AMX-13
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Design work on the AMX-13 light tank began in 1946 at the Atelier de Construction d'Issy-les-Moulineaux and the first prototype was completed two years later. Production was undertaken at the Atelier de Construction Roanne (ARE) from 1952, with the first production tanks completed the following year. At one time production of the tank was running at 45 units per month but in the early 1960s production of the whole family was transferred to the civilian company of Creusot-Loire at Chalon sur Saone as the ARE was tooling up for production of the AMX-30 MBT. The basic chassis has been used for a wide range of vehicles including self-propelled guns and anti-aircraft systems. Without changing the basic design, many improvements were announced at the 1985 Satory Exhibition of Military Equipment. These included a new power pack consisting of a diesel engine coupled to a fully automatic transmission and the replacement of the torsion beam suspension by a new hydropneumatic suspension for improved cross-country mobility.
The armoured vehicle division of Mecanique Creusot-Loire is now part of Giat Industries and is responsible for after sales support for all members of the AMX-13 family of light armoured vehicles, as well as for the provision of upgrade packages. The AMX-13 is no longer being marketed by Giat Industries. It is estimated that total production of the AMX-13 family of light tracked vehicles, including the light tank, amounted to 7,700 units, of which around 3,400 were exported. The AMX-13 light tank was phased out of service with the French Army many years ago.
Characteristics
- Crew: 3 (Commander, gunner and driver)
- Armament: 1 x 90 mm (or 75 mm or 105 mm), 1 x 7.5 mm (or 7.62 mm) coaxial MG, 1 x 7.62 mm AA MG (optional), 2 x 2 smoke grenade dischargers
- Ammunition: 32 x 90 mm, 3,600 x 7.62 mm
- Length gun forwards: 6.36 m
- Length hull: 4.88 m
- Width: 2.51 m
- Height: 2.3 m
- Weight: 13,000 kg empty, 15,000 kg combat
- Engine: SOFAM Model 8Gxb, 8-cylinder water-cooled petrol, 250 hp (186 kW) at 3,200 rpm
- Maximum road speed: 60 km/h)
- Fuel capacity: 480 L
- Maximum road range: 400 km
- Ground clearance: 370 mm
- Fording: 600 mm
- Vertical obstacle 650 mm
- Trench: 1.6 m
- Gradient 60 %
- Side slope: 60 %
- Armour: 25 mm Steel (maximum)
- NBC system: None
- Night vision: Optional
Variants
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 90mm gun
- Char AMX-13 (2F) - Prototype with 2 support rollers and, later, a thermal sleeve
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 Modele 51 - High-velocity 75mm Gun in FL-11 turret as installed in Panhard EBR armouted car and 2 top rollers
- AMX-13/75 Modele 51 - High-velocity 75mm 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 Modele 52 - FL-10 turret refitted with the F3 90 mm gun
- AMX-13/90 LRF - Fitted with laser rangefinder
- AMX-13/105 Modele 58 - Fitted with 105 Gun mm in FL-12 turret (used by 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 30mm cannons
- AMX-DCA 30 aka Bitube de 30mm anti-arien autmoteur, Oeil Noir - SPAAG version with radar fitted
- AMX-13 [Training Tank] - AMX-13 with turret removed and used for driver training
- AMX-13 Modele 55 (AMX-D) - Recovery version
- AMX-13 PDP (Poseur De Pont) Modele 51 - Scissors-type bridgelayer
Modernization packages:
- Cockerill 90 mm Regunning Packaging - 90mm 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
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 Venezualan Army
- AMX-13 [LAR-16] - Venezuelan MBRL version
Other protypes:
- AMX-13 avec tourelle A14 Fitted with German HS-30 turret
- AMX-13 Fitted with 105mm howitzer barrel
- AMX-13/75 (AMX-13e) - Experimental variant with short-barreled 75mm in FL-11 turret
- Char AMX-13 avec Canon 57 L/100 - Prototype with special gun
- AMX-13 Twin 20mm in welded turret without bustle
- Char 48FCM - aka Char 12T FCM, DCA de Quatre Canons de 20mm - 4x20mm cannon in FL-4 turret
- DCA de 40mm aka Char 13T DCA a 40mm 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
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 (Vehicle Chenille Transport Bleeses) - 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 - dozer 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 [81mm 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
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
155 mm Self Propelled Howitzer
- AMX Mk F3 (Obusier de 155mm sur affut automoteur AMX-13 T, AMX-155) - 155 mm SPH
- M24/AMX-13 - AMX-13 turret on M24 Chaffee hull
- M4 Sherman fitted with AMX-13 turret and used by Egypt
Use
Countries that use/have used the tanks include: