AMX-30 Main Battle Tank

Gary's Combat Vehicle Reference Guide

Produced by the French as a replacement for the American M47 tank. Replaced in French service by the Leclerc.

The hull has three compartments with the driver in the front, the fighting compartment in the middle, and the engine in the rear.

The AMX 30 has a 105mm rifled gun. There is no muzzle brake or fume extractor. Compressed air evacuates fumes from the barrel. The gun is fitted with a magnesium alloy thermal sleeve. The gun can fire APFSDS, high explosive anti-tank (HEAT), high explosive (HE), phosphorus smoke, or illuminating rounds of a French design, and can also fire standard 105mm ammunition used with the L7 series of weapons used on the Leopard 1 and the M60 series of MBTs. The tank carries 47 rounds (19 in the turret and 18 in the bustle). The 105mm gun has a maximum effective range of 1,700 meters.

A 20mm cannon to the left of the main gun can be elevated with the main gun, as well as on its own to a maximum of 40° for use against slow aircraft. It has a range of 1,500 meters and can be fired by the gunner or the tank commander.

Recognition features:

• The commander's hatch opens to the rear of a large, high profile cupola that has all-around vision from 10 periscopes.
• A squared, infrared searchlight is mounted to the left of the main gun.
• There is a sight for the gunner mounted on the roof of the turret, located forward of the commander. The gunner also has two periscopes.
• There is a small, circular loader's hatch on the left rear of the turret.
• Supported track (five support rollers).
• Five road wheels.
• May have side skirts.
• Sides of the hull slope upward toward the center.
• Upper and lower glacis form a rounded edge.
• Air intake covers are on the right side of the front slope.
• Large exposed triangular shaped muffler on each rear hull fender.
• Round engine vent centered on deck at the rear.
• Driver's hatch on the front deck left of the gun tube.
• Long, bell-shaped streamlined turret centered on the hull.
• Smoke grenade dispenser on the turret.
• Bustle rack rails extend from the rear NBC systems box to the front of turret.
• Two round hatches in line on the turret.
• Rectangular main gun mantle.
• Large 105mm telescopic-shaped gun with heat shield encasing jacket.
• No muzzle brake or evacuator on the long gun tube.

AMX-30 with GT601

This is a gas-turbine-powered version of the AMX-30.

AMX-30B2

System is upgraded with improved transmission, suspension, NBC system, gun stabilization, and COTAC FCS with a thermal night sight. French Army AMX-30s were upgraded to -B2.

The gunner's telescopic sight is combined with an electronic control system and an optical module containing a computer-controlled graticule. The laser has a maximum range of 10,000 meters. The gunner also has a rotatable periscope, a fixed periscope, and a television (TV) monitor. A computer processes information such as ammunition, drift and jump angles, cross wind velocity, altitude, ambient temperature, target distance, elevation, azimuth, and turret slant. The LLLTV camera is mounted externally on the right side of the turret. A TV monitor screen for both the commander and gunner displays an aiming mark for targets up to 1,000 meters.

The B2 can fire the newer armor piercing fin stabilized discarding sabot (APFSDS) ammunition. Different gear boxes and steering allow on-the-spot turning and gear changing in bends. A new suspension gives improved cross-country mobility. Quieter tracks can be fitted as an option. A new pressurization system provides complete filtration for improved nuclear, biological, and chemical (NBC) protection. Other options include longer-life batteries, new filters, a radiation counter, air-conditioning, and different land navigation systems. In place of smoke dischargers, a protection system can fire different types of grenades. An exhaust system smoke generator also can be fitted to the B2 model.

AMX-30EM2

Spanish upgrade program with 850hp engine, new transmission, Hughes FCS, enlarged ammunition stowage, ERA, and C-437 APFSDS-T ammunition.

AMX-30S

Export for desert use which includes the addition of sand shields. The engine is downrated to 620 hp. The FCS is upgraded with Sopelem LRF day/night sight. The AMX 30S has been adopted by Saudi Arabia.

