Jaguar 2
Encyclopedia
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
.
s 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.
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.
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.
Twelve missiles and 2100 7.62mm rounds are stored inside the vehicle.
Raketenjagdpanzer
Raketenjagdpanzer is the designation of a range of German dedicated tank destroyers equipped with anti-tank guided missiles...
4 Jaguar 2 was a German
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
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...
equipped with anti-tank guided missiles
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....
. It was only operated by the Bundeswehr
Bundeswehr
The Bundeswehr consists of the unified armed forces of Germany and their civil administration and procurement authorities...
. The vehicle is being used by United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
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
Bomb Patrol Afghanistan
Bomb Patrol Afghanistan is an American documentary television series that premiered in the United States on G4 in October 2011. The series follows members of a United States Navy EOD unit as they hunt for and dismantle explosives in Afghanistan.-Synopsis:From the streets of Afghanistan comes an...
.
History
From 1983 to 1985, 162 KanonenjagdpanzerKanonenjagdpanzer
The Kanonenjagdpanzer 4 - 5 was a German Cold War tank destroyer equipped with a 90mm anti-tank gun, which remained from the outphased M47 Patton tanks...
s were converted to Raketenjagdpanzer 4 Jaguar 2. This was done by removing the main gun, and adding a TOW
BGM-71 TOW
The BGM-71 TOW is an anti-tank missile. "BGM" is a weapon classification that stands for "Multiple Environment , Surface-Attack , Missile ". "TOW" is an acronym that stands for "Tube-launched, Optically-tracked, Wire command data link, guided missile"...
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
Jaguar 1
The Raketenjagdpanzer Jaguar 1 was a German tank destroyer equipped with anti-tank guided missiles. From 1978 and 1982 obsolete Raketenjagdpanzer 2 units were converted into 316 Jaguar 1s by replacing the SS.11 missile system with a HOT launcher and upgrading the armour. During the period 1993 to...
, an upgraded version of the Jaguar 1.
Design
The Jaguar 2 is a tank destroyerTank 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...
which follows the traditional casemate
Casemate
A casemate, sometimes rendered casement, is a fortified gun emplacement or armored structure from which guns are fired. originally a vaulted chamber in a fortress.-Origin of the term:...
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
Marder (IFV)
The Marder is a German infantry fighting vehicle operated by the German Army as the main weapon of the Panzergrenadiere from the 1970s through the present day. Developed as part of the rebuilding of Germany's armoured fighting vehicle industry, the Marder has proven to be a successful and solid...
and the Jaguar 1
Jaguar 1
The Raketenjagdpanzer Jaguar 1 was a German tank destroyer equipped with anti-tank guided missiles. From 1978 and 1982 obsolete Raketenjagdpanzer 2 units were converted into 316 Jaguar 1s by replacing the SS.11 missile system with a HOT launcher and upgrading the armour. During the period 1993 to...
.
It is an all-welded steel construction, which has maximum thickness of 50 mm.
Protection
The base armour is formed by the KanonenjagdpanzerKanonenjagdpanzer
The Kanonenjagdpanzer 4 - 5 was a German Cold War tank destroyer equipped with a 90mm anti-tank gun, which remained from the outphased M47 Patton tanks...
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
Casemate
A casemate, sometimes rendered casement, is a fortified gun emplacement or armored structure from which guns are fired. originally a vaulted chamber in a fortress.-Origin of the term:...
structure. Leopard-like side-skirts were also added.
Further protection is provided by eight smoke dischargers, which are now installed on the glacis
Glacis
A glacis in military engineering is an artificial slope of earth used in late European fortresses so constructed as to keep any potential assailant under the fire of the defenders until the last possible moment...
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.
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. 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.