Reumech OMC Olifant

Notes: The Centurion tank had been in use by the South Africans since the late 1950s – at first, the South Africans bought them directly from the British, but later, bought others from India and Jordan. Starting in 1963, the UN imposed ever-more-restrictive trade embargoes on South Africa, due to its apartheid practices and human right violations – and those embargoes started with weapons, and were adhered to by most countries of the world. This forced the South Africans to develop their own arms industry (often with surreptitious help from the Israelis). This included upgrading of the South Africans’ Centurion tank force. The increasingly more comprehensive upgrades that the Centurion received over the decades have often mystified world military experts, as until the past decade or so, South Africa’s enemies had nothing to compare to the tanks that the South Africans were fielding at any particular time. However, the South Africans have had, for most of their existence as an independent country, a sort of "siege mentality" – they were almost continually at war with at least one, and on occasion all, of their neighbors.

The Early Upgrades: Skokiaan, Semel, and Olifant Mk 1

The South Africans began with a force of mostly Mk 2 and Mk 3 Centurions, with some later acquisitions of Mk 5 Centurions. The first upgrades made to the Centurions were simple, and primarily for test purposes; eight Mk 3 Centurions were re-engined with 810-horsepower gasoline engines in 1972; despite the higher power rating, these were newer technology engines and more fuel-efficient. These vehicles were called Skokiaans (Skokiaan is a sort of South African moonshine). The Skokiaans and 27 other Centurions (Mk2s and Mk3s for the most part) were then converted into tanks the South Africans called Semels (or Centurion 5As, particularly in other parts of the West) in 1974, which had the same engine, along with a semiautomatic transmission, and other improvements that essentially turned them into Centurion Mk 5s with more powerful engines -- sort of. There were some other differences between Semels and Centurion Mk 5s; the Besas were retained, as was the twin-coaxial layout of the Besas; the gunner had no laser rangefinder. They could carry the droppable 273-liter auxiliary fuel tanks, as well as tow the Centurions extra fuel trailer. In game terms, however, the Skokiaan and Semel are the same.

The South Africans then undertook a much more ambitious upgrade program in 1976, producing the Olifant (later the Olifant Mk 1 after further-upgraded versions were built). The Olifant Mk 1 entered service with the SANDF in 1978. The Olifant program benefited greatly from the Israelis’ Sho’t program (their rebuild of the Centurion).

The Olifant Mk 1 was essentially a further-upgraded Semel, but has many more improvements over previous Centurion upgrades, including a better suspension, increased mine protection, a more fuel-efficient engine, slightly better armor (including side skirts), minor improvements to the fire control, and a more effective fire suppression system. The Mk 1 was also re-engined again, this time with 750-horsepower diesel engine (a Teledyne AVDS-1790-2A from plans and actual engines probably supplied by Israel, but possibly also by the US herself) and semi-automatic transmission (again US-designed). The better suspension included new treads, roadwheels, and some of the shock absorbers. Fuel capacity was dramatically increased, made possible by the more compact engine. The gunner received some night vision equipment (primitive, by the standards of the time); the driver had no night vision gear, and the commander had merely a hand-held image intensifier that was issued with the Mk 1, along with a hand-held laser rangefinder. The turret uses a new hydraulic drive (with a manual backup) that traverses quicker than a Centurion Mk 2 or 3. The hated Besa machineguns were replaced with Browning M-1919A4s; one coaxial was removed, and the commander received a pintle-mounted M-1919A4. The Olifant Mk 1 had four smoke grenade launchers on each side of the hull.

The First Major Upgrade: The Olifant Mk 1A

The Olifant Mk 1 received a major upgrade with the advent of the Mk 1A in 1983 (with service beginning in 1985). It was discovered, particularly in Angola, that the Olifant Mk 1 and its 20-Pounder main gun was against even the T-55 from some angles. Production stopped in the mid-1980s. Nonetheless, despite the numbers produced and the fact that the Mk 1A is still in SANDF service in limited numbers, the Mk 1A was meant to be an interim solution for use until the advent of the Mk 1B version. The Mk 1A may in fact be the most numerous SANDF tank in service.

