Combat vehicles / Fire support vehicles / AMX-13
AMX-13
General Facts
- TYPE
Light tank - ORIGIN
France - NICKNAMES
- - DESIGNED
1946 - 1948 - DESIGNER
Atelier de Construction d'Issy-les-Moulineaux - PRODUCTION
1952 - 1987 - PRODUCERS
France - Atelier de Construction Roanne
France - Creusot-Loire - QUANTITY
Over 4.500 built by 1964 - UNIT COST
Unknown - CHARACTERISTICS
Good mobility on road and in the field
Powerful armament on late AMX-13 models
Cannot fire on the move due to non-stabilized armament
Limited armour protection
Introduction
The AMX-13 is an early Cold War era light tank of French origin. It was developed in the late 1940's to equip the post-World War 2 French forces. The AMX-13 proved to be a highly mobile and effective light tank in combat. By the end of the Cold War the AMX-13 became obsolete due to age and the advent of highly capable anti-tank guided missiles that fill the role of highly mobile tank destroyers.
Layout
The AMX-13 uses a tracked chassis with the driver and engine located at the front and the fighting compartment at the rear. This chassis was later used in the AMX-VCI armored personnel carrier and AMX-105 and Mk F3 self-propelled howitzers. The AMX-13 uses a unique oscilating turret design. The cannon is mounted on a fixed cradle and the entire top half of the turret is hinged to proved elevation. Over time the AMX-13 design was upgraded with various turret types and other types of equipment.
Firepower
The original AMX-13 was fitted with a 75mm high velocity cannon. Later a version with a turret with 90mm cannon became available. For export sales a 105mm cannon was fitted. The gun is equipped with a bustle mounted automatic loader that results in a high rate of fire. A 7.5mm AAT-52 machine gun is fitted as coaxial weapon and another can be fitted as a flexible weapon on the turret roof. For export sales these were often replaced by the 7.62mm AAT-NF1 or MAG machine guns. Some tanks in French service were fitted with SS-11 anti-tank missiles in order to improve effectiveness against newer tanks.
Protection
The steel armor provides protection against small arms fire and shrapnell all around. Over the frontal arc heavy machine gun fire is resisted. Smoke grenade launchers are fitted as standard. An NBC system is optional, but not present on most AMX-13 models.
Mobility
The tracked chassis, limited weight and high power to weight ratio result in a good all terrain mobility. A 250 hp petrol engine provides propulsion, allowing for a maximum speed of 60 km/h. The AMX-13 is not amphibious.
Users
The primary user of the AMX-13 and its derivatives was the French army. The AMX-13 was exported in large numbers. The AMX-13 proved effective in combat with Israeli forces. In most armies the AMX-13 has been replaced, but significant numbers remain in service today.
AMX-13/75
AMX-13 Modèle 1951: Original production model introduced in 1952. Fitted with FL-11 turret with 75mm high velocity cannon.
AMX-13 T75: French army upgrade with SS-11 anti-tank guided missiles to improve firepower against late Cold War era threats. These models were later upgraded with improved fire control systems. T75 models are also nicknamed Char Lance SS-11.
- Specifications:
- AMX-13/75
Type | Light tank |
---|---|
Crew | 3 (commander, driver, gunner) |
Length | 4.88 m (hull), 6.36 m (gun forward) |
Width | 2.5 m |
Height | 2.3 m (top of commander's hatch) |
Ground clearance | 0.4 m |
Weight | 14.8 t |
Ground pressure | 0.76 kg/cm2 |
Wheelbase | Tracked chassis, 5 roadwheels, drive sprocket front, idler rear, 3.00 m length, 0.35 width, 2.16 m track |
Turn radius | skid turns |
Engine | Sofam Model 8Gxb 8-cylinder water-cooled petrol, 250 hp at 3.200 rpm |
Power ratio | 16.9 hp/t |
---|---|
Transmission | Manual, 5 forward, 1 reverse |
Speed | 60 km/h on road |
Fuel | 480 L |
Range | 350 - 400 km on road |
Wall | 0.65 m |
Trench | 1.6 m |
Gradient | 60 % gradient |
Fording | 0.6 m |
Armor | Steel Hull: 15 mm @ 55 degree front, 20 mm side, 10 mm top, 15 mm rear Turret: 25 mm @ 45 degree front, 25 mm sides, 10 mm top |
NBC equipment | No |
Night vision | No |
---|---|
Smoke | 2x2 smoke grenade dischargers |
Remarks | - |
Armament | 75mm Model 50 cannon 7.5mm AAT-52 coaxial machine gun 7.5mm AAT-52 roof machine gun |
Weapon1 | 75mm Model 50 cannon 37 rounds, 12 ready to fire -5 to + 12.5° elevation, 5°/s 360 degrees traverse, 30°/s non-stabilized |
Weapon2 | 7.5mm AAT-52 coaxial machine gun traverse and elevation as main armament 3.600 rounds in total non-stabilized |
Weapon3 | 7.5mm AAT-52 roof machine gun 3.600 rounds in total manual traverse and elevation non-stabilized |
Weapon4 | - |
Weapon5 | - |
Weapon6 | - |
AMX-13/90
AMX-13 Modèle 1952: New production model with 90mm CN-90-F3 cannon in FL-10 turret. The 90mm cannon was introduced in 1966. Late production models were fitted with laser range finder.
