AMX-VCI

The AMX-VCI (French: Véhicule de Combat d'Infanterie) is one of the many variants of the French AMX-13 light tank. It was the front line APC of the French Army until replaced by the AMX-10P. It is still used by some countries, for example Mexico, where it goes under the name of DNC-1 and is armed with a 20mm cannon.

AMX-13 VCI
Mexican AMX-VCI (DNC1)
TypeArmored personnel carrier
Place of originFrance
Service history
WarsTurkish invasion of Cyprus
Indonesian invasion of East Timor[1]
Lebanese Civil War
South Lebanon conflict (1985–2000)
Cenepa War
Mexican drug war
South Sudanese Civil War
Specifications
Mass15.0 tonnes
Length5.7 m
Width2.67 m
Height2.41m
Crew3 + 10 passengers
Armor10-40mm
Main
armament
turret mounted 20mm F2/M693 autocannon
Secondary
armament
12.7 mm M2 Browning machine gun or 7.62 mm MAS
EngineSOFAM Model 8Gxb 8-cyl. water-cooled petrol
190 kW (250 hp)
Power/weight16.7/tonne
SuspensionTorsion-bar
Operational
range
350 km
Maximum speed 60 km/h

History

Beginning in 1957, some 3,000 vehicles were produced. It was initially produced as the AMX-13 VTT (véhicule de transport de troupe), which carried ten infantrymen and was armed with either an AA-52 7.62 mm machine gun or a 12.7 mm M2 Browning machine gun in an open mounting.[2] The final versions had a turret equipped with a 20mm light autocannon, producing a vehicle that can be seen as an early example of the infantry fighting vehicle.

Variants
Dutch AMX-PRI armoured personnel carrier armed with the Browning M2HB heavy machine gune.
AMX-VCG engineering vehicle in French service.

The AMX-13 VCI itself was the basis for a number of variants:

  • AMX-VTP: Original APC variant armed with an open-mount light machine-gun
  • AMX-VTT (AMX-VCI): APC fitted with a turret mounted light machine-gun
  • AMX-LT: VTT based artillery fire control vehicle
  • AMX-PC: VTT based Command Post
  • AMX-VCA: VTT based 155 mm Support Vehicle designed to accompany the Mk F3 SPH
  • AMX-VCG: Combat engineer version
  • AMX-VCI 12.7: Version with a 50 calibre (12.7 mm) HMG used by France and the Netherlands
  • AMX-VCI M-56: Fitted with a 20mm cannon
  • AMX-VCPM de 81: VTT-based 81 mm Mortar Carrier
  • AMX-VCPM de 120: VTT-based 120 mm Mortar Carrier
  • AMX-VCTB (Vehicule Chenillé Transport Blessés): VTT-based Ambulance
  • AMX-VTT avec tourelle NA2: Fitted with ATGM launcher
  • AMX-VTT ROLAND: Roland SPAAML
  • AMX-VTT Version 1987: Modernised version with all the tank automotive improvements
  • AMX-VTT with Minotaur Mine System: Minotaur scatterable mine-laying system fitted on the rear
  • AMX-13 RATAC: VTT-based RATAC ground surveillance radar vehicle
  • AMX DOZER: bulldozer blade equipped version
  • AMX-13 VCPC: Argentinian Army version of the AMX-13 VCI
  • AMX-13 mod.56 VCI: Belgian Army version with a .30 Browning mounted in a CALF38 turret
  • AMX-13 mod.56 [81 mm mortar carrier]: Belgian Army version
  • AMX-13 mod.56 [command post]: Belgian Army version
  • AMX-13 mod.56 [ENTAC atgm]: Belgian Army version with a rear-mounted ENTAC missile launcher
  • AMX-13 mod.56 [cargo]: Belgian Army version
  • AMX-VTT TOW: Dutch Army version with a TOW launcher on a cupola
  • AMX-GWT (GeWonden Transport): Dutch army version of the VCTB
  • AMX-VCI Retrofit: Indonesian Army modernization with the hull lengthened 20 cm to accommodate Navistar 400hp engine, redesigned engine deck, frontal armor, and exhaust, also modification to transmission and suspension.[3]
  • DNC-1: Mexican Army local designation, slightly modernized version with a diesel engine and a 20 mm. cannon, upgraded by SEDENA

