Infantry fighting vehicle
The AMX-10P is a French amphibious infantry fighting vehicle. It was developed from 1965 onwards to replace the AMX-VCI in the French Army.[4] It served with the French Army from its introduction in 1973 until its retirement in 2015, when it was fully replaced by the VBCI.[1][5]
The AMX-10P was also successfully exported, and continues to serve with several nations' militaries. It was selected by a number of Arab armies and has been operated by Iraq, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates.[2] Special marine variants were developed for Singapore and Indonesia, including the AMX-10 PAC 90 fire support version with a 90 mm gun.[3][4]
The AMX-10P is fully amphibious, being propelled through water at speeds of up to 7 km/h by twin waterjets. It is fitted as standard with a trim vane and bilge pumps to assist with the flotation process.[2] The AMX-10P shares a number of common transmission and chassis components with its wheeled counterpart, the AMX-10 RC.[1]
Development history
The AMX-10P was developed by the Atelier de Construction d'Issy-les-Moulineaux (AMX) in response to a French army requirement for a new tracked armoured fighting vehicle to supplement or replace the ageing AMX-VCI.[4] The first prototypes were completed around 1968. They were showcased to potential domestic and international customers at Satory in 1969.[1] Production did not commence until the French Army placed its first order in late 1972.[1] The first AMX-10Ps were delivered in mid to late 1973 to the 7th Mechanised Brigade stationed at Reims.[1]
French Army AMX-10Ps were fitted with a 20 mm autocannon in a Toucan II two-man turret with seating for a gunner and commander. Other one-man turrets could be fitted, as well as an observation cupola for training vehicles.[4] Export variants of the AMX-10P abounded, including models equipped with battlefield surveillance radars, the ATILA artillery fire control system, a bank of HOT anti-tank missiles, 60 mm or 81 mm gun-mortars, and a large 90 mm gun.[4]
Greece was the first foreign power to purchase the AMX-10P. Between 1974 and 1977 the Hellenic Army ordered over 100 vehicles in three separate variants.[6] Qatar ordered 30 AMX-10Ps in 1975, while Iraq, Saudi Arabia and Indonesia accounted for large export orders during the early 1980s.[6] GIAT Industries accepted a final order from Singapore for AMX-10P PAC-90s in 1994,[6] following which the production lines were closed.[3] At this point 1,750 AMX-10Ps had been manufactured.[3]
108 AMX-10Ps underwent extensive overhauls to improve their armour and mobility between 2006 and 2008, including new gearboxes and suspension systems.[7] By 2015, however, the AMX-10P had been entirely withdrawn from French service, being replaced by the VBCI.[5]
Description
AMX-10P hulls are fabricated from a welded steel[1] or aluminum alloy[2] and notable for their parallel incorporation of the driving and engine compartments. The driver is seated at the front of the vehicle and to the left.[1] An AMX-10P's driving compartment is provided with a single hatch cover opening to the rear and three periscopes intended for observation purposes when the hatch is closed.[1]
Night vision equipment was not fitted as standard to the base production model. One of the three driving periscopes could be replaced with combined day/night intensification sights as needed.[1] The troop compartment is at the rear of the hull, and provided with two roof hatches. Passengers embark and debark from a ramp, which is accessed through two doors at the rear.[1]
Transmission consists of a hydraulic torque converter coupled to a gearbox with one reverse and four forward driving gears.[1] The AMX-10P utilises a torsion bar suspension, which supports five road wheels with the drive sprocket at the front and idler near the rear.[1] These can be accessed from inside the hull through maintenance panels.[1]
Standard AMX-10P turrets are equipped with a GIAT M693 automatic cannon firing two different types of both high explosive ammunition and armour-piercing ammunition.[1] More than one ammunition type may be loaded at once and fired alternatively.[8] The high explosive rounds have a muzzle velocity of 1,050 m/s. The latest armour-piercing round has a muzzle velocity of 1,300 m/s and is capable of penetrating 20 mm of rolled homogeneous armour at an incidence of 60°.[1] The autocannon has a cyclic rate of fire of 740 rounds per minute, with the gunner being able to switch between semiautomatic, limited burst, or fully automatic fire as necessary.[8]
External
AMX-10Ps have a very distinctive, pointed hull and a sloping glacis plate, with the driver's position plainly visible to the left.[2] The hull roof is horizontal as well as sloped slightly inwards, accommodating a turret ring near the centre of the chassis.[2] Both hull sides are vertical and lack firing ports.[2] There is a circular exhaust outlet on the right side of the hull above the second and third road wheels.[2]