- Specifications:
- AMX-13/90
Type | Light tank |
---|---|
Crew | 3 (commander, driver, gunner) |
Length | 4.88 m (hull), 6.36 m (gun forward) |
Width | 2.51 m |
Height | 2.3 m (top of commander's hatch) |
Ground clearance | 0.37 m |
Weight | 13.0 t empty, 15.0 t combat load |
Ground pressure | 0.76 kg/cm2 |
Wheelbase | Tracked chassis, 5 roadwheels, drive sprocket front, idler rear, 3.00 m length, 0.35 width, 2.16 m track |
Turn radius | skid turns |
Engine | Sofam Model 8Gxb 8-cylinder water-cooled petrol, 250 hp at 3.200 rpm |
Power ratio | 16.7 hp/t |
---|---|
Transmission | Manual, 5 forward, 1 reverse |
Speed | 60 km/h on road |
Fuel | 480 L |
Range | 350 - 400 km on road |
Wall | 0.65 m |
Trench | 1.6 m |
Gradient | 60 % gradient, 60 % slope |
Fording | 0.6 m |
Armor | Steel Hull: 15 mm @ 55 degree front, 20 mm side, 10 mm top, 15 mm rear Turret: 25 mm @ 45 degree front, 25 mm sides, 10 mm top |
NBC equipment | No |
Night vision | No |
---|---|
Smoke | 2x2 smoke grenade dischargers |
Remarks | - |
Armament | 90mm CN-90-F3 cannon 7.5mm AAT-52 coaxial machine gun 7.5mm AAT-52 roof machine gun |
Weapon1 | 90mm CN-90-F3 cannon 32 rounds, 12 ready to fire -5 to + 12.5° elevation, 5°/s 360 degrees traverse, 30°/s non-stabilized |
Weapon2 | 7.5mm AAT-52 coaxial machine gun traverse and elevation as main armament 3.600 rounds in total non-stabilized |
Weapon3 | 7.5mm AAT-52 roof machine gun 3.600 rounds in total manual traverse and elevation non-stabilized |
Weapon4 | - |
Weapon5 | - |
Weapon6 | - |
AMX-13/105
AMX-13 Modèle 1958: Export model with 105mm gun in FL-12 turret.
AMX-13/105: Improved export model with thermal sleeve for the 105mm gun and revised hull design.
- Specifications:
- AMX-13/105
Type | Light tank |
---|---|
Crew | 3 (commander, driver, gunner) |
Length | 4.88 m (hull), 6.70 m (gun forward) |
Width | 2.51 m |
Height | 2.80 m (overall) |
Ground clearance | 0.4 m |
Weight | 14.8 t |
Ground pressure | 0.76 kg/cm2 |
Wheelbase | Tracked chassis, 5 roadwheels, drive sprocket front, idler rear, 3.00 m length, 0.35 width, 2.16 m track |
Turn radius | skid turns |
Engine | Sofam Model 8Gxb 8-cylinder water-cooled petrol, 250 hp at 3.200 rpm |
Power ratio | 16.9 hp/t |
---|---|
Transmission | Manual, 5 forward, 1 reverse |
Speed | 60 km/h on road, 15 km/h off road |
Fuel | 480 L |
Range | 350 km on road |
Wall | 0.65 m |
Trench | 1.9 m |
Gradient | 60 % gradient |
Fording | 0.6 m |
Armor | Steel Hull: 15 mm @ 55 degree front, 20 mm side, 10 mm top, 15 mm rear Turret: 25 mm @ 45 degree front, 25 mm sides, 10 mm top |
NBC equipment | No |
Night vision | No |
---|---|
Smoke | 2x3 smoke grenade dischargers |
Remarks | - |
Armament | 105mm L/44 cannon 7.62mm MAG coaxial machine gun 7.62mm MAG roof machine gun |
Weapon1 | 105mm L/44 cannon 32 rounds, 12 ready to fire -5 to + 12° elevation 360 degrees traverse non-stabilized |
Weapon2 | 7.62mm MAG coaxial machine gun traverse and elevation as main armament 4.000 rounds in total non-stabilized |
Weapon3 | 7.62mm MAG roof machine gun 4.000 rounds in total manual traverse and elevation non-stabilized |
Weapon4 | - |
Weapon5 | - |
Weapon6 | - |
AMX-D
AMX-D: Armored recovery vehicle based on AMX-13 chassis. Also known as AMX-13 Modèle 55. The D stands for Depannage, which is French for recovery. The AMX-D features a fixed superstructure, a winch and a-frame crane.
