology that's entered service in other armed forces or be deployed into different conflicts (the Casspir, Mamba, Reva, Matador, Mbombe, G5 and G6 howitzers). Or gear such as the M83 Battle Vest among others.

[@youngdenard264]

They litteraly get full support from France and Portugal

[@chrisleroux907]

This brings back very good memories for me as instructor on the Ratel 20 and Ratel 60 in 1991, great video. I would recommend any one that wish to know more about the Ratels development to read Ratel: Alpha and Omega by Tony Savides

[@mic-ho1wt]

Hi, would you happen to be able to make any comments on the seating arrangement of these things if it's not a bother? I'm trying to 3D model one, and the sources I find do not align whatsoever. I understand theres a driver, 2 turret crew, and the sofa thing in the middle with 6 men total, but then do people sit in the doorways or are there ammo racks there? I got the impression it was variant dependent, but thought I sometimes saw some seats facing backwards by the doors, unsure of the details but it's really been bugging me!

[@protectorpods6607]

@@mic-ho1wt inside the doors you has a rearward facing jump seat on each side

[@Traveler_of_youtube2]

You can try to use war thunder x-ray mode​@@mic-ho1wt

[@bushboi]

I was recently lucky enough to see the Ratel ZT3 that destroyed the 3 Angolan tanks in person at the Bloemfontein Museum of Armour along with display Ingwe missiles and other tanks used and captured by the SADF, it was also interesting seeing where my dad and grandfather both loved many years ago, there in the Tempe military base

[@dienar3717]

Changing these run flat tyres took some brute force in the deep sands of Southern Angola!

[@paulsinclair7353]

Ratel gunner 1990, 2SSB. I still remember the name of the "left-hand splined-bush stop-plate set-screw" in the 90mm breech block. That screw was very important, and I remember it after 34 years. lol

[@stuartlaubscher1685]

2 SSB, Zeerust ,1984, later 5 Sigs, EW tech.EW Ratels installations, 13 months, Willie se pad and around .Salute !!!! .

[@stuartgorton7746]

Brings back some good and bad memories was a crew commander and instructor on Ratel 90 in 87 .

[@petesheppard1709]

Thanks for an informative video. For some reason, I've always liked the Ratel, especially its layout with side and rear doors. If by some miracle I could own and operate one surplus AFV, this would be at the top of my list. This is the first that I remember seeing the AT variant discussed.

[@dianapennepacker6854]

Same. Also it is just awesome looking. For some reason the driver seat looks just awesome.

[@bryanleroytrigg8066]

As a Tanker, I am interested in armored personnel carriers, thank you for the best video I seen today

[@_____Z_____]

I play Roblox

[@deerasmus3870]

Its not an APC its an IFV

[@KannalandSenior]

I was a Ratel driver / operator myself when I served in the SADF.

[@theenigmatt]

"My Sarie Marias", awesome song to include, appreciated.

[@alanhean6504]

One hell of a nation

[@kirill6850]

3:58 "the BUSSIN' BFX engine" If the narrator says its bussin, then it really must be bussin frfr

[@mic-ho1wt]

ong ong

[@sternencolonel7328]

its spelled Buessing, was a german company specialized on trucks and busses, now defunct

[@rednax6955]

that engine be BUSSIN

[@reyvan3806]

I think the case for wheeled IFVs is now stronger than ever. With arty being able to engage at greater and greater depth the road range and speed of wheeled IFVs is a great advantage. They can be held further back from the front and more dispersed when in reserve but concentrate for the attack more quickly than tracked IFVs. Clearly there is a limit to the protection wheeled platforms can have and they aren't as good in muddy conditions but I really think the road range/speed of them might be a worthwhile trade off.

[@matthiuskoenig3378]

The road limitation is an extreme disadvantage in the modern battle field. Artillery only needs to pepper the road with shells to greatly reduce the mobility of you APCs. A better idea would be the wheel-track combination like the object 911. Just like autoloaders, ballistic computers and hydrolyic suspension, such hybrid wheel-track design should be alot simpler now than in the 1950s/60s and offers the advantages of both.

[@jebise1126]

on the other hand there are new materials used for tracks that are better than rubber... so such tracked vehicles do have some advantages too. of course one mine and you are out of combat.

[@zulubeatz1]

This is a jewel of a channel.

[@mattycakes1161]

Many good days on WarThunder with my beloved Rat 90, it's a beast even in video games.

