Il cannone da 100/47 era un cannone navale italiano, impiegato nel ruolo antiaereo ed antinave sulle unità sottomarine e di superficie della Regia Marina durante la seconda guerra mondiale. La denominazione comprende una famiglia di pezzi e di impianti navali diversi, tutti derivati dallo Škoda 10 cm K10 austro-ungarico.
Impianto binato navale ed a.a. a culla unica, su affusto a piattaforma, derivato dallo Skoda 1910, con tubo d'anima ricambiabile a freddo. Dotato di affusto Minisini a ginocchiello variabile automaticamente in funzione dell'elevazione armava le corazzate Cavour e Giulio Cesare rimodernate e quasi tutti i nostri incrociatori durante la II G.M., compreso l'incrociatore San Giorgio dislocato a Tobruk come batteria galleggiante a difesa della base. E' stato un cannone con buone caratteristiche balistiche e di precisione, ma troppo lento per contrastare con efficacia gli aerei nemici che diventavano sempre più veloci ed adottavano innovative tecniche di attacco a bassa quota. Il ginocchiello variabile consentiva una elevazione sino a 85° e la cadenza di tiro era di 8 - 10 colpi al minuto. La gittata massima era di 15.240 m e la velocità iniziale dei proiettili era di 850 - 880 m/s. Scala 1:5. Una grande tavola con tutte le viste.
Storia
Alla fine della prima guerra mondiale il Regno d'Italia ricevette dall'Impero austro-ungarico, come riparazione dei danni di guerra, gli incrociatori leggeri classe Helgoland e i cacciatorpediniere classe Tátra. Queste unità erano armate con l'ottimo Škoda 10 cm K10 da 100 mm, il quale tanto impressionò la Regia Marina, che ne fu prodotta una copia dalla Odero-Terni-Orlando, il 100/47 Mod. 1924. Questo cannone e le versioni successive Mod. 1927 e Mod. 1928, a differenza dello Škoda, erano impianti binati e vennero installati sulle navi da battaglia classe Conte di Cavour ricostruite e su quasi tutti gli incrociatori.
Nel 1930 dieci impianti binati OTO Mod. 1928 furono forniti all'Unione Sovietica ed installati sugli incrociatori leggeri Krasnyi Kavkaz e Chervona Ukraina. Queste bocche da fuoco erano una versione allungata a 50 calibri, incavalcate su un affusto antieareo a ginocchiello variabile, progettato da Minisini, cosicché i pezzi in Unione Sovietica furono soprannominati Minizini.
Per le unità minori, quali torpediniere e corvette, la OTO realizzò due bocche da fuoco leggermente modificate, impiegate su diversi impianti singoli: al primo modello, il OTO Mod. 1931 seguirono gli impianti OTO Mod. 1935 e RM Mod. 1937, che usavano la stessa bocca da fuoco. L'OTO Mod. 1937 montava invece un'arma leggermente migliorata.
Infine, per i sommergibili la OTO realizzò dei derivati del Mod. 1928 in impianto singolo con canna leggermente accorciata, denominati Mod. 1931, Mod. 1935 e Mod. 1938.
Oltre che dalla Russia, il cannone da 100/47 fu impiegato anche da diverse marine estere: venne utilizzato dalla Svezia sulle sue due torpediniere classe Spica, che l'Italia cedette alla Svezia, dall'Argentina sui due incrociatori ARA Almirante Brown e ARA Veinticinco de Mayo, due incrociatori realizzati in Itralia sul modello del tipo Trento e dalla Spagna sull'incrociatore Baleares.
Dopo l'armistizio, esso venne ceduto con alcune unità navali alla Grecia.
Nel dopoguerra continuò ad equipaggiare nella Marina Militare le torpediniere classe Spica e Orsa e le corvette Gabbiano e gli incrociatori leggeri tipo Condottieri (suddivisi in cinque classi) che facevano parte dell'aliquota di naviglio assegnato all'Italia. Sul Garibaldi nel dopoguerra vennero aggiunti due cannoni da 100/47 singoli per il tiro illuminante.
