AMX-13/90 light tank, 1966 to present (TL7)
After WWII, France decided to completely rearm with vehicles of domestic manufacture. One design called for was a tracked vehicle mounting a large gun but capable of being transported by air. The protoype of the AMX-13 appeared in 1949 and entered service in 1953, with primary production running from 1954-1964, with a total of over 4500 vehicles constructed (though upgraded versions were still produced into the late 1980's).
The original was known as the AMX-13 Model 51 and was armed with a 75mm cannon (use stats for the M41's 76mm M32) and 7.5mm MG. The tank was unusual in two respects. First, the cannon used an automatic loader, feeding from two six-round revolving magazines. While this resulted in a high rate of fire initially, it meant that the crew was forced to withdraw and dismount to reload the magazines. The second unusual feature is the two-piece oscillating turret -- while the lower portion of the turret is fixed in place, the upper section is capable of limited traverse and elevation on it's own (but more than a hull-mounted weapon).
The basic AMX-13 has been used by at least 25 countries, including France, Chile, Nepal and Israel. Starting in 1966/67, the AMX-13/90 was introduced, improving the main armament, and itself has seen service with over a dozen nations. In 1970, the French began refitting the 90mm cannon to their AMX-13s still in service. Israel also upgraded it's AMX-13s and offered them for sale. Some vehicles have been modified to carry anti-tank missile launchers on the sides of the turret, either four SS-11 or 6 HOT missiles.
Numerous variants of the AMX-13 have appeared. The more noteworthy are the Mk F3 155mm self-propelled howitzer (lacking any armor protection for the gun crew), the AMX VCI APC (carrying 10 infantrymen) and the AMX-13 DCA (mounting two 30mm Hispano cannons in an anti-aircraft mounting; only 60 were made, but they proved servicable enough).
Subassemblies: body +2, limited rotation turret +2, two tracks
+2
P&P: 186 kW gasoline w/tracked drivetrain, 4x 8208 kWs lead-acid
batteries, 129 gallons gasoline (fire chance: 10) in self-sealing tank,
250 mile range (road)
Occ: 3 CCS (driver, gunner and commander)
Cargo: 5 cf internal (bin at rear of turret)
| Armor | F | R/L | B | T | U |
| Body | 5/105 | 4/55 | 4/40 | 4/30 | 4/30 |
| Turret | 5/105 | 4/70 | 4/70 | 4/30 | 0/0 |
| Tracks | 4/25 | 4/25 | 4/25 | 4/25 | 4/25 |
Equipment
Turret: one medium range radio, IR searchlight, 7.5x gunner
day sights, 5x gunner IR night sight, 6x commander sight, 4 smoke dischargers
(8 realoads)
Statistics
| Size: 16'x8'x7.5' | Payload: approx. 4,400 lbs | Lwt: 33,000 lbs (17.5 tons) |
| Volume: 550 cf (Size Mod: +4) | Maint.: 25 hours | Price: ? |
HT: 9
HP: 750 [body], 260 [each track], 525 [turret]
| gSpeed: 38 | gAccel: 3 | gDecel: 20 | gMR: 0.5 | gSR: 4 | GP: low (2/3) |
Design Notes
Frame is heavy for 250 cf body, 150 cf turret, and 150 cf tracks.
New Weapons
90mm CN-90-F3 cannon: short barrel, slow autoloader
Dam 6dx16(2) APFSDS, 6dx4(10) HEAT or 6dx6[10d], Acc 13 (APFSDS, 12
other), SS 25, 1/2Dam 1500 (APFSDS), 1000 (others), Max 7200 (APFSDS),
4800 (others), ROF 1/5, AWt 22 lbs, ACost $264 (APFSDS), $99 (HEAT), $66
(HE/Smoke)
7.62mm AA-7.62N-F1 MG
Use stats for 7.62mm MG, but ROF 15*
HOT (Euromissile 1) anti-tank missile: 140mm small HEAT warhead,
wire guidance
Dam 8dx7(10), SS 20, Min 85, Max 4400, Speed 560 mph, End 17 sec, ROF
1/7, AWt 52 lbs
Sources
The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Military Vehicles, Ian Hogg
and John Weeks, 1980
Modern Fighting Vehicles, Bob Lewis, 1988
http://www.fas.org/man/dod-101/sys/land/row/weg.pdf