The AMX-30 AuF1 is a French self-propelled gun vehicle currently in use by the armies of France and Saudi Arabia. It replaced the former Mk F3 155mm in French Army service. The AuF1 primary advance is that it incorporates full armor and nuclear-biological-chemical (NBC) protection for its crew of four, while the former Mk F3 155mm offered no protection and could carry only two of its four crew members. The AuF1 saw combat with the Iraqi Army in the Iran–Iraq War.
AMX-30 AuF1
GCT 155mm self-propelled artillery of the French Army
Though the French Mk F3 155mm would remain in production through the 1980s, by the early 1970s the French Army realized there was an urgent need for its replacement. The Mk. 3 155mm lacked a traversable turret and nuclear-biological-chemical (NBC) protection for its crew, and could carry only two of the four crew members needed to operate it (the remaining two having to be transported in support vehicles). Development of the AuF1 began in the late 1960s under the trade name of 155 GCT (155 mm Grande Cadence de Tir; high rate of fire) and the first production version, known as the AuF1, was introduced during the 1980s. About 400 have been produced, with 70 having been upgraded to the AUF2 variant.
AuF1edit
The CN 155 AuF1 (Canon de 155 Automoteur Modèle F1, meaning "155 mm self-propelled gun model F1") is based on the AMX-30main battle tank (MBT) chassis and equipped with a NATO-standard 155mm 39-caliber (L/39) gun with a bustle-mounted autoloader, giving a rate of fire of 8 rounds per minute.[1] It is also equipped with a roof-mounted 12.7mm anti-aircraft gun. The AUF1 has an effective range of 23,000 meters firing conventional rounds and 28,000 meters using Rocket Assisted Projectiles (RAPs).[2]
The first production AMX-30 AuF1s were delivered exclusively to the Saudi Arabian Army, while the French Army received their first deliveries in 1980, deploying the AMX-30 AuF1 in regiments of 18 guns each. In addition, the Iraqi Army received a number of AMX-30 AuF1 variants in 1980, which they employed during the Iran–Iraq War.
Variants and upgradesedit
AuF1 "experimental": pre-production model tested by the French field corps in 1979. They can be recognized by the lack of louver on the right front part of the turret. One of the six was also fitted with a bore evacuator. The six were later upgraded to the H standard.
AuF1 H: this designation appeared when the AuF1 T was introduced in order to distinguish the two models. The AuF1 H is fitted with a Citroën AZ 5.4 hp auxiliary power unit (APU) mounted under armor.
AuF1 T: also known as CTI (Conduite de Tir Inertielle; inertial fire control system), it is fitted with an inertial navigation system linked to the main gun fire control system. The Citroën AZ APU is replaced by a Gévaudan micro-gas turbine, the latter required a more curved glacis plate.
AuF1 TM: also known as T-MODEX (MODule EXpérimental; "experimental module") 24 were made and were used to test the implementation of the ATLAS system. The AuF1 TM were only used by the 40th artillery regiment.
AuF1 TA: TA stands for Tourelle ATLAS (ATLAS turret), they were built on AMX-30B2 chassis (which featured stronger torsion bar) using the more powerful Renault-Mack E9 diesel engine. As this new engine was taller, a new 12 cm turret ring was fitted in order to raise up the turret. Unlike the previous variants, the AuF1 TM lacks of APU and uses buffer batteries.
AU F2: proposed upgrade from the 1990s. Increased range (40 km) and rate of fire (10 rnds/min) is accomplished by having a longer L/52 gun as well as an improved autoloader using modular artillery propelling charges.
^Jordan, F. (February 2017). "1995: L'engagement du groupement d'artillerie Leclerc, le 40e RA porte le feu depuis Igman". Soldats de France (in French). No. 1. French Army. pp. 7–9.
Referencesedit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to AuF1.
Trewhitt, Philip (1999). Armored Fighting Vehicles. New York, NY: Amber Books. p. 116. ISBN0-7607-1260-3.
Ludmann, Julie (2016). AMX AuF1 (canon automoteur français). Military Photo Report. p. 52. ISBN978-1366074195.