L'ultima unità navale ad imbarcare il cannone è stato l'incrociatore Montecuccoli, che nel dopoguerra ha operato com nave scuola per gli allievi dell'Accademia navale di Livorno, che venne messo in disarmo nel 1964, ammainando per l'ultima volta la bandiera, a Taranto la sera del 31 maggio 1964.
Tecnica
Le bocche da fuoco da 100/47 furono sviluppate dalla OTO come copie del pezzo Škoda 10 cm K10 e quindi ne riproducevano abbastanza fedelmente le caratteristiche. La canna in acciaio e dall'otturatore a cuneo orizzontale ma, a differenza dell'originale austriaco, aveva l'anima rigata sfilabile. I vari modelli impiegavano la stessa munizione separata a "cartoccio-bossolo" pesante 26,2 kg, dei quali 13,75 kg rappresentati dalla granata.
Sulle installazioni binate Mod. 24, Mod. 27 e Mod. 28 le bocche da fuoco erano sostenute una culla unica, incavalcata su affusti a piedistallo scudati inchiavardati ai ponti delle unità maggiori (navi da battaglia ed incrociatori).
Le corvette e le torpediniere erano dotate invece dei Mod. 31, Mod. 35, Mod. 37 e R.M. Mod. 37, affusti singoli, a candeliere, muniti di scudatura.
Le bocche da fuoco per sommergibili Mod. 31, Mod. 35 e Mod. 38 erano leggermente accorciate. Inoltre montavano un diverso gruppo di freni di sparo, più piccoli ed incassati nel blocco di culatta. Esse erano incavalcate su affusti singoli a piedistallo, privi di scudatura, con elevazione ridotta che ne limitava l'uso alla funzione antinave.
ENGLISH
Description
A slightly improved version of the 100mm / 47 Model 1928 and used in single mountings on smaller warships. Manufactured by OTO. Well-liked, but used in mountings with low maximum elevations which meant that they were not really suitable for the anti-aircraft role.
La Rheinmetall MG 3 è una mitragliatrice ad uso generalizzato moderna in 7,62 × 51 mm.
Storia
Dopo la seconda guerra mondiale fu sviluppata la MG1, detta anche MG 42/59 inizialmente camerata per la munizione del periodo bellico 7,92 × 57 mm Mauser, poi ricalibrata al 7,62 × 51 mm nella versione MG1A1, dotata di canna cromata e mirino ricalibrato per la nuova munizione. La versione MG1A2 ha varie piccole modifiche strutturali, come la finestra d'espulsione allargata, ed il rateo di fuoco può essere diminuito a 700-900 colpi/min col l'aggiunta di un otturatore più pesante. L'arma può essere alimentata sia dal vecchio nastro a maglie metalliche fisse o con il nuovo nastro statunitense a maglie disgreganti M13. Questa è l'arma adottata dall'Esercito Italiano con il nome di MG 42/59. La versione MG1A3 presenta ulteriori piccoli miglioramenti rispetto alla versione precedente. Attualmente è in uso presso la bundeswehr la versione MG3, dotata di alcune migliorie, come un alzo antiaereo, un nuovo blocco rompifiamma/acceleratore e la capacità di essere alimentato anche dai nastri DM1 (non disintegrabili) e DM6 (disintegrabili).
Tecnica
La MG3 fu sviluppata per la fanteria dell'esercito della Repubblica Federale Tedesca. Essa derivava direttamente dalla MG 42, adattandola però alle munizioni del periodo post bellico, ma molte parti possono essere scambiate con pezzi della vecchia MG42.
La MG3 può sparare solo in automatico, senza poter selezionare la modalità semiautomatica, l'arma è data in dotazione provvista di bipede, ma può essere montata su di un treppiede o su un veicolo o una base.
