Wiesel AWC

Infobox Weapon
name=Wiesel 1


caption=Wiesel 1 with 20 mm autocannon
origin=flagicon|Germany Germany
type=
is_vehicle=yes
length=3.55 m
width=1.82 m
height=1.82 m
weight=2.75 tonnes
suspension=torsion bar
speed=70 km/h
vehicle_range=200 km
primary_armament= Varies
secondary_armament= Varies
armour=
engine=2.1 L Audi5-cylinder in-line turbo-diesel with intercooler and direct injection
engine_power=85 hp (64 kW)
pw_ratio=31 hp/tonne
crew=2 or 3

The Wiesel Armoured Weapons Carrier is a German light air-transportable armoured fighting vehicle, more specifically a lightly-armoured weapons carrier. It is similar to historical scouting tankettes in size and form.

The Wiesel was used in several of the Bundeswehr's missions abroad (UNOSOM II, IFOR, SFOR, KFOR, TFH, ISAF).

Configuration

Depending on the exact configuration, the length is about 3.55 meters, the height 1.82 meters, and the width 1.82 meters. The weight is only 2.75 tons, that means it weighs less than the US Humvee military light truck. The engine is a 64 kW Audi 2.1-litre diesel engine giving a top speed of 70 km/h (45 mph). The Wiesel can ford 0.5 m deep and cross a 1.2 m trench. It is manufactured by Rheinmetall AG.

The chassis is made of steel armour and can resist the common 5.56 mm and 7.62 mm small arms ammunition. Air dropping the vehicle from a plane with parachutes was tested, but was not successful; four test-vehicles were destroyed. Nevertheless the Wiesel can easily be flown in by transport helicopters, a single CH-53 helicopter can fly in two at once, and common transport planes can carry four or more Wiesel vehicles.

Production history

During the Cold War, NATO feared the huge tank army of the Warsaw pact. The infantry of the German Bundeswehr, especially airborne infantry, was considered unprepared to successfully fight enemy tanks in the 1970s.

So the light, unarmoured combat support vehicle KRAKA was introduced to support the troops. It could be armed with an automatic cannon and antitank missiles, but lacked armour. Consequently a design for a new armoured infantry fighting vehicle was begun. The requirements were that the vehicle should fit in common NATO transport planes and could eventually be air-dropped. It should be able to fight infantry as well as enemy MBTs or aircraft. Porsche produced some prototypes of the future fighting vehicle for the Bundeswehr in 1975, but the Bundeswehr stopped the project in 1978 because of the lack of funds. Nevertheless Porsche did not stop development because of interest from other countries.

The fighting vehicle was finally introduced as new weapon system for the Bundeswehr in 1990 and named "Wiesel" ("weasel") because of its small size and agility.

Variants

Various versions of the Wiesel exist, with different weapon configurations including machine guns, antitank missiles, and anti-aircraft missiles.

Wiesel 1

* Wiesel 1 Aufklärung - reconnaissance
* Wiesel 1 ATM HOT - anti-tank vehicle fitted with HOT missiles
* Wiesel 1 ATM HOT Variant 1 - fitted with UTM-800 turret
* Wiesel 1 Radar - fitted with RATAC-S multi-purpose radar
* Wiesel 1 ATM TOW - anti-tank vehicle fitted with TOW missiles
* Wiesel 1 ATM TOW Resupply - cargo carrier fitted with racks for TOW missiles
* Wiesel 1 BTM208 - fitted with a SAMM BTM208 turret armed with a MG3 and a M2HB machine gun
* Wiesel 1 MK20 - fire support version with a Rheinmetall MK 20 Rh202 20 mm cannon
* Wiesel 1 MK20 Variant 1 - Uprated with new sight
* Wiesel 1 MK25 - 25 mm armed version

Wiesel 2

The Wiesel 2 is a stretched version of the Wiesel 1, with a fifth roadwheel. The engine was changed to a 1.9l Volkswagen in-line four-cylinder turbo diesel with direct injection and intercooler, giving 109 hp coupled to a ZF automatic transmission. Generally bigger, faster and stronger with advanced features for the protection of the crew such as enhanced armour, and an air conditioning system which protects the crew from biological and chemical weapons.

* Wiesel 2 BF/UF (LeFlaSys Command) - air defence unit command post
* Wiesel 2 AFF (LeFlaSys Radar) - fitted with air defence radar
* Wiesel 2 Ozelot (LeFlaSys Launcher) - fitted with air defence missile launcher
* Wiesel 2 Ozelot (LeFlaSys Launcher Variant 1) - retrofitted with box-type launchers
* Wiesel 2 Ambulance
* Wiesel 2 APC - 2 + 4 crew armoured personnel carrier
* Wiesel 2 Command - battalion command post
* Wiesel 2 Mortar - 120mm mortar
* Wiesel 2 Mortar Variant 1 - mortar version with external supports
* Wiesel 2 Argus - reconnaissance
* Wiesel 2 Carrier - ammunition resupply
* Wiesel 2 Pionier - combat engineer reconnaissance
* Wiesel 2 Primus - reconnaissance and fire control
* Wiesel 2 ATM HOT - anti-tank vehicle fitted with HOT missiles
* Wiesel 2 SYRANO - Robotic system for the French Army

Operators

*flagicon|Germany Germany has ordered 343 Wiesel 1 and 179 Wiesel 2 (108 Wiesel 2 in service)
*flagicon|USA USA ordered 7 Wiesel 1

ee also

*Tankette

External links

* [http://www.rheinmetall-defence.com/index.php?fid=1398&lang=3&pdb=1 Rheinmetall Defence Wiesel 1 Product Page]
* [http://www.rheinmetall-defence.com/index.php?fid=1401&lang=3&pdb=1 Rheinmetall Defence Wiesel 2 Product Page]