Rooikat MTTD

This page is about the British light tank Rooikat MTTD. For other versions, see Rooikat (Family).

Rooikat MTTD

Olifant Mk.1A

Olifant Mk.2

Rooikat MTTD

Olifant Mk.1A

Olifant Mk.2

Britain

VI Rank

Battle rating:

AB	RB	SB
9.3	9.3	9.3

Class:

Light tank

Research:190 000

Purchase:520 000

Description

The Rooikat Medium Turret Technology Demonstrator (MTTD) was a prototype based on the Rooikat hull to test the possibility of an autoloading system mounted in a remote turret. The loader and commander positions were lowered into the hull, leaving a smaller turret occupied solely by the gun and autoloading bustle. A mock launcher for an active protection system was also installed on top of the turret, but not fitted with any of the equipment required to allow it to function.

Introduced in Update "Ixwa Strike", the Rooikat MTTD is a powerful upgrade over the preceding Rooikat Mk.1D. Featuring a 105 mm cannon like the Rooikat 105, it offers strong firepower coupled with the quick autoloader continuously reloading at rates matching those of other vehicles' ace crews. With the top DM33 round, the ammunition options are sufficient for the opponents the MTTD will face, and it retains the excellent mobility of previous Rooikats that make them such versatile vehicles. However, with the addition of the autoloader and lower-profile turret, a compromise must be made — the MTTD lacks common features such as smoke grenades or machine guns, which players may come to rue in particular times of need.

General info

Survivability and armour

ESS

Creation of a smoke screen in the direction of movement of the vehicle

Armourfront / side / back

Hull30 / 25 / 20

Turret25 / 10 / 10

Crew3 people

Visibility84 %

The Rooikat MTTD can generally be considered to be lightly armoured. The frontal armour can resists machine gun fire, or autocannons from long-range and at an angle. Side armour can be penetrated by machine guns larger than 12.7 mm at close range, with the rear armour being even weaker. A somewhat spacious hull allows for poorly aimed shots to potentially fail to hit any critical modules, but chemical rounds will destroy the vehicle through overpressure. The turret features recessed crew members, allowing for careful use of the gun depression to only expose the gun and auto-loader ammo rack when hull-down. Chemical rounds may very well still trigger overpressure when hitting the turret, or detonating the turret ammo rack. The Rooikat MTTD features poor overall armour and survivability, and should use the vehicle's mobility to avoid the possibility of receiving a hit in the first place. The vehicle also inherits the stock brown-yellow camouflage from the rest of the South Africa line, allowing the vehicle to be easily spotted on non-desert maps.

Armour type:

• Rolled homogeneous armour (hull, turret)
• Wheel (tires, torsion bars)

Armour	Front (Slope angle)	Sides	Rear	Roof
Hull	25 mm (77°) Upper glacis - Centre 10 mm (75°) Upper glacis - Sides 30 mm (23°) Lower glacis - Centre 10 mm (23°) Lower glacis - Sides	20 mm (25°) Top 25 mm (9°) Bottom	20 mm Upper centre 20 mm (29°) Lower centre	25 mm (13°) Front glacis - Centre 10 mm (15°) Front glacis - Sides 20 mm (0-13°) Driver compartment 10 mm Crew compartment 5 mm Radiator vents
Turret	15-25 mm (0-79°) Turret front 50 mm Gun mantlet	10-25 mm	10 mm (0-17°)	10-15 mm (0-11°)

Notes:

• Tires and torsion bar are 10 mm thick.
• Belly is 15 mm thick.

Mobility

Speedforward / back

AB134 / 41 km/h

RB and SB121 / 37 km/h

Number of gears12 forward

4 back

Weight28.5 t

Engine power

AB1 082 hp

RB and SB567 hp

Power-to-weight ratio

AB38.0 hp/t

RB and SB19.9 hp/t

Game Mode	Max Speed (km/h)		Weight (tons)	Engine power (horsepower)		Power-to-weight ratio (hp/ton)
	Forward	Reverse		Stock	Upgraded	Stock	Upgraded
Arcade	134	41	28.5	879	1,082	30.84	37.96
Realistic	121	37		501	567	17.58	19.89

The Rooikat MTTD features extremely good mobility, with limitations. The engine will power the vehicle to a top speed of 130 km/h (AB) / 120 km/h (RB/SB) on roads, though the average speed is around 35 to 55 km/h off road. The wheeled chassis will allow to turn the vehicle without losing too much speed, though the size of the vehicle means it will have a large turn radius, and it lacks the ability to perform neutral steering. Like for most armoured cars, snow, sand, and dirt will bring this vehicle to a crawl (<10 km/h in RB/SB). Performance on any sort of hill or incline is poor with low traction, making some normally accessible slopes impossible to climb. Although the vehicle is capable of high speeds, care should be taken to plan and familiarize map routes that will allow this vehicle to reach an advantageous position quickly. The vehicle characteristics favour open, rural maps over urban maps. When on urban maps, the vehicle's large turning radius will hamper its freedom of movement in narrow streets and between buildings.