Il gruppo otturatore può essere cambiato dalla versione V550 da 550 grammi con ammortizzatore tipo N, alla versione V950 da 950 grammi con ammortizzatore tipo R. La prima permette un rateo di fuoco di 1000-1300 colpi/min, e la seconda un rateo di 700-900 colpi/min.
Utilizzatori
Austria: Usa la MG 74, una versione su licenza della MG 42/59 della Beretta, ha una ROF di 850 colpi/min
Bangladesh: Usata dalle Guardie di Frontiera del Bangladesh.
Brasile: Usa la MG3 con i suoi Leopard 1A5 BR
Canada
Capo Verde
Cile
Danimarca: MG 42/59 chiamata M/62 in servizio danese.
Estonia
Finlandia: chiamata 7.62 KK MG 3. Usata sui carri armati Leopard 2 ed elicotteri NH90.
Germania: Usata dalla Bundeswher.[8] Un sostituto è pianificato dal 2011 in poi.
Grecia: Prodotto su licenza dalla EBO (cioè Elliniki Biomihania Oplon).
Iran: Prodotto su licenza dalla Defense Industries Organization con il nome di MGA3.
Italia: Produzione su licenza della MG 42/59 della Beretta con parti prodotte dalla Whitehead Motofides e dalla Franchi; Mentre è stato ampiamente sostituito nella versione da supporto di squadra dalla FN Minimi belga, è ancora in ampio uso montato su veicoli ed elicotteri. Prima dell'adozione del Minimi, la Stabilimento Militare Armi Leggere (SMAL) a Terni progettò un kit per trasformare l'arma per permettere di sparare la 5,56 × 45 mm, la versione modificata ha pressappoco lo stesso peso della MG 42/59
Lituania:
Messico: Prodotto su licenza dalla SEDENA in Messico.
Birmania
Norvegia
Pakistan: Prodotto su licenza dalla Pakistan Ordnance Factories in Wah Cantt.
Portogallo
São Tomé e Príncipe
Arabia Saudita
Spagna: Prodotto sotto licenza.
Sudan: Chiamato Karar.
Togo
Turchia: Prodotto dalla MKEK in Kırıkkale sotto licenza dal 1974.
Jugoslavia: Una copia chiamata Sarac costruita dalla Zavodi crvena zastava con il nome in codice M53.
ENGLISH
The MG 3 is a German general-purpose machine gun chambered for the 7.62×51mm NATO cartridge. The weapon's design is derived from the World War II era MG 42 universal machine gun that fired the 7.92×57mm Mauser round.
The MG 3 was standardized in the late 1950s and adopted into service with the newly formed Bundeswehr, where it continues to serve to this day as a squad support weapon and a vehicle-mounted machine gun. The weapon and its derivatives have also been acquired by the armed forces of over 30 countries. Production rights to the machine gun were purchased by Italy (MG 42/59), Spain, Pakistan (MG 1A3), Greece, Iran, Sudan and Turkey.
History
At the end of World War II the original technical drawings and data for the 7.92×57mm Mauser chambered MG 42 were captured by the Soviets. These would eventually find their way to Czechoslovakia and Yugoslavia. Rheinmetall had to reverse engineer the first postwar machine guns from an original MG 42 machine gun.
Production of the first postwar variant of the MG 42 chambered for 7.62×51mm NATO ammunition (designated the MG 1) was launched in 1958 at the Rheinmetall arms factory as requested by the Bundeswehr. Shortly thereafter, the machine gun was modified, receiving a chrome-lined barrel and sights properly calibrated for the new round; this model would be named the MG 1A1 (known also as the MG 42/58).
A further development of the MG 1A1 was the MG 1A2 (MG 42/59), which had a heavier bolt (950 g (33.51 oz), compared to 550 g (19.40 oz)), a new friction ring buffer and was adapted to use both the standard German non-disintegrating Patronengurt DM1 ammunition belt and the American M13 disintegrating belt. Further improvements to the weapon's muzzle device, bipod and bolt resulted in the MG 1A3.
