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The AMX-13 was a French
France

France , officially the French Republic , is a country whose Metropolitan France is located in Western Europe and that also comprises various Overseas departments and territories of France....
  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
Self-propelled gun

A self-propelled gun is a gun, whether it be an artillery piece, Anti-tank warfare gun, or Anti-aircraft warfare gun, mounted on a motorized wheeled or Caterpillar track chassis....
, anti-aircraft systems, APC
Armoured personnel carrier

Armoured personnel carriers are armoured fighting vehicles developed to transport infantry on the battlefield. They usually have only a machine gun although variants carry recoilless rifles, anti-tank guided missiles , or mortar ....
s, and TOW
BGM-71 TOW

The BGM-71 TOW is an anti-tank guided missile. "TOW" stands for "Tube-launched Optically-tracked Wire-to-command-Link" guided Missile Set. The TOW was first produced in 1970 and is the most widely used anti-tank guided missile in the world....
/ATGM versions. It is estimated that total production of the AMX-13 family was 7,700 units, of which around 3,400 were exported.

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.






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The AMX-13 was a French
France

France , officially the French Republic , is a country whose Metropolitan France is located in Western Europe and that also comprises various Overseas departments and territories of France....
  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
Self-propelled gun

A self-propelled gun is a gun, whether it be an artillery piece, Anti-tank warfare gun, or Anti-aircraft warfare gun, mounted on a motorized wheeled or Caterpillar track chassis....
, anti-aircraft systems, APC
Armoured personnel carrier

Armoured personnel carriers are armoured fighting vehicles developed to transport infantry on the battlefield. They usually have only a machine gun although variants carry recoilless rifles, anti-tank guided missiles , or mortar ....
s, and TOW
BGM-71 TOW

The BGM-71 TOW is an anti-tank guided missile. "TOW" stands for "Tube-launched Optically-tracked Wire-to-command-Link" guided Missile Set. The TOW was first produced in 1970 and is the most widely used anti-tank guided missile in the world....
/ATGM versions. It is estimated that total production of the AMX-13 family was 7,700 units, of which around 3,400 were exported.

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
Chassis

A chassis consists of a Frame that supports an inanimate object, analogous to an animal's skeleton, for example in a motor vehicle or a firearm....
 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. It features an uncommon two-part 'oscillating' turret where the gun is fixed to the turret and the entire upper turret changes elevation. The turret is set to the rear of the vehicle and holds the commander and gunner. The original 75 mm gun, modelled on the German 7.5 cm KwK 42 L/70 gun (used, among others, in the Panther
Panther tank

The Panther was a tank fielded by Germany in World War II that served from mid-1943 to the end of the European war in 1945. It was intended as a counter to the T-34, and to replace the Panzer IV and Panzer III, though it served along with them and the heavy tanks until the end of the war....
 tank), 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
AMX 30

The AMX-30 is a main battle tank designed by Nexter, first delivered to the French Army in 1966. The first five tanks were issued to the 501st R?giment de Chars de Combat in August of that year....
 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 unchanged until 1985 when changes including a new diesel engine
Diesel engine

A diesel engine is an internal combustion engine which operates using the diesel cycle . Diesel engines have the highest thermal efficiency compared to any internal combustion or external combustion engine....
, fully automatic transmission
Automatic transmission

An automatic transmission is an automobile gearbox that can change gear ratios automatically as the vehicle moves, freeing the driver from having to shift gears manual transmission....
 and a new hydropneumatic suspension
Suspension (vehicle)

Suspension is the term given to the system of spring , shock absorbers and Linkage that connects a vehicle to its wheels. Suspension systems serve a dual purpose ? contributing to the car's car handling and brake for good active safety and driving pleasure, and keeping vehicle occupants comfortable and reasonably well isolated from road no...
 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 armoured vehicles with a similar role are the ERC 90 Sagaie
ERC 90 Sagaie

The Panhard ERC 90 Sagaie is a French six-wheeled armoured vehicle. It is mobile, amphibious and NBC -proof....
 and the AMX 10 RC
AMX 10 RC

The AMX-10RC is a wheeled tank destroyer built by GIAT. Over 300 are in service in the French Army. 120 additional vehicles were sold to Morocco and Qatar ....
.