Modifications and economy

Repair costBasic → Reference

AB3 169 → 5 361

RB3 316 → 5 610

SB3 841 → 6 498

Total cost of modifications160 100

262 200

Talisman cost2 600

Crew training150 000

Experts520 000

Aces2 100

Research Aces950 000

Reward for battleAB / RB / SB

130 / 160 / 210 %

220 / 220 / 220 %

Modifications

Mobility	Protection	Firepower
Tires Research: 5 600 Cost: 8 800 270 Suspension Research: 6 300 Cost: 9 900 310 Brake System Research: 6 300 Cost: 9 900 310 Filters Research: 8 400 Cost: 13 000 410 Transmission Research: 11 000 Cost: 17 000 530 Engine Research: 11 000 Cost: 17 000 530	Improved Parts Research: 1 700 Cost: 8 800 270 Improved FPE Research: 1 900 Cost: 9 900 310 Crew Replenishment Research: 8 400 Cost: 13 000 410	Horizontal Drive Research: 5 600 Cost: 8 800 270 ESS Research: 5 600 Cost: 8 800 270 105mm_usa_HESH_ammo_pack Research: 5 600 Cost: 8 800 270 105mm_usa_M735_APDS_FS_ammo_pack Research: 5 600 Cost: 8 800 270 Adjustment of Fire Research: 6 300 Cost: 9 900 310 Airstrike Research: 6 300 Cost: 9 900 310 Scout UAV Research: 6 300 Cost: 9 900 310 Elevation Mechanism Research: 8 400 Cost: 13 000 410 Improved optics Research: 8 400 Cost: 13 000 410 NVD Research: 8 400 Cost: 13 000 410 Artillery Support Research: 11 000 Cost: 17 000 530 Laser rangefinder Research: 11 000 Cost: 17 000 530 105mm_DM33_APDS_FS_ammo_pack Research: 11 000 Cost: 17 000 530

Armaments

Laser rangefinder

Reduces the error and increases the maximum measurable distance of the rangefinder

Night vision device

Improves visibility by enhancing natural light or active illumination.

Thermal imager

Allows to see thermal radiation in the infrared range day and night

Main armament

105 mm GT-7 cannon

Two-plane stabilizer

Reduces the swing of the gun in two planes while moving

Autoloader

Automatically feeds projectiles into the breech. The speed does not depend on the skills of the loader

Ammunition32 rounds

First-order20 rounds

Reload6.7 s

Vertical guidance-10° / 20°

105 mm GT-7					Turret rotation speed (°/s)					Reloading rate (seconds)
Mode	Capacity	Vertical	Horizontal	Stabilizer	Stock	Upgraded	Full	Expert	Aced	Stock	Full	Expert	Aced
Arcade	32	-10°/+20°	±180°	Two-plane	38.1	52.7	64.0	70.8	75.3	6.70	6.70	6.70	6.70
Realistic					23.8	28.0	34.0	37.6	40.0

Ammunition

Penetration statistics
Ammunition	Type of warhead	Penetration @ 0° Angle of Attack (mm)
		10 m	100 m	500 m	1,000 m	1,500 m	2,000 m
DM12	HEATFS	400	400	400	400	400	400
DM512	HESH	127	127	127	127	127	127
DM23	APFSDS	337	335	330	322	314	306

Shell details
Ammunition	Type of warhead	Velocity (m/s)	Projectile mass (kg)	Fuse delay (m)	Fuse sensitivity (mm)	Explosive mass (TNT equivalent) (kg)	Ricochet
							0%	50%	100%
DM12	HEATFS	1,174	10.5	0.05	0.1	1.27	65°	72°	77°
DM512	HESH	732	11.2	0.1	4	4.31	73°	77°	80°
DM23	APFSDS	1,455	4.2	-	-	-	78°	80°	81°

Ammo racks

Ammo racks of the Rooikat MTTD

Full ammo	1st rack empty	2nd rack empty	3rd rack empty	Visual discrepancy
32	27 (+5)	21 (+11)	1 (+31)	No

Usage in battles

The Rooikat MTTD is a versatile and mobile tank destroyer best suited for aggressive flanking manoeuvres and hit-and-run tactics. Utilizing its excellent speed and manoeuvrability, quickly reposition to outflank opponents and exploit their weaker side and rear armour. The autoloader mechanism ensures a consistent rate of fire even with a reduced crew, allowing for rapid follow-up shots and increased damage output.