[@SeanGavin-rf5vd]

And then there's plonkers like me that fractured my index finger while holding a towing bar as we hooked up a disabled Ratel 90 and got my finger caught in the spring latch. but we felt invincible in our Ratels.

[@comentedonakeyboard]

Given the limited life expectancy of Tracks wheels are the better option for african distances.

[@nixops]

Member of 61 Mech in 1981, the one thing that always stuck with me about the Ratel was the whine that could lul you to sleep. We probably felt invincible in them, but we also knew that they could be taken out by a well placed anti-aircraft gun. We didnt care because we had the best ride in South West Africa!

[@Libra67jtc]

We had the best bush warfare weapons and training hands down. I experienced it first hand in the 80's.

[@WesselDippenaar]

I served as a driver from 1981 to 1990 in a Ratel 20 and i have seen at least 1 more Ratel, a Ratel 90 that was lost to anti tank mines in Operation Meebos if memory serves. Lost 2 buddies there. Otherwise a great vehicle in the bush, smooth. The engines were governed at 105KM/H. mine could get up to 120KM on tar road. The unbreakable gearbox prevented a driver from spinning, but if you pulled out the fused gearbox switch, revved it up and popped the switch back in....guess what.... :)

[@denisivanov8295]

Tremendous amount of info and very entertaining. Thanks for your job!

[@paleoph6168]

Ratel IFV: For when you have to deal with a rattle in the South African bush

[@Homoprimatesapiens]

Thank you for a clear to the point presentation of this immaculate fighting vehicle. The next follower and replacement was the 76 mm main gun 8x8 drive Rooikat. If you can give some info about this one it will be appreciated. Blessings to your excellent channel.

[@TanksEncyclopediaYT]

We have an article on it! Hope this helps. Cheers! tanks-encyclopedia.com/coldwar/south_africa/rooikat.php

[@tombakabones274]

7:31 I got news for you that's not a Browning that's a PKM

[@joaosabino2909]

You need to show the Jordan Variant , combines the ZT3 with 20mm auto cannon/

[@ReviveHF]

From practical standpoint, SADF have made the right choice. If you can't import light tanks due to embargoes, you try to make one. But if you have no expertise to make the equivalent vehicle, you make armoured car as a substitute.

[@SuddenStorm982]

The SADF had the Olifant tank. The Ratel was a troop carrier and well suited to the terrain

[@PatrickGIRARD-s8x]

I served in thé armoured Gendarmerie equipped with wheeled armoured vehicles (VBRG) used for the restoring of the order. The first time I saw the picture of a ratel, I immediately made the comparison!

[@olegadodasguerras3795]

This Channel is amazing

[@MGBandit75]

Beautiful vehicle

[@Erreul]

That’s probably where we’re going to be heading back to soon.

[@patrickoberem9109]

They had a very distinct sound when they approached...

[@markmark3034]

Yes, a smooth whistling sound almost

[@francoisrossouw1656]

@@markmark3034Ja that gearbox was beautiful.

[@lepmuhangpa]

3:58 Bussing.

[@jaylifts_]

South Africa mentioned, RAAAAAA🇿🇦

[@idkidk9180]

Very interesting video!

[@sealove79able]

How about the SA wheeled howitzer?

[@theTankGuy1941]

This engine bussin' no cap

[@Daud76]

A very handsome machine then as it is now!

[@RobeySpoelstra]

The HOI4 music in the background hits different

[@SuddenStorm982]

Great vehicle. Spent many hours in the turret

[@colinm2056]

One overlooked variant was the 8x8 ratel logistics prototype.

[@losonsrenoster]

I watched an 8x8 Ratel prototype being tested at Infantry school Oudtshoorn in 1975, I even took some photos, only to find I could not develop them anywhere. Destroyed the whole roll of film.

[@bryanleroytrigg8066]

Awesome 👌

[@CareldeBeer-oj5xb]

Wat n voertuig ek was bestuurder van een in 1987 in ops moduler

[@stuartgorton7746]

Armour or Infantry? 61Mech?

[@tripwire8457]

🫡

[@istoppedcaring6209]

afrikaans is gelijkaardig aan vlaams precies

[@williamromine5715]

I wonder why they would use a .30cal machine gun for air defense? Seems the .50cal would be more appropriate. Maybe it was for uniform logistics of ammo.