The upgrades included a locally-manufactured version of the British L-7 105mm gun, the GT-3, along with the installation of modified sights and ammunition racks to match. The number of smoke grenade launchers on each side of the turret was doubled to eight. Fire control was updated by the addition of a laser rangefinder to the gunner’s sight system. (The commander still has a hand-held laser rangefinder and image intensifier, and used simple telescopic optical sights.) A slight upgrade was made to the armor suite. Olifant Mk 1As had gasoline engines in their very early stages of production, but this was quickly switched to the same 750-horsepower engine as found on the Olifant Mk 1, with the gasoline engine-powered versions having their engines and transmissions replaced. The night vision suite received a small upgrade, and the coaxial and commander’s machineguns were replaced with MG-4 chambered for 7.62mm NATO. The driver can replace his forward vision block with an IR vision block. The commander has a new cupola, which manually rotates independent of the turret. The front hull of the Mk 1A has attachments allowing the use of mine rollers and plows. Fuel tank capacity has been further increased, but the smoke grenade mortar has been removed.

New Production: The Olifant Mk 1B

The Olifant Mk 1B began production in 1991, and remained in production through most of the 1990s. They had a major difference from their kin: the Olifant Mk 1B is a new production vehicle instead of being a rebuild of existing Centurions or Olifants. This meant that major changes could be made in almost every area of the design, from bolts to main guns. The Olifant Mk 1B is a misnomer in my opinion – the Mk 1B is, in my mind, a new tank and Mk 2 might have been a better designation. Unlike earlier versions, the Mk 1B was originally manufactured by Reumech OMC; but early in production, they were bought out by Vickers OMC, later on by Vickers OMC. (These companies themselves were later renamed or bought out a number of times after production of the Mk 1B was completed.) The Mk 1B is still in wide service within the SANDF.

The Olifant Mk 1B is armed with an upgraded version of the GT-3, called the GT-7, with addition of a thermal sleeve. A combination of rearranged storage and new interior design meant that the amount of main gun ammunition carried could be increased to 68 rounds. The MG-4 coaxial and commander’s machinegun were retained, as were the 16 smoke grenade launchers. In addition, the Mk 1B can make a thick, oily smoke screen by injecting diesel fuel directly into the tank’s exhaust. The gunner’s station received a major fire control change, with the addition of an integrated sight system including a laser rangefinder and ballistic computer, day telescopic sights, and night vision devices. Headlights are mounted higher to increase their protection against breakage due to being hit by bushes, trees, and other obstacles; they are also contained within armored housings. The commander has his own night vision and telescopic day sights, as well as a laser rangefinder – the hand-held image intensifier and laser rangefinder is no longer necessary. The loader has a periscope atop the turret roof, though it is not magnified. Atop the main gun, a white light/IR searchlight has been mounted.

Armor protection likewise received a major upgrade, including hull floor armor that is doubled in thickness as well as being spaced – a concession to the large amount of land mines that the SANDF was encountering. (The torsion bars are between the armor plates of the hull floor.) In addition, protection has been increased on almost every other face, with spaced armor being added to the turret and hull sides (largely in the form of special side skirts, similar in concept to those of the M-2 Bradley’s side skirts); armor is generally thickened throughout the rest of the Mk 1B, and appliqué also underlies the spaced armor of the turret. The side skirts are large enough to protect all running gear (roadwheels, return rollers, and drive sprocket, as well as the final drives. As a last resort, the Mk 1B has an automatic fire and explosion suppression system, with handles inside and outside as a manual backup, and internal fire extinguishing bottles. The armor is partially modular, allowing for appliqué armor of spaced armor to be easily mounted (though the SANDF has not yet done this). The ammunition is likewise contained in armored bins, and the fuel tanks are self-sealing. The turret has a bustle, but it is not only for ammunition carriage; it is used for carrying some of the crew’s gear and some of the tank’s maintenance equipment. The bustle does not have blow-out panels. The bustle holds 10 rounds of main gun ammunition.

