Wiesel 1
Encyclopedia
The Wiesel Armoured Weapons Carrier is a German light air-transportable armoured fighting vehicle
, more specifically a lightly armoured weapons carrier. It is quite similar to historical scouting tankette
s in size, form and function.
The Wiesel has been used in several of the Bundeswehr's missions abroad (UNOSOM II
, IFOR
, SFOR
, KFOR, TFH, ISAF
).
, as the infantry of the German Bundeswehr
, especially airborne infantry, was considered unprepared to successfully fight enemy main battle tank
s (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 Wiesel was finally introduced as 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.
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 Sea Stallion
helicopter can fly in two at once, and common transport planes can carry four or more Wiesel vehicles.
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, an air conditioning system, and NBC protection.
Armoured fighting vehicle
An armoured fighting vehicle is a combat vehicle, protected by strong armour and armed with weapons. AFVs can be wheeled or tracked....
, more specifically a lightly armoured weapons carrier. It is quite similar to historical scouting tankette
Tankette
A tankette is a tracked combat vehicle resembling a small tank roughly the size of a car, mainly intended for light infantry support or reconnaissance. Colloquially it may also simply mean a "small tank"....
s in size, form and function.
The Wiesel has been used in several of the Bundeswehr's missions abroad (UNOSOM II
UNOSOM II
United Nations Operation in Somalia II was the second phase of the United Nations intervention in Somalia, from March 1993 until March 1995....
, IFOR
IFOR
The Implementation Force was a NATO-led multinational peacekeeping force in Bosnia and Herzegovina under a one-year mandate from 20 December 1995 to 20 December 1996 under the codename Operation Joint Endeavour. Its task was to implement the military Annexes of The General Framework Agreement for...
, SFOR
SFOR
The Stabilisation Force was a NATO-led multinational peacekeeping force in Bosnia and Herzegovina which was tasked with upholding the Dayton Agreement. It replaced the previous force IFOR...
, KFOR, TFH, ISAF
International Security Assistance Force
The International Security Assistance Force is a NATO-led security mission in Afghanistan established by the United Nations Security Council on 20 December 2001 by Resolution 1386 as envisaged by the Bonn Agreement...
).
History
The Wiesel was developed for the German Army to meet a requirement for an air-transportable light armored vehicle for use by its airborne troopsAirborne forces
Airborne forces are military units, usually light infantry, set up to be moved by aircraft and 'dropped' into battle. Thus they can be placed behind enemy lines, and have an ability to deploy almost anywhere with little warning...
, as the infantry of the German Bundeswehr
Bundeswehr
The Bundeswehr consists of the unified armed forces of Germany and their civil administration and procurement authorities...
, especially airborne infantry, was considered unprepared to successfully fight enemy main battle tank
Main battle tank
A main battle tank , also known as a battle tank or universal tank, is a tank that fills the heavy direct fire role of many modern armies. They were originally conceived to replace the light, medium, heavy and super-heavy tanks. Development was spurred onwards in the Cold War with the development...
s (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
Porsche
Porsche Automobil Holding SE, usually shortened to Porsche SE a Societas Europaea or European Public Company, is a German based holding company with investments in the automotive industry....
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 Wiesel was finally introduced as new weapon system for the Bundeswehr with deliveries beginning in the late 1980s. The vehicle was named Wiesel ("weasel
Weasel
Weasels are mammals forming the genus Mustela of the Mustelidae family. They are small, active predators, long and slender with short legs....
") because of its small size and agility, which make it very difficult to detect on the battlefield.
Configuration
Depending on the exact configuration, the length is about 3.55 meters, the height 1.82 meters, and the width 1.82 meters. At only 2.75 metric tons, it weighs less than the armored variant of the U.S. Humvee military light truck. The engine is a 64 kW AudiAudi
Audi AG is a German automobile manufacturer, from supermini to crossover SUVs in various body styles and price ranges that are marketed under the Audi brand , positioned as the premium brand within the Volkswagen Group....
2.1-litre diesel engine
Diesel engine
A diesel engine is an internal combustion engine that uses the heat of compression to initiate ignition to burn the fuel, which is injected into the combustion chamber...