When engaging enemies, take advantage of the vehicle's good gun depression and low profile by utilizing hull-down positions. This will minimize the risk of being hit while still being able to effectively engage targets. The laser rangefinder and thermal imager provide valuable information for accurate targeting, especially in long-range engagements or poor visibility conditions.

Offensive Tactics:

• Flanking Maneuvers: Utilize superior speed to outmanoeuvre opponents and attack from unexpected angles, exploiting weaker armour.
• Hit-and-Run Tactics: Quickly engage targets and then reposition before the enemy can retaliate. The autoloader ensures rapid follow-up shots during these engagements.
• Hull-Down Positions: Utilize the good gun depression and low profile to minimize exposure while still engaging targets effectively.
• Long-Range Engagements: The laser rangefinder and thermal imager enhance accuracy in these situations, allowing for precise shots at a distance.

Defensive Tactics:

• Avoid Direct Confrontations: The Rooikat MTTD's light armour makes it vulnerable to enemy fire, so prioritize avoiding head-on engagements.
• Utilize Terrain: Leverage hills, ridges, and other terrain features to conceal your position and ambush unsuspecting enemies.
• Quick Retreats: If overwhelmed or outmatched, use the vehicle's speed to disengage and reposition to a more advantageous location.
• Teamwork: Coordinate with teammates to create crossfires and maximize your damage output while minimizing individual risk.

Map Selection:

The Rooikat MTTD excels in open, rural maps with ample space for manoeuvring. Avoid urban maps with tight spaces and limited flanking opportunities, as these environments negate the vehicle's speed and manoeuvrability advantages.

Limitations:

• Light Armour: The vehicle's primary weakness makes it susceptible to enemy fire and requires a cautious play style.
• Terrain Sensitivity: Mobility is significantly hampered by uneven terrain, mud, snow, and sand, requiring careful route planning.
• Poor Hill Climbing: The lacklustre power-to-weight ratio limits its ability to climb steep slopes or obstacles.
• Limited Penetration: The GT-7 cannon struggles against the frontal armour of late-model Soviet MBTs, forcing flanking manoeuvres or targeting weaker areas.

By understanding the Rooikat MTTD's strengths and weaknesses, and adapting your tactics accordingly, you can maximize its effectiveness on the battlefield and achieve victory.

Pros and cons

Pros:

• Autoloader mechanism offers reliable reload time
• GT-7 cannon ballistics characteristics are competitive
• The superb top speed of the Rooikat chassis remains
• Equipped with features enhancing its combat capability: laser rangefinder, thermal imager, ESS and NVD
• Crew location and good gun depression allow safer hull-down attacks

Cons:

• Only 3 crew members
• No secondary armament or coaxial machine gun
• Mobility is heavily affected by uneven terrain, mud, snow, sand
• Lacklustre power-to-weight ratio: struggles climbing slopes or rocks
• GT-7 penetration is unreliable versus late Soviet MBT frontal armour as on T-72 (Family), T-80 (Family) or T-90A

History

The Rooikat Medium Turret Technology Demonstrator (MTTD) was a private venture to test the concept of a Rooikat-based 105 mm / 120 mm gun turret with an automatic loading system.

It used a regular production Rooikat hull with a completely new two-man turret. The loader/commander was positioned on the left side of the turret and the gunner was located on the right side, both in sunken positions allowing a low profile wedge shape for the turret where the crew was located. The main gun was in the centre, a 105 mm high pressure gun but it was intended also to test a 120 mm low pressure gun. The main gun was automatically loaded with ammunition from the turret bustle. An active protection system (APS) mock-up was located on the rear of the turret but was not functional. The Rooikat MTTD was only a demonstrator vehicle and never entered production.

Media

Skins

• Skins and camouflages for the Rooikat MTTD from live.warthunder.com.

Videos

Unmanned Turret Tanks: Showcasing New Tech discusses the Rooikat MTTD at 04:35 - War Thunder Official Channel

Best wheeled tanks discusses the Rooikat MTTD at 03:25 - War Thunder Official Channel

See also

• M1128