The Wiesel Armoured Weapons Carrier (AWC) is a German light air-transportable armoured fighting vehicle, more specifically a lightly armoured weapons carrier, produced by Rheinmetall. It is quite similar to historical scouting tankettes in size, form and function, and is the only true modern tankette in use in Western Europe.[1]
The Wiesel was developed for the German Army to meet a requirement for an air-transportable light armored vehicle for use by its airborne troops, as the infantry of the German Bundeswehr, especially airborne infantry, were considered unprepared to successfully fight enemy main battle tanks (MBT) in the 1970s. 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 tanks or aircraft. Porsche produced some prototypes of the future fighting vehicle for the Bundeswehr in 1975, but the Bundeswehr stopped the project in 1978 due to lack of funds. Nevertheless, Porsche continued development, because of interest from other countries.
The Bundeswehr eventually ordered 343 of the vehicles in 1985.[1] The Wiesel was introduced as a new weapon system for the Bundeswehr with deliveries beginning in the late 1980s. The vehicle was named Wiesel ("weasel") because of its small size and agility, which make it very difficult to detect on the battlefield. Production of the Wiesel 1 ended in 1993.[2] Of 343 Wiesel 1 vehicles, 210 were armed with Raytheon TOWwire-guidedanti-tank guided missile system and 133 have the one-man KUKA turret E6-II-A1 armed with the dual-feed Rheinmetall Mk 20 RH-202 20 mm autocannon. Germany deployed both types to Somalia in 1993 as part of the United Nations forces intervention in the Somali Civil War (UNISOM II).
The Wiesel 2 is an enlarged and extended version of the Wiesel 1 with five road wheels instead of four, and a more powerful engine. The Bundeswehr ordered 178 of the new vehicle in various types, including air defense, radar, and anti-aircraft missile launcher, 120 mm mortar carrier, command and fire control, and ambulance variants.[1] The Wiesel 2 entered service in 2001.[3]
Configuration
Wiesel 1 MK20 (1991) Bundeswehr Military History Museum, Dresden. The vehicle next to it is the Panzerhaubitze 2000.
Depending on the exact configuration, the Wiesel 1's length is about 3.55 metres (11.6 ft), height 1.82 metres (6.0 ft), and width 1.82 metres (6.0 ft). At only 2.75 metric tons (3.03 short tons), it weighs less than the armored variant of the U.S. Humvee military light truck. The engine is a 64 kW (86 hp) Audi 2.1-litre diesel engine giving a top speed of 70 km/h (45 mph). The Wiesel can ford 0.5 metres (1.6 ft) deep water and cross a 1.2 metres (3.9 ft) wide trench. It was manufactured by Rheinmetall AG.
The chassis is made of steelarmour and can resist common 5.56 mm and 7.62 mmsmall arms ammunition and shell splinters. 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 Sea Stallion helicopter can fly in two at once, and common transport planes can carry four or more Wiesel vehicles.
The larger Wiesel 2 has almost twice as much internal volume as its predecessor, and is about 4.78 metres (15.7 ft) long, 2.17 metres (7.1 ft) high (depending on type), and 1.87 metres (6.1 ft) wide.[1] Its weight is approximately 4.78 metric tons (5.27 short tons) in its heaviest configuration.
Wiesel 1
Variants in service
Wiesel 1 Aufklärung: reconnaissance
Wiesel 1 ATM TOW: anti-tank vehicle fitted with TOW missiles
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 (81 kW) coupled to a ZF automatic transmission. The Wiesel 2 is generally bigger, faster and stronger than the Wiesel 1, with advanced features for the protection of the crew such as enhanced armour, an air conditioning system, and NBC protection.
