Raketenjagdpanzer 1
Encyclopedia
The Raketenjagdpanzer 1 was an anti-tank guided missile
-armed tank destroyer
and was the first such vehicle in service with the West German Armed Forces
and began service with them in 1961. It was built on the chassis of the Hispano-Suiza
HS-30 which was also used on the Schützenpanzer SPz 12-3
, and armed with twin French SS.11
antitank guided missile
launchers. Only one of the missile launchers are visible from the outside at a time however, as the other launcher is retracted into the hull to be reloaded when the first is ready to fire.
anti-tank guided weapons were the primary armament for the Raketenjagdpanzer 1. With ten missile
s per vehicle the crew had the theoretical ability to destroy ten enemy vehicles, although this was doubtful in practice. The weapon was wire-guided and the crew continued to control the missile via a small periscope
after launch. The SS.11 missile could penetrate 600 mm of rolled homogeneous armor.
B81 Mk 80F engine was chosen to power the Raketenjagdpanzer 1, which could develop 235 hp @ 3,800 rpm. The engine was capable of pushing the vehicle to speeds of 51 km/h, and was able to ford 0.70 metres of water, climb 60° gradients and clear vertical obstacles of 0.60 metres in height or cross trenches 1.60 metres wide.
Anti-tank guided missile
An anti-tank missile , anti-tank guided missile , anti-tank guided weapon or anti-armor guided weapon is a guided missile primarily designed to hit and destroy heavily-armored military vehicles....
-armed tank destroyer
Tank destroyer
A tank destroyer is a type of armored fighting vehicle armed with a gun or missile launcher, and is designed specifically to engage enemy armored vehicles...
and was the first such vehicle in service with the West German Armed Forces
Bundeswehr
The Bundeswehr consists of the unified armed forces of Germany and their civil administration and procurement authorities...
and began service with them in 1961. It was built on the chassis of the Hispano-Suiza
Hispano-Suiza
Hispano-Suiza was a Spanish automotive and engineering firm, best known for its luxury cars and aviation engines in the pre-World War II period of the twentieth century. In 1923, its French subsidiary became a semi-autonomous partnership with the parent company and is now part of the French SAFRAN...
HS-30 which was also used on the Schützenpanzer SPz 12-3
Schützenpanzer Lang HS.30
The Schützenpanzer Lang HS.30 was a German infantry fighting vehicle developed during the 1950s. It was a Swiss Hispano-Suiza design, with a Rolls-Royce engine. After some early mechanical problems only some 2000 were built of the 10,000 planned...
, and armed with twin French SS.11
SS.11
SS.11 is the designation of the Nord Aviation MCLOS wire-guided anti-tank missile. In American service the missile was designated the AGM-22. The missile entered service with the French Army in 1956. Production of the SS.11 ceased some time in the 1980s but in 1978 168,450 missiles had been produced...
antitank guided missile
Missile
Though a missile may be any thrown or launched object, it colloquially almost always refers to a self-propelled guided weapon system.-Etymology:The word missile comes from the Latin verb mittere, meaning "to send"...
launchers. Only one of the missile launchers are visible from the outside at a time however, as the other launcher is retracted into the hull to be reloaded when the first is ready to fire.
Armament
The twin mounted launchers for the SS.11SS.11
SS.11 is the designation of the Nord Aviation MCLOS wire-guided anti-tank missile. In American service the missile was designated the AGM-22. The missile entered service with the French Army in 1956. Production of the SS.11 ceased some time in the 1980s but in 1978 168,450 missiles had been produced...
anti-tank guided weapons were the primary armament for the Raketenjagdpanzer 1. With ten missile
Missile
Though a missile may be any thrown or launched object, it colloquially almost always refers to a self-propelled guided weapon system.-Etymology:The word missile comes from the Latin verb mittere, meaning "to send"...
s per vehicle the crew had the theoretical ability to destroy ten enemy vehicles, although this was doubtful in practice. The weapon was wire-guided and the crew continued to control the missile via a small periscope
Periscope
A periscope is an instrument for observation from a concealed position. In its simplest form it consists of a tube with mirrors at each end set parallel to each other at a 45-degree angle....
after launch. The SS.11 missile could penetrate 600 mm of rolled homogeneous armor.
Powerplant
The Rolls RoyceRolls-Royce Limited
Rolls-Royce Limited was a renowned British car and, from 1914 on, aero-engine manufacturing company founded by Charles Stewart Rolls and Henry Royce on 15 March 1906 as the result of a partnership formed in 1904....
B81 Mk 80F engine was chosen to power the Raketenjagdpanzer 1, which could develop 235 hp @ 3,800 rpm. The engine was capable of pushing the vehicle to speeds of 51 km/h, and was able to ford 0.70 metres of water, climb 60° gradients and clear vertical obstacles of 0.60 metres in height or cross trenches 1.60 metres wide.