The AMX-32 was a French main battle tank developed by AMX and APX in the late 1970s during the Cold War as an export tank to fit in a specific market niche of nations with smaller defence budgets. While six prototypes were built, it failed to garner interest for foreign sales.
AMX-32
AMX-32 on display at the museum of the armored vehicles of Saumur.
The mantlet, the turret sides and the hull noseplate of the AMX-32 are hollow, the outer layers are made of dual hardness steel plates which are particularly effective against kinetic energy projectiles.[1]
The frontal armor of the AMX-32 was successfully tested against 57 mm armor-piercing rounds of the ASU-57 at 500 m range[2] and 75 mm tungsten-cored PCOT rounds fired from the AMX-13 light tank at 1000 m range.[1] The turret side armor can withstand impacts of 23 mm armor-piercing rounds. The turret roof has been thickened in order to be protected from autocannons shells fired by fighter-bombers at a steep angle of 30°.
In addition, the AMX-32 features six smoke grenade dischargers and a dense white smoke screen can be generated by injecting vaporized diesel fuel into the exhaust system.
Fire control and observationedit
Turret traverse and main gun elevation are powered by an electro-hydraulic drive. The main gun can be stabilized through servo-control; using inputs sent by the stabilized mirror head of the commander's M527 panoramic sight.
Gunneredit
The gunner uses an APX M581 telescopic sight with ×10 magnification with a built-in APX M550 laser rangefinder (a.k.a. CILAS TCV 80). The possibility of misalignment are reduced as the sight is an integral part of the mantlet. A Thomson CSF DIVT-13 low light television camera (LLLTV) with a ×1 magnification allows night observation up to 1200 m. The image obtained is displayed on two TV monitors (gunner and commander). The gunner also has two episcopes for direct observation.
Commanderedit
The commander has the latest iteration of the TOP 7 cupola with eight episcopes. Each episcope has a button placed under it allowing to quickly bring his sight toward the observed area.[3] A SFIM M527 gyrostabilized panoramic sight with three channels; two daylight (×2 and ×8) and one night (×1) with light intensification allowing night observation up to 300–400 m.
Loaderedit
The loader has at his disposal one left-facing episcope and two rotating periscopes.
Mobilityedit
The AMX-32 was powered by a 24,790 cc (1,513 cu in) 800 horsepower (600 kW) Hispano-Suiza (then Renault) HS-110-2-SR diesel engine fitted with twin Holset turbochargers and intercooler. The engine is coupled to an automatic, power shifting, SESM Minerva ENC 200 transmission with five forwards and reverse gears.
Prototypesedit
P1 : presented to the public for the first time in June 1979 at Satory VII Exhibition of Military Equipment and Weapons. Like the AMX-30, it retained a cast gun mantlet with a CN-105-F1 105 mm gun. In 1980, it was fitted with a modified turret featuring a new welded mantlet.[4]
P2 : displayed at Satory VIII arms fair in 1981, the shape of the hull front was modified to improve its ballistic protection. Due to the previous changes, the combat weight of the AMX-32 increased to 40 tonnes.[4]
^Chassillan, Marc (March–April 2018). "La Protection Balistiques des Chars Modernes". Trucks & Tanks Magazine (in French).
^D.H.C. Jenkins (1981). Le Vickers Valiant et l'AMX-32, deux poids moyens sur le même ring (in French). Revue Internationale de Défense. p. 1668.
^ abHILMES, Rolf (1983). Kampfpanzer - Die Entwicklungen der Nachkriegszeit. Report Verlag GmbH. p. 30. ISBN3-524-89001-6.
External linksedit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to AMX-32 tanks.
"AMX-32". Chars Et Blindés Français.
