Editing AMX-30 (section)

==Development history==
De Gaulle decided that France, though formally remaining a member, would no longer participate in the [[NATO]] military organization. This caused a rift between France and West Germany, which then started to emphasize standardization with American equipment, especially in armament, and to follow the new NATO policy to use multifuel diesel engines.<ref name="Jeudy 254">Jeudy, p. 254</ref> German defence minister [[Franz Josef Strauss]] began to oppose the common tank project.<ref name="Jeudy 254"/> In July 1963, the defence committee of the German [[Bundesrat of Germany|Bundesrat]] decided to procure a purely national tank.<ref name="Spielberger128">Spielberger, p. 128</ref> In response, the same month the French government decided likewise.<ref name="Caiti33"/>

Comparative trials were nevertheless held at [[Mailly-le-Camp]], [[Meppen, Germany|Meppen]], [[Bourges]] and [[Satory]]<ref name="Caiti33"/> between five French and five German prototypes between August and October 1963, under Italian, Dutch, Belgian and American supervision.<ref name="Spielberger128"/><ref>Jerchel, p. 6</ref> The French type had received a separate national designation: ''AMX 30''.<ref name="Spielberger128"/> The trials indicated that the German type, on 1 October also getting its own name ''Leopard'', had a better mobility and acceleration.<ref name="Spielberger128"/> The French government decided that it could not procure a new tank until 1965,<ref>Jerchel, p. 7</ref> while the Germans refused to adopt the Franco-German {{convert|105|mm|in|sp=us|adj=on}} tank gun, in lieu of the British [[Royal Ordnance L7]], of which they had already ordered 1,500 in the autumn of 1962,<ref name="Jerchel4"/><ref>Spielberger, p. 117</ref> their plan having failed for [[Rheinmetall]] to produce in Germany a common type of munition of sufficient quality.<ref name="Jeudy 254"/> Suggestions to save the project by combining the French turret with the German chassis failed.<ref name="Jeudy 254"/> As a result, the program was cancelled and the French and Germans definitely decided to adopt their two separate tanks.<ref>Hilmes, p. 17</ref>

[[File:Amx30 065 bayard.jpg|thumb|left|One of the two 1965 pre-production vehicles]]

The prototypes of the AMX-30 weighed {{convert|32.5|MT|ST}}, and were compact, with a width of {{convert|3.1|m|ft}}, comparable only to the [[Switzerland|Swiss]] [[Panzer 61]], and a height of {{convert|2.28|m|ft|sp=us}}, comparable only to the [[Soviet Union|Soviet]] [[T-54/55|T-55]]. In contrast to the AMX-50, the AMX-30 was issued a conventional turret, because it was found that it was more difficult to seal oscillating turrets from radioactive dust and against water when the tank was submerged.<ref name="Ogorkiewicz5"/> Oscillating turrets also had a large ballistic weakness in the area of the skirt and turret ring.<ref>Simpkin, p. 139</ref> Originally, the first two prototypes were powered by a {{convert|720|hp|kW|sp=us}} spark ignition engine, named the SOFAM 12 GSds. Later, a multi-fuel diesel engine was adopted, developed by [[Hispano-Suiza]]. The seven 1963 prototypes of the AMX-30 were later rebuilt with the new diesel engine.<ref name="Ogorkiewicz6">Ogorkiewicz, p. 6</ref> Two further prototypes, meant to be direct preproduction vehicles, were delivered in November 1965. Besides the diesel engines, they had changed hull and turret casts and different [[gun mantlet]]s; the latter would again be changed in the production vehicles.<ref name="Jeudy 255">Jeudy, p. 255</ref>

