The first wheeled infantry fighting vehicle to enter global service

Wars & Conflicts · Published 16 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: In the 1970s, South Africa broke with traditional military doctrine to create a vehicle that could traverse vast distances without the logistical nightmare of tracks. The Ratel was born from a need for strategic mobility, designed to deliver heavy firepower to mechanised infantry across the rugged, sandy terrain of Southern Africa.

The Ratel emerged from a shift in South African Defence Force (SADF) doctrine during the late 1960s. Moving away from British-style doctrine—which prioritized dismounted infantry transported by simple carriers—the SADF sought a vehicle for 'mobile warfare.' They needed a way to deploy mechanised infantry independently across the vast borders of South West Africa (Namibia). The goal was to arrive at contact points faster than the enemy, providing enough protection and firepower to engage targets immediately upon arrival.

Design choices were dictated by geography and logistics. Because the abrasive, sandy terrain caused excessive wear on tracks, the SADF specified a wheeled vehicle. Wheels offered a greater operating range and eliminated the need for heavy transporters on limited road networks. While Soviet and Western doctrines largely rejected wheeled IFVs as being too vulnerable to small arms fire or lacking cross-country capability, advancements in run-flat tyres and power trains in the late 1960s made the Ratel a viable reality. It was built on a modified MAN truck chassis, making it a simple, economical design that reduced the logistical burden of maintaining heavy combat vehicles in undeveloped regions.

The vehicle introduced several novel features, including a mine-protected hull and a 20 mm autocannon with a unique twin-linked ammunition feed for rapid swapping between types. Production began in 1976 and continued until 1987, resulting in 1,381 units. The Ratel was highly adaptable, spawning variants for mortars, anti-tank guided missiles, and a 90 mm rifled gun. It eventually became the centerpiece of 'battle groups'—integrated units where armoured squadrons and mechanised infantry operated at the company level to provide flexible, independent strike capabilities.

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