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


Variants


Prototypes

Char AMX-13 (2A): Prototype
Prototype

A prototype is an original type, form, or instance of something serving as a typical example, basis, or standard for other things of the same category....
 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

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
Panhard EBR

The Panhard EBR is a light armoured car designed by Panhard for the French Army and later used across the globe, notably by the Portuguese Army during the Portuguese Colonial War in Angola, Mozambique and Guinea-Bissau....
 armoured 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
SS-11

SS-11 may refer to:* UR-100 - Soviet intercontinental ballistic missile UR-100* SS.11 - French anti-tank missile...
 ATGM launchers AMX-13 T75 avec TCA: Fitted with an electronic guidance system
Guidance system

A guidance system is a device or group of devices used to navigation a ship, aircraft, missile, rocket, satellite, or other craft. Typically, this refers to a system that navigates without direct or continuous human control....
 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
Laser

A laser is a device that emits light through a process called stimulated emission. The term laser is an acronym for light amplification by stimulated emission of radiation....
 rangefinder
Rangefinder

A rangefinder is a device that measures distance from the observer to a target, for the purposes of surveying, determining focus in photography, or accurately aiming a weapon....
 AMX-13/105 Modèle 58: Fitted with 105 Gun mm in FL-12 turret (used by the Argentine Army
Argentine Army

The Argentine Army is the Army branch of the Military of Argentina and the senior military service of the country....
 and the Netherlands
Netherlands

The Netherlands is a country that is part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. It is a parliamentary democratic constitutional monarchy. The Netherlands is located in North-West Europe, and bordered by the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east....
) 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 retractable radar fitted, 60 delivered between 1969 and late 80s AMX-13 [Training Tank]: AMX-13 with turret
Turret

In architecture, a turret is a small tower that projects vertically from the wall of a building such as a medieval castle. Turrets were used to provide a projecting defensive position allowing covering fire to the adjacent wall in the days of fort....
 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

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

National variants

AMX-13/FL-12 [Modernised] by the Netherlands: Fitted with searchlight
Searchlight

A searchlight is an apparatus with reflectors for projecting a powerful beam of light of approximately parallel rays in a particular direction,...
 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
Singapore

Singapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is an island country microstate located at the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula. It lies 137 kilometres north of the equator, south of the Malaysian state of Johor and north of Indonesia's Riau Islands....
 prior to SM-1 upgrade AMX-13SM1 (Singapore Modernised 1): Singaporean upgrade with modern communications, original petrol engine replaced by a diesel engine, improved transmissions & suspensions system, laser range-finder and night vision elbow upgrade by ST Kinetics. The 75mm main gun remain unchanged. Leichter Panzer 51: Swiss Army version AMX-13V: CLI upgraded AMX-13/90 for Venezuela
Venezuela

Venezuela , officially the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela , is a country on the northern coast of South America.The country comprises a continental mainland and numerous islands located off the Venezuelan coastline in the Caribbean Sea....
n Army AMX-13 [LAR-160]: Venezuelan MLRS 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

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 L/70 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
Euromissile HOT

HOT is an anti-tank missile system developed by Euromissile , a joint venture of France and Germany, and produced since 1978. It has become one of the most successful missiles of its class, used by no fewer than a dozen countries worldwide and has been validated in actual combat....
 ATGM launchers

APC Variants

The AMX-13 was the basis of a family of APCs
Armoured personnel carrier

Armoured personnel carriers are armoured fighting vehicles developed to transport infantry on the battlefield. They usually have only a machine gun although variants carry recoilless rifles, anti-tank guided missiles , or mortar ....
 beginning with the AMX-VTT
AMX-VCI

The AMX-VCI is one of the many variants of the French AMX-13 light tank. It was the front line Armoured personnel carrier of the French Army until replaced by the AMX-10P....
 and culminating with the AMX-VCI
AMX-VCI

The AMX-VCI is one of the many variants of the French AMX-13 light tank. It was the front line Armoured personnel carrier of the French Army until replaced by the AMX-10P....
. The APC chassis was itself the basis of a number of variants.