The first production versions of the AMX-30, named ''AMX 30B'' to distinguish them from the ''AMX 30A'' prototypes,<ref>Crow, p. 140</ref> were completed in June 1966, manufactured with a welded and cast hull and a fully cast turret.<ref name="Miller85"/> The production version of the tank had a combat weight of {{convert|36|MT|ST|sp=us}}.<ref name="Ogorkiewicz8">Ogorkiewicz, p. 8</ref> The AMX-30's survivability was based on its mobility; French engineers believed that the tank's mobility would have been compromised had they added enough steel plating to protect against modern anti-tank threats, including high-explosive anti-tank (HEAT) warheads. As a result, the type had the thinnest armour of any main battle tank produced at the time.<ref name="Foss14">Foss (1976), p. 14</ref> The turret has a maximum armour thickness of {{convert|50|mm|in}}, the armour sloped at 70 degrees on the front plate and 23 degrees on the side, offering protection against {{convert|20|mm|in|adj=on}} armour piercing projectiles.<ref>de Mazarrasa (1990), p. 28</ref> The Line-of-Sight armour values are: {{convert|79|mm|in|sp=us|adj=on}} for the front of the hull; {{convert|59|mm|in|adj=on}} for the forward sides of the hull; {{convert|30|mm|in|adj=on}} for the rear sides and rear of the hull; {{convert|15|mm|in|adj=on}} for the hull top and bottom; {{convert|80.8|mm|in|sp=us|adj=on}} for the turret front; {{convert|41.5|mm|in|sp=us|adj=on}} for the turret sides; {{convert|50|mm|in|adj=on}} for the turret rear and {{convert|20|mm|in|adj=on}} for the turret top.<ref name="Foss(1986)28">Foss (1986), p. 28</ref> Further protection is offered by a [[Weapon of mass destruction|nuclear, biological and chemical]] protection suit, including a ventilation system.<ref>Miller, p. 88; de Mazarrasa (1990), p. 28</ref>

[[File:AMX-30.JPG|thumb|AMX-30 FORAD (''Force Adverse''), representing a [[T-72]], on maneuver]]

One of the unique features of the AMX-30 was the ''Obus à Charge Creuse de 105&nbsp;mm Modèle F1'' (Obus G) HEAT projectile and its main gun,<ref name="Ogorkiewicz8"/> the Modèle F1, a monoblock steel {{convert|105|mm|in|sp=us|adj=on}} cannon.<ref>de Mazarrasa (1990), pp. 21–22</ref><ref>The gun was protected from bending with a magnesium alloy thermal sleeve; Ogorkiewicz, p. 8</ref> HEAT warheads suffer when spin stabilized, a product of rifled barrels,<ref>Ferrari, p. 87</ref> causing the French to develop the Obus G,<ref name="Ogorkiewicz6"/> (Gresse).<ref name="Jeudy 253"/> This projectile was composed of two major parts, including the outer shell and a suspended inner shell, separated by ball bearings. This allowed the projectile to be spin-stabilized, and therefore more accurate than a normal fin-stabilized HEAT round, while the inner shell did not spin, allowing the warhead to work at maximum efficiency. The warhead, containing 780&nbsp;gram [[RDX|hexolite]],<ref name="Caiti34">Caiti, p. 34</ref> could penetrate up to {{convert|400|mm|in|sp=us}} of steel armour and was effective against tanks at up to {{convert|3000|m|yd|sp=us}}. As it combined a good accuracy with a penetration that was independent of range, it has been considered an "ideal round" for its day<ref name="Ogorkiewicz6"/> The AMX-30 was also designed to fire the OE F1 Mle.60 [[high explosive]] projectile, the SCC F1 training warhead and the OFUM PH-105 F1 smoke round.<ref>de Mazarrasa (1990), p. 23</ref> The main gun was coupled with a {{convert|380|mm|in|sp=us|adj=on}} recoil brake, which had a maximum extension of {{convert|400|mm|in|sp=us}}, and could depress to −8 degrees or elevate to 20 degrees. The turret's firepower was augmented by a [[Coaxial weapon|coaxial]] {{convert|12.7|mm|in|sp=us|adj=on}} [[M2 Browning machine gun]]. The tank commander also made use of a {{convert|7.62|mm|in|sp=us|adj=on}} anti-aircraft machine gun on the turret roof.<ref name="Mazarrasa22">de Mazarrasa (1990), p. 22</ref> The vehicle carried 50 {{convert|105|mm|in|sp=us|adj=on}} projectiles,<ref name="Mazarrasa22"/> 748 {{convert|12.7|mm|in|sp=us|adj=on}} rounds and 2,050 {{convert|7.62|mm|in|sp=us|adj=on}} bullets.<ref>de Mazarrasa (1990), p. 24</ref> The tank commander was issued a cupola which offered ten all-around direct-vision episcopes, and a binocular telescope with 10x magnification. The commander was also given an optical full-field coincidence range finder. The gunner was given a telescoping gun sight and two observation periscopes.<ref name="Ogorkiewicz8"/>

[[File:AMX-30 2 Bovington.jpg|thumb|AMX-30B at the [[Bovington Tank Museum]]]]