Simultaneously, wartime 7.92×57mm Mauser chambered MG 42 machine guns that remained in service were converted to the standard 7.62×51mm NATO chambering and designated MG 2.
In 1968, the MG 3 was introduced and entered production. Compared to the MG 1A3, the MG 3 features an improved feeding mechanism with a belt retaining pawl to hold the belt up to the gun when the top cover plate is lifted, an added anti-aircraft sight and a new ammunition box. MG 3s were produced for Germany and for export customers by Rheinmetall until 1979. The preceding non-MG 3 variant machine guns in the Bundeswehr inventory were gradually converted to the MG 3 standard. Some additional production of the MG 3 in Germany was carried out by Heckler & Koch. The MG 3 and its variants all share a high level of parts interchangeability with the original MG 42.
MG 3s continue to be produced in Turkey and Pakistan.[12] In 2019 there were plans in Germany to produce several thousends new MG 3 receivers to keep using vehicle mounted MG 3s in the low level anti-aircraft (designated MG 3A0A1) and turret mounted (designated MG 3A1A1) roles in the near future.
Operation
The German military instructs sustained fire must be avoided at all costs. In the bipod mounted light machine gun role MG 3 users are trained to fire short bursts of 3 to 5 rounds and strive to optimize their aim between bursts fired in succession. In the tripod mounted medium machine gun role MG 3 users are trained to fire short bursts and bursts of 20 to 30 rounds and strive to optimize their aim between bursts fired in succession. After around 150 rounds of rapid fire, the gun operator will open a side hatch (leading to the barrel) and replace the hot barrel with a new cool(er) one. Non-observance of this technical limitation renders the barrel prematurely unusable. The machine gun crew member responsible for a hot barrel change is issued protective asbestos gloves or a cloth to prevent burns to the hands.
Design details
Operating mechanism
The MG 3 is an automatic, air-cooled, belt-fed short recoil-operated firearm. It features a roller locked bolt mechanism that consists of the bolt head, a pair of rollers, the striker sleeve, bolt body and return spring. The bolt is locked securely by a wedge-shaped striker sleeve, which forces two cylindrical rollers contained in the bolt head outward, and into corresponding recesses in the extension of the breech of the barrel. On firing, both the barrel and barrel extension recoil to the rear. The resulting impact (much like a Newton's cradle) moves the carrier to the rear withdrawing the wedge and both rollers as they are cammed inward and out of their sockets by fixed cams, unlocking the bolt head. The bolt carrier and bolt then continue to the rear together guided by fixed guides while the barrel and barrel extension return to battery. Upon return of the bolt forward, the impact of the rollers against the camming surfaces on the breech carry the rollers from their seats, and, together with the surfaces on the striker sleeve, force the rollers outward, locking the bolt head into the barrel extension and ensuring a complete lock. The bolt also houses a spring-loaded casing extractor and ejector. Ejection is carried out when the ejector strikes the buffer head, sending a push forward through the ejector bar, which hits the ejector pin. This pin pushes the top of the base of the cartridge, which is still held by the extractor at the base, causing the empty casing to rotate and eject downward through the ejection chute.
Features
The machine gun has an automatic-only trigger mechanism and a cross-bolt safety in the form of a button that is operated by the shooting hand (in its "safe" position the bolt release is disabled). The weapon fires from an open bolt. The cyclic rate can be altered by installing different bolts and recoil springs. A heavier bolt uses more recoil energy to overcome inertia, thus slowing the action. On MG 3 machine guns, two types of bolts are available, with standard weight (about 650 g (22.93 oz)) for the standard 1,000–1,300 rounds per minute cyclic rate of fire and with extra weight (about 900 g (31.75 oz)) for a slower 800–950 rounds per minute cyclic rate of fire. It must be noted that those bolts also are used along with different return springs.
