AMX 13 75
The AMX 13 75 is a French tier 6 light tank. It is the second French light equipped with a 6 round autoloader. The tank has an excellent top-end gun and good dynamic performance. However, the magazine reload is even longer than its predecessor. Something to note is that the gun depression of the AMX 13 75 (and AMX 13 90 in extension) is much better than the AMX 12t's. It's gun elevation, however, still remains very poor.
The AMX 13 75 is not your typical light tank to play. It gets put in matches with tanks ranging from tier IV to tier X. The best way to play it is to let others go ahead, and when they make contact go and support where you can. Due to its speed, the AMX 13 75 can easily move between engagements, deliver 6 rounds, and then retreat and move while reloading.
- The AMX 13 75 leads to the AMX 13 90.
AMX 13 75/ModulesAMX 13 75/EquipmentAMX 13 75/Consumables
Historical Info
The AMX-13 is a French light tank produced from 1953 to 1985. It served with the French Army and was exported to over twenty-five other nations. Named after its initial weight of 13 tonnes, and featuring a tough and reliable chassis, it was fitted with an oscillating turret built by GIAT Industries (now Nexter) with revolver type magazines which was also used on the Austrian SK-105 Kürassier. Including prototypes and export versions there are over a hundred variants including self-propelled gun, anti-aircraft systems, APCs, and ATGM versions. Sporting a modified version of the Panther's 7.5 cm KwK 42 L/70 gun with dual 6 round autoloading magazines, it allowed a quick succession of shots. However, it could not be reloaded from within the vehicle and required disengaging from contact, finding cover for the crew to dismount and reload, then re-engaging the enemy. Total production of the AMX-13 family is approximately 7,700 units, around 3,400 of which were exported.
Tibits - The turret of the AMX 13 75 was mounted onto some Shermans to help augment their firepower
Design and Features
The tank was designed at the Atelier de Construction d'Issy-les-Moulineaux in 1946 to meet a requirement for an air-portable vehicle to support paratroopers, the first prototype ran from 1948. The compact chassis had torsion bar suspension with five road-wheels and two return rollers; the engine runs the length of the tank on the right side with the driver on the left. It features an uncommon two-part oscillating turret where the gun is fixed to the turret and the entire upper turret changes elevation. The turret is set to the rear of the vehicle and holds the commander and gunner. The original 75 mm gun, allegedly modelled on the German 7.5 cm KwK 42 L/70 gun (used, among others, in the Panther tank) but firing very different ammunition from a shorter barrel, was fed with an automatic loading system in two six-round magazines located in the turret's bustle. The twelve rounds available in the loaders meant that the crew could engage targets quickly, however once those rounds were expended the vehicle had to retreat to cover and the crew reload them from outside the vehicle. Production began at ARE (Atelier de Construction Roanne) from 1952, with the first tanks delivered the following year. In 1964 production was transferred to Creusot-Loire at Chalon-sur-Saône, as the ARE moved to building the AMX 30 MBT, and the numbers produced declined significantly. From 1966 the 75mm high-velocity gun was replaced by a 90 mm (the AMX-13/90) medium velocity gun firing more effective HEAT ammunition, with the French upgrading all existing base models to this specification. By the early 1970s export models were available with an even more potent 105mm gun. Although there were many variants on the turret the basic chassis was almost unchanged until 1985 when changes including a new diesel engine, fully automatic transmission and new hydropneumatic suspension were introduced. Production halted with the Model 1987. After sales support and upgrades are still offered through GIAT Industries (now Nexter). The AMX-13 tank was phased out of service with the French Army in the 1980s. Current French armoured vehicles with a similar role are the ERC 90 Sagaie and the AMX 10 RC.
Additional Characteristics
- Ground clearance: 370 mm (15 in)
- Fording: 600 mm (24 in)
- Vertical obstacle 650 mm (26 in)
- Trench: 1.6 m (5 ft 3 in)
- Gradient 60%
- Side slope: 60%
- NBC system: None
- Night vision: Optional