The production version of the AMX-30 was fitted with Hispano-Suiza's HS-110 diesel engine, located in the rear of the hull. The {{convert|28.8|L|cuin|sp=us}} engine could be replaced on the field in 45 minutes, and produced {{convert|720|hp|kW|sp=us}}, offering the tank a maximum velocity of {{convert|65|km/h|mph|sp=us}} on roads. The fuel efficient engine, in conjunction with a total fuel capacity of {{convert|970|L|usgal|sp=us}}, gave the AMX-30 a maximum road range of up to {{convert|600|km|mi|sp=us}}.<ref>Ogorkiewicz, p. 9</ref> The engine's drive is taken through a Gravina G.H.B.200C twin-plate centrifugal clutch.<ref>de Mazarrasa (1990), p. 26</ref> The gearbox was an AMX 5-SD-200D, with five forward gears and five reverse gears. This transmission was heavily influenced by that of the German Panther tank and was based on a project which had begun in 1938. The transmission was one of the AMX-30's major faults and caused a variety of mechanical problems, including that the driver would have to manually change gears at specific times, even if the tank was moving over rough terrain.<ref>de Mazarrasa (1990), p. 27</ref> The tank's weight is distributed over five double, aluminum-alloy, rubber-tyred road wheels on either side, propelled on {{convert|570|mm|in|sp=us|adj=on}} wide tracks.<ref>Ogorkiewicz, p. 10</ref> The tank could ford {{convert|1.3|m|yd|sp=us|adj=on}} deep water obstacles without preparation, up to {{convert|2|m|yd|sp=us}} with minor preparation, and up to {{convert|4|m|yd|sp=us}} with full preparation.<ref name="Foss14"/> Full preparation for water operations consisted of the addition of a snorkel tube, the installation of blanking plates, carried on the front of the hull, over the engine compartment's air intake louvers,<ref>Ogorkiewicz, pp. 9–10</ref> and the installation of infrared driving equipment, including a searchlight.<ref name="Miller85"/> In 1969, a special diving and evacuation training vehicle, without engine or tracks, was created and nicknamed the ''AMX 30 Gloutte'' (from the French ''faire glouglou'', "gurgle"); it could be quickly be lowered by winch into a reservoir and was equipped with an escape tube.<ref>Jeudy, p. 257</ref>

===Modernization===
[[File:French AMX-30 Desert Storm.jpg|thumb|French AMX-30B2 deployed in [[Saudi Arabia]], during military operations before the [[Gulf War]]]]

During the production run, many improvements were implemented. These did not include gun stabilization from 1971, and from 1972<ref>Crow, p. 141</ref> replacing the original coaxial heavy machine gun with a dual purpose {{convert|20|mm|in|sp=us|adj=on}} [[autocannon]] against light armour and helicopters, with the ability to depress to −8 degrees and elevate to 40 degrees.<ref name="Caiti34"/> All French army vehicles were eventually brought to this newer standard; the designation remained ''AMX 30B''.<ref name="Jeudy 256">Jeudy, p. 256</ref>

[[File:AMX30B2Brennus.jpg|thumb|left|An AMX-30B2 BRENUS. Note the [[Reactive armour#Explosive reactive armour|ERA blocks]] mounted on the turret.]]

Beginning as early as 1973, only seven years after the beginning of production, the French began a research program for a future modification of the tank.<ref>de Mazarrasa (1990), p. 71</ref> The project was to result in a ''AMX 30 Valorisé'' ("upgraded AMX-30").<ref name="Caiti37">Caiti, p. 37</ref> In June 1979, the French Army decided to both build new and modernize existing AMX-30s with an improved fire control system and a new transmission, and designated them ''AMX-30B2''s.<ref name="Miller89">Miller, p. 89</ref> The first new production vehicles were taken into service in January 1982.<ref>Foss (1986), p. 24</ref> Improvements to the COTAC APX M-508 fire control system included the installation of a [[laser rangefinder]] and a low-light TV (LLTV).<ref>Bishop, p. 220</ref> The main gun's lethality was improved with the introduction of a new armour piercing fin stabilized discarding sabot (APFSDS). The original engine was exchanged for an improved variant, known as the HS-110.2, producing {{convert|680|hp|kW|sp=us}}. The poor transmission was replaced with the semi-automatic SESM ENC200 transmission (now RENK France), with a torque converter. The suspension was improved by adopting new torsion bars and shocks, which increased the vertical deflection range of the road wheels,<ref>de Mazarrasa (1990), p. 72</ref> thereby improving the tank's off-road mobility.<ref>Simpkin, p. 106</ref> From 1998, the French army started to replace the engines of its remaining AMX-30 tanks and variants with 500 Renault Mack E9 750&nbsp;hp engines.<ref name="Foss(2005)30">Foss (2005), p. 30</ref>