The Mk 1B has a new engine, a turbocharged diesel with an automatic transmission. Most Mk 1Bs have a 900-horsepower, but late in production, this was replaced with a 9050-horsepower engine, and some earlier-production models were also retrofitted. The suspension is improved with new torsion bars for the running gear and hydraulic dampeners added to the first and last pair of roadwheels. The driver has a roomier, more comfortable compartment, with a steering yoke instead of the tillers of earlier models, and a conventional brake pedal and gas pedal. The driver also has night vision to aid him in driving, and vision blocks with a wider angle of view. His (and all crewmembers’) hatches are increased in armor protection and have hydraulic assist to make them easier to open. Information about the ammunition supply, local weather conditions, and general condition of the tank are accessible to the turret crew via CRT (and later LCD) screens; the screens can also display target information and output from the sights and night vision gear. This is called the Turret Management System. Finally, fuel storage has been increased.

As with the Mk 1A, the Mk 1B has attachments for mine rollers and mine plows; in addition, the Mk 1B can be gfitted with a special "bush basher" – a strong v-shaped bar that projects ahead of the hull to knock dense vegetation out of the way or rip it out of the ground. It can do this with bushes, shrubs, or the African version of hedgerows, but in general it will not knock over a tree or shoulder it aside.

The New Kid on the Block: The Olifant Mk 2

The Olifant Mk 2 was a long-delayed version of the Olifant; design studies began almost as soon as the Mk 1B went into production, and it was originally expected by the South Africans that the Mk 2 would be in service by 2000 or 2001. Political upheavals, the lack of enemies with powerful main battle tanks (until the relatively recent introduction of T-72s into the region), and budget difficulties delayed the Mk 2. In 2003, BAE Systems (the company that Reumuch OMC ultimately became – so far) received a contract to assemble earlier design work and begin new design work to produce the Mk 2, and in 2005, upgrades on 26 Mk 1Bs began in earnest to produce the Mk 1B. The SANDF did not receive the first Mk 2s until 2007. More upgrades have continued since 2005. The time delay had a good side-effect – the Mk 2 has some of the improvements used in the South African Tank Technology Demonstrator (TTD). (It should be noted that in the 1990s, about half of the Olifant Mk 2s were to be new-production vehicles – now, virtually all Mk 2s will be upgraded Mk 1Bs.)

The Mk 2 is armed with an upgraded version of the same 105mm G-7 main gun that the Mk 1B uses, called the GT-8. Originally, the 120mm GT-8 was designed with German help to arm the Mk 2, but is decided that with modern ammunition, the 105mm gun was capable of dealing with the tanks of any potential adversary, and would be cheaper then retrofitting a 120mm gun. Though the Mk 2 is under-gunned by modern MBT standards, it is adequate for its area of the world. The turret is designed, nonetheless, to allow a 120mm gun to be retrofitted. The coaxial and commander’s machineguns have been replaced by the more modern SS-77 machinegun. The Mk 2 has advanced fire control and stabilization, including a modern ballistic computer, laser rangefinder, and day and night sights. The Mk 2 has a hunter-killer capability, with the commander having virtually identical day/night sights, a laser rangefinder, and night vision gear; the commander also receives information from the ballistic computer. The computer allows targets found by the commander to be automatically handed off to the gun system; the gun automatically slews to the new target after the current target has been hit, with no intervention by the gunner being required. (The gunner has an override for this feature, in case a follow-up shot at his first target is required.) The Mk 2 is capable of engaging and hitting targets at long range while at an almost complete gallop.

The base chassis and turret are those of the Mk 1B, but the armor has been almost completely removed and replaced by a modular armor package that makes repairs and upgrades easy. The frontal armor of the Mk 2 is composite, while the turret side and side skirts are of spaced armor, with outer surfaces of an aluminum/plastic sandwich. Lugs for ERA are present on the glacis, turret front, turret sides, and hull sides; (these lugs can take 1st, 2nd, or 3rd-generation ERA. Originally, the Mk 2 was to have a wedge-shaped turret and much more pointed glacis, but with the use of modular armor packages, these shapes were abandoned.

