AMX-10M
| This page is about the French tank destroyer AMX-10M. For other versions, see AMX-10P and AMX-10RC. |
Contents
Description
The AMX-10M, a unique French tank destroyer, was developed from the AMX-10P infantry fighting vehicle. The AMX-10M was part of the ACRA project that started in the 1960s, which aimed to create a vehicle capable of firing supersonic ATGMs from a 142 mm smoothbore gun. The AMX-10M retained the same engine, chassis, and 20 mm autocannon as the AMX-10P, but had a modified chassis that housed the ACRA launcher and its missiles. The ACRA missiles had a range of about 4 km and could penetrate up to 700 mm of armour. Ultimately, due to the large associated expenses especially with the ATGMs, funding for the program was terminated at the last stage of testing. Additionally, advances in fire control systems for contemporary armour-piercing projectiles and the ACRA missiles' lack of ability to be deployed on helicopters, as well as the increasing relevance of the HOT ATGM system also contributed to the projects' cancellation.
Introduced in Update "Sons of Attila", the AMX-10M is a rather special tank that can fire barrel-launched ATGMs, a feature not commonly found in Western tanks or tank destroyers. The ACRA missile’s fast flight speed makes it difficult for the enemy to avoid getting hit. However, the missile requires continuous guidance and cannot hide behind cover due to its launcher and optic location, which means that the AMX-10M must be constantly exposed, increasing the risk of return fire. Despite these setbacks, the AMX-10M is still a formidable tank at range, able to easily penetrate the upper front plates of any heavy it can encounter at its battle rating, including the T95, Maus, IS-7, and even the Object 279. It can also serve as an excellent last-ditch self-propelled anti-aircraft (SPAA) thanks to the AMX-10M possessing the same 20 mm gun as its brethren, the AMX-10P.
General info
Survivability and armour
The armour of the AMX-10M is thick enough to protect from small calibre machine guns from all angles. The extra structural steel plates help add 4 mm of protection, allowing the AMX-10M's armour during hull-down positions to protect against 20 mm AP rounds from medium ranges and most .50 calibre rounds beginning at around 400 m. However even when hull-down the armour won't protect the gun breech from HMGs and Auto-cannons. Overall, the armour is similar to other ATGM carriers in that it shouldn't be relied upon.
Armour type:
| Armour | Front (Slope angle) | Sides | Rear | Roof |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Casemate | 4 + 25 mm (47°) Front glacis 25 mm (21°) Lower glacis |
20 mm Top 15 mm Bottom |
20 mm (18°) | 15 mm |
| Cupola | 20 mm | 20 mm | 20 mm | 15 mm |
Notes:
- Tracks and suspension provides about 15 mm of protection.
- Belly armour is 10 mm thick.
Mobility
| Game Mode | Max Speed (km/h) | Weight (tons) | Engine power (horsepower) | Power-to-weight ratio (hp/ton) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Forward | Reverse | Stock | Upgraded | Stock | Upgraded | ||
| Arcade | 66 | 12 | 15 | 398 | 534 | 26.53 | 35.6 |
| Realistic | 60 | 11 | 248 | 280 | 16.53 | 18.67 | |
Modifications and economy
| Mobility | Protection | Firepower | ||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
|
Armaments
Main armament
| 142 mm ACRA | Turret rotation speed (°/s) | Reloading rate (seconds) | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mode | Capacity | Vertical | Horizontal | Stabilizer | Stock | Upgraded | Full | Expert | Aced | Stock | Full | Expert | Aced |
| Arcade | 46 | -7°/+15° | ±5° | - | 8.8 | 12.2 | 14.8 | 16.4 | 17.4 | 9.75 | 8.63 | 7.95 | 7.50 |
| Realistic | 5.9 | 7.0 | 8.5 | 9.4 | 10.0 | ||||||||
Ammunition
| Penetration statistics | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ammunition | Type of warhead |
Penetration @ 0° Angle of Attack (mm) | |||||
| 10 m | 100 m | 500 m | 1,000 m | 1,500 m | 2,000 m | ||
| MP ACRA | ATGM | 700 | 700 | 700 | 700 | 700 | 700 |
| MUC | HE | 36 | 36 | 36 | 36 | 36 | 36 |
| Missile details | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ammunition | Type of warhead |
Velocity (m/s) |
Range (m) |
Projectile mass (kg) |
Fuse delay (m) |
Fuse sensitivity (mm) |
Explosive mass (TNT equivalent) (kg) |
Ricochet | ||||
| 0% | 50% | 100% | ||||||||||
| MP ACRA | ATGM | 500 | 3,800 | 25 | 0.05 | 0.1 | 3.28 | 80° | 82° | 90° | ||
| MUC | HE | 700 | - | 23 | 0 | 0.1 | 3.58 | 79° | 80° | 81° | ||
Ammo racks
| Full ammo |
1st rack empty |
2nd rack empty |
3rd rack empty |
4th rack empty |
5th rack empty |
6th rack empty |
7th rack empty |
Visual discrepancy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 46 | 39 (+7) | 31 (+15) | 25 (+21) | 18 (+28) | 16 (+30) | 13 (+33) | 1 (+45) | No |
Note:
- 5th, 6th, 7th racks are first stage ammo.
