VEHICLE DESCRIPTION:

The Ratel is based on an armoured hull which would provide protection against landmines, small arms fire (7,62mm) and artillery shrapnel. The front glacis plate will provide protection against 12,7mm armoured piercing projectiles. The driver is seated centrally in front of the turret and front wheels. The turret may differ depending on the type of vehicle. It is generally accepted that the gunner fills the right hand seat and the commander the left seat of the turret. The main fighting compartment houses a infantry section consisting of six to eight men.

Access to the main compartment is through two pneumatically operated doors on the side of the vehicle. The vehicle also has a small rear hatch which is connected to the main compartment by means of a small tunnel. In the tunnel is a dome-type hatch in the hull roof fitted with a anti-aircraft machine-gun mounting. The 282hp diesel engine is located in the left rear of the hull with access through the top hull engine hatches. The Ratel has a fuel capacity of 430 litres of diesel giving a range of about 1000km at 90kph on normal roads. The vehicle also has 100 litres of fresh drinking water for the crew. Communications is via VHF radio (between vehicles) and HF radio (for longer distances) with EW secure and frequency hopping capabilities. Internally the communications is done via the intercom between the crew. The vehicle also has an audio-speaker in the crew compartment for the infantrymen to follow all communications.

STANDARD COLOURS:

All Ratels were delivered in SADF brown. Number plates were in two colours. The early R-number plates being in black with white numbers and the later M-type plates being in yellow with black numbers.

No specific guidelines were followed regarding markings, where they were to be applied, sizes and colours. Units seemed to use their own initiative.The only known Ratels to be camouflaged were those of the anti-tank platoon of 32 Battalion (Ratel 90) during the SWA/Namibia war. These were camouflaged to test paint and colours for the Rooikat armoured car, G5 and G6 artillery systems. It is of interest to notice that these Ratels also had red callsigns.

CALL SIGNS AND VEHICLE NAMES: 

4 SA Infantry Battalion in Middelburg had their callsigns painted in red numbers and letters as they were to become 62 Mechanised Infantry Battalion. When this never happened due to the end of the war in SWA/Namibia this colour was retained as part of the tradition of the unit. They also had the 62 flash and the old RSA flag on the front of the vehicle. These being stickers that were pasted to the right and left armoured plates besides the drivers front window compartment. The 62 logo was to the right and the old SA flag to the left. These vehicles were subsequently handed over to 1 SA Infantry Battalion when 4 SAI reverted back to a Motorised Infantry Battalion in 1997.Vehicles with these red callsigns could be seen as part of 1 SAI during Operation Boleas, the SADEC intervention in Lesotho in September 1998. Vehicle names were not officially allowed but unit commanders did allow some to be applied. 1 SA Infantry Battalion in Bloemfontein named their vehicles after famous Generals. Names like “Patton” and “Rommel” are known to have been used.  “Dirty Harry IV”, "Crywolf” and "Excalibur" are examples of vehicle names that have been used by other units. Some names were applied in chalk and could be washed off, if and when required.