AMX-13
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| AMX 13 | |
|---|---|
| General characteristics | |
| Crew | 3 (Commander, gunner and driver) |
| Length | 4.88 m (gun forward: 6.36 m) |
| Width | 2.51 m |
| Height | 2.3 m |
| Weight | 14.3 tonnes empty/16.5 tonnes combat |
| Armour and armament | |
| Armour | 25 mm Steel (maximum) |
| Main armament | 90 mm (or 75 mm or 105 mm) with 32 shells |
| Secondary armament | 7.5 mm (or 7.62 mm) coaxial MG with 3,600 cartridges, 7,62 mm AA MG (optional), 2×2 smoke grenade dischargers |
| Mobility | |
| Power plant | SOFAM Model 8Gxb 8-cyl. water-cooled petrol 250 hp (190 kW) |
| Suspension | torsion-bar |
| Road speed | 60 km/h |
| Power/weight | 15 hp/tonne |
| Range | 400 km |
The AMX-13 was a French light tank produced from 1953 to 1985. It served with the French Army and was exported to over twenty-five other nations. Including prototypes and export versions there are over a hundred variants including self-propelled gun, anti-aircraft systems, APCs, and TOW/ATGM versions. It is estimated that total production of the AMX-13 family was 7,700 units, of which around 3,400 were exported.
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[edit] History
The tank was designed at the Atelier de Construction d'Issy-les-Moulineaux in 1946 to meet a requirement for an air-portable vehicle to support paratroopers, the first prototype ran from 1948. The compact chassis had torsion bar suspension with five roadwheels and two return rollers; the engine runs the length of the tank on the right side with the driver on the left. The uncommon two-part 'oscillating' turret is set to the rear of the vehicle and holds the commander and gunner. The original 75 mm gun, modelled on the German L/71 Panther gun, was fed with an automatic loading system in two six-round magazines. A weakness of the small size meant the magazines were mounted externally, thus requiring them to be reloaded outside the vehicle.
Production began at ARE (Atelier de Construction Roanne) from 1952, with the first tanks delivered the following year. In 1964 production was transferred to Creusot-Loire at Chalon-sur-Saone, as the ARE moved to building the AMX 30 MBT, and the numbers produced declined significantly.
In 1966 the standard gun was increased to 90 mm (the AMX-13/90) and the French upgraded all existing base models to this specification. Although there were many variants on the turret the basic chassis was almost unchnaged until 1985 when changes including a new diesel engine, fully automatic transmission and a new hydropneumatic suspension were introduced.
Production halted with the Model 1987. After sales support and upgrades are still offered through GIAT Industries.
The AMX-13 tank was phased out of service with the French Army in the 1970s. Current French light tanks are the ERC 90 Sagaie and the AMX 10 RC.
Other countries that have used the AMX-13 include Algeria, Argentina (58 tanks not in use, replaced by the SK-105 Kurassier patagon, an AMX turret on an SK chassis), Belgium, Cambodia, China (obtained a few examples to reverse engineer into Type 99 MBT), Chile (155mm self-propelled howitzer version), Côte d'Ivoire (5), Djibouti, Dominican Republic (2), Egypt, Ecuador (102), France, India, Indonesia (100), Israel, Kuwait, Lebanon (35), Morocco, Nepal, Netherlands, Peru (110), Singapore (350), Switzerland, Tunisia, and Venezuela (36).
[edit] Additional characteristics
- Ground clearance: 370 mm
- Fording: 600 mm
- Vertical obstacle 650 mm
- Trench: 1.6 m
- Gradient 60 %
- Side slope: 60 %
- NBC system: None
- Night vision: Optional
[edit] Variants
[edit] Prototypes
- Char AMX-13 (2A) - Prototype with 4 roadwheels and trailing idler
- Char AMX-13 (2B) - Prototype with 5 roadwheels and raised idler
- Char AMX-13 (2C) - Prototype with FL-10 turret and two support rollers
- Char AMX-13 (2D) - Prototype with 4 support rollers
- Char AMX-13 (2E) - Prototype with 3 support rollers and 90 mm gun
- Char AMX-13 (2F) - Prototype with 2 support rollers and, later, a thermal sleeve
[edit] Variants
- AMX-13 Some initial vehicles were fitted with the turret of the M24 Chaffee
- AMX-13 [DTT] Initial vehicles with the turret of the M24 Chaffee converted into a driver training tank. Gun removed.
- AMX-13/75 Modèle 51 - High-velocity 75 mm Gun in FL-11 turret as installed in Panhard EBR armouted car and 2 top rollers
- AMX-13/75 Modèle 51 - High-velocity 75 mm Gun in FL-11 turret and 4 top rollers and revised stowage
- AMX-13 T75 (Char Lance SS-11) - Fitted with SS-11 ATGM launchers
- AMX-13 T75 avec TCA - Fitted with an electronic guidance system for the missiles
- AMX-13/90 Modèle 52 - FL-10 turret refitted with the F3 90 mm gun
- AMX-13/90 LRF - Fitted with laser rangefinder
- AMX-13/105 Modèle 58 - Fitted with 105 Gun mm in FL-12 turret (used by the Argentine Army and the Netherlands)
- AMX-13/105 - Upgraded export version of the Modele 58 with thermal sleeve and revised hull front
- AMX-13 Model 1987 - Late production version
- AMX-DCA aka AMX-13/S530 - SPAAG version armed with two HS 831 30 mm cannons
- AMX-DCA 30 aka Bitube de 30 mm anti-aérien automoteur, Oeil Noir - SPAAG version with radar fitted
- AMX-13 [Training Tank] - AMX-13 with turret removed and used for driver training
- AMX-13 Modèle 55 (AMX-D) - Recovery version
- AMX-13 PDP (Poseur De Pont) Modèle 51 - Scissors-type bridgelayer
- AMX-13SM1 (Singapore-Modernised-1) - Fitted with 75mm main gun, 7.62mm AA and Co-axial, new engine/transmissions, laser and thermal sights, modern communications.