Leclerc tank had already been ordered in the 1990s, however the AMX-30 continued to play a key role in the French army and two further up-grades were implemented in limited numbers for ''French rapid reaction force'' which was made up of 2 Tank Regiments ''1er and 2e Chasseurs''. The first  upgrade was an Explosive Reactive Armour package called ''BRENUS''. Final upgrade was the purchase of 500 Renault RVI Mack E9 turbocharged diesel engines generating 750&nbsp;hp <ref>Jeudy, p. 265</ref> These two tank regiments in peacetime were combined into a single one;,<ref name="Miller89"/><ref>Foss (2003), p. 429</ref> but the other two ANX-30 regiments, the ''2e/5e Dragons'',<ref>Berthemy, p. 18</ref> only had their tanks adapted for a possible relatively quick upgrade, in case of an emergency.<ref name="Foss(2005)30"/> The BRENUS system used 112<ref>Berthemy, p. 17</ref> GIAT BS (''Brique de Surblindage'') G2 explosive reactive boxes with a total weight of {{convert|1.7|MT|ST|sp=us}}, offering a protection equivalent to {{convert|400|mm|in|sp=us}} of steel at 60° versus shaped charges<ref name="Foss(2005)30"/> and more than {{convert|100|mm|in|sp=us}} of steel versus kinetic energy projectiles such as APFSDS.<ref>{{cite book |author1=MH |title=Lightweight add-on armour improves tank protection |date=May 1996 |publisher=Jane's International Defense Review |page=17}}</ref> During the 1990s, the AMX-30 has also been used as a testbed for several [[stealth technology|stealth technologies]], including air cooling of hull surfaces and the use of visual camouflage. This prototype is known as the ''Démonstrateur Furtif à Chenille''.<ref>Biass & Richardson, p. 62</ref> Its hull and turret are fully covered by a superstructure built of angled plates made of [[radar absorbent material]].<ref name="Foss(2005)30"/>

In the late 1980s, a consortium of West German companies developed the ''Super AMX-30'' modernization package for AMX-30B. The consortium itself consisted of [[AEG (German company)|AEG]], [[Atlas Elektronik|Krupp Atlas Elektronik]], [[MTU Friedrichshafen|MTU]], [[Wegmann & Co.]], [[Diehl Defence|Diehl]], [[ZF Friedrichshafen]], and [[GLS Bank|GLS]]. The upgrades to the power packs were new MTU MB833 Ka501 diesel engine with 850&nbsp;hp, ZF LSG-3000 automatic transmission, new engine cooling system, and increased fuel capacity up to 1,028 liters. The upgrades on mobility also includes upgraded torsion bars, hydraulic shock absorbers, new slightly larger road wheels, and Diehl Type 234 tracks. The fire control systems were upgraded with MOLF-30 modular laser FCS by Krupp Atlas Elektronik, gyro-stabilized gun and gunner's day/night sight, laser rangefinder, and fully electric turret drive. Optional additional armour on the turret also available per buyer request. A single prototype was made and were publicly unveiled and tested in Saudi Arabia. The upgrade failed to find a buyer.<ref>{{cite magazine |last1=Nikolskiy |first1=M. |last2=Baryatinskiy |first2=M. |title="Леклерк" и другие французские основные боевые танки |magazine=Бронеколлекция 2007 № 05 (74)|publisher=Редакция журнала "Моделист-конструктор"|year=2007|location=Moscow|language=RU|pages=12–14}}</ref>