[@marcusmoonstein242]

I served on this vehicle in 1987/88, and the 7.62mm machine guns were never seriously meant for air defense. We NEVER trained to use them for that purpose. We only trained to use them in a suppressive ground-fire role. Interesting fact 1 : the tail machine gun was only there because a use was found for the squad machine gun carried by the infantry in the back. You can see this in the video if you look carefully. The turret and commander machine guns are 7.62mm Browning machine guns, but the tail gun is an infantry LMG (light machine gun). This LMG would be rapidly removed when the infantry squad dismounted from the vehicle. Interesting fact 2 : both these types of machine guns use the same caliber, but have different belt designs due to the different feed mechanisms of the respective machine guns. So the infantry Ratels always had to carry two different types of machine gun belts. Interesting fact 3 : when driving through heavy bush the outside machine guns would be so damaged by branches that we used to take them off. This meant that we sometimes went into combat with no external machine guns.

[@williamromine5715]

@@marcusmoonstein242 That makes sense. Thanks for the info.

[@protectorpods6607]

@@marcusmoonstein242 on the rear, the mounts themselves would get damaged not just the machine guns. Angolan Bush is very different to Lohatla especially around Cuito.

[@marcusmoonstein242]

@@protectorpods6607 Tell me about it! We had a few smoke grenade launchers ripped off our turrets by that bush.

[@deonstrydom1848]

I had the honour of being trained as a ratel infantry soldier.

[@youngdenard264]

Litteraly a 6 wheeled Berlier VXB 160

[@destinymukonya6526]

Created for the veld

[@paulclarke4776]

So it's the south african stryker basically

[@AndrewduToit-wl3tn]

Stryker was still a twinkle in the eye when this bushbeast was king. Ratel is 25 years older...

[@garryli2030]

Rhodesia...A country that once proud and no more......

[@kaisholeopard]

Boer maak’n plan innovative was that generation, despite the sanctions, they used the little resources they could gather and come out with something like that in different variants, Ratel was a force to be reckoned with,built in Africa, for African terrain, move fast hit hard. I’m happy that this iconic piece of equipment is being used to educate about the old S.A.D.F’s(Suid Afrikaanse Weermag)history in battle, engineering technology. 🫡

[@kenbird8783]

German technology - Bussing (Germany)

[@portrasdamascara8750]

Nothing beeter afther the a long week!

[@mokopa]

9:05 I know the guy on the left!

[@BlaBla-pf8mf]

0:15 Ratel was definitely not the first wheeled IFV, soviet BTR-60 was in production since 1960.

[@Militaryheritage]

The BTR-60 is classified as an APC not an IFV. Details matter.

[@gerterasmus2810]

I think so I saw one that was hit by a helicopter with 20mm he rounds he he from the inside it looked like massive tits the guys inside abandoned it and run away there ears must have been hurting😂

[@Ian-mj4pt]

They mean in South Africa I believe

[@koenvangeleuken2853]

not a word about the SIBMAS????

[@denzilbarnard5393]

SIBMAS was a spinoff sold to Belguim afaik

[@Smokey348]

in War Thunder, its just a long matchbox that can't even drive properly on the ground

[@chopperking007]

Drones have made these redundant now

[@davidthomas8924]

Unighta?

[@sjgerber]

Surprise - the badger project nose dived - OTT bean deliveries of upgraded and remanufactured Ratels in Mid 2023

[@АлександрВерта-ы4л]

А как там Т34 85 на заднем плане образовался в Юар?

[@Frog13799]

Cuban and Russian support for Angola, they fielded T-34 and T-54 tanks

[@tripwire8457]

Южная Африка в Анголе воевала против солдат (и советников) из Анголы, Кубы и Советского Союза. Также была поддержка со стороны Китая. После войны, когда я был в России, я встретил женщину, которая была рада познакомиться с южноафриканцем. Она рассказала мне, что была политическим комиссаром в Уганде, и ее работа заключалась в том, чтобы встречать советские войска на пути в Анголу и поддерживать их боевой дух. Они не хотели с нами воевать.

[@azazuloveu7944]

Sibmas from belgium ratel feom afrika..same design

[@SeanGavin-rf5vd]

Sibmas is a copy of the Ratel.