Variants
Wiesel 2 Light Air Defence System (leichtes Flugabwehrsystem - LeFlaSys)[4]
Wiesel 2 Air Defence Command Post
Wiesel 2 Air Defence Reconnaissance and Fire Control Vehicle (RFCV): fitted with an air defence radar
Wiesel 2 Air Defence Weapon Carrier (Ozelot): fitted with air defence missile launchers (two box launchers containing four ready-to-fire FIM-92 Stingers, or, alternatively, a (currently unknown) number of vertical launch cells with LFK NG missiles)
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January 07, 2023
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This article needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources Wiesel AWC news newspapers books scholar JSTOR March 2013 Learn how and when to remove this template message The Wiesel Armoured Weapons Carrier AWC is a German light air transportable armoured fighting vehicle more specifically a lightly armoured weapons carrier produced by Rheinmetall It is quite similar to historical scouting tankettes in size form and function and is the only true modern tankette in use in Western Europe 1 Wiesel 1A Wiesel 1TypeTankettePlace of originWest GermanyProduction historyManufacturerRheinmetall Landsysteme GmbHProduced1979 1993No built343Specifications Wiesel 1 Mass2 75 t to 4 78 tLength3 55 metres 11 ft 8 in Width1 82 metres 6 ft 0 in Height1 82 metres 6 ft 0 in CrewDriver gunner commander or driver gunner and commander depending on variant ArmorProtection against small arms onlyMainarmamentVariesSecondaryarmamentVariesEngineAudi 2 1 L 5 cylinder in line turbo diesel64 kilowatts 86 hp Suspensiontorsion barOperationalrange200 kilometres 120 mi Maximum speed70 kilometres per hour 43 mph The Wiesel has been used in several of the Bundeswehr s missions abroad UNOSOM II IFOR SFOR KFOR TFH ISAF Contents 1 History 2 Configuration 3 Wiesel 1 3 1 Variants in service 3 2 Prototypes and studies 4 Wiesel 2 4 1 Variants 4 2 Prototypes and studies 5 Gallery 6 Operators 6 1 Former operators 6 2 Current operators 7 Notes 8 References 9 External linksHistory EditThe Wiesel was developed for the German Army to meet a requirement for an air transportable light armored vehicle for use by its airborne troops as the infantry of the German Bundeswehr especially airborne infantry were considered unprepared to successfully fight enemy main battle tanks MBT in the 1970s 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 tanks or aircraft Porsche produced some prototypes of the future fighting vehicle for the Bundeswehr in 1975 but the Bundeswehr stopped the project in 1978 due to lack of funds Nevertheless Porsche continued development because of interest from other countries The Bundeswehr eventually ordered 343 of the vehicles in 1985 1 The Wiesel was introduced as a new weapon system for the Bundeswehr with deliveries beginning in the late 1980s The vehicle was named Wiesel weasel because of its small size and agility which make it very difficult to detect on the battlefield Production of the Wiesel 1 ended in 1993 2 Of 343 Wiesel 1 vehicles 210 were armed with Raytheon TOW wire guided anti tank guided missile system and 133 have the one man KUKA turret E6 II A1 armed with the dual feed Rheinmetall Mk 20 RH 202 20 mm autocannon Germany deployed both types to Somalia in 1993 as part of the United Nations forces intervention in the Somali Civil War UNISOM II The Wiesel 2 is an enlarged and extended version of the Wiesel 1 with five road wheels instead of four and a more powerful engine The Bundeswehr ordered 178 of the new vehicle in various types including air defense radar and anti aircraft missile launcher 120 mm mortar carrier command and fire control and ambulance variants 1 The Wiesel 2 entered service in 2001 3 Configuration Edit Wiesel 1 MK20 1991 Bundeswehr Military History Museum Dresden The vehicle next to it is the Panzerhaubitze 2000 Depending on the exact configuration the Wiesel 1 s length is about 3 55 metres 11 6 ft height 1 82 metres 6 0 ft and width 1 82 metres 6 0 ft At only 2 75 metric tons 3 03 short tons it weighs less than the armored variant of the U S Humvee military light truck The engine is a 64 kW 86 hp Audi 2 1 litre diesel engine giving a top speed of 70 km h 45 mph The Wiesel can ford 0 5 metres 1 6 ft deep water and cross a 1 2 metres 3 9 ft wide trench It was manufactured by Rheinmetall AG The chassis is made of steel armour and can resist common 5 56 mm and 7 62 mm small arms ammunition and shell splinters 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 