CSIR Casspir Mortar Carrier

     Notes: The development of a mortar-carrying version of the Casspir was late off the blocks, starting several years after the introduction of the Casspir; therefore, the Casspir Mortar Carriers are largely based on the Mk 2 version, with upgrading to the Mk 3 version proceeding apace. Though the Casspir itself is used by 11 countries, I have not been able to find out how many of them, if any, are mortar carriers.  New-build Casspir Mortar Carriers are still available for export and SANDF, as are refurbished and upgraded Casspir Mortar Carriers.

     Externally, the Casspir Mortar carrier is almost identical to a standard Mk 2 (or Mk 3) Casspir.  Of course, internally, the Casspir Mortar Carrier is heavily-modified to carry the vehicle’s mortar, fire control equipment, and ammunition (of which the Casspir Mortar Carrier carries an ample supply).  The three members of the crew that do not travel in the cab have standard Casspir passenger seats in the rear, with the included 4-point harnesses and shock-absorbing seats.  One crewmember in the rear sits on the left side, and two on the right side of the compartment. The commander has a mount for a weapon under his windshield with limited traverse, elevation, and virtually no depression; this is normally an MG-4.  At the front of the troop compartment is a mount for a weapon, which may be of several different types; this is manned by one of the troops in the rear. The two rear doors remain; they are pneumatically-operated and respond to the push of a button (and the door can be locked from the inside).  Though the Casspir Mk 2 itself can be had with overhead armor, I have not seen a picture or heard a description of the Casspir Mortar Carrier with overhead protection beyond a camouflage net.  On the Casspir Mortar Carrier, the side hatches of the Mk 2 are welded shut, but the firing ports and armored windows remain. The Casspir has a water tank for crew and troop consumption, in this case holding 200 liters; set in the floor, this also provides some incidental protection against mines and IEDs (as a mine/IED explosion stands a good change of hitting the tank first, an AV of 2).

     Like any such vehicle, the Casspir Mortar Carrier bears much in common with its base vehicle, the Casspir Mk 2 (or later, the Mk 3). The Casspir has an MRAP-type hull and suspension, along with the appropriate seating. This includes 4-point harnesses for the crew and troops to help protect them in the case that a mine or IEDs turns the Casspir on its side or roof, or causes it to roll over.  The Casspir Mortar Carrier Mk 2 is powered by 166-horsepower Mercedes-Benz OM-352 turbocharged diesel engine, which unfortunately still leaves it a bit underpowered.  The suspension, however, is more suited for off-road use, though once again the stiff leaf-spring-type suspension is used and the ride can be a bit rough.  The transmission is manual, and the driver has conventional controls. Some improvements to the transmission have been made, such as the use of a limited-slip differential.  The Casspir Mortar Carrier Mk 3 is very much like the Mortar Carrier Mk 2, but has an automatic transmission with a manual backup and uses a domestically-produced ADE turbocharged diesel developing 170 horsepower.

     The mortar, normally an 81mm Vektor M-8, is mounted in the center of the rear compartment.  Fire in almost any direction is possible, as the purpose-built baseplate can traverse a full 360 degrees total; however, to move the direction of the barrel by more than 22.5 degrees from the centerline of the barrel in any given direction, the bipod must be unlocked and moved over to the next (or appropriate) set of bipod locks; this sort of large elevation change takes about 6 phases (30 seconds), and there are such bipod lockdowns positions to allow eight separate lay positions. Despite all that is being carried internally, Casspir Mortar Carrier has a decently-roomy fighting compartment.  In the 1990s, the existing fleet of Casspir Mortar Carrier Mk 2s were equipped with a mapping computer as well as an inertial navigation setup; in addition, the Casspir MC was equipped with a Mortar Ballistic Computer (MBC).  Even later, the Casspir MC Mk 2 was equipped with a data-capable long-range radio which allowed enemy coordinated that may be targets to be inputted directly into the Casspir MC’s mapping software.  Between such coordinates, the mapping computer, the inertial navigation, and the MBC, the Casspir MC Mk 2 no longer needed an FDC, and the mortar carrier itself carries enough ammunition for a decent bombardment.  The computers of the Casspir MC Mk 2 Final Upgrade are linked together into a coherent whole, the prime computer that ties it all together is essentially similar to a Toughbook, Of course, Casspir MCs carry more traditional fire control equipment for the mortar if necessary, and the mortar is completely dismountatable, as is the MBC.