AMX-30 Venezuela

The Venezuelan AMX-30 is modernized with a new fire-control system that has a laser rangefinder, weapon stabilization system, and sensors for wind, temperature, and humidity. A new diesel engine with fully-automatic transmission increases speed, operating range, and fuel capacity. The commander's and driver's stations were modernized, and the vehicle can lay its own smoke screen by injecting diesel fuel into the exhaust system. Other options include applique armor and replacement of the torsion bar suspension which improves cross-country mobility.

GIAT AMX Super 30

The modernized GIAT AMX Super 30 has improved mobility, firepower, and logistics support. It has a new diesel engine, automatic transmission, and cooling system. Other improvements include a laser rangefinder, halon fire extinguishing system, new turret electric rotary joint, new fuel tanks, improved torsion bars, bump stops, and shock absorbers. Some have an optional thermal camera, slant sensor, and an atmospheric sensor mounted at the back of the commander's cupola.

Super AMX-30

This version has a new, fully automatic transmission and a new diesel that can be removed from the tank in one hour. The Super AMX-30 also has air filtration, cooling and electrical generating systems, new suspension, nuclear, biological, and chemical (NBC) protection system, fire suppression, and increased fuel capacity. A laser fire control system has new stabilized sights for the gunner and commander.

AMX-30 DCA

Air-defense version. 2x30mm guns on AMX-30 chassis. This version features an AMX 30 chassis fitted with an updated, power operated version of an AMX-13 turret. The turret has twin 30mm cannons that have 600 rounds ready to fire, and another 900 rounds in reserve. The radar system is mounted on the rear of the turret.

GCT/AU-F1

Self-propelled 155mm howitzer on AMX-30 chassis.

AMX-30 Bridge Layer

Scissors bridge on AMX-30 chassis. This model is not used by the French Army. A few are used in Saudi Arabia. It is basically the AMX-30 with the turret removed and replaced with a scissors-type bridge that can be launched over the rear in five minutes. The bridge opens to 22 meters long and spans a gap up to 20 meters. It is 3.1 meters wide and can widen to 3.92 meters when equipped with widening panels. The vehicle weighs 42,500 kg with the bridge.

AMX-30 Combat Engineer Tractor

Also designated EBG for Engin Blinde de Genie, this vehicle is designed for forward areas. A hydraulic dozer blade in front is fitted with six scarifying teeth. There is a hydraulic winch capable of lifting 20,000 kg. A power take off (PTO) arm can lift obstacles and be fitted with pincers or an auger.

The EBG is armed with a 7.62mm machine gun, four smoke dischargers, a launching tube for demolition charges, and four anti-tank mine launching tubes. The three-man crew consists of the commander, a sapper and a driver. Maximum speed is 65 km/h. The fording depth is from 2.5 to 4 meters.

AMX-30 EBG

Combat engineer tractor.

AMX-30D

Armored recovery vehicle. Three major tasks are designated for this ARV: recovery of disabled vehicles; replacement of major components such as engines; and engineer work. A hydraulic dozer blade at the front also provides stability while operating the crane or winch. A hydraulic crane mounted on the right of the vehicle can lift up to 15,000 kilograms (kg). The ARV weighs 38,000 kg loaded, and normally carries a spare engine at the rear. The AMX-30D(S) is modified for desert operations.

Pluton Surface-to-Surface Missile System

Theater ballistic missile launcher on AMX-30 chassis. The missile has a range up to 120 km, and can be fitted with a tactical nuclear warhead of either 15 or 25 kilotons.

Roland Anti-Aircraft Missile System

This is a modified AMX 30 MBT chassis with two Euromissile Roland surface-to-air missiles in the ready-to-launch position and eight missiles in reserve in the hull, ready for automatic reloading. The surveillance radar is mounted on the turret rear with the tracking radar mounted on the turret front.

Shahine Anti-Aircraft Missile System

This version was developed for Saudi Arabia. It consists of two units. One unit carries six missiles in the ready-to-fire position on a modified AMX-30 chassis. The second unit is the acquisition unit and has a large surveillance radar, also on a modified AMX 30 chassis. This is an all weather system. The firing unit carries no reserve missiles. They must be brought up by a cross-country truck fitted with a crane.

AMX-32

Upgraded tank. Did not enter production.