AMX-10P

Last updated
AMX-10P
AMX-10P in the Musee des Blindes, France, pic-2.JPG
An AMX-10P at the Musée des Blindés , Saumur.
Type Infantry fighting vehicle
Place of origin France
Service history
Used bySee Operators
Wars Iran–Iraq War
Gulf War
Bosnian War
War in Iraq (2013–2017)
Production history
Designed1968 [1]
Manufacturer GIAT Industries [2]
Produced1973–1994 [3]
No. built1,750 [3]
VariantsSee Variants
Specifications
Mass14.2 tonnes (15.7 short tons; 14.0 long tons) [4]
Length5.778 m (18 ft 11.5 in) [1]
Width2.78 m (9 ft 1 in) [1]
Height1.87 m (6 ft 2 in) (hull) [1]
Crew3 (commander, gunner, driver) + 8 passengers [1]

Main
armament
20 mm F2/M693 autocannon (800 rounds) [1]
Secondary
armament
7.62 mm MAS coaxial machine gun (2,000 rounds) [4]
Engine Hispano-Suiza Model 115-2 eight-cylinder liquid-cooled diesel [1]
205 kW (275 hp) at 3,000 rpm [1]
Power/weight14.9 kW/t (20.0 hp/t) [1]
Ground clearance0.45m [4]
Fuel capacity528 litres [4]
Operational
range
600 km (370 mi) [4]
Maximum speed 65 km/h (40 mph) [4]

The AMX-10P is a French amphibious infantry fighting vehicle. It was developed from 1965 onwards to replace the AMX-VCI in the French Army. [4] It served with the French Army from its introduction in 1973 until its retirement in 2015, when it was fully replaced by the VBCI. [1] [5]

Contents

The AMX-10P was also successfully exported, and continues to serve with several nations' militaries. It was selected by a number of Arab armies and has been operated by Iraq, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates. [2] Special marine variants were developed for Singapore and Indonesia, including the AMX-10 PAC 90 fire support version with a 90 mm gun. [3] [4]

The AMX-10P is fully amphibious, being propelled through water at speeds of up to 7 km/h by twin waterjets. It is fitted as standard with a trim vane and bilge pumps to assist with the flotation process. [2] The AMX-10P shares a number of common transmission and chassis components with its wheeled counterpart, the AMX-10 RC. [1]

Development history

The AMX-10P was developed by the Atelier de Construction d'Issy-les-Moulineaux (AMX) in response to a French army requirement for a new tracked armoured fighting vehicle to supplement or replace the ageing AMX-VCI . [4] The first prototypes were completed around 1968. They were showcased to potential domestic and international customers at Satory in 1969. [1] Production did not commence until the French Army placed its first order in late 1972. [1] The first AMX-10Ps were delivered in mid to late 1973 to the 7th Mechanised Brigade stationed at Reims. [1]

French Army AMX-10Ps were fitted with a 20 mm autocannon in a Toucan II two-man turret with seating for a gunner and commander. Other one-man turrets could be fitted, as well as an observation cupola for training vehicles. [4] Export variants of the AMX-10P abounded, including models equipped with battlefield surveillance radars, the ATILA artillery fire control system, a bank of HOT anti-tank missiles, 60 mm or 81 mm gun-mortars, and a large 90 mm gun. [4]

Greece was the first foreign power to purchase the AMX-10P. Between 1974 and 1977 the Hellenic Army ordered over 100 vehicles in three separate variants. [6] Qatar ordered 30 AMX-10Ps in 1975, while Iraq, Saudi Arabia and Indonesia accounted for large export orders during the early 1980s. [6] GIAT Industries accepted a final order from Singapore for AMX-10P PAC-90s in 1994, [6] following which the production lines were closed. [3] At this point 1,750 AMX-10Ps had been manufactured. [3]

108 AMX-10Ps underwent extensive overhauls to improve their armour and mobility between 2006 and 2008, including new gearboxes and suspension systems. [7] By 2015, however, the AMX-10P had been entirely withdrawn from French service, being replaced by the VBCI. [5]

Description

AMX-10P hulls are fabricated from a welded steel [1] or aluminum alloy [2] and notable for their parallel incorporation of the driving and engine compartments. The driver is seated at the front of the vehicle and to the left. [1] An AMX-10P's driving compartment is provided with a single hatch cover opening to the rear and three periscopes intended for observation purposes when the hatch is closed. [1]

Night vision equipment was not fitted as standard to the base production model. One of the three driving periscopes could be replaced with combined day/night intensification sights as needed. [1] The troop compartment is at the rear of the hull, and provided with two roof hatches. Passengers embark and debark from a ramp, which is accessed through two doors at the rear. [1]

Transmission consists of a hydraulic torque converter coupled to a gearbox with one reverse and four forward driving gears. [1] The AMX-10P utilises a torsion bar suspension, which supports five road wheels with the drive sprocket at the front and idler near the rear. [1] These can be accessed from inside the hull through maintenance panels. [1]

Standard AMX-10P turrets are equipped with a GIAT M693 automatic cannon firing two different types of both high explosive ammunition and armour-piercing ammunition. [1] More than one ammunition type may be loaded at once and fired alternatively. [8] The high explosive rounds have a muzzle velocity of 1,050 m/s. The latest armour-piercing round has a muzzle velocity of 1,300 m/s and is capable of penetrating 20 mm of rolled homogeneous armour at an incidence of 60°. [1] The autocannon has a cyclic rate of fire of 740 rounds per minute, with the gunner being able to switch between semiautomatic, limited burst, or fully automatic fire as necessary. [8]

External

AMX-10Ps have a very distinctive, pointed hull and a sloping glacis plate, with the driver's position plainly visible to the left. [2] The hull roof is horizontal as well as sloped slightly inwards, accommodating a turret ring near the centre of the chassis. [2] Both hull sides are vertical and lack firing ports. [2] There is a circular exhaust outlet on the right side of the hull above the second and third road wheels. [2]

Variants

A Singapore Army AMX-10P PAC-90 with 90 mm gun AMX-10PAC 90.jpg
A Singapore Army AMX-10P PAC-90 with 90 mm gun

Operators

A map of AMX-10P operators in blue, with former operators in red. AMX-10P.png
A map of AMX-10P operators in blue, with former operators in red.

Former operators

See also

AMX series

Vehicles of comparable role, performance, and era

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