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AMX-105

1958 COLD WAR SELF-PROPELLED ARTILLERY

History

The original AMX-13 light tanks appeared after the end of World War II (1939-1945), when the French infrastructure was ravaged by years of conflict and their armies were reduced to pre-war equipment, donated and restored German stores. In 1946, work on indigenous light tank products, led by Atelier de Construciton d'Issy-les-Moulineaux, began, and the French Army officially adopted a fully enclosed tracked armored vehicle design for mass production as "AMX-13". Production was entrusted to Atelier de Construction Roanne, which began production in 1952 and continued until 1987, produced 4,300 prototypes for local military use.

Another 3,400 prototypes were exported to French allies around the world.

A traditional design largely inspired by World War II tank warfare theory, the AMX-13 features a traditional "track wheel" system that features five twin-tire wheels on one side of the track. The drive sprocket is at the front of the hull and the chain idler is at the rear. Power is provided by a 250 hp water-cooled 8-cylinder SOFAM 8Gxb gasoline engine, giving the vehicle a top speed of 60 km/h and a range of 400 km.

Suspension is achieved with a conventional torsion bar arrangement with reasonable off-road capability. The vehicle is operated by three personnel, including the driver in the front hull and the commander and gunner in the turret.

The most unique aspect of the AMX-13 design is the use of a swinging GIAT turret, essentially an upper part containing the main gun armament and an elevation control hinged to the lower part of the fixed turret. The swinging turret allows tank engineers to use heavy weapons of a light design.

The case of the AMX-13 proves this, with its powerful 75mm main gun. The turret has a significant overhang (for the upper turret section assembly) to allow more internal volume for the turret.

The AMX-13 became one of the few frontline combat vehicles in armored warfare history to utilize the swinging turret concept.

The AMX-13 inevitably produced around 16 different variants throughout its life cycle, and many "one-off" prototypes emerged. It is natural that the chassis will be used in other forms of combat readiness, one example being the form of the 105mm self-propelled howitzer used by the Dutch Army and supplied to other export customers. The 105mm SFL variant is commonly referred to as "AMX-105" and appears in some notable forms under the more accurate name "AMX Mk". These include the Dutch Army's AMX Mk 61 (also known as "AMX-105A") and AMX Mk 62. These forms are nothing more than the existing AMX-13 light tank chassis mated with a redesigned semi-open superstructure housing a powerful 105mm main gun.

The main gun was fitted with a solid muzzle brake, and the overall design of the vehicle was largely faithful to the original. The AMX Mk 62 ("AMX-105B") was a 105mm SPG prototype with a rotating turret, the AMX Mk 62 had a similar range but was equipped with an additional cupola with a general purpose self-defense machine gun.

In addition to being used by the Dutch, the 105mm variant was also tested by the Swiss Army, which did not buy the breed (although they did have up to 200 AMX-13 tanks in widespread use before 1980).