April 10, 2024
auf1, french, self, propelled, vehicle, currently, armies, france, saudi, arabia, replaced, former, 155mm, french, army, service, auf1, primary, advance, that, incorporates, full, armor, nuclear, biological, chemical, protection, crew, four, while, former, 155. The AMX 30 AuF1 is a French self propelled gun vehicle currently in use by the armies of France and Saudi Arabia It replaced the former Mk F3 155mm in French Army service The AuF1 primary advance is that it incorporates full armor and nuclear biological chemical NBC protection for its crew of four while the former Mk F3 155mm offered no protection and could carry only two of its four crew members The AuF1 saw combat with the Iraqi Army in the Iran Iraq War AMX 30 AuF1GCT 155mm self propelled artillery of the French ArmyTypeSelf propelled gunPlace of originFranceService historyIn service1977 presentUsed byFrance Saudi Arabia and KuwaitWarsIran Iraq War Gulf War Yugoslav WarsProduction historyDesignerGIAT IndustriesDesigned1972 prototype ManufacturerNexterProduced1977 1995No built400SpecificationsMass41 949 tonnes to 43 5 tonnes 42 8 long tons 48 0 short tons Length10 25 mWidth3 15 mHeight3 25 mCrew4 Commander Driver Gunner and LoaderArmor20 mm turret Mainarmament1 155 mm CN 155 AUF1 howitzerSecondaryarmament1 Browning M2 12 7mm heavy machine gunEngineHispano Suiza HS 110 Renault Mack E9 AuF1 TA 680 hp at 2400 RPM 750 hp at 2400 RPM AuF1 TA Suspensiontorsion barOperationalrange420 500 kmMaximum speed60 km h on road Contents 1 History 2 AuF1 3 Variants and upgrades 4 Operational history 5 Operators 5 1 Current operators 5 2 Former operators 6 Notes 7 ReferencesHistory editThough the French Mk F3 155mm would remain in production through the 1980s by the early 1970s the French Army realized there was an urgent need for its replacement The Mk 3 155mm lacked a traversable turret and nuclear biological chemical NBC protection for its crew and could carry only two of the four crew members needed to operate it the remaining two having to be transported in support vehicles Development of the AuF1 began in the late 1960s under the trade name of 155 GCT 155 mm Grande Cadence de Tir high rate of fire and the first production version known as the AuF1 was introduced during the 1980s About 400 have been produced with 70 having been upgraded to the AUF2 variant AuF1 editThe CN 155 AuF1 Canon de 155 Automoteur Modele F1 meaning 155 mm self propelled gun model F1 is based on the AMX 30 main battle tank MBT chassis and equipped with a NATO standard 155mm 39 caliber L 39 gun with a bustle mounted autoloader giving a rate of fire of 8 rounds per minute 1 It is also equipped with a roof mounted 12 7mm anti aircraft gun The AUF1 has an effective range of 23 000 meters firing conventional rounds and 28 000 meters using Rocket Assisted Projectiles RAPs 2 The first production AMX 30 AuF1s were delivered exclusively to the Saudi Arabian Army while the French Army received their first deliveries in 1980 deploying the AMX 30 AuF1 in regiments of 18 guns each In addition the Iraqi Army received a number of AMX 30 AuF1 variants in 1980 which they employed during the Iran Iraq War Variants and upgrades editAuF1 experimental pre production model tested by the French field corps in 1979 They can be recognized by the lack of louver on the right front part of the turret One of the six was also fitted with a bore evacuator The six were later upgraded to the H standard AuF1 H this designation appeared when the AuF1 T was introduced in order to distinguish the two models The AuF1 H is fitted with a Citroen AZ 5 4 hp auxiliary power unit APU mounted under armor AuF1 T also known as CTI Conduite de Tir Inertielle inertial fire control system it is fitted with an inertial navigation system linked to the main gun fire control system The Citroen AZ APU is replaced by a Gevaudan micro gas turbine the latter required a more curved glacis plate AuF1 TM also known as T MODEX MODule EXperimental experimental module 24 were made and were used to test the implementation of the ATLAS system The AuF1 TM were only used by the 40th artillery regiment AuF1 TA TA stands for Tourelle ATLAS ATLAS turret they were built on AMX 30B2 chassis which featured stronger torsion bar using the more powerful Renault Mack E9 diesel engine As this new engine was taller a new 12 cm turret ring was fitted in order to raise up the turret Unlike the previous variants the AuF1 TM lacks of APU and uses buffer batteries AU F2 proposed upgrade from the 1990s Increased range 40 km and rate of fire 10 rnds min is accomplished by having a longer L 52 gun as well as an improved autoloader using modular artillery propelling charges Operational history editA battery of 8 AuF1s from the French Army s 40e regiment d artillerie fr was deployed in support of the Rapid Reaction Force on Mount Igman during the 1995 NATO bombing campaign in Bosnia and Herzegovina 3 The battery provided rapid counter battery fire against Serb artillery units during the siege of Sarajevo the long range of its guns allowing it to dominate the surrounding terrain 4 AuF1 in IFOR service in 1995 1996 nbsp Soldiers loading shells in the ammunition racks at the rear of the turret near Mostar nbsp Turret removed from the tank hull for maintenance nbsp French AuF1 howitzer of the 32nd Artillery Regiment with IFOR markings being serviced near the installations of the 1984 Winter Olympics at SarajevoOperators edit nbsp GCT 155 mm operators Current Former nbsp GCT 155mm used by Saudi Arabian Military Current operators edit nbsp France 273 units 2 32 in active service in 2020 nbsp Kuwait 18 units 2 nbsp Saudi Arabia 63 units 2 Former operators edit nbsp Iraq 86 2 received between 1983 and 1985 kept in storage Notes edit David B 2017 10 31 155mm GCT AUF1 amp 2 Tank Encyclopedia Retrieved 2022 12 26 a b c d e Foss Christopher F 12 February 2002 Giat Industries 155 mm GCT self propelled gun Jane s Armour and Artillery 2002 2003 Marchet Jean Dominique 22 July 2008 Quand tire l artillerie When artillery fires Jordan F February 2017 1995 L engagement du groupement d artillerie Leclerc le 40e RA porte le feu depuis Igman Soldats de France in French No 1 French Army pp 7 9 References edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to AuF1 Trewhitt Philip 1999 Armored Fighting Vehicles New York NY Amber Books p 116 ISBN 0 7607 1260 3 Ludmann Julie 2016 AMX AuF1 canon automoteur francais Military Photo Report p 52 ISBN 978 1366074195 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title AMX 30 AuF1 amp oldid 1197182766, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
