AMX-32 | |
|---|---|
| Country | France |
| Role | Main battle tank |
| Designed | 1975-1979 |
| Built | 6 prototypes |
The AMX-32 was a French main battle tank developed by AMX and APX during the late 1970s 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.
Source: AMX-32 on Wikipedia
| AMX-32 Walk Around | |
|---|---|
| Photographer | Unknow |
| Localisation | Unknow |
| Photos | 49 |
General Characteristics
The AMX-32 was a French Main Battle Tank (MBT) prototype developed in the late 1970s by GIAT (now Nexter) primarily for the **export market**. It was an evolution of the widely produced AMX-30, incorporating significant upgrades in armor protection, firepower, and fire control systems to make it competitive against contemporary MBTs. It featured new, boxier turret and hull glacis shapes to house improved spaced armor. Despite building six prototypes, the AMX-32 failed to secure any foreign sales, leading to its cancellation in favor of the subsequent AMX-40 project.
| Property | Typical Value (Later Prototypes) |
|---|---|
| Role | Main Battle Tank (Export Prototype) |
| National Origin | France |
| Designed | 1975–1979 |
| No. Built | 6 Prototypes |
| Crew | 4 (Commander, Gunner, Loader, Driver) |
| Mass (Combat Weight) | 38–40 tonnes |
| Length (Gun Forward) | 9.45 m (31 ft 0 in) |
| Width | 3.1 m (10 ft 2 in) |
| Height (Roof) | 2.29 m (7 ft 6 in) |
Powerplant and Mobility
- Engine: Hispano-Suiza HS-110-2-SR V12 Diesel engine (with twin turbochargers and intercooler).
- Engine Power: 700 hp to 800 hp (551 kW to 600 kW).
- Power/Weight Ratio: Approx. 20 hp/tonne (for the 40t variant).
- Maximum Speed (Road): 65 km/h (40 mph).
- Operational Range: 530 km (330 mi).
- Transmission: SESM Minerva ENC 200 automatic (5 forward, 5 reverse).
- Suspension: Torsion bar suspension with shock absorbers.
Armament and Protection
- Main Armament Options:
- CN-105 F1 105 mm rifled gun (47 rounds total).
- GIAT CN120-25 G1 120 mm smoothbore gun (38 rounds total) – Fitted to later prototypes.
- Secondary Armament:
- 1 x 20 mm GIAT M693 (F2) autocannon (coaxial, 480 rounds), capable of anti-aircraft superelevation.
- 1 x 7.62 mm AAN F1 machine gun (pintle mount).
- Armor: Spaced armor on the hull front, gun mantlet, and turret sides, offering improved protection against kinetic energy rounds (e.g., tested against 57 mm AP rounds at 500 m) compared to the AMX-30.
- Fire Control: Featured an advanced fire control system (FCS) including a laser rangefinder (APX M550) and a gyrostabilized panoramic sight (SFIM M527) for the commander. The gun could be slaved to the commander’s sight.
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