[@andrewshort7207]

more specifically corruption and mismanagement are a big factor in the badgers non-appearence

[@mybru1]

The badgers production has been forcibly restarted. Armscor and the sandf told denel to start production or pay every cent back. I believe there are around 9 badgers in service with the army now but are kept in garrison due to the limited amount available

[@falanglao01]

Great video, including the historical insights, presented in a brief and neutral way. Its just sad what happened to the SA defence force after democracy got hold of it... Corruption, unability to sustain the forces, lots of systems out of order, no replacement in sight

[@africantraveller8303]

Don't lie

[@phoenixrising427]

sadly - the incompetent anc believed that their cuban buddies were capable of maintaining these marvellous vehicles

[@celtisafricana4984]

Ai... never heard it pronounced "ruddle" before

[@Iamwtfboi]

Its weird bc i always thought it was pronounced Ruh-tell or Rah-tell Not rot-le

[@KA-dx2kz]

Just saying the 30 cal machine gun was converted to 7.62 means nothing because 7.62 is 30 caliber, the diameter of the bullet it self.

[@scoutdogfsr]

Really? 30.06 operating psi is roughly 2k higher than 7.62. The case length is roughly 1/2" shorter. Extractor groove is different. Pressure curves are different too. As a student of Valley Forge Military Academy we had armourer courses that covered both m1919 based arms and there are clear engineering and part differences.

[@Sam-eu9go]

In America we use imperial measurements, so when someone says an American gun was converted from 30 caliber to 7.62, that implies that it was changed to the NATO cartridge that uses a millimeter measurement in its designation.

[@hoplophobia7014]

@@scoutdogfsr what is the diameter of the 30.06 bullet, in mm? As in the land diameter?

[@marclaplante5679]

It sure means a lot if you are trying to rack a round into the chamber.. Or ensure a supply chain for its ammunition.

[@scoutdogfsr]

@@hoplophobia7014 indeed both share the Dia of .308". Though you certainly would not say that say a inline 6cyl and a v8 of identical displacement are the same. Internal ballistics and pressure curve are the starting point for operating systems of small arms. Projectile Dia, case length, ect are secondary in design criteria, if not superfluous in some cases. Perhaps research in Century Arms attempt to recaliber the MAS 49/56 from dimensionally similar 7.5 (308 dia) to .308 Winchester will shed some light on the subject.

[@THB1945]

Is anyone here from War Thunder? This armored vehicle does quite bad in the game, though.

[@SeanGavin-rf5vd]

a game??? They do quite well in the field. I was a radio operator in a comms Ratel 1989-1990. Ratels were feared.

[@THB1945]

@@SeanGavin-rf5vdCan’t believe someone with the real experience is here! Good to know!

[@HONEmusicINT]

They were probably perfect for doing exactly what they were designed to do in the African bush wars, instead of going head to head with 15 tanks in a European field like WT lmao.

[@LizardKing769]

Why would you want to replace an existing workable vehicle that has proven itself beyond doubt with something else that was not built specifically for the African environment? I am not saying the new vehicles are not up to the test but that the existing Ratels have been performing way above average. For an improved performance rather update the Ratel. It will be more cost-effective and I reckon more efficient. - from: Ratel fan

[@terencenxumalo1159]

interesting

[@shrekthecrusader8111]

Based.

[@Homoprimatesapiens]

As long as what S.A. is under ANC control, the world can expect that this strategically placed bastion for international conflict will decline into a pathetic military non grata.

[@robert-trading-as-Bob69]

Yeah, my thoughts exactly. We are on the best route from Europe to the Pacific region if the Suez is closed. We defended that route against Communism in the Cold War, now it'll be handed over to the Chinese Communists in the event of a war in the Pacific. Consider too the growing influence of Chinese bases in the Horn of Africa to help close the Suez route.

[@timokuusela5794]

As we all know how it is going in South Africa, it is pity that we could not deliver our Patrias there. No money ,no honey. No sense in giving them for free.. South Africa is slowly falling apart because of the massive corruption. Ratel was a great achievement at times when the whole world was misled by the media to believe that the change would be for the better. Human rights, yes, net result, no.

[@clementmpushe5957]

You are falling over yourself because you are very tempted to mitigate evil because of the benefits that came with it for you. Btw SA is not falling apart if losing political power means that so be it.

[@mybru1]

The patria/badger project has been forcibly restarted after the military told denel to start production or pay back every cent

[@istoppedcaring6209]

ithe not rothel it's R(uh)- ah- tell +-

[@KonradvonHotzendorf]

The pronouncing is so annoying

[@andrewmacdonald218]

Good video, but for the love of sweet Pauline, please learn how words are pronounced. It's not a "Rattle" it's a "Ra-tel" (emphasis on the second syllable); also, it's a "cup-ola", it's a "cue-pola" ...