Combat history

Lebanon

A total of 60 AMX-VCIs were delivered to the Lebanese Army in 1971-72,[4] with additional 30 vehicles being reportedly delivered in May 1983.[5][6] A number of VCIs were seized by the Amal Movement militia and the pro-Israeli South Lebanon Army (SLA) militia in February 1984 after the defeat of the Lebanese government forces by Shia Muslim and Druze militias during the Mountain War. The captured vehicles were quickly pressed into service by the SLA, who used them during the South Lebanon conflict (1985–2000) until the collapse of the militia in the wake of the Israeli withdrawal of April 2000; those used by Amal were returned to the Lebanese Army earlier in October 1990. VCIs up-armed with US M40 106mm recoilless rifles were also employed by Lebanese Army General Michel Aoun's loyalist troops during the Elimination War waged against his Christian rivals of the Lebanese Forces (LF) militia at East Beirut in February 1990, who in turn also managed to capture some VCIs from Army barracks, which were returned in 1991-94.[7][8][9]

Operators
Map with AMX-VCI operators in blue and former operators in red

Current operators
Indonesian AMX-VCI with M2 Browning

Former operators
Ex-Lebanese Army AMX-VCI in Yad La-Shiryon Museum, Latrun, Israel, 2005.

Evaluation-only operators

See also

Notes
  1. "AMX-13 VCI Kavaleri TNI AD Pernah Dipasangi Kubah 'Tertutup' Dengan Senapan Mesin Sedang". indomiliter.com (in Indonesian). 23 November 2020. Retrieved 20 April 2022.
  2. Tanks and armored fighting vehicles : visual encyclopedia. New York, N.Y.: Chartwell Books. 2012. p. 300. ISBN 978-0-7858-2926-3. OCLC 785874088.
  3. "AMX-13 VCI Retrofit: Harapan Memperpanjang Usia Pakai APC Legendaris". indomiliter.com (in Indonesian). 5 September 2016. Retrieved 22 April 2022.
  4. "Trade Registers". Archived from the original on 2017-12-29. Retrieved 2018-01-02.
  5. Zaloga, Tank battles of the Mid-East Wars (2) (2003), p. 54.
  6. Robinson, Lau and Gibeau, Images of War: The AMX 13 Light Tank, A Complete History – rare photographs from wartime archives (2018), p. 185.
  7. Zaloga, Tank battles of the Mid-East Wars (2) (2003), pp. 56; 60.
  8. Kassis, 30 Years of Military Vehicles in Lebanon (2003), p. 10.
  9. Sex & Abi-Chahine, Modern Conflicts 2 – The Lebanese Civil War, From 1975 to 1991 and Beyond (2021), p. 81.
  10. Milpedia, AMX-13 VTT, De Belgische AMX-13 Model 56 Archived 2011-04-03 at the Wayback Machine
  11. Hokayem, L'armée libanaise pendant la guerre: un instrument du pouvoir du président de la République (1975-1985) (2012), p. 106.
  12. Robinson, Lau and Gibeau, Images of War: The AMX 13 Light Tank, A Complete History – rare photographs from wartime archives (2018), p. 185.
  13. Piet F. van den Heuvel. "AMX voertuigen in de Koninklijke Landmacht, 1961-1983" (PDF). Archived from the original on 1 November 2013.
  14. Sex & Abi-Chahine, Modern Conflicts 2 – The Lebanese Civil War, From 1975 to 1991 and Beyond (2021), p. 81.
  15. Robinson, Lau and Gibeau, Images of War: The AMX 13 Light Tank, A Complete History – rare photographs from wartime archives (2018), p. 190.

References
  • Foss, Christopher F. (2002). Jane's Tank & Combat Vehicle recognition guide. London: HarperCollins. ISBN 0-00-712759-6.
  • Hokayem, Joseph (2012). L'armée libanaise pendant la guerre: un instrument du pouvoir du président de la République (1975-1985) (in French). Beyrouth. ISBN 978-1-291-03660-2.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  • Kassis, Samer (2003). 30 Years of Military Vehicles in Lebanon. Beirut: Elite Group. ISBN 9953-0-0705-5.
  • Kassis, Samer (2012). Véhicules Militaires au Liban 1975–1981 [Military Vehicles in Lebanon 1975-1981] (in French). Chyah: Trebia Publishing. ISBN 978-9953-0-2372-4.
  • Robinson, M.P.; Lau, Peter; Gibeau, Guy (2018). Images of War: The AMX 13 Light Tank, A Complete History – rare photographs from wartime archives. Barnsley: Pen & Sword Military. ISBN 978-1-5267-0167-1.
  • Sex, Zachary; Abi-Chahine, Bassel (2021). Modern Conflicts 2 – The Lebanese Civil War, From 1975 to 1991 and Beyond. Modern Conflicts Profile Guide. Vol. II. AK Interactive. EAN 8435568306073.
  • Zaloga, Steven J. (2003). Tank battles of the Mid-East Wars (2): The wars of 1973 to the present. Hong Kong: Concord Publications. ISBN 962-361-613-9.
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