[edit] Modernisation packages
- Cockerill 90 mm Regunning Packaging - 90 mm upgunning package
- Giat Industries upgrade with a Baudouin 6F 11 SRY diesel engine and an upgraded turret.
- Giat Industries Add-on Armour package installed on turret front/sides and glacis plate
- NIMDA Upgrade Package - Israeli retrofit package
[edit] National variants
- AMX-13/FL-12 [Modernised] by the Netherlands - Fitted with searchlight and FN MAG machine-guns
- AMX-13/FL-15 - Dutch FL12 version refitted with an FL-15 Turret
- AMX-13S - Rebuild of standard AMX-13 by Singapore prior to SM-1 upgrade
- AMX-13 SM1 - Modernised by Singapore - new lighting, targeting, suspension and propulsion systems
- Leichter Panzer 51 - Swiss Army version
- AMX-13V - CLI upgraded AMX-13/90 for Venezuelan Army
- AMX-13 [LAR-16] - Venezuelan MBRL version armed with IMI LAR 160 mm. rockets
- AMX-13M51 Ráfaga - Venezuelan Army's AA version armed with two 40mm cannons mounted on an M-4E1 turret
[edit] Other prototypes
- AMX-13 avec tourelle A14 Fitted with German HS-30 turret
- AMX-13 Fitted with 105 mm howitzer barrel
- AMX-13/75 (AMX-13e) - Experimental variant with short-barreled 75 mm in FL-11 turret
- Char AMX-13 avec Canon 57 L/100 - Prototype with special gun
- AMX-13 Twin 20 mm in welded turret without bustle
- Char 48FCM - aka Char 12T FCM, DCA de Quatre Canons de 20 mm - 4 x 20 mm cannon in FL-4 turret
- DCA de 40 mm aka Char 13T DCA a 40 mm Bofors - 40L70 gun in large faceted turret
- AMX-13 GTI - Improved suspension by Krauss-Maffei
- AMX-13 THS - Prototype fitted with hydrostatic transmission
- AMX-13 Fitted with Rapace 14 MBRL
- AMX-13 HOT - Fitted with HOT ATGM launchers
[edit] APC Variants
- AMX-VTP - Original APC variant armed with open-mount light machine-gun
- AMX-VTT (AMX-VCI) - APC fitted with turret mounted light machine-gun
- AMX-LT - VTT based artillery fire control vehicle
- AMX-PC - VTT based command Post
- AMX-VCA - VTT based 155 mm Support Vehicle designed to accompany the Mk F3 SPH
- AMX-VCG - Combat engineer version
- AMX-VCI 12.7 - Version with 50 calibre (12.7 mm) HMG used by France and the Netherlands
- AMX-VCI M-56 - Fitted with Canon de 20 mm
- AMX-VCPM de 81 - VTT based 81 mm Mortar Carrier
- AMX-VCPM de 120 - VTT based 120 mm Mortar Carrier
- AMX-VCTB (Vehicule Chenillé Transport Blessés) - VTT based Ambulance
- AMX-VTT avec tourelle NA2 - Fitted with ATGM launcher
- AMX-VTT ROLAND - Roland SPAAML
- AMX-VTT Version 1987 - Modernised version with all the tank automotive improvements
- AMX-VTT with Minotaur Mine System - Minotaur scatterable mine-laying system fitted on rear
- AMX-13 RATAC - VTT based RATAC ground surveillance radar vehicle
- AMX DOZER - bulldozer blade equipped version
- AMX-13 VCPC - Argentinian Army version of the AMX-13 VCI
- AMX-13 mod.56 VCI - Belgian Army version with a .30 Browning mounted in a CALF38 turret.
- AMX-13 mod.56 [81 mm mortar carrier] - Belgian Army version
- AMX-13 mod.56 [command post] - Belgian Army version
- AMX-13 mod.56 [ENTAC atgm] - Belgian Army version with rear-mounted ENTAC missile launcher
- AMX-13 mod.56 [cargo] - Belgian Army version
- AMX-VTT TOW - Dutch Army version with TOW launcher on cupola
- AMX-GWT (GeWonden Transport) - Dutch army version of the VCTB
[edit] 105 mm Self Propelled Howitzer
- AMX Mk 61 (AMX-105A), Automoteur de 105 du AMX-13 en casemate - 105 mm casemate SP
- AMX Mk 61 [Netherlands] - Dutch Army version with 30 calibre howitzer and Browning commanders mg
- AMX Mk 62 (AMX-105B) - Prototype with 105 mm howitzer in a turret
- AMX Mk 63 (AMX-105B, AMX Mk F2) - Prototype of Mk 62 with mg cupola fitted to turret
[edit] 155 mm Self Propelled Howitzer
- AMX Mk F3 (Obusier de 155 mm sur affut automoteur AMX-13 T, AMX-155) - 155 mm SPH
[edit] Miscellaneous
- M24/AMX-13 - AMX-13 turret on M24 Chaffee hull
- M4 Sherman fitted with AMX-13 turret, used by Egypt
[edit] External links
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to: |
- Jedsite.info (paid membership required)
- (French) Chars-francais.net