Military Today - AMX-32
January 28, 2024
french, main, battle, tank, developed, late, 1970s, during, cold, export, tank, specific, market, niche, nations, with, smaller, defence, budgets, while, prototypes, were, built, failed, garner, interest, foreign, sales, display, museum, armored, vehicles, sau. The AMX 32 was a French main battle tank developed by AMX and APX in the late 1970s during the Cold War as an export tank to fit in a specific market niche of nations with smaller defence budgets While six prototypes were built it failed to garner interest for foreign sales AMX 32AMX 32 on display at the museum of the armored vehicles of Saumur TypeMain battle tankPlace of originFranceProduction historyDesigned1975 1979No built6 prototypesSpecificationsMass38 tonnes 42 short tons 37 long tons 1st prototype 40 tonnes 44 short tons 39 long tons 2nd prototype Length9 45 m 31 ft 0 in gun forward Width3 1 m 10 ft 2 in Height2 29 m 7 ft 6 in roof Crew4 commander gunner loader driver Armorspaced armorMainarmamentCN 105 F1 rifled gun or a 120 mm CN 120 25 smoothbore tank gunSecondaryarmament1 20 mm M693 autocannon1 7 62 mm AAN F1 machine gunEngineHispano Suiza HS 110 2 SR800 hp 600 kW 800 hp 600 kW Power weight20 hp tonneTransmissionSESM Minerva ENC 200 automatic 5 fwd amp 5 rev SuspensionTorsion bar with shock absorbersOperationalrange530 km 330 mi Maximum speed65 km h 40 mph Contents 1 Armor 2 Fire control and observation 2 1 Gunner 2 2 Commander 2 3 Loader 3 Mobility 4 Prototypes 5 See also 6 References 7 External linksArmor editThe mantlet the turret sides and the hull noseplate of the AMX 32 are hollow the outer layers are made of dual hardness steel plates which are particularly effective against kinetic energy projectiles 1 The frontal armor of the AMX 32 was successfully tested against 57 mm armor piercing rounds of the ASU 57 at 500 m range 2 and 75 mm tungsten cored PCOT rounds fired from the AMX 13 light tank at 1000 m range 1 The turret side armor can withstand impacts of 23 mm armor piercing rounds The turret roof has been thickened in order to be protected from autocannons shells fired by fighter bombers at a steep angle of 30 In addition the AMX 32 features six smoke grenade dischargers and a dense white smoke screen can be generated by injecting vaporized diesel fuel into the exhaust system Fire control and observation editTurret traverse and main gun elevation are powered by an electro hydraulic drive The main gun can be stabilized through servo control using inputs sent by the stabilized mirror head of the commander s M527 panoramic sight Gunner edit The gunner uses an APX M581 telescopic sight with 10 magnification with a built in APX M550 laser rangefinder a k a CILAS TCV 80 The possibility of misalignment are reduced as the sight is an integral part of the mantlet A Thomson CSF DIVT 13 low light television camera LLLTV with a 1 magnification allows night observation up to 1200 m The image obtained is displayed on two TV monitors gunner and commander The gunner also has two episcopes for direct observation Commander edit The commander has the latest iteration of the TOP 7 cupola with eight episcopes Each episcope has a button placed under it allowing to quickly bring his sight toward the observed area 3 A SFIM M527 gyrostabilized panoramic sight with three channels two daylight 2 and 8 and one night 1 with light intensification allowing night observation up to 300 400 m Loader edit The loader has at his disposal one left facing episcope and two rotating periscopes Mobility editThe AMX 32 was powered by a 24 790 cc 1 513 cu in 800 horsepower 600 kW Hispano Suiza then Renault HS 110 2 SR diesel engine fitted with twin Holset turbochargers and intercooler The engine is coupled to an automatic power shifting SESM Minerva ENC 200 transmission with five forwards and reverse gears Prototypes editP1 presented to the public for the first time in June 1979 at Satory VII Exhibition of Military Equipment and Weapons Like the AMX 30 it retained a cast gun mantlet with a CN 105 F1 105 mm gun In 1980 it was fitted with a modified turret featuring a new welded mantlet 4 P2 displayed at Satory VIII arms fair in 1981 the shape of the hull front was modified to improve its ballistic protection Due to the previous changes the combat weight of the AMX 32 increased to 40 tonnes 4 See also editHistory of the tank AMX 40References edit a b Marc Chassillan 2008 Raids Hors serie n 29 in French Histoire amp Collections Chassillan Marc March April 2018 La Protection Balistiques des Chars Modernes Trucks amp Tanks Magazine in French D H C Jenkins 1981 Le Vickers Valiant et l AMX 32 deux poids moyens sur le meme ring in French Revue Internationale de Defense p 1668 a b HILMES Rolf 1983 Kampfpanzer Die Entwicklungen der Nachkriegszeit Report Verlag GmbH p 30 ISBN 3 524 89001 6 External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to AMX 32 tanks AMX 32 Chars Et Blindes Francais Military Today AMX 32 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title AMX 32 amp oldid 1095714676, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