The MG 3 feeds from the left side through a feed block using metal, 50-round continuous-link Patronengurt DM1 ammunition belts (which can be combined by cartridge) or disintegrating-link M13 or DM6 belts. In the light machine gun role, the MG 3 is deployed with a 100-round (or 120-round in case of disintegrating belts) belt fitted inside a synthetic ammunition drum developed by Heckler & Koch that is latched on to the left side of the receiver. The rear wall of the drum is transparent and serves as a visual indicator for the amount of ammunition available. The feed system operates through a feed arm that is housed in the feed cover. Two feed pawls are linked to the front end of the arm by an intermediate link and move in opposite directions, moving the belt in two stages as the bolt moves back and forward during firing.
For the light machine gun role the MG3 is equipped with a synthetic polymer stock and a folding bipod.
Barrel
The MG 3 has a quick-change, chrome-lined barrel with four right-hand grooves and a rifling twist rate of 1 in 305 mm (1:12 in) and weighs 1.7 kg (3.7 lb). Alternatively, MG 3 barrels can also have polygonal rifling. The barrel is integrated with the barrel breech. During sustained firing, there is a need for the barrel to be changed and this is how they are swapped: The gun is cocked and the barrel catch on the right of the barrel shroud is swung forward. Then, the breech end of the hot barrel swings out and can be removed by elevating or twisting the gun. A fresh barrel would be inserted through the barrel catch and the muzzle bearing. When the catch is rotated back, the barrel is locked and the machine gun can resume firing. Both the receiver housing and ventilated barrel casing are made from pressed sheet steel. The machine gun crew member responsible for a hot barrel change was issued protective asbestos gloves to prevent getting burned. A muzzle device is mounted at the end of the barrel and it acts as a flash suppressor, muzzle brake and recoil booster.
Feeding
MG 3 machine guns are belt-fed, using non-disintegrating metal DM1 belts, which have links that wrap around the cartridge case and are linked by a coiling wire on each side. DM1 belts are preloaded at ammunition factories in 50-round connectable belt lengths and can be linked to any length necessary. Alternatively the MG3 can also be fed by disintegrating metal M13 link belts (designated DM60 by Germany) used by many NATO member states. M13 links are also used on the Dillon M134D Minigun, M60, FN MAG, HK21 and MG5 machine guns among others. Both belt types are of push-through type and use a metal lip that is arrested in the rim of the cartridges to correctly position and fix the cartridges in place. For field use there are several ammunition containers available. The Gurttrommel (belt drum) contains a 50-round DM1 or DM60 belt. The Gurttrommel is not a true magazine but holds a curled 50-round belt preventing it from snagging, twisting and getting stuck during mobile assaults. The steel DM2 ammunition box contains a 250-round DM1 belt and the smaller plastic DM40004 ammunition box contains a 100-round DM1 belt or a 120-round DM60 belt. The German military tends to use non-disintegrating DM1 belts for general use and disintegrating DM60/M13 belts in vehicle or aircraft fixed MG3 mountings that allow for collecting the ejected link pieces for reuse.
Sights
The open-type iron sighting line has a relatively short 430 millimeters (16.9 in) radius and consists of a "∧-type" height adjustable front sight on a folding post and a leaf rear sight with an open V-notch sliding on a ramp, graduated from 200 to 1,200 meters (219 to 1,312 yd) in 100 meters (109 yd) increments. A flip-up anti-aircraft sight is attached to the receiver top just in front of the normal rear sight element.
Tripod
In a stationary, heavy machine gun role the MG 3 is mounted on a buffered Feldlafette ("field tripod") that also features storage containers for accessories like the Zielfernrohr 4 × 24 periscope-style telescopic sight. The direct fire only Zielfernrohr 4 × 24 sight like the MG 3 is mounted on the Feldlafette and is graduated from 0 to 1,600 meters (0 to 1,750 yd) in 100 meters (109 yd) increments. The Zielfernrohr 4 × 24 reticle can be illuminated by an external unit. It can also be used with the FERO-Z 51 night sight.