Sea Stallion helicopter can fly in two at once and common transport planes can carry four or more Wiesel vehicles The larger Wiesel 2 has almost twice as much internal volume as its predecessor and is about 4 78 metres 15 7 ft long 2 17 metres 7 1 ft high depending on type and 1 87 metres 6 1 ft wide 1 Its weight is approximately 4 78 metric tons 5 27 short tons in its heaviest configuration Wiesel 1 EditVariants in service Edit Wiesel 1 Aufklarung reconnaissance Wiesel 1 ATM TOW anti tank vehicle fitted with TOW missiles Wiesel 1TOW Updated with BMS Wiesel 1 MK20 fire support version with a Rheinmetall MK 20 Rh202 20mm autocannon Wiesel 1 MK20 Variant 1 updated with new sight Wiesel 1 MK20 Variant 2 updated with BMS Remotely controlled Wiesel 1 equipped with ground scanning radar as part of the Route Clearance SystemPrototypes and studies Edit Wiesel 1 ATM TOW Resupply cargo carrier fitted with racks for TOW missiles Wiesel 1 BTM 208 fitted with a SAMM BTM 208 turret armed with 50 cal 12 7mm M2HB and 7 62mm Rheinmetall MG 3 machine guns 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 MK25 25 mm armed versionWiesel 2 EditWiesel 2 Wiesel Ozelot Light Air Defence System leichtes Flugabwehrsystem LeFlaSys Weapon CarrierTypeTankettePlace of originGermanyProduction historyManufacturerRheinmetall Landsysteme GmbHNo built178SpecificationsMass2 75 t to 4 78 tLength4 78 metres 15 ft 8 in Width1 87 metres 6 ft 2 in Height2 17 metres 7 ft 1 in Crew2 or 3ArmorProtection against small arms onlyMainarmamentVariesSecondaryarmamentVariesEngineVolkswagen 1 9 L Straight 4 turbo diesel81 kilowatts 109 hp Suspensiontorsion barOperationalrange200 kilometres 120 mi Maximum speed70 kilometres per hour 43 mph 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 81 kW coupled to a ZF automatic transmission The Wiesel 2 is generally bigger faster and stronger than the Wiesel 1 with advanced features for the protection of the crew such as enhanced armour an air conditioning system and NBC protection Variants Edit Wiesel 2 Light Air Defence System leichtes Flugabwehrsystem LeFlaSys 4 Wiesel 2 Air Defence Command Post Wiesel 2 Air Defence Reconnaissance and Fire Control Vehicle RFCV fitted with an air defence radar Wiesel 2 Air Defence Weapon Carrier Ozelot fitted with air defence missile launchers two box launchers containing four ready to fire FIM 92 Stingers or alternatively a currently unknown number of vertical launch cells with LFK NG missiles Wiesel 2 Ambulance Wiesel 2 Engineering Scout combat engineer reconnaissance Wiesel 2 Command Post battalion command post Wiesel 2 Advanced Mortar System Wiesel 2 Company C2 JFSCT Command and control for combined and joint fire Wiesel 2 Lightweight Armoured Mortar 120 mm automatic laying weapon system Wiesel 2 Joint Fire Support Team Reconnaissance VehiclePrototypes and studies Edit Wiesel 2 APC 2 4 crew armoured personnel carrier Wiesel 2 Argus reconnaissance Wiesel 2 Carrier ammunition resupply 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 Wiesel 2 RMK 30 prototypes have been fitted with a Rheinmetall RMK30 recoilless autocannonGallery Edit Wiesel 1 prototype Wiesel 1 TOW Wiesel 2 Argus scout vehicle Wiesel 2 ambulance Wiesel 2 command post variant Wiesel 2 lightweight armoured mortar of the advanced mortar system Wiesel 2 Light Air Defence System Reconnaissance and Fire Control Vehicle RFCV Ozelot air defence weapon carrier with camouflage in firing position The silhouette of the Wiesel 1 red overlaid on that of the Wiesel 2 blue Operators Edit Map with Wiesel operators in blue citation needed Former operators Edit United States of America had procured 7 Wiesal 1s for evaluation according to Tank Encyclopedia Current operators Edit Germany has ordered 343 Wiesel 1s and 179 Wiesel 2s 148 delivered Notes Edit a b c d Wiesel AWC Tanks Encyclopedia 15 July 2014 Retrieved 7 June 2015 Wiesel 1 Airportable armored vehicle Military Today com Military Today com Wiesel 2 Airportable armored vehicle Luftwaffe References EditTrewhitt Philip 1999 Armored Fighting Vehicles New York Amber Books p 102 ISBN 0 7607 1260 3 Zwilling Ralph Waffentraeger Wiesel 1 2009 Tankograd Publishing Zwilling Ralph Waffentraeger Wiesel 2 2009 Tankograd Publishing External links Edit Wikimedia Commons has media related to Wiesel AWC Rheinmetall Defence Wiesel 1 Product Page Rheinmetall Defence Wiesel 2 Product Page Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Wiesel AWC amp oldid 1132045201, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
