AMX-40

The AMX-40 was a French prototype main battle tank developed by GIAT during the latter stages of the Cold War as an export tank to replace the failed AMX-32. Designed to be an inexpensive tank orientated towards militaries with smaller defence budgets, the AMX-40 featured a lightly armoured hull and good mobility reminiscent of previous French MBTs with a powerful 120 mm cannon. It however failed to attract interest and sales, rendering the project a failure, being discontinued in 1990.[1]

AMX-40
AMX-40 P01 pre-production model fitted with the T2 prototype turret at the Musée des Blindés at Saumur
TypeMain battle tank
Place of originFrance
Production history
Designed1983
ManufacturerAMX-APX and GIAT
Specifications
Mass43.7 t (43.0 long tons; 48.2 short tons)
Length10.04 m (32 ft 11 in) (with gun barrel), 6.8 m (22 ft 4 in) hull
Width3.18 m (10 ft 5 in) 3.36 m (11 ft 0 in) (with side skirts)
Height2.38 m (7 ft 10 in)
Crew4
Armourcomposite armor
Main
armament
120 mm GIAT model G1 smoothbore gun (L/52) (40 rounds)
Secondary
armament
1 x 20 mm M693 autocannon with 578 rounds 2 x 7.62 mm ANF1 machine guns (2170 rounds)
EnginePoyaud V12XS25 diesel engine
1,100 horsepower (820 kW)
Power/weight25.6 hp (19.1 kW)/ton
TransmissionZF LSG 3000 (4 fwd/2 rev)
Suspensiontorsion bar with rotary shock absorbers
Ground clearance450 mm (18 in)
Fuel capacity1,300 L (290 imp gal; 340 US gal)
Operational
range
550 km (340 mi) to 600 km (370 mi)
Maximum speed 70 km/h (43 mph)

History

Early history

As the AMX-32 had failed to attract any potential sales, GIAT decided to produce yet another upgrade, the AMX-40 Main Battle Tank. The development of the AMX-40 began in 1980 as a clean sheet design. In 1983, the first prototype was finished and presented at the Satory Exhibition that year. Two further prototypes were produced in 1984; the fourth and last one was fabricated in 1985. The design was not intended for service in France, but as a successor to the AMX-32, the improved export version of the AMX-30. However, the efforts to obtain foreign orders failed, the most serious potential customer to have considered the design being Spain. It ceased being offered for export in 1990.

Design

Armament

The main armament consisted of a GIAT 120 mm CN120-25 model G1 smoothbore gun. The main gun ammunition load was 37 to 40 rounds depending on the prototype. Up to 17 rounds can be stored in the turret, 14 of those are stored in a sealed compartment inside the turret bustle fitted with blowout panels. Ten of them are loaded in two electrically-operated drums. The rest of the rounds were stored in a large rack to the right of the driver. The tank could fire a variety of NATO 120 mm ammunition, including the French OCC 120 G1 HEAT round and the OFL 120 G1 APFSDS round which are suitable for all NATO 120mm smooth bore gun. The OFL 120 G1 was capable of penetrating 420 mm of RHA steel armor at 1,000 m range.[2]

The auxiliary armament included a 20 mm M693 autocannon, a derivative of the GIAT designed F2 autocannon. Since the elevation (up to +40°) system can be operated independently of that of the 120 mm gun,[3] this armament provides a not inconsiderable capability for defense against ground and air targets. In addition, a 7.62 mm AAN-F1 light machine gun for short-range anti-aircraft or ground defense is linked to the hatch of the TOP 7 commander cupola. It can be fired from inside the cupola.

Twelve Lacroix Galix 80 mm launchers are grouped in two packs of six and are located on either side of the turret, these launchers can throw aerosol smoke grenades, flares and anti-personnel fragmentation grenades.

Optics and fire control system

The gunner has a M581 monocular telescopic sight with a magnification of x10, it is fitted with a CILAS laser rangefinder and linked to the COSTAC integrated automatic fire control system.