===Comparison to contemporary tanks===
{| class="wikitable" style="border-collapse:collapse; text-align:left;" summary="Characteristics of the Patton series, AMX-30 and Leopard tanks"
|-style="vertical-align:bottom; border-bottom:1px solid #999;"
!
! style="text-align:left;" | [[M60 Patton|M60A1]]<ref>Lathrop & McDonald, p. 28</ref>
! style="text-align:left;" | [[Leopard 1]]A1<ref>Jerchel, p. 28</ref>
! style="text-align:left;" | AMX-30B<ref>Ogorkiewicz, p. 20</ref>
! style="text-align:left;" | [[T-55]]<ref>Zaloga (2004), p. 29</ref>
! style="text-align:left;" | [[T-62]]<ref>Zaloga (1979), p. 20</ref>
! style="text-align:left;" | [[T-64]]A<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.militaryfactory.com/armor/detail.php?armor_id=213|title=T-64|website=www.militaryfactory.com}}</ref>
! style="text-align:left;" | [[Chieftain tank|Chieftain]] Mk.2
|-
! style="text-align:right;" | Weight
| {{convert|47.62|MT|ST|}}<ref name="RPH440">{{cite book|last1=Hunnicutt|first1=R.P.|title=Patton: A History of the American MBT|date=1984|publisher=Presidio|page=440}}</ref>
| {{convert|41.5|MT|ST|}}
| {{convert|36|MT|ST|}}
| {{convert|36|MT|ST|}}
| {{convert|40|MT|ST|}}
| {{convert|38|MT|ST|}}
| {{convert|54|MT|ST|}}
|-
! style="text-align:right;" | Gun
| {{convert|105|mm|in|abbr=on}} [[Royal Ordnance L7|M68]] rifled
| {{convert|105|mm|in|abbr=on}} [[Royal Ordnance L7|L7A3]] rifled
| {{convert|105|mm|in|abbr=on}} L/56 F1 rifled
| {{convert|100|mm|in|abbr=on}} [[D-10 tank gun|D-10T2S]] rifled
| {{convert|115|mm|in|abbr=on}} U-5T smoothbore
| {{convert|125|mm|in|abbr=on}} D-68 smoothbore
| {{convert|120|mm|in|abbr=on}} [[Royal Ordnance L11A5|L11]] rifled
|-
! style="text-align:right;" | Ammunition
| 63 rounds<ref name="RPH440"/>
| 55 rounds
| 50 rounds
| 43 rounds
| 40 rounds
| 36 rounds
| 62 rounds
|-
! style="text-align:right;" | Road&nbsp;range (integral fuel)
| {{convert|480|km|mi|abbr=on}}
| {{convert|600|km|mi|abbr=on}}
| {{convert|600|km|mi|abbr=on}}
| {{convert|500|km|mi|abbr=on}}
| {{convert|450|km|mi|abbr=on}}
| {{convert|500|km|mi|abbr=on}}
| {{convert|500|km|mi|abbr=on}}
|-
! style="text-align:right;" | Engine output
| {{convert|750|hp|kW|abbr=on}}
| {{convert|830|hp|kW|abbr=on}}
| {{convert|720|hp|kW|abbr=on}}
| {{convert|580|hp|kW|abbr=on}}
| {{convert|580|hp|kW|abbr=on}}
| {{convert|700<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.inetres.com/gp/military/cv/tank/T-64.html|title=T-64 Main Battle Tank|website=www.inetres.com}}</ref>|hp|kW|abbr=on}}
| {{convert|750|hp|kW|abbr=on}}
|-
! style="text-align:right;" | Maximum speed (on road)
| {{convert|48|km/h|mph|abbr=on}}
| {{convert|65|km/h|mph|abbr=on}}
| {{convert|65|km/h|mph|abbr=on}}
| {{convert|50|km/h|mph|abbr=on}}
| {{convert|50|km/h|mph|abbr=on}}
| {{convert|60|km/h|mph|abbr=on}}
| {{convert|40|km/h|mph|abbr=on}}
|-
! style="text-align:right;" | Armour (front turret plate)
| {{convert|250|mm|in|abbr=on}} LOS<ref>Gelbart, p. 21</ref>
| {{convert|60|mm|in|abbr=on}} rounded<ref name="Foss(1986)40">Foss (1986), p. 40</ref>
| {{convert|80.8|mm|in|abbr=on}}<ref name="Foss(1986)28"/>
| {{convert|203|mm|in|abbr=on}}<ref name="Foss(1986)94">Foss (1986), p. 94</ref>
| {{convert|242|mm|in|abbr=on}}<ref name="Foss(1986)87">Foss (1986), p. 87</ref>
| {{convert|450|mm|in|abbr=on}}
| {{convert|390|mm|in|abbr=on}}
|-
! style="text-align:right;" | Armour ([[glacis]] plate)
| {{convert|109|mm|in|abbr=on}} at 65° <ref>Foss (1986), p. 138</ref>
| {{convert|70|mm|in|abbr=on}} at 60°<ref name="Foss(1986)40"/>
| {{convert|80|mm|in|abbr=on}} at 68°<ref name="Foss(1986)28"/>
| {{convert|97|mm|in|abbr=on}} at 58°<ref name="Foss(1986)94"/>
| {{convert|102|mm|in|abbr=on}} at 60°<ref name="Foss(1986)87"/>
| {{convert|430|mm|in|abbr=on}} LOS
| {{convert|388|mm|in|abbr=on}} LOS
|}