A unique feature of the German World War II Feldlafette types that was not carried over to the MG3 Feldlafette was the Tiefenfeuerautomat ("in-depth automatic fire"). If selected, this feature walked the fire in wave like motions up and down the range between predefined ranges. This sweeping of a given range (Tiefenfeuer - "in-depth fire") continued as long as the gun was fired.
Variants
MG 1: Rheinmetall variant of the MG 42, most notably rechambered to fire 7.62×51mm NATO.
MG 1A1 (MG 42/58): As MG 1, but with sights properly calibrated for the new round. Sights refitted to existing MG 1s.
MG 1A2 (MG 42/59): MG 1A1 variant; product improved with longer ejection port, heavy bolt and friction ring buffer.
MG 1A3: MG 1A2 variant; product improvement of all major components.
MG 1A4: MG 1 variant; for fixed mount armor use.
MG 1A5: MG 1A3 variant; MG1A3s converted to MG1A4 standard.
MG 2: Designation for all wartime MG 42s rechambered to 7.62×51mm NATO.
MG 3: MG 1A3 variant; product improved with AA rear sight.
MG 3E: MG 3 variant; reduced weight model (roughly 1.3 kg lighter), entered into late 1970s NATO small arms trials.
MG 3A1: MG 3 variant; for fixed mount armor use.
MG 3KWS: MG 3 variant; developed by Rheinmetall and Tactics Group as a stand in until the HK121 replaces it.
MG 42/59: Italian variant produced by Beretta, Whitehead Motofides and Franchi, since 1959, Chambered in 7.62×51mm NATO. The bolt weight was increased to 1,200 g (42.33 oz)) for a reduced 800 rounds per minute cyclic rate of fire. Used mainly mounted on vehicles and has largely been phased out by the M249 SAW.
Ksp m/94: Swedish variant chambered with the 7.62×51mm NATO round. Mainly used as secondary armament in Stridsvagn 122.
Multiple barrel variants
A mounted variant with three rotating barrels (to reduce barrel erosion and overheating) is under development as the Rheinmetall RMG 7.62 as a vehicle weapon.
The MG14z is a double barrel variant of the MG 3 machine gun. The MG14z enhances the firepower of military units that still issue the MG 3 or other MG 42 derivatives. It has been developed by the Tactics Group GmbH company "a low-cost alternative to Miniguns".
Deployment
The MG 3 is still used as the standard secondary weapon of most modern German armoured fighting vehicle designs (e.g. Leopard 2, PzH 2000, Marder), as a primary weapon on light/non-armored vehicles (e.g. LKW 2to, MAN gl-trucks, ATF Dingo) and as an infantry weapon on light bipods as well as different tripods. The German Armed Forces have supplemented the MG 3 since 2012 with the HK121 in service.
L'autoblindo AMX-10RC era un potente autoblindo caccia-carri francese; veniva prodotta dalla società GIAT Industries.
Dopo l'esperienza con la Panhard EBR 8x8, l'esercito francese voleva sostituirla con un mezzo altrettanto potente ma più moderno. I lavori per il nuovo veicolo giunsero alla concretizzazione nel 1971, anno in cui venne completata la realizzazione del prototipo: il mezzo entrò successivamente in produzione per le esigenze nazionali e di quelle del Marocco.
L'ERC-90 Sagaie e l'AMX-10RC saranno sostituiti, nell'Armée de terre, dall'Engin blindé de reconnaissance et de combat (EBRC).
Descrizione
L'AMX-10RC ha raggiunto le dimensioni massime per un veicolo trasportabile dal C-130: è anfibio, e scafo e torretta sono costituiti di leghe d'alluminio saldato. La disposizione è convenzionale, con il comparto guida davanti, quello di combattimento al centro e il vano motore posteriore.