Propulsion is supplied by a 1040-horsepower turbocharged diesel engine; this engine is US-designed, but the plans were supplied to South Africa through Israel.

Twilight 2000 Notes: South Africa found itself in the Twilight War with about half-and-half Olifant Mk 1As and 1Bs. However, a tiny fraction of South Africa’s tank force were Mk 1s, and even tinier fraction were Semels. The Olifant Mk 2 does not exist in the Twilight 2000 timeline.

Vehicle

Price

Fuel Type

Load

Veh Wt

Crew

Mnt

Night Vision

Radiological

Skokiaan/Semel

$299,691

G, A

450 kg

44.75 tons

4

18

Headlights

Enclosed

Olifant Mk 1

$311,112

D, A

450 kg

51.8 tons

4

20

Active IR (G), Image Intensification (C)*

Enclosed

Olifant Mk 1A

$480,433

D, A

450 kg

56 tons

4

24

Passive IR (D, G), Image Intensification (G, C)*

Shielded

Olifant Mk 1B (900 hp)

$411,650

D, A

450 kg

58 tons

4

28

Passive IR (D, G, C), Image Intensification (G, C), WL/IR Searchlight

Shielded

Olifant Mk 1B (950 hp)

$411,852

D, A

450 kg

58.1 tons

4

28

Passive IR (D, G, C), Image Intensification (G, C), WL/IR Searchlight

Shielded

Olifant Mk 2

$490,427

D, A

500 kg

58 tons

4

30

Thermal Imaging (G, C), Image Intensification (G, C), Passive IR (D)

Shielded

Vehicle

Tr Mov

Com Mov

Fuel Cap

Fuel Cons

Config

Susp

Armor

Skokiaan/Semel

142/56

32/23

790

472

Trtd

T6

TF42 TS12 TR6 HF53 HS10 HR6

Olifant Mk 1

110/77

25/18

1037

409

Trtd

T6

TF40 TS17 TR11 HF60 HS13 HR8

Olifant Mk 1A

102/71

23/17

1240

442

Trtd

T6

TF51 TS20 TR16 HF64Sp HS14 HR10

Olifant Mk 1B (900 hp)

112/79

25/19

1468

472

Trtd

T6

TF54Sp TS22Sp TR16 HF70Sp HS16Sp HR10**

Olifant Mk 1B (950 hp)

117/82

26/20

1468

500

Trtd

T6

TF54Sp TS22Sp TR16 HF70Sp HS16Sp HR10**

Olifant Mk 2

126/88

28/22

1470

552

Trtd

T6

TF107Cp TS32Sp TR18 HF134Cp HS23Sp HR11***

Vehicle

Fire Control

Stabilization

Armament

Ammunition

Skokiaan/Semel

+1

Basic

20-Pounder Gun, 2x7.92mm Besa, 51mm Smoke Mortar

65x20-Pound, 3375x7.92mm, 30x51mm Mortar

Olifant Mk 1

+1

Basic

20-Pounder Gun, M-1919A4, M-1919A4 (C), 51mm Smoke Mortar

64x20-Pound, 4750x.30-06, 30x51mm

Olifant Mk 1A

+2

Basic

105mm GT-3, MG-4, MG-4 (C)

64x105mm, 4750x7.62mm

Olifant Mk 1B

+3

Fair

105mm GT-7, MG-4, MG-4 (C)

68x105mm, 4750x7.62mm

Olifant Mk 2

+4

Good

105mm GT-8, SS-77, SS-77 (C)

69x105mm, 5000x7.62mm

*The commander has a hand-held image intensifier. The commander also has a hand-held laser rangefinder. Both have cables allowing them to draw upon vehicle power, as well as batteries for use away from the vehicle.

**Hull floor armor for the Olifant Mk 1B is 8Sp.

***Hull floor armor for the Olifant Mk 2 is 10Sp.