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
Chassis
A chassis consists of an internal framework that supports a man-made object. It is analogous to an animal's skeleton. An example of a chassis is the underpart of a motor vehicle, consisting of the frame with the wheels and machinery.- Vehicles :In the case of vehicles, the term chassis means the...
is made of steel
Steel
Steel is an alloy that consists mostly of iron and has a carbon content between 0.2% and 2.1% by weight, depending on the grade. Carbon is the most common alloying material for iron, but various other alloying elements are used, such as manganese, chromium, vanadium, and tungsten...
armour
Vehicle armour
Military vehicles are commonly armoured to withstand the impact of shrapnel, bullets, missiles, or shells, protecting the personnel inside from enemy fire. Such vehicles include tanks, aircraft, and ships....
and can resist the common 5.56 mm and 7.62 mm
7.62 mm caliber
7.62 mm caliber is a nominal caliber used for a number of different cartridges. Historically, this class of cartridge was commonly known as .30 caliber, the Imperial unit equivalent, and was most commonly used for indicating a class of full power military main battle rifle cartridges...
small arms
Small arms
Small arms is a term of art used by armed forces to denote infantry weapons an individual soldier may carry. The description is usually limited to revolvers, pistols, submachine guns, carbines, assault rifles, battle rifles, multiple barrel firearms, sniper rifles, squad automatic weapons, light...
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 Sea Stallion
CH-53 Sea Stallion
The CH-53 Sea Stallion is the most common name for the Sikorsky S-65 family of heavy-lift transport helicopters. Originally developed for use by the United States Marine Corps, it is also in service with Germany, Iran, Israel, and Mexico...
helicopter can fly in two at once, and common transport planes can carry four or more Wiesel vehicles.
Variants in Service
- Wiesel 1 Aufklärung: reconnaissance
- Wiesel 1 ATM TOW: anti-tank vehicle fitted with TOW missiles
- Wiesel 1TOW: Uprated with BMS
- 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 MK20 Variant 2: Uprated with BMS
Prototypes and Studies
- 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 ATM HOT: anti-tank vehicle fitted with HOT missilesEuromissile HOTThe HOT is a second-generation long-range anti-tank missile system developed originally as an effort to meet a joint German-French Army requirement, by the then German firm Bolkow and the French firm Nord, to replace the older SS.11 wire guided...
- 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 version
Variants in Service
The Wiesel 2 is a stretched version of the Wiesel 1, with a fifth roadwheel. The engine was changed to a 1.9l VolkswagenVolkswagen
Volkswagen is a German automobile manufacturer and is the original and biggest-selling marque of the Volkswagen Group, which now also owns the Audi, Bentley, Bugatti, Lamborghini, SEAT, and Škoda marques and the truck manufacturer Scania.Volkswagen means "people's car" in German, where it is...
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, an air conditioning system, and NBC protection.
- Wiesel 2 Light Air Defence System (leichtes Flugabwehr System - leFlaSys)
- Wiesel 2 Air Defence Command Post
- Wiesel 2 Air Defence Reconnaissance and Fire Control Vehicle (RFCV): fitted with air defence radar
- Wiesel 2 Air Defence Weapon Carrier (Ozelot): fitted with air defence missile launchers (two box launchers containing four ready-to-fire StingersFIM-92 StingerThe FIM-92 Stinger is a personal portable infrared homing surface-to-air missile , which can be adapted to fire from ground vehicles and helicopters , developed in the United States and entered into service in 1981. Used by the militaries of the U.S...
, or, alternatively, a (currently unknown) number of vertical launch cells with LFK NGLFK NGLFK NG from Lenkflugkörper Neue Generation , is currently under development by LFK-Lenkflugkörpersysteme and Diehl BGT Defence as the new short-range surface-to-air missile system for the German Army as a replacement for its former Roland air defence systems and as a part of the army's new SysFla...
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 Vehicle
Prototypes and Studies
- 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 SYRANOSYRANOSYRANO is the first operational battlefield robot of the French military....
: Robotic system for the French Army - Wiesel 2 RMK 30: prototypes have been fitted with a Rheinmetall RMK30Rheinmetall RMK30The RMK 30 is a recoilless 30 mm caliber autocannon firing caseless 30 x 250 mm ammunition cartridges...
recoilless autocannon