AMX-30 AuF1

Last updated
AMX-30 AuF1
GCT 155mm AUF1, French army licence registration '6854 0068', St Mihiel 1894, photo-1 (cropped).JPG
GCT 155mm self-propelled artillery of the French Army
Type Self-propelled gun
Place of originFrance
Service history
In service1977–present
Used by France, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait
Wars Iran–Iraq War
Gulf War
Yugoslav Wars
Production history
Designer GIAT Industries
Designed1972 (prototype)
Manufacturer Nexter
Produced1977–1995
No. built400
Specifications
Mass41.949  tonnes to 43.5 tonnes (42.8 long tons; 48.0 short tons)
Length10.25 m
Width3.15 m
Height3.25 m
Crew4; Commander, Driver, Gunner and Loader

Armor 20 mm (turret)
Main
armament
1× 155 mm CN 155 AUF1 howitzer
Secondary
armament
1× Browning M2 12.7mm heavy machine gun
EngineHispano-Suiza HS-110 Renault-Mack E9 (AuF1 TA)
680  hp at 2400 RPM 750  hp at 2400 RPM (AuF1 TA)
Suspensiontorsion bar
Operational
range
420–500 km
Maximum speed 60 km/h on-road.

The AMX-30 AuF1 is a French self-propelled gun vehicle currently in use by the armies of France and Saudi Arabia. It replaced the former Mk F3 155mm in French Army service. The AuF1 primary advantage is that it incorporates full armor and nuclear-biological-chemical (NBC) protection for its crew of four, while the former Mk F3 155mm offered no protection and could carry only two of its four crew members. The AuF1 saw combat with the Iraqi Army in the Iran–Iraq War.

Contents

AuF1

The CN 155 AuF1 (Canon de 155 Automoteur Modèle F1, meaning "155 mm self-propelled gun model F1") is based on the AMX-30 main battle tank (MBT) chassis and equipped with a NATO-standard 155mm 39-caliber (L/39) gun with a bustle-mounted autoloader, giving a rate of fire of 8 rounds per minute. [1] It is also equipped with a roof-mounted 12.7mm anti-aircraft gun. The AUF1 has an effective range of 23,000 meters firing conventional rounds and 28,000 meters using Rocket Assisted Projectiles (RAPs). [2]

Variants and upgrades

Operational history

A battery of 8 AuF1s from the French Army's 40e régiment d'artillerie  [ fr ] was deployed in support of the Rapid Reaction Force on Mount Igman during the 1995 NATO bombing campaign in Bosnia and Herzegovina. [3] The battery provided rapid counter-battery fire against Serb artillery units during the siege of Sarajevo, the long range of its guns allowing it to dominate the surrounding terrain. [4]

Operators

GCT 155 mm operators:
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Current
Former GCT 155mm operators.png
GCT 155 mm operators:
  Current
  Former
GCT 155 mm used by Saudi Arabian Military. AuF1 of Saudi Arabia.JPEG
GCT 155 mm used by Saudi Arabian Military.

Current operators

Former operators

Notes

  1. David.B (2017-10-31). "155mm GCT AUF1 & 2". Tank Encyclopedia. Retrieved 2022-12-26.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 Foss, Christopher F. (12 February 2002). "Giat Industries 155 mm GCT self-propelled gun". Jane's Armour and Artillery 2002–2003.
  3. Marchet, Jean-Dominique (22 July 2008). "Quand tire l'artillerie" [When artillery fires]. Archived from the original on 29 March 2019. Retrieved 14 March 2019.
  4. Jordan, F. (February 2017). "1995: L'engagement du groupement d'artillerie Leclerc, le 40e RA porte le feu depuis Igman". Soldats de France (in French). No. 1. French Army. pp. 7–9.
  5. 1 2 3 SIPRI. "SIPRI Arms Transfer Database". SIPRI. Retrieved 12 December 2024.
  6. https://www.defense.gouv.fr/sites/default/files/ministere-armees/Chiffres%20cle%CC%81s%20de%20la%20de%CC%81fense_2025_UK.pdf [ bare URL PDF ]

References