For 40 years, the AMX-10 RC has been one of France' most trusted weapon systems wherever
it entered ground warfare. Its success has paved way for the solidification of the modern
armies' belief in wheeled tank destroyers today. Preparing to be replaced by the EBRC
Jaguar, this vehicle has managed to leave an indelible mark with its glorious victories
in the hearts of the marines, chasseurs, spahis, cavalries, and hussars of France. Now, we
are investigating the AMX-10 RC, the hell on wheels.
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It would not be wrong to call the AMX-10 RC the most successful wheeled tank destroyer/fire
support vehicle of modern times, even though it is actually a reconnaissance vehicle. For
nearly 40 years, it has been one of the most trusted companions of the French troops and
the nightmare of its enemies. The key to this successful design is undoubtedly France's
long tradition in this field and countless combat experiences.
To avoid repeating ourselves, we will not mention France's wheeled reconnaissance vehicle/tank
destroyer adventure in this video. If our viewers desire, they can watch our
AML video, in which we cover this topic extensively. Yet, it would be useful to briefly mention
the French battlefield reconnaissance doctrine to better understanding the AMX-10 RC.
The French Army tasks its reconnaissance units to observe extensive areas. Their mission
definition is not only to gather information about the enemy's position and strength.
The reconnaissance vehicles also provide fire support too where the tanks are not available.
They also secure the flanks of the main force. So, the French Army prefers reconnaissance
vehicles that have sufficient firepower against the enemy's tanks.
In 1970, Atelier de Construction d'Issy-les-Moulineaux began to work on AMX-10 RC as the vehicle
to replace the EBR. The 20-year old EBRs of the French Army were
now obsolete. Its latest version had the 90mm F1, which was not effective against the modern
Soviet tanks. Even worse, the previous versions had a 75mm
gun. The armour protection of the vehicle was also
inadequate. Seeing the situation, Panhard company developed
a new heavy vehicle called M8 in the late 1960s.
This vehicle had an innovative but highly sophisticated running gear.
However, the French Army was already complainant about the maintenance difficulties of the
complex running gear of the EBR. In the 1970s, thanks to the developments in
automotive technologies, it was now possible to have a similar off-road performance with
a more simple and compact design. Atelier de Construction d'Issy-les-Moulineaux's
AMX-10 RC was a simple vehicle with high tactical deployment capability thanks to its low weight.
Also, this new wheeled vehicle was sharing many of the automotive components used in
the tracked AMX-10P. So, its development, production, and life
circle costs were low. The M8 had no chance against its competitor.
The tests of the AMX-10 RC's prototype began in 1976. Three years later, army trials started.
In 1981, the 2nd Hussar Regiment handed over the first production vehicle.
France, Morocco, and Qatar are current users of the AMX-10 RC.
The four-person crew of the AMX-10 RC consists of the commander, driver, gunner, and loader.
The original production version of the vehicle is 9.15 metres long, 2.95 metres wide, and
2.66 m high. Its combat weight is 15,880 kilograms. The 250-horsepower HS 115-2 supercharged multi-fuel
engine provides a maximum road speed of 85 kilometres per hour. The range of the AMX-10
RC is 1,000 kilometres. The original French Army version of the vehicle can negotiate
0.8-metre vertical steps and 1.65-metre trenches. It is amphibious with a water speed of 7.2
kilometres per hour. The AMX-10 RC has a 105mm rifled gun and a 7.62mm coaxial machine gun.
Of course, the specifications of the vehicle have changed due to the modernizations made
over time. For example, the early models of the AMX-10
RC had the 105mm F2 gun. After 1987, this gun fitted with a new muzzle
brake for compatibility with the armour-piercing fin-stabilized discarding sabot, shortly APFSDS,
munition. After a modernization programme initiated
in 1994, the French Army reequipped its AMX-10 RCs with the 105mm G2 guns. Different from
the F2, this gun is compatible with NATO munitions. The fire control systems and the ballistic
computers of the vehicle have been constantly updated.
The lastest French Army version, called AMX-10 RCR, has network-centric warfare capability,
thanks to the SIT V1 battlefield management and the PR4G VS4 tactical communication systems.
The vehicle has hunter-killer engagement capability. The AMX-10 RC has total of 38 105mm rounds
12 of which are ready-to-fire. In a typical mission, the vehicle carries 10 OFL 105 F3
APFSDS, 9 OCC 105 F3 high explosive antitank, and 19 OE 105 F3 high explosive fragmentation
rounds. The OFL 105 F3 has a muzzle velocity of 1,400
metres per second, and it can penetrate the armours of many third generation tanks from
2,000 metres. An additional 7.62mm or 12.7mm machine gun
can also be fitted onto the commander's cupola if required.
The engine used in the early production versions was also changed. France reequipped all of
its AMX-10 RCs with the 280 horsepower Baudouin 6F11 SRX supercharged diesel engine between
1985 to 1995. In 1994, the AMX-10 RCs of France fitted with
the central tire inflation system, which provides high off-road capability.
Thanks to its hydropneumatic suspension system, the vehicle can change its ground clearance.
The minimum ground clearance is 0.21 metre. In typical use, the AMX-10 RC adjusts its
ground clearance to 0.35 metre for road travel, 0.47 metre for cross-country travel, and 0.6
metre for amphibious crosses. Many wheeled vehicles have a big turning radius.
