We are back with another Nation Pack: South Africa deep dive. Today, we’ll look at the (wheeled) firepower that made the SADF so infamously lean and mean on the battlefield: the hard-hitting and very mobile Armor.
In case you’ve missed it, in our previous post, we put a spotlight on the boots-on-the-ground, the all-important grunt: SADF Infantry. Read all about it here.
SADF’s Heavyweight Champion
Wargame: Red Dragon - Nation Pack: South Africa will give you access to the SADF arsenal as it existed at the end of the Border War and Cold War. The conflict that raged on the frontiers of Southern Africa typically took place on relatively flat arid terrain: savannah and bushland. The vast distances and limited infrastructure influenced overall vehicle design. It led the SADF to focus on wheeled armored fighting vehicles over tracked equipment, emphasizing off-road mobility, long range, less maintenance and logistical support, while retaining firepower.
There was, however, one undisputed heavyweight champion in the SADF vehicle pool which was still tracked: the Olifant (Elephant) tank. Based on the venerable British Centurion, the locally improved Olifant Mk1 is quite similar to the Israeli Sh’ot Kal. This basic variant will be available in-game in either a regular tank or command version.
Over time, the basic version was modified to the Olifant Mk1A, then the Olifant Mk1B, culminating in the prototype Olifant Mk1B Optimum - all armed with a 105mm gun. The experience with Centurions and Olifants led to the first true indigenous design, codenamed Loggim. One demonstrator was built of this design: a Leopard 2-like tank sporting a 120mm gun and heavy frontal armor. However, due to the end of the Cold War, the project was canceled.
Hard-hitting, wheeled firepower
Please note that the following list doesn’t feature each and every variant; expect some surprises further down the line!
The vast majority of SADF’s units are wheeled, with light armor but highly mobile and sporting a substantial amount of firepower. Some of the SADF’s equipment is instantly recognizable. One of these is the Casspir APC. Infamous for patrolling South Africa’s townships during apartheid, this vehicle was originally designed for the Border War and can be considered the first-ever MRAP (Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected Vehicle). The Casspir features a unique (at the time) V-shaped hull, which made it especially resistant against mines and IEDs. The Casspir APC will come fitted out in MG or K-Car (20mm) variants. Another iconic vehicle is the Buffel (Buffalo) light APC, which can be deployed in both transport and CV variants.
We will also feature the Ratel series of IFVs. Lightly armored, the VAB-like Ratel comes in many shapes and forms: Ratel 20 (20mm autocannon), Ratel 60 (60mm breech mortar), and Ratel 90 (90mm main gun). The vehicle loses its transport function with the dedicated self-propelled mortar variant Ratel 81 and Ratel 120, while the in-game CV variant deploy as the Ratel Command and the Ratel ZT-3A1 features an ATGM launcher.
One of the coolest looking SADF designs was the wheeled Rooikat (African caracal) series. This 8x8 armored car is highly mobile on any kind of terrain, light but armed with a fully stabilized 76mm gun. The gun, a Denel GT4, was derived from the Italian OTO Melara 76. That’s right, dust off your favorite meme - this is indeed the gun used by the glorious Otomatic!
Not to worry: while deadly accurate, even on the move, the Denel GT4 doesn’t have the same RoF, nor can it engage flying targets. The Rooikat was developed into several local, export, and prototype variants, including the Rooikat 105mm (with a 105mm gun), Rooikat ZA HVM (SAM launcher), and the Rooikat ZA-35 (twin 35mm SPAAG).
Other vehicles
Before developing its particular brand of wheeled armored vehicles, the SADF relied on various imported armored cars, which remained in service for a long time as either recon units or ATGM carriers.
Several variants of the famed British Ferret armored car were deployed, up-gunned with either a M40A1 recoilless rifle, ENTAC or MILAN missiles. Another example was the French AML, renamed as the Eland with both a 60 or 90 variant, with the latter version featuring ENTAC missiles on top of its main gun. Another French vehicle is the Cactus light SAM, which is basically a French Crotale.
SADF uses the ubiquitous British Land Rover jeep in various roles: recon, TD, CV. Soft-skinned transport and logistic vehicles are all variants of domestic SAMIL trucks. These South African trucks also see their chassis used for several self-propelled light support units, such as the Ystervark (SPAAG), Bateleur (MLRS), ...
This post wouldn’t be complete with another renowned South African vehicle, the G6-45 Rhino 155mm self-propelled howitzer. Best to think of it as a non-prototype, lightly armored, but very mobile off-road French Caesar. Having entered service in 1987, the G6 was the first real SADF self-propelled artillery gun since the aging and battle-weary World War 2 Sexton - the only other tracked vehicle in the SADF arsenal.
What will the South Africa Nation Pack bring?
Wargame: Red Dragon - Nation Pack: South Africa will feature:
- Close to 90 new SADF units, including 20 brand-new vehicle models, as well as many new variants. All feature new Afrikaans and South African-accented English voice-overs, aie boet!
- These include the ubiquitous Casspir and Ratel APCs (in numerous variants, from IFV, recon, command, mortar, and even SAM), the Rooikat wheeled tank (including variants and prototypes), Elan (license-produced French AML), Cactus (French Crotale), the only tracked Olifant MBT, many armed variants of locally made SAMIL trucks (Ystervark and Bosvark SPAAG, Valkiri and Bateleur MLRS), to the iconic G6 Renoster self-propelled howitzer.
- The Air Force includes old Buccaneer, Vampire and Impala as close-air support, and several French Mirage variants and the locally modified Cheetah as fighter and multirole aircraft. Furthermore, you will find the Atlas Carver prototype, the first full South African prototype plane design that never left the drawing board.
- Helicopters include the French Alouette III, Puma, Super Frelon and their locally produced versions and prototypes such as the K-Car, Oryx and XTP-1 Beta. You’ll also will be able to deploy South Africa’s very own attack helicopter design, the badass-looking Rooivalk.
- Infantry will include Bokkop regular riflemen, Parabat paratroopers, SASF special forces, and many more units such as militia, recon, MANPADS, engineers. You will also find Portuguese-speaking Angolan UNITA squads, as well as SADF’s own 32 Battalion (the Buffalos), as veteran light infantry formation.
- SADF weaponry features imported or locally built R1 and R4 rifles, SS-77 and Mini-SS MG, LRAC and APILAS LAW, but also the more original HK-21, FT5, Inflict and, of course, the iconic Y2 grenade-launcher and NTW-20.
What happens next?
That’s all! In two weeks we’ll be back with new details on Wargame: Red Dragon - Nation Pack: South Africa!
Make sure to follow Eugen. Check out our Eugen forums, or (Facebook page and Twitter)!
See you soon!
