AMX-50

AMX-50
Country	France
Role	Heavy tank
Designed	1950
Built	Unknow

The AMX 50 (official designation) or AMX-50 was a French heavy tank designed in the immediate post Second World War period. It was proposed as, in succession, the French medium, heavy, and main battle tank, incorporating many advanced features. It was cancelled in the late 1950s however, due to unfavourable economic and political circumstances after serious delays in development.

Source: AMX-50 on Wikipedia

AMX 50 Walk Around
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Localisation	Unknow
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General Characteristics

The AMX 50 (also known as the Char M 4 or Char moyen A.M.X. de 50t) was a series of French heavy tank prototypes developed after World War II to compete with advanced Soviet designs like the IS-3. The project incorporated several highly advanced features, most notably the use of an **oscillating turret** combined with a high-velocity gun (initially 90 mm, upgraded to 100 mm, and finally 120 mm) and an **autoloader** system. The design evolved significantly over its life, with later variants having heavily sloped, cast hulls reminiscent of the German Tiger II and eventually a lowered profile (Surbaissé). The project was ultimately cancelled in the late 1950s.

Property	Typical Value (120 mm ‘Lowered’ Variant)
Role	Heavy Tank Prototype/Medium Tank
National Origin	France
Designed	1945–1958
No. Built	~5 (Prototypes of various models)
Crew	4 (Commander/Gunner, Driver, Radio Operator/Loader)
Mass (Combat Weight)	57.8 metric tonnes
Length (Hull)	7.35 m (24 ft 1 in)
Height	3.35 m (11 ft 0 in)

Powerplant and Mobility

Engine: Maybach HL 295 12VC (Derived from captured German technology).
Engine Power: 850 hp (1200 hp was planned but never fully achieved).
Power/Weight Ratio: Approx. 14.7 hp/tonne.
Maximum Speed (Road): 51 km/h (32 mph).
Operational Range: 250 km (160 mi).
Suspension: Torsion bar suspension (early models resembled the Tiger II’s interleaved wheels).
Mobility Note: The design aimed for mobility comparable to the German Panther, which was fast for a heavy vehicle of its time.

Armament and Protection

Main Armament: 120 mm SA46 high-velocity gun (Final version). Earlier versions used 90 mm and 100 mm guns.
Turret Type: Oscillating Turret (Tourelle D in the final variant). The upper part pivots to achieve gun elevation/depression.
Autoloader: The fixed gun mount within the upper turret section facilitated a semi-automatic autoloader, allowing for a very high rate of fire while the magazine was loaded.
Ammunition Capacity: Typically featured a multi-round magazine (e.g., 4 or 6 rounds) in the turret bustle.
Maximum Armor (Hull Front): 80–120 mm (4.7 in) of sloped or curved cast steel.
Maximum Armor (Turret Front): Up to 85 mm on the final 120 mm variants.
Protection Note: The large, two-piece nature of the oscillating turret was a key vulnerability, and the overall armor scheme was deemed insufficient against increasingly powerful Soviet anti-tank weapons.