     The Casspir Mk 3 has essentially all of fire control, navigations, and communications improvements listed above, in addition to a GPS receiver.  They also normally carry clusters of three, four, or five smoke grenade clusters on each front fender.

     Twilight 2000 Notes: The Mk 3 does not exist in the Twilight 2000 timeline.

*Floor AV is 6Sp.  There is no roof AV, except for the cab and hood; these have AV2 and are Enclosed.

BAE South Africa Ratel Mortar Carrier

     Notes: The Ratel Mortar carrier is the indirect fire support version of the Ratel.  While the Casspir is more of a general-purpose fire support platform, the Ratel is the primary fire support platform for SANDF’s motorized battalions.  With mobility similar to the Ratel itself, the Ratel Mortar Carrier is a better match for Ratel-equipped units. The Ratel Mortar Carrier also offers more protection to its crew. Jordan and Morocco also use the Ratel Mortar Carrier along with other Ratel variants.  Though upgrades are still being done, the Ratel Mortar Carrier is no longer in production except for spare parts.

     The Ratel Mortar Carrier is essentially a Ratel-20 Mk 2 with its standard turret removed, the rear-deck hatch arrangement changed, and the interior heavily modified for its mission.  The mortar, whether 81mm or 120mm, is mounted on a turntable that allows 360-degree rotation.  Most of the rest of the fighting compartment is taken up with racks for ammunition and mounts for its mortar-specific electronics suite.  Mortar fire missions are aided by a comprehensive set of electronic tools, including a Mortar Ballistic Computer, a light general purpose computer, a mapping computer, and a GPS unit.  The Ratel Mortar Carrier can, therefore, act as its own FDC, plot its own fire missions, and accurately execute its own fire missions.  Another aid in this is a data-capable long-range radio, which means that the Ratel Mortar carrier can network its fire missions, use an FDC if desired, and be fed or feed its position and missions to other similarly-equipped units.  The Ratel Mortar Carrier can fire within 10 seconds of a halt, and pack up again and be leaving within 10 seconds after the conclusion of a fire mission.

   The Ratel Mortar Carrier has a roomy driver’s compartment at the center front of the vehicle with good visibility through ballistic-glass windows to the front and sides of his position.  He can enter and exit through a roof hatch, or though the rear of his position through the troop compartment.  The driver can cover his windows with armored shutters for high-threat environments.  With the shutters in position, the driver views the area around him though three vision blocks (to the front and sides); the front vision block can be replaced by a night vision block.  The driver’s controls are conventional, and the seat and steering column are adjustable. 

     To the rear of the driver’s position is a cupola which has a machinegun mount. This is the commander’s station. On either fender are two smoke grenade launchers. The commander’s station has a hand-operated searchlight operated by the commander through a handle below the deck next to the cupola, or it can be trained directly by putting your hand on the searchlight. The commander has all-around vision blocks and the cupola is manually rotated.  On the center deck are two semicircular hatches, which open for the mortar to be fired. Two of the Ratel 20’s firing ports remain, the ones at the front of the fighting compartment. Ammunition resupplies are done primarily via the rear door, which is on the right side of the rear face opposite the engine compartment and is a clamshell-type door opening up and down.  There is also a clamshell door in either side of the vehicle at the front of the fighting compartment.

     The 120mm mortar is a Denel-made version of the Soltam M-6.  It has few modifications, mostly to suit it to a Ratel Mortar Carrier.  It has the designation M-1 in the SANDF.

     The Ratel Mortar Carrier is powered by a Bussing D-3256 BTXF turbocharged diesel produced in South Africa which has an output of 282 horsepower, coupled to a manual transmission.  The suspension is 6x6, and is of the off-road type.  The suspension is rather high (ground clearance is 35 centimeters).  The armor is of all-welded steel; though the Ratel does not have an MRAP hull, additional attention has been paid to the survivability of the suspension, wheels, and tires, which are run-flat and especially puncture-resistant.  The floor has additional armor protection, and the troops and crew have shock-absorbing seats/positions and take 10% less damage if the Ratel Mortar Carrier hits a mine or IED.

*Belly Armor is 4Sp.  Internally, the crew and equipment take 10% less damage from a mine or IED hit to the belly or within 5 meters of the belly.