Tracked Rapier/Rapier TLRV, RCM748.

[Spherical_Cleric 18]

INTRODUCTION:

Hi everyone, this is my first post so please be gentle. Today I would like to suggest a missile AA system for the British ground forces - the Tracked Rapier or Rapier TLRV (Tracked Rapier Launch Vehicle), RCM748.

 

Tracked Rapier consists of a modified M584 cargo carrier - itself a variant of the M113 APC - with a modified "Rapier" towed short range anti-aircraft missile system with 8 Rapier missiles fitted on anti-vibration mounts to the flatbed of the vehicle.

 

Note how the IR dish is raised above the cab so it can 'see' forwards.

 

VEHICLE HISTORY:

 

Amid convoluted circumstances the Rapier missile system was developed to replace outdated anti-aircraft guns in the defence of British airfields. It first consisted of four missiles on a two wheel trailer mounting, a pulse doppler surveillance radar dish rotating at 60 RPM with a 15 kilometre range and an IFF (Identification, Friend or Foe) radome on top. The missile used a SACLOS (Semi-Automatic Command Line Of Sight) guidance system. A separate optical guidance and pointing unit - with a wide FOV of 20 degrees and a narrow FOV of 4.8 degrees - was used by the operators to select the target before firing. Once fired the operator would continue to manually track the target using his joystick, the missile is captured by the infrared tracking system after launch - the infrared system has a wide FOV of 11 degrees and a narrow FOV of 0.55 degrees - which automatically guides it onto the target though radio commands issued by the launcher.

Interestingly this means that no radar 'lock' is needed, so the surveillance radar can carry on looking for targets, any receiving RWR (Radar Warning Receiver) would still receive pings but might not be aware that you are firing at them due to a lack of lock tone. 

The Rapier system had two major version before it was converted into Tracked Rapier, FSA and FSB. FSB added a few minor upgrades, mainly the ability to quickly turn off the search radar in case of anti-radiation attack. After being fitted to Tracked Rapier the towed variant would continue to be improved and are still in service today.

 

Early launcher and optical guidance unit.

 

A new mobile anti-aircraft vehicle was needed to protect Chieftain tanks that were being sold to Iran in a lucrative deal (see sources). BAC (British Aircraft Corporation) responded by fitting a Rapier system to a M584 cargo transport, with development starting in 1974. After significant changes to the original M584 the new vehicle was designated RCM 748, with additional armour, a new diesel generator and eight missiles on a 360 degree mounting the Tracked Rapier was a great success cutting moving-to-firing time down from 15 minutes for a towed Rapier system to 30/15 seconds (sources disagree) for Tracked Rapier and able to move off again in as little as 20 seconds, in order to deploy the IR dish at the front of the launcher has to be raised into the firing position above the cab to ensure a full 360 capability.

At some point during its development it was shown off during the 1977 Paris air show (see sources). The optical guidance system was placed in the right side of the crew cab, and elevated through the roof for operation, the left side of the cab contained the driver and the tactical controller - who possessed a helmet mounted sight. The base system that they had fitted was not perfect however and lacked all-weather capabilities, to aid this a separate radar guidance unit was developed, "Blindfire", the Tracked Rapier lacked additional space so this was carried by a second M584/RCM 748 but not required.

 

The deal with Iran fell though in 1978 and the British Army purchased the contract, eventually accepting the Tracked Rapier in 1981 and bringing it into service later in 1983. After introduction at FSB1 (Field Standard B - 1) Tracked Rapier was upgraded with a thermal-imaging tracker known as TOTE (Tracked Optically Thermally Enhanced) to enable it to operate in all-weather conditions without the use of a Blindfire unit.  In War Thunder this could be added as a modification or as a separate vehicle where the optical guidance can be switched in thermal mode like NVDs.

Tracked Rapier was retired in the 1990s being replaced by the Stormer HVM.

 

Tracked Rapier, note the optical guidance unit on top of the right side of the cab.

 

MISSILES:

The Rapier system used several different missiles throughout its life, according to sources all are backwards combatable so should be able to be fired from Tracked Rapier. I'm going to pick the ones that I find with the most relevant information as some have contradicting/conflicting information.

 

Mk.1

The Mk.1 rocket weighing 42.6kg and used a contact fuse wired to a 1.4kg warhead with 0.4kg of explosives, it used a single stage rocket motor to achieve Mach 2 (2450km/hr), the rear of the missile has 4 tracers for the IR system to lock onto. It is described by some sources as 'semi-armour piercing'. The missile can operate up to 7km from the launcher up to an altitude of 3km. Dimensions of the missile 2.23m x 1.13m.

 

Mk.1E

The Mk.1E rocket uses an upgraded fuse (unsure whether proximity, timed or distance) and a fragmentation warhead.

 

Mk.2A

The Mk.2A rocket is a longer range variant with the Mk.1Es fragmentation warhead, to achieve its longer range it uses a 2-stage solid rocket motor for a 15-20% increase in flight time, an increase in maximum ceiling from 3km to 5km and an increase in speed to Mach 2.5 (3062km/hr). It now weighs 43kg due to this addition.