Trasmissione, e motore sono derivati direttamente da quelli del cingolato AMX-10P. In virtù di questo, le ruote, pure tutte motrici, non ruotano, ma sono regolate come i cingoli dei blindati, fermandosi o avanzando in maniera differenziale. Il veicolo appare tanto compatto anche per la meccanica sopra descritta, che si può descrivere come un ibrido tra un treno di rotolamento cingolato ed uno su ruote: il movimento comunque non è particolarmente inficiato dal compromesso di base nella locomozione. Da notare che grazie ai 2 idrogetti posteriori in acqua si possono raggiungere, previa erezione della piastra frangiflutti anteriore, i 7,2 km/h. Le sospensioni poi sono sofisticate al punto che il veicolo può alzarsi dal suolo tra i 330 e i 470mm, se necessario differenziando anche l'altezza tra un lato e l'altro, ma in genere cambiando a seconda se il movimento avviene su strada o fuoristrada.
Il cannone è a media pressione da 105mm, dotato di un sofisticato sistema di controllo del tiro, dotato di telemetro laser, computer balistico, apparati IL di visione notturna. La torretta ha 3 uomini, come nei carri armati, capocarro, tiratore e caricatore. Vi è anche un periscopio panoramico di osservazione per il capocarro, mentre la dotazione di proiettili da 105 è di 40 colpi, più 4000 di piccolo calibro. Sono presenti dei lanciafumogeni.
In servizio l'AMX-10RC si è dimostrato un mezzo utile e potente. Non c'erano e non ci sono state altre autoblindo capaci di competere in potenza con essa per almeno 15 anni, e i veicoli (Rooikat e Centauro) che alla fine l'hanno superata si sono dimostrati ancora più costosi e pesanti, oltre che non anfibi né movimentabili via C-130.
L'AMX-10RC ha partecipato a Desert Storm e a numerosi scontri con il Fronte Polisario, nel Marocco meridionale.
ENGLISH
The AMX-10 RC is a reconnaissance vehicle built by GIAT. Over 240 are in service in the French Army. In addition, 108 vehicles were sold to Morocco and 12 to Qatar. RC stands for Roues-Canon, or wheeled gun.
The AMX-10 RC should not be confused with the AMX-10P; they share automotive components but otherwise have completely different battlefield roles. The AMX-10RC is usually used for reconnaissance missions in dangerous environments or for fire support.
Design and characteristics
Initial work on the AMX-10RC began in 1970; prototypes testing began in 1976, and the first production vehicle was delivered in 1981 to the 2nd Regiment de Hussards in Sourdun. The vehicle features a powerful GIAT 105 mm gun mounted in a welded aluminium turret. The TK 105 turret also serves to house three crew members, while the driver sits in the front of the hull; the COTAC fire control system is provided for gun aiming. All six wheels are driven, and the AMX-10RC uses skid steering to turn the hull.
Engine
The AMX-10 RC initially used the Hispano-Suiza HS 115-2, multi-fuel, liquid-cooled, supercharged V8 engine rated at 250 hp at 3,200 RPM.
In 1985, the Baudouin 6F11 SRX supercharged diesel engine was selected to equip the last production AMX-10 RC vehicles as a production cut-in as well as for eventual retrofit to all AMX-10 RC vehicles of the French Army. This engine is rated at 300 hp, but governed at 280 hp at 3,000 RPM in the French army.
No matter which engine is fitted, a 24 volt electrical system with six 12-volt/100-ampere-hour batteries is standard. Two waterjets, mounted on mch side of the hull at the rear, are used for water propulsion.
Transmission
The AMX-10 RC vehicles use an unspecified preselector gearbox with four forward and four reverse gear ratios. The clutch is electro-magnetically operated and the gearbox is fitted with a torque converter. A power take-off unit operates the two waterjets. The AMX-10 RC is skid steered and can perform pivot turn.
