Made in cooperation with @Armen_Lozone
Dual-wielding spearman
Nearing the end of its service life, the Faun Kraka was becoming insufficient for the needs of the German Airborne units. So, the Army began looking to better options. Key features were mobility, small arms fire and shrapnel resistance as well as air transportability in common NATO transport aircraft.
Porsche was part of this competition however was not able to provide exactly the features that interested the Bundeswehr. Initially the Bundeswehr cancelled the project. But Porsche and MAK continued development because of foreign interest.
Rheinmetall was a lot more successful later when the demand in Germany was brought up again. The Wiesel was eventually chosen from among the candidates that competed in the trials. Named because of its small size and agility.
The Wiesel was also preferred due to its ability to be integrated with a wide assortment of weapons. You can see many of them in game and in various images online. However, one of the most interesting ones to me, is the ATM prototype series.
In 1998 the Wiesel 1 Advance Turret Modular (ATM) was shown during an open day of “Luftlandebrigade 26 Saarland”. The Wiesel 1 ATM is designed for a wide range of tasks from reconnaissance to anti-tank to surveillance purposes.
Today we present to you the second version of the series, the dual-wielding, cannon and ATGM capable terror of the battlefield.
Interestingly, the ATM system can also be used with the PARS 3 MR Laser beam riding missile. More on that in another post. (JPz Fuchs mit PARS 3 MR: Unwavering resolve)
ATM system
The ATM Weapon system, introduced in 1997, serves as a versatile platform for both observation and reconnaissance, in addition to functioning as a weapon system. This system comprises three key components: a stabilized, elevated sensor platform capable of rising up to 1.5 meters above the roof of the Wiesel, an internal control system located within the vehicle, and a turret equipped with HOT missiles along with either a cannon or a machine gun.
Designed to fulfil the operational needs of the French and German armed forces, the HOT/ATM system can be mounted on light tracked and wheeled armoured vehicles. It is engineered to perform advanced observation tasks while also engaging targets with HOT anti-tank guided missiles (ATGMs) at a maximum range of 4,000 meters.
The turret is equipped with a mast-mounted stabilized sensor pod that includes a colour CCD camera, a thermal imaging camera (10 µm), an electro-optical block (1 µm), and a laser rangefinder. The sensor pod allows for increased situational awareness, automatic target tracking, and missile tracking.
Inside the vehicle, the monitoring and display module enables the operator to conduct battlefield surveillance, accurately localize targets on a digital terrain map, automatically track targets, select targets for engagement, and launch HOT missiles with minimal response time.
The turret is unmanned, with the operator positioned on the right side of the vehicle and the vehicle commander seated on the left.
Specifications
—Survivability—
Crew: 3 (Gunner/Loader + Commander + Driver)
Armour (front, sides, rear): 8mm, 8mm, 8mm
—Mobility—
Weight: 2.8t
Engine: Audi 2.1 L 5-cylinder in-line turbo-diesel
Power: ~87 hp
P/W: 31.07hp/t
Top speed:
- Forward: 81 kmph
- Reverse: 30 kmph
Suspension: Torsion bar
—Equipment—
Optics: Colour CCD camera
Zoom: x 10 (16° to 1.6°)
Turret elevation: -15°, +45°
Turret rotation: 40°/s
Stabiliser: Optics only
IR search: No
IR Track: Yes
Optics mast height: 1.5m above hull roof (fully extended)
TVD: Yes, 7.5μ - 10.5μ CMT
- FOV:
-
- Wide: 9 x 12°
-
- Narrow: 2.7 x 3.6°
LRF: Yes
- Narrow: 2.7 x 3.6°
–Weapon system–
Armament (configuration 1): 1 x 20M621 20mm gun + 1 x HOT-2/3 ATGMs (+ 6 in storage) (or PARS 3 MR)
Armament (configuration 2): 1 x 20M621 20mm gun + 2 x HOT-2/3 ATGMs (+ 6 in storage) (or PARS 3 MR)
20M621 cannon
TheM621 French 20mm Autocannon, developed by Nexter as onboard armament for armored vehicles, aircraft, helicopters, and small coastal vessels of the French Navy. The main advantages are its limited weight and low recoil. Most vehicles or light aircraft that can handle a 12.7mm heavy machine gun can also be equipped with the M621. The M621 is a gas-operated autocannon. It uses a delayed blowback mechanism. Two locking pieces assure a locked-breech until the round has left the barrel. The M621 uses a single belt feed system, which can be set up for right or left-hand feed.
—20m621—
Caliber: NATO Standard 20 x 102mm
Rate of fire: 750 RPM
Belt capacity: 100 round
Ammunition:
- AP-T:
-
- Projectile weight: 106g
-
- Velocity : 1005 m/s
- HEI:
-
- Projectile weight: 102g
-
- Explosive mass: 9g
-
- Velocity: 975 m/s
Extra info
The Nexter 20M621 cannon is the same one that is also cleared for use on the Euro Copter 665. You may know it by its more common name, Tiger.
Sources
Tankograd - Wiesel 1 ATM (trimmed pdf)
- https://www.army-guide.com/eng/product943.html
- https://www.army-technology.com/projects/hot/
- https://www.army-guide.com/eng/product2104.html
- German ATGM Vehicles
- Rheinmetall Landsysteme Wiesel (Weasel): Photos, History, Specification
- HOT anti-tank missile system | Missilery.info
- Rheinmetall Wiesel - Wikiwand
- https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&opi=89978449&url=https://www.knds.com/fileadmin/user_upload/content/Newsroom/PressAreas/2022_Eurosatory/P20/P20_Data_sheet.pdf&ved=2ahUKEwihjc2WltWLAxWyi_0HHZ0IGy0QFnoECCgQAQ&sqi=2&usg=AOvVaw3kp7mkqXK8tL0Tl240BaDI
- https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&opi=89978449&url=https://www.knds.fr/sites/default/files/2022-06/Nexter_Arrowtech_Ammunition.pdf&ved=2ahUKEwjf8bLNmNWLAxXvhf0HHd1JBSgQFnoECB8QAQ&usg=AOvVaw0ZoebyX6cmYkm5gJT1qyjv
- Yes
- No