This is a significant disadvantage of these type of vehicles, especially in narrow built-up
areas or woods. Yet, the AMX-10 RC uses the skid steering
system. Thus, it can perform a pivot turn like a tracked vehicle.
The AMX-10 RC also has a less complicated and more compact hull than the armoured vehicles
with conventional steering, thanks to the skid steering system.
The original production version of the vehicle is amphibious.
But, because of increasing combat weight after modernization, the AMX-10 RCR has lost this
ability. The Moroccan models are not amphibious since
the beginning. A C-130 or C-160 can carry an AMX-10 RC whose
combat weight is less than 16 tons. However, the vehicle has been fitted with
many additional armour packages in time. For example, the combat weight of the AMX-10 RCR
is 17.2 tons. If the vehicle is equipped with the SEPAR
mine/IED protection kit, this weight increases to 22 tons.
Speaking of additional armour packages, let's also take a look at the vehicle's ballistic
protection. The hull and the turret of the AMX-10 RC were made of aluminium to ensure
amphibious capability. The armour is resistant against the small arms and shell splinters.
In the 1970s, the French Army was considering that it was sufficient ballistic protection.
But, in the 1991 Gulf War, it was not. So, France fitted high-hardness steel add-on armours
and the EIREL infrared jammer onto its AMX-10 RCs. The result was highly satisfactory.
Three years later, the vehicle received new armour packages and countermeasure systems.
Today, thanks to additional armours, the AMX-10 RCR version can provide protection against
23mm munitions at a distance of 300 metres. It can be equipped with the SEPAR protection
kit, which is highly effective against landmine and IED threats.
Also, the AMX-10 RCR has the GALIX smoke grenade launchers with the LIRE missile decoys as
the active protection system. There are also some variants of the AMX-10
RC that did not go into mass production. For example, two personnel carrier models
of the vehicle, the AMX-10 RTT and AMX-10 RP had the Dragar turret with a 25mm gun and
the Toucan turret with a 20mm gun, respectively. The AMX-10 RAC had the TS 90 turret armed
with a 90mm gun. The AMX-10 RAA was the self-propelled anti-aircraft
gun version of the vehicle and featured a large turret armed with two 30mm guns.
France was a part of the conflict in Chad since the 1960s. In the beginning, the French
forces were using the AMLs effectively in the area.
However, with Libya's involvement in the civil war in this country, the 90mm guns of these
vehicles became insufficient. For this reason, after 1982, France started
deploying the AMX-10 RCs to the region. With its 105mm gun and superior motility, the vehicle
gave France a significant advantage in Chad. This was the first conflict in which the AMX-10
RC baptized with fire. Morocco, which is the first foreign customer
of the vehicle, began to use its AMX-10 RCs against the Polisario Front in Western Sahara
soon after. Although the vehicle had proved itself in
numerous battles in Africa in the 1980s, it gained its true reputation in the Middle East
in 1991. During the 1991 Gulf War, the French Daguet
Division was guarding the left flank of the allied advance.
Two regiments from this division, equipped with the AMX-10 RCs, reached their objectives
less than 24 hours. During the operation, the French forces defeated
the Iraqi 45th Infantry Division, captured nearly 3,000 Iraqi soldiers, destroyed 20
tanks, and seized As-Salman airfield. They did not lose a single vehicle. This was one
of the most successful advances of the entire operation.
Actually, we should carefully analyze the French success.
The USA and the UK had organized their armies to fight against the gigantic Soviet Army
in a possible Third World War. In this war in Europe, it would not possible for them
to advance at great speed. The numerous Soviet armoured divisions and
the Soviet airpower would not allow this. However, Iraq lost air superiority at the
very beginning of the war. Then, the aircraft of the Allies quickly worn out the Iraqi divisions.
They were not getting enough supplies. Having lost their communication and intelligence
network, the Iraqi generals lost the initiative. While Iraqi troops could not have any air
support, they could not respond to the Allies' airstrikes.
A massive armoured force was not needed to encircle and defeat such an army.
As a matter of fact, the armoured divisions of the Allies were too slow to catch the retreating
Iraqis. However, France had prepared for conflicts
mostly outside of Europe. The French Army was lightly armoured against
a powerful enemy like the Soviet Army. But if the enemy was weak, this gave the French
a speed advantage. France's triumph in the 1991 Gulf War paved
the way for the reshaping of modern armies in the post-First Cold War era. Western countries
have no longer preferred the large armoured divisions but the light brigades with the
wheeled armoured vehicles. After Iraq, the AMX-10 RC successfully fought
in operations in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Afghanistan, Ivory Coast, and Mali.
Their glorious war days still continues. However, like all good things, it has an end.
The French Army is now replacing its AMX-10 RCs with the EBRC Jaguars.
There are some rumours. The retired French AMX-10 RCs vehicles may
go to Mexico, which seeks to acquire 42 wheeled tank destroyer.
The AMX-10 RC is a vehicle that shaped today's modern armies. Its success paved the way for
many countries to invest in wheeled tank destroyers. It added glorious pages to the military history
of France, whose prestige was damaged during the decolonization process. Its beautiful
silhouette and achievements will not be forgotten. The AMX-10 RC will always be remembered as
a legend. Thanks for watching our video. And please
don't forget to subscribe to our channel and give us a thumbs up if you like our video.
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