Suspension and running gear
The 6x6 AMX-10 RC is fitted with a hydropneumatic suspension system with variable ground clearance and tilt, provided by Messiere Auto-Industry. A centralized lubrication and tire inflation system is fitted. A shock damper is mounted at each wheel station.
Armament
The AMX-10 RC is fitted with a 105/47 F2 MECA 105 mm medium-pressure gun mounted in a GIAT Industries TK 105 three-man turret; the F2 cannon fires 105×527R proprietary ammunition. The turret use a SAMM CH49 electrohydraulic gun control system, but no stabilization system is fitted. An NF-1 7.62 mm machine gun is mounted coaxially to the main armament, and two electrically-operated smoke grenade launchers are mounted on each side of the turret. A total of 38 main gun rounds and 4,000 rounds of 7.62 mm ammunition and 16 smoke grenades are carried.
The F2 105 mm medium-pressure rifled gun fires four types of 105×527R ammunition: OFL 105 F3 APFSDS, OE 105 F3 HE, OCC 105 F3 HEAT-FS and the BSCC 105 F3 target practice round. The APFSDS, which uses the penetrator from the GIAT OFL 90 F1 mm APFSDS round, is capable of defeating a NATO single heavy tank target at a range of 1200 metres and the NATO triple heavy tank target at a range of 2200 metres.
The AMX-10 RC has been the recipient of numerous upgrades over its lifetime. The DIVT-13 LLTV was replaced by using DIVT-16, 18 and 19 CASTOR thermal sights taken from decommissioned AMX-30B2 MBTs. For its part in the 1991 Gulf War, the AMX-10 RC was provided with extra high-hardness steel add-on armour and EIREL infrared jammer. The original muzzle brake was replaced by an even more efficient one (10% recoil reduction) after the introduction of the OFL 105 F3 APFSDS in 1987. The flotation barrier and the water pump jets were removed (their intakes were sealed).
The AMX-10 RCR introduced a FINDERS C2R battlefield-management system. One improvement considered was the installation of the TML 105 modular light turret armed with a more powerful 105 mm G2 high-pressure gun, as the F2 gun was not compatible with NATO munitions, but this was ultimately not done. A central tire-inflation system is available for added traction over soft terrain. The AMX-10RC is equipped with an NBC (Nuclear/Biological/Chemical) protection system and may conduct reconnaissance in a radioactive environment.
AMX-10 RCR modernisation
In 2010, Nexter completed the modernisation of 256 AMX-10 RC vehicles to the RCR (Rénové; renovated) configuration, a programme that consisted of integrating various systems and additional armour, active self-protection by SAGEM, LIRE (Leurre InfRarougE, infrared flare), the SIT (Système d'Information Terminal) V1 battlefield management system, Galix smoke grenades launchers, changes in the NBC protection and improvements in the suspension, and the speed gearboxes and tactical communications completed with Thales Communications & Security PR4G VS4. The integration was done by DCMAT (Direction Centrale du Matériel de l'Armée de Terre, Land Army Central Matèriel Directorate).
Replacement
The AMX-10 RC is no longer in production and will be replaced by the EBRC Jaguar in French service.
Operators
Current operators
France – 248
Morocco – 198
Qatar – 12
Variants
AMX-10 RC : initial production model with amphibious capability.
AMX-10 RC surblindé (uparmored) : fitted with add-on armor and without amphibious capability.
AMX-10 RCR revalorisé (upgraded).
Prototypes
AMX-10 RTT : APC version.
AMX-10 RAC : fitted with the TS 90 turret armed with a 90 mm gun.
AMX-10 RAA : AAA version first presented at Satory in 1981. It featured a large turret armed with two 30 mm autocannons.
AMX-10 RC with TML 105 : AMX-10 RC fitted with the Tourelle Modulaire Légère (Light Modular Turret) featuring a stabilized G2 high-pressure 105 mm gun, GALIX launchers and new sights. A two-man configuration with a bustle-mounted autoloader was available as an option.