[@jackjones9460]

Which Sweet Pauline? You talkin’ about my Sister?

[@marcusmoonstein242]

And UNITA is pronounced "u-nee-ta" not "u-ny-ta".

[@OuterHeaven210]

Lmao I was sitting here like "when tf is he gonna talk about the Ratel??" Stfu about this Rottle nonsense.

[@ferasmus1]

I spent nearly 17 years in this vehicle, my call sign India 93 Fox.

[@Ian-mj4pt]

It's yank what else do you expect 😅😅 strip my moer when they pronounce things so wrong 😅😅

[@o80y1]

Very Büssing engine lmao

[@koolkiop]

Text to voice?

[@TanksEncyclopediaYT]

No, we've never used text-to-voice.

[@Darkel45]

fat south african bus with atgm

[@jb3704]

Alcazar???...... 😂😂😂

[@bkj3845]

Good old days, look what has become of the SADF today, once one of the best in anti-terrorist and bush war on the globe, today the laughingstock of Africa and the world!

[@starboy7938]

So you wanted to keep things like the old days

[@mybru1]

Laughing stock of africa? Maybe have a look at actually sources apartheid apologists. The sandf is still the premier bush warfare expert in the world. We annually host western countries for bush warfare and coin training. Major General Jean leanmiere of the French army openly stated last year that in all of his years commanding French forces in africa he never had a better coalition partner than south africa. And instead of rubbing your die ou dae was beter kak look at the stats. Battle of bangui 2013 200 south african paratroopers against 8000 seleka rebels over a course of 3 days. 15 south africans lost they're lives whilst 876 rebels were killed and over 2000 wounded. Amongst the dead rebels were 4 of their generals who were killed during a mortar attack. The leader of the seleka personally contacted col William Dixon to sue for a peace deal. The selekas pulled back and allowed our troops to withdraw to a nearby French air force base. 2013 the battle of kibbati 144 south african troops vs 1500 m23 rebels. South Africa sustained zero casualties whilst killing 521 rebels as well as destroying the rebels last remaining artillery and anti aircraft cannons. The m23 was forced out of the region for 8 years. Current operations in Mozambique, 1 sandf kia for over 400 Islamic state fighters kia. Cpl tebogo radebe of 5 special forces regiment was succumbed to his wounds after he and his section of 11 sf troops fought through an IS ambush carried out by around 90 is fighters. He was the first south african sf operator to be killed since cpl Herman Carstens in 1986. Since the end of the border wars sandf SF have conducted over a 1000 operations in Libya, sudan, DRC, CAR, Nigeria, Somalia, Kenya, Mozambique, Uganda, and Mali without any deaths until cpl radebe. If the sandf is such a joke then why is it that were the only country allowed to train Mozambique troops and police alongside us green berets and Greek and Portuguese SF. If the sandf is such a joke then why is that our troops were the only african coalition member to work alongside south Korean navy seals during their threat analysis in Mozambique. If the sandf is such a joke then why is that our military presence is requested by over 13 countries across africa, the EU, AU and UN included. Fokken apartheid apologists

[@AndrewduToit-wl3tn]

​@@starboy7938 Why fix what ain't broke?

[@starboy7938]

@@AndrewduToit-wl3tn my guy there was many things broken those times ,I respect your view but let's be honest......you guys didn't do proper hand and taking over.......

[@AndrewduToit-wl3tn]

@@starboy7938 Please tell me what Boet? The handover was a crime...

[@robert-trading-as-Bob69]

Good video, thanks. UNITA is pronounced 'you-neeter', not 'you-knighter'. Please contact someone local to confirm their accents, there are South Africans spread around the world who would be more than happy to help you.

[@Zdzislew]

sucks ass in war thunder tho ngl

[@SeanGavin-rf5vd]

wow, comparing it to how it performs in a game😂 When they saw us coming the commie Cubans ran for their lives.

[@PhansiKhongoloza]

You base it's actual abilities on a video game????? These things destroyed T55's and T62's..... operated by Cubans and East Germans.

[@Zdzislew]

@@PhansiKhongoloza bruh, it’s a joke. I’m not actually saying it’s bad in real life because of it’s representation in a video game