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 commander's 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 155 mm sur affut automoteur AMX-13 T, AMX-155): 155 mm SPH

Miscellaneous

M24/AMX-13: AMX-13 turret on M24 Chaffee
M24 Chaffee

The Light Tank M24 was an United States Tank classification#Light tank used during World War II and in postwar conflicts including the Korean War....
 hull M4 Sherman
M4 Sherman

The M4 Sherman, formally Medium Tank, M4, was the primary tank used by the United States during World War II. It was also distributed to the Allies via lend lease....
 fitted with AMX-13 turret, used by Egypt
Egypt

Egypt is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Western Asia. Covering an area of about , Egypt borders the Mediterranean Sea to the north, the Gaza Strip and Israel to the northeast, the Red Sea to the east, Sudan to the south and Libya to the west....


Photo Gallery


Users

  • - 24 AMX Mk F3 155mm self-propelled howitzer version
  • - 12
  • - 47 155mm self-propelled howitzer version
  • - 5
  • - 12
  • - ?
  • - 2
  • - 102
  • - 275
  • - ?
  • - 35
  • - 409 AMX-VCI
  • - ?
  • - 110
  • - 350 AMX-13/SM1 (ex-IDF machines, locally upgraded and modernised)
  • - ?
  • - 36 AMX-13C.90


Former Users

  • - ?
  • - 58 tanks not in use, to be replaced by the VC Patagon (a tank with an AMX turret mounted on a SK-105 Kurassier
    SK-105 Kurassier

    The SK-105 K?rassier is an Austrian light tank or tank destroyer armed with a rifled 105 mm gun in an oscillating turret. It is estimated that over 700 have been produced....
     chassis).
  • - ?
  • - ?
  • - The AMX-13 tank was phased out of service with the French Army in the 1970s.
  • - ?
  • - Retired and sold to Singapore in 1969.
  • - Replaced by SK-105 Kurassier.
  • - 131
  • - Four howitzer variants purchased for trials in 1962-64; not introduced into service.


Model Kits & Accessories

  • Condor Decals 1/35 Argentinian Tanks Ref No:35001 (Decal sheet)
  • Heller 1/35 AMX 13-75 No.81122 (Plastic injection moulded kit, static model)
  • Heller 1/35 AMX 13 Canon de 105 No.? (Plastic injection moulded kit, static model)
  • Heller 1/72 AMX 13 Canon de 105 No.198 (Plastic injection moulded kit, static model)
  • Nichimo 1/35 A.M.X.13 Light Tank Equipped with SS-11 Missiles No.? (Plastic injection moulded kit, motorised)
  • Nichimo 1/35 A.M.X.13-V.T.P. Personnel Carrier No.? (Plastic injection moulded kit, motorised)
  • WSW 1/87-HO AMX 13/FL 10 Turret Ref No:87-103 (Resin kit, static model)


Literature

  • Armour in Profile No.12 - AMX.13 by Colonel E. F. Offord, Profile Publication Ltd., 1967.
  • The AMX-13 Light Tank, Volume 1: Chassis by Peter Lau, Rock Publications, 2006.
  • The AMX-13 Light Tank, Volume 2: Turret by Peter Lau, Rock Publications, 2007.


See also

  • 2S25
  • AMX 50
    AMX 50

    The AMX 50 was a French tankdesigned in the immediate post World War II period. It was proposed as, in succession, the French medium, heavy tank and main battle tank and incorporated many advanced features....
  • Panhard EBR
    Panhard EBR

    The Panhard EBR is a light armoured car designed by Panhard for the French Army and later used across the globe, notably by the Portuguese Army during the Portuguese Colonial War in Angola, Mozambique and Guinea-Bissau....
  • PT-76
    PT-76

    The PT-76 is a Soviet light tank amphibious vehicle tank which was introduced in the early 1950s and soon became the standard reconnaissance tank of the Soviet Army and the other Warsaw Pact armies....
  • SK-105 Kürassier


External links

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