Machine guns
| 20 mm 20F2 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mount | Capacity (Belt) | Fire rate | Vertical | Horizontal |
| Pintle | 500 (500) | 740 | -3°/+50° | ±180° |
Usage in battles
Describe the tactics of playing in the vehicle, the features of using vehicles in the team and advice on tactics. Refrain from creating a "guide" - do not impose a single point of view but instead give the reader food for thought. Describe the most dangerous enemies and give recommendations on fighting them. If necessary, note the specifics of the game in different modes (AB, RB, SB).
Pros and cons
Summarise and briefly evaluate the vehicle in terms of its characteristics and combat effectiveness. Mark its pros and cons in a bulleted list. Try not to use more than 6 points for each of the characteristics. Avoid using categorical definitions such as "bad", "good" and the like - use substitutions with softer forms such as "inadequate" and "effective".
Pros:
Cons:
History
The AMX-10M is a French prototype tank destroyer based on the AMX-10P infantry fighting vehicle. It was developed in the early 1970s as part of the ACRA program, which also led to the AMX-30 ACRA.
Development and Design The AMX-10M was designed by the Atelier de Construction d’Issy-les-Moulineaux (AMX) as a private venture, without any official request from the French Army. The project aimed to create a light and mobile tank destroyer that could engage enemy tanks at long ranges with guided missiles. The engine used in both the AMX-10P and the AMX-10M is the Hispano-Suiza Model 115-2 eight-cylinder liquid-cooled diesel, which generates 205 kW (280 hp) at 3,000 rpm, giving the vehicle a power-to-weight ratio of 19 hp/ton.
The AMX-10M had a crew of four: the driver, the commander, the gunner, and the loader. The driver sat in the front of the hull, while the other three crew members were located in the turret. Interestingly, the AMX-10M can also swim, like its brothers the AMX-10P and AMX-10RC.
Offensive weapons The AMX-10M used the same chassis and engine as the AMX-10P but had a modified chassis that housed a 142 mm ACRA gun launcher, capable of firing both rocket-assisted HE shells and ACRA missiles. The ACRA missile was a fin-stabilized, rocket-assisted projectile that had a shaped charge warhead and a semi-active laser guidance system. The AMX-10M carried 46 rounds of ammunition, 17 of which were ready to fire.
Service The AMX-10M was never adopted by the French Army, as it was deemed too expensive and complex for its intended role. The ACRA missile system also faced technical difficulties and reliability issues, and was eventually cancelled in 1977. Three prototypes of the AMX-10M were built, and it was used for testing and evaluation until the late 1970’s. The vehicle is now preserved at the Musée des Blindés in Saumur, France.
Media
- Skins
See also
Links to the articles on the War Thunder Wiki that you think will be useful for the reader, for example:
- reference to the series of the vehicles;
- links to approximate analogues of other nations and research trees.
External links
| France tank destroyers | |
|---|---|
| Lorraine 40t derivatives | CA Lorraine · Lorraine 155 Mle.50 |
| ATGM | MEPHISTO · AMX-10M |
| Other | AMR.35 ZT3 · Lorraine 37L · SAu 40 · ARL-44 · ELC bis · AMX-50 Foch · AuF1 |
| USA | ▄M10 GMC · ▄M36B2 |
