Editing Tracked Rapier (section)

==In Real Life==
In the proud NATO tradition of turning metal boxes into death machines, the Tracked Rapier is essentially an M113 variant designed to carry the British Rapier missile. Contrary to the French and Americans, the British opted for a manual guidance system rather than a heat-seeking system. While requiring more training to effectively use under the stress of combat which was not helped by the missile's inability to explode based on proximity, it does mean that well-trained crews would be notably more effective against ECM. The chassis itself is rather uninteresting, being a flatbed M548. Slow, cumbersome but steady, the Tracked Rapier was a capable tool in the hands of an air defense commander.

Operated by the Royal Artillery Regiment's Air Defence Batteries (derisively called Cloudpunchers) and the RAF Regiment (derisively called many things, most unprintable) the Rapier system was generally a static unit towed into position to provide Ground Based Air Defence and designed to replace ageing Bofors AAA guns. Imperial Iran also purchased the system and a unit operated by a British training team downed an Iraqi transport; impressed with his new toy but wanting something that could also keep up with his new Chieftain tanks the Shah requested a mechanised version. By the time it was ready the Shah had been overthrown and left with a bunch of vehicles they couldn't sell they were pressed into service for the BAOR along with several million Mars Bars also meant for Iran. Neither were popular with the Tracked Rapier being withdrawn from service after the Gulf War, well before the last Mars Bar had reluctantly choked down by squaddies who still found them in their rations until the late 90's.

{{British Forces in Team Yankee}}

[[Category:Vehicles]]