- Specifications:
- AMX-D
Type | Armored recovery vehicle |
---|---|
Crew | 3 (commander, driver, winch operator) |
Length | 5.6 m (travel configuration) |
Width | 2.59 m |
Height | 2.08 m (hull top), 2.62 m (a-frame stowed), 4.65 m (a-frame in use) |
Ground clearance | 0.43 m |
Weight | 15.3 t combat load |
Ground pressure | 0.78 kg/cm2 |
Wheelbase | Tracked chassis, 5 roadwheels, drive sprocket front, idler rear, 3.00 m length, 0.35 width, 2.16 m track |
Turn radius | skid turns |
Engine | Sofam Model 8Gxb 8-cylinder water-cooled petrol, 250 hp at 3.200 rpm |
Power ratio | 16.3 hp/t |
---|---|
Transmission | Manual, 5 forward, 1 reverse |
Speed | 60 km/h on road |
Fuel | 480 L |
Range | 400 km on road |
Wall | 0.65 m |
Trench | 1.6 m |
Gradient | 60 % gradient |
Fording | 1 m |
Armor | Steel Hull: 15 mm @ 55 degree front, 20 mm side, 10 mm top, 15 mm rear Superstructure: 30 mm front, 20 mm side, 10 mm roof |
NBC equipment | No |
Night vision | No |
---|---|
Smoke | 2x2 smoke grenade dischargers |
Remarks | 17 t winch, 5 t capacity A-frame crane |
Armament | 7.5mm AAT-52 machine gun |
Weapon1 | 7.5mm AAT-52 machine gun on pintle mount manual traverse and elevation non-stabilized |
Weapon2 | - |
Weapon3 | - |
Weapon4 | - |
Weapon5 | - |
Weapon6 | - |
AMX-13 PDP
AMX-13 PDP: Bridge layer based on AMX-13 chassis. Features a fixed superstructure and large jacks at the rear to stabilize the vehicle when launching its scissor bridge. The abbreviation PDP stands for Poseur De Pont, which is French for bridge transporter.
AMX-13 ALB: Singaporese bridge layer based on rebuilt AXM-13 light tank chassis. This design differs from the manufacturer's design in launching the bridge over the front, lacking a superstructure and launching a folding bridge.
- Specifications:
- AMX-13 PDP
Type | Armored vehicle launched bridge |
---|---|
Crew | 3 (commander, driver, bridge laying operator) |
Length | 4.88 m (hull), 6.44 m (without bridge), 8.02 m (with bridge) |
Width | 2.51 m (without bridge), 3.16 m (with bridge) |
Height | 2.72 m (without bridge), 4.05 m (with bridge) |
Ground clearance | 0.36 m |
Weight | 15.1 t empty, 19.2 t with bridge |
Ground pressure | 0.76 kg/cm2 (without bridge), 0.905 kg/cm2 (with bridge) |
Wheelbase | Tracked chassis, 5 roadwheels, drive sprocket front, idler rear, 3.00 m length, 0.35 width, 2.16 m track |
Turn radius | skid turns |
Engine | Sofam Model 8Gxb 8-cylinder water-cooled petrol, 250 hp at 3.200 rpm |
Power ratio | 13.0 hp/t (with bridge) |
---|---|
Transmission | Manual, 5 forward, 1 reverse |
Speed | 60 km/h on road (without bridge) 40 km/h on road (with bridge) |
Fuel | 480 L |
Range | 350 km on road |
Wall | 0.65 m |
Trench | 1.3 m (with bridge), 1.6 m (without bridge) |
Gradient | 60 % gradient, 50 % slope (without bridge) 30 % gradient, 20 % slope (with bridge) |
Fording | 1 m |
Armor | Steel Hull: 15 mm @ 55 degree front, 20 mm side, 10 mm top, 15 mm rear Superstructure: 30 mm front, 20 mm side, 10 mm roof |
NBC equipment | No |
Night vision | No |
---|---|
Smoke | No |
Remarks | 14.3 m Class 25 scissor bridge |
Armament | - |
Weapon1 | - |
Weapon2 | - |
Weapon3 | - |
Weapon4 | - |
Weapon5 | - |
Weapon6 | - |