 

Mk.2B

The Mk.2B rocket has combined both crush and IR remote fuses with a fragmentation and blast penetration warhead with the Mk.2As 2-stage solid rocket motor for longer range. It is reportedly used for light anti-armour duty in addition to AA duties.

 

The missile variants were especially hard to tie down as each version but I think the main takeaway is that at least 4 noticeably different missiles exist, a impact, a frag, a longer range frag & a longer range impact/frag hybrid.

 

You can see the cylindrical optical guidance unit lowered inside the cab. Also note the blast protection over the cab and the smoke dischargers at the back.

 

SPECIFICATIONS:

Weight: 14.01 tonnes

Length: 6.4 meters

Width: 2.8 meters

Height: 2.5 meters

Crew: 3 (commander, gunner, driver)

Armour: Proof against small arms

Engine: 5.2 litre V6 Detroit diesel with 210 horsepower

Range: 300km

Speed: 30mph

Armament: 8 x Rapier missiles

Requires deployment to fire?: Yes

Deployment/packing time: ~20 seconds

Missile guidance: SACLOS (Semi-Automatic Command Line Of Sight) with optical guidance either normal or thermal (TOTE upgrade)

Missile warhead: 0.4kg of explosives in a 1.4kg warhead with both blast and fragmentation versions

Missile ceiling: 3000m (5000m for Mk.2 missiles)

Missile range: 7000m (+15-20% for Mk.2 missiles)

Missile speed: Mach 2 (Mach 2.5 for Mk.2 missiles)

Missile weight: 42.6kg (45kg for Mk.2 missiles)

Defences: 18 smoke grenade launchers, 10 front, 8 back split between the corners of the vehicle

Radar: 15km pulse-doppler search radar with IFF (Identification Friend or Foe) system rotating at 60 RPM

 

Final photo for you, you can see how the commander and gunner don't really get windows.

 

SOURCES:

Lucrative deal article (warning: lots of ads)  https://www.forbes.com/sites/pauliddon/2020/09/07/will-britain-follow-in-americas-footsteps-and-repay-iran-for-undelivered-military-hardware/?sh=d9db90a1600f

1977 Paris air show (timestamped, if anyone could translate Korean that would be cool) 

 

 

https://en.missilery.info/missile/rapier2

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rapier_(missile)#Tracked_Rapier

https://en.missilery.info/missile/rapier-tlrv

https://www.army-technology.com/projects/jernas/

https://www.armyrecognition.com/british_united_kingdom_missile_systems_vehicles_uk/rapier_low_level_ground_surface_to_air_missile_technical_data_sheet_specifications_pictures_video.html

http://www.armedforces.co.uk/army/listings/l0120.html

https://www.militaryfactory.com/armor/detail.php?armor_id=1135

https://rmsothebys.com/en/auctions/lc14/the-littlefield-collection/lots/r0077-rcm-748-tracked-rapier-weapons-carrier/574518

https://weaponsparade.com/weapon/tracked-rapier/

Thanks for reading, I really tried my best but there is still so much I've missed and some of the specifications still seem off but I think you get the general gist of the vehicle and the weapon system

Edited May 24, 2022 by Spherical_Cleric
fixed some English and added a TLDR to the poll for TOTE

[Thatz 637]

Open for Discussion 

[Milocat 4,857]

+1 for sure, would be a great British SAM to add to the game!

[PayapayaPapaya 1]

+1 this would be a perfect option for UK tankers seeking less costly AA vehicle.
+ the youtube video doesnt tell much about the missile. It does mention radar detection range is 12km thou

 

[Zev_Winters 313]

Only problem with the Rapier is it's the same range as the Roland (with the upgraded missile), so some air-launched missiles still outrange it. But for ~9.7 it's fine.

[Headnaught 504]

A 10.0 suitable AA that isn't the Stormer HVM? Yes, please! +1

[Yontzee 1,676]

Would be a good precursor to the Stormer HVM. +1

[Hartsy1 32]

10.0 br spaa gap filler that provides ground players with a well needed counter against the event increasing amount of cas and recent addition.. Drones 

[Celestia 1,150]

should be 9.7 to match with other missile SPAA

[AVROVULCANXH558 349]

+1, the UK is in need of more missile vehicles

[Lord_Prism 1,827]

+1  Britain could do with an alternative that isn't the Starstreaks or the "Tank Destroyer" ADATS

[hienapunk 1,065]

Welp.

[Cpt__Duck 2]

+1, Surprised it hasn't been added into the game already tbh.

[Celestia 1,150]

We NEED this...

Such a hard gap between 8.0 and 10.3, the starstreak which is not anywhere as effective as it should be due to code issues and the marksman being basically unusuable for whatever reason.... the lead targeting sysyem lies.

[Capt_Palmtree 377]

23 hours ago, Celestia said:

We NEED this...

Such a hard gap between 8.0 and 10.3, the starstreak which is not anywhere as effective as it should be due to code issues and the marksman being basically unusuable for whatever reason.... the lead targeting sysyem lies.

For your consideration as well:

 

[hienapunk 1,065]

Someday...