AMX-30

This page is about the premium French medium tank AMX-30. For other versions, see AMX-30 (Family).

AMX-30

AMX-30

France

V Rank

Battle rating:

AB	RB	SB
8.0	8.0	8.0

Class:

PREMIUM

Medium tank

Purchase:7 480

Description

The AMX-30 is the first variant of the AMX-30 main battle tank family. It was designed by Ateliers de construction d'Issy-les-Moulineaux (AMX, later GIAT) and first handed to the French Army in August 1966. The first five tanks were delivered to the 501st Régiment de Chars de Combat in August of that year. The French concluded that in order to protect against the most recent anti-tank threats, tanks would need a lot of armour, which would severely limit their mobility. As a result, the AMX-30 is designed to trade protection in exchange for increased agility as a passive strategy to increase survivability. The main armament on the AMX-30 was a 105 mm Modèle F1 tank gun. The 720 horsepower HS-110 diesel engine provided the AMX-30 with good mobility, but the problematic transmission severely limited the tank's performance. From 1965 until the arrival of the Leclerc main battle tank in the 1990s, the AMX-30 served as France's main battle tank. More than 3,500 units were produced, and it was also exported to several other nations and manufactured under license by Spain.

Introduced in Update 1.77 "Advancing Storm", the AMX-30 is a highly mobile main battle tank designed to fit a doctrine similar to the German Leopard 1 main battle tank. It lacks a two-plane fully automatic stabilization system and has extremely weak armour, but it boasts outstanding high-explosive anti-tank (HEAT) ammunition and good mobility, allowing it to quickly traverse the map and engage any enemies over long distances. This is not a tank designed to lead an assault and cannot fight on its own. It is preferable to stick with other stronger allies and use it as a long-range support tank. Use its mobility to set up ambushes to disable tracks or take out one or two crew members of the enemy tank before rapidly retreating to cover. Most tanks of the