EE-9 Cascavel

The EE-9 Cascavel recognition is a car created from the mechanized CRR and M8 Greyhound. Developed by Engesa, the Urutu and the Cascavel were great export successes. The two vehicles have many components in common use and the suspension Engesa Boomerang.

Description
EE-9 Cascavel, was developed in Brazil by ENGESA, S. José dos Campos (São Paulo), as specified by the Brazilian army. EE-9 does not hide the great influence that has received recognition from the car M-8, American-made, which effectively replaced.

EE-9 was a huge export success and was sold to Bolivia, Burkina Faso, Chad, Chile, Colombia, Cyprus, Ecuador, Gabon, Ghana, Iran, Iraq, Libia, Nigeria, Paraguay, Suriname, Togo, Tunisia, Uruguay and Zimbabwe, And other countries not listed.

The Rattlesnake is a reconnaissance vehicle and was taken to be "incremented" will measure the customer, could be armed, for example, laser rangefinder, mango smoke suppression system, electronic fire control, among other refinements for height (1980). Still in service in several countries and currently runs a program to modernize the EE-9, as well as the EE-11, enabling them to remain in service at least until the second decade of the twenty-first century.

Were manufactured in all 1738 vehicles, 409 for Brazil. The other units were exported to Bolivia, Burkina Faso, Chad, Chile, Colombia, Cyprus, Ecuador, Gabon, Ghana, Iran, Iraq, Libya, Nigeria, Paraguay, Suriname, Togo, Tunisia, Uruguay and Zimbabwe.

With high speed and good direction on paved roads, this car was much in demand in Gulf War. The Brazilian Army is developing a program of revitalization of these vehicles in order to extend its useful life.

History
Family of light armored cars from Brazil, inspired by the M-8 Greyhound, which led to Rattlesnake vehicle, manufactured in Brazil by ENGESA. Besides the Rattlesnake, was also produced the URUTU, which comparilha with Rattlesnake largely of mechanical components, although it is actually con vehicle uses completely different.

Whether the cars Urutu either the Rattlesnake were best-sellers in the international market of armaments, where his main selling point was the simplicity of operation and maintenance, combined with a cheaper price than some of its peers.

Based on this platform was also designed the vehicle Anaconda-I, armed with a 105mm cannon for anti-tank role, whose design evolved into the Anaconda-II, which has already departed considerably from its original matrix. This vehicle has not arrived yet to go into production.

Gulf War
The rattlesnake was used extensively during the Gulf War by the Iraq did not know how to use rattlesnakes in combat because it took advantage of mobility and armament of 90 mm even be a means for shielding weak and unable to oppose Great tanks as M1 Abrams or Challenger 1 the big mistake of the Iraqi forces was bury in the sand of the Desert the Cascavel leaving only the tower shows reducing their chances of survival on the battlefield as the strong point of this vehicle was mobility could have been used as a fire support since it could shoot and to move quickly even against larger vehicles

Munitions
The rattlesnake can shoot a considerable amount of ammunition for his species 90 mm cannon. Shooting complete, embedded with high explosive grenade, tracer. Against staff or soft targets Full shot, encased, with grenade inert tracer. Exercise Full shot, encased, with smoke grenades incendiary, tracer. Smoke-producing, incendiary Full shot, encased with plastic high explosive grenade, tracer. Against light armor, buildings, etc..
 * HE-T
 * EMPLOYMENT
 * HEAT-T
 * EMPLOYMENT
 * Smoke WP-T
 * EMPLOYMENT
 * HESH-T
 * EMPLOYMENT

Major Users
EE-9 was developed almost simultaneously with the armored amphibious transport EE-11 Urutu With which it shares many of the systems. The first EE-9 were fitted with a 37mm piece of tower, like the M-8 U.S. Army operational Brazilian, and subsequently has been added to the 90m tower which has equipped the French Panhard AML. Later the piece of 90mm would be completely nationalized and produced in Brazil by Engesa. Iraq was the main customer's vehicle recognition rattlesnake before the first war in the Gulf that followed the invasion of Kuwait. The Iraqis have successfully used this vehicle in the conflict against Iran and later in the invasion of Kuwait. The Rattlesnake was in fact the vehicle more visible in one of the best known images of the invasion of that small country.
 * Brazil
 * Local Designation: EE-9 Cascavel
 * Quyantidade Maximum: 409 - Quantity in service: 243
 * Operational status: In service
 * Iraq
 * Local Designation: EE-9 Cascavel
 * Maximum Quantity: 364 - Quantity in service: 35
 * Operational status: In service

During the operation that led to the liberation of Kuwait several were destroyed by the Americans, which contributed to its poor armor, but also uses tactics that the Iraqis gave the vehicle.

Being primarily a drive for recognition, yet powerfully armed, it has its main advantage in its high speed, allowing you to break contact with the enemy. Now the Iraqis used the Rattlesnake as gun laying, burying the vehicle. The goal of the Iraqis was to protect the sides of Rattlesnake burying the vehicle and providing a target as small as possible. Iraq also used the Rattlesnake remaining during the second Gulf war in 2003.

In 2008, the U.S. military recovered 35 units of this vehicle and handed them to the new Iraqi army that will utiizar in surveillance operations and maintenance of order. Libya was among the first countries to acquire this armored vehicle, and also the first to use it from an operational perspective, in border clashes with Egypt where was used the speed of Cascavel, airborne troops to surround the Egyptian with the superior firepower offered by the 90mm cannon.
 * Lebanon
 * Local Designation: EE-9 Cascavel
 * Maximum Quantity: 200 - Quantity in service: 100
 * Operational status: Unknown

Although there is no concrete evidence in early 2006 it was estimated that they were still serving half of Rattlesnake acquired. One problem with Rattlesnake remains the poor motor protection against desert sand. Operational status: In service
 * Colombia
 * Local Designation: EE-9 Cascavel Mk.IV
 * Maximum Quantity: 126 - Quantity in service: 120

Much of the EE-9 Cascavel of Colombia are still serving. Approximately one third of them have been modernized and there are plans to undertake the modernization of a number is not broken.

Besides the initial order was received a few more units. One of the countries using larger quantities of vehicles Rattlesnake, which were used in the 1990s, along with the fleet of AMX-30 tanks in the country. The fleet of cars Rattlesnake, was considered in very good condition during the years 1990 and 2006 is still serving
 * Cyprus
 * Local Designation: EE-9 Cascavel
 * Maximum Quantity: 124 - Quantity in service: 124
 * Location: In service

Variants
EE-9 Cascavel 4 - Final version with better engine and improved night optics