The commander has the latest iteration of the TOP 7 cupola with eight non-reflecting periscopes. A SFIM M527 gyrostabilized panoramic sight with three channels ; two daylight (x2 and x8) and one with light intensification. The M527 sight makes it possible to observe and open fire almost instantly whilst on the move because the gun is slaved to the sight.

An auxiliary daylight sight is available in option. A DIVT-13 low light television camera (LLLTV) with a x1 magnification allows night observation up to 1200 m. It can be replaced by a DIVT 16 CASTOR thermal camera. The image obtained is displayed on two TV monitors (gunner and commander).

Mobility

The tank was powered by a 24,690 cc (1,507 cu in) 1,100 horsepower (820 kW) Poyaud V12XS25 diesel engine coupled to an automatic ZF LSG 3000 transmission. The number of road wheels per side was increased from the five used on the AMX-32 to six. Like the AMX-32, the AMX-40 used the same 570 mm-wide dry pin tracks of the AMX-30.

The combat weight was limited to 43.7 metric tonnes. The low weight, in combination with the powerful engine, ensured an excellent mobility (with 70 kilometres per hour (43 mph) maximum road speed and 50 km/h (31 mph) cross country speed). The AMX-40 accelerates from 0 to 32 km/h (0–20 mph) in 6 seconds.

Armor

The front turret and hull armour incorporated spaced armor bulkheads with high-hardness outer steel plates. The bulkheads include NERA arrays[4] and are designed to withstand 76 mm armor-piercing rounds and RPG-7 warheads.[3] The sides of the turret were made of spaced armor designed to withstand impacts from 23 mm armor-piercing rounds. Possibly, the AMX-40 could be equipped with a composite dozer blade an add-on armor on the bustle roof.

Despite the armour afforded to the AMX-40, it was still considered light by late Cold War standards, especially when compared to NATO contemporaries such as the heavier M1 Abrams, Leopard 2 and Challenger 1. The armour could not effectively stop Soviet munitions fired by tanks such as the T-72 and T-80.[5]

Prototypes
  • P1 : rolled out of the Satory workshop in 1983, directly issued from the work of its predecessor, the AMX-32.
  • P2 : used the CH2 hull and the T2 turret. The CH2 hull was modified in order to be fitted with the powerpack of the future Leclerc. In the end, it was fitted with the 1,100 horsepower (820 kW) V12XS25 engine coupled to the LSG 3000 transmission. The P2 prototype had been handed over to the technical section of the French Army on several occasions.
  • P3 : used the CH3 hull and the T3 turret. It was powered by a German MTU diesel engine coupled to a ZF transmission.
  • P4 : consisted only of a CH4 hull using a 1,300 horsepower (970 kW) version of the V12X engine coupled to the SESM ESM 500 transmission.
  • P01 : pre-production model
  • P02 : pre-production model
  • E4 : also known as E50, it was intended for the Egyptian Army and featured an improved frontal protection against 115 mm steel APFSDS and 3M11 Fleyta ATGM. Its effectiveness has been proven by firing at it with French 105 mm tungsten APFSDS and shaped-charge rounds. In order to eliminate any remaining weakspot in the frontal arc, the 20 mm autocannon was replaced by a fxed 7.62 mm coaxial machine gun and the gunner sight was relocated on the turret roof. As the hull was lengthened and widen, the projected combat weight was 50 t (49 long tons; 55 short tons), thus a 1200-1300 hp engine and wider NATO standard 635 mm tracks were foreseen. The E4 project remained on the drawing board.

See also

References
  1. "AMX-40 Main Battle Tank (MBT)". Military Factory. Archived from the original on 11 November 2018. Retrieved 11 November 2018.
  2. HILMES, Rolf (1988). Kampfpanzer - Die Entwicklungen der Nachkriegszeit. Frankfurt am Main Bonn: Report Verlag GmbH. p. 38.
  3. CHASSILLAN, Marc (2008). LE CHAR FRANÇAIS AMX 40. Raids. pp. 52–59.
  4. Chassillan, Marc (March–April 2018). "La Protection Balistiques des Chars Modernes". Trucks & Tanks Magazine (in French).
  5. "AMX-40 Prototype main battle tank". Military Today. Retrieved 11 November 2018.
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