Jaguar 2
| Jaguar 2 | |
|---|---|
 |
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| Type | Tank destroyer |
| Place of origin |  West Germany |
| Service history | |
| In service | 1965 - 1993 |
| Used by | West Germany |
| Production history | |
| Manufacturer | Henschel and Hanomag |
| Produced | 1983 - 1985 |
| Number built | 162[1] |
| Specifications | |
| Weight | 24.8 |
| Length | 6.61 |
| Width | 3.12 |
| Height | 2.55 |
| Crew | 4 (commander, gunner, loader, driver) |
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| Armor | 50 mm steel + applique armour |
| Main armament |
1 x manually reloaded TOW launcher, 12 missiles |
| Secondary armament |
1 x 7.62mm MG3 machine guns 8 x smoke discharger |
| Engine | 29,4 liter MTU MB 837 Aa V8 water-cooled multi-fuel diesel-engine 500 hp (368 kW) |
| Suspension | torsion bar |
| Operational range |
400 km |
| Speed | 70 km/h |
The Raketenjagdpanzer 4 Jaguar 2 was a German tank destroyer equipped with anti-tank guided missiles. It was only operated by the Bundeswehr. The vehicle is being used by United States Army as the Badger, and it is fitted with a large articulated arm in digging up IED's or any buried device and was shown in the documentary Bomb Patrol Afghanistan.
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[edit] History
From 1983 to 1985, 162 Kanonenjagdpanzers were converted to Raketenjagdpanzer 4 Jaguar 2. This was done by removing the main gun, and adding a TOW launcher on the roof and applique armour as well. In 1989 the TOW missiles were replaced by the more potent TOW 2. In 1993 the Jaguar 2 tank destroyers were phased out in favour for the Jaguar 1A3, an upgraded version of the Jaguar 1.
[edit] Design
The Jaguar 2 is a tank destroyer which follows the traditional casemate design of German tank destroyers. It is a pretty light vehicle based on the "leichte Fahrzeugfamilie"-chassis, which was also used by the SPz Marder and the Jaguar 1. It is an all-welded steel construction, which has maximum thickness of 50 mm.
[edit] Protection
The base armour is formed by the Kanonenjagdpanzer chassis. It was made of welded steel and had a thickness of 10 to 50 mm steel. When the Kanonenjagdpanzers were upgraded, applique armour, consisting of perforated steel plates coated in a rubber-like substance, were fastened shock-mounted on the front of the vehicle and the side of the casemate structure. Leopard-like side-skirts were also added. Further protection is provided by eight smoke dischargers, which are now installed on the glacis instead of behind the casemate. The survivability of the Jaguar 2 is still mainly relying on its low profile, high speed and long combat range, which exceeded the combat range of contemporary tanks.
[edit] Armament
The Jaguar 2 is armed with a TOW-launcher, an anti-aircraft MG3 and a MG3A1 in the hull. The TOW missile allows to fight enemy tanks on long ranges, the maximum combat range was considered to be 3750 m.[2] In 1989 the TOW missiles were replaced by the stronger TOW-2 missiles. Twelve missiles and 2100 7.62mm rounds are stored inside the vehicle.
[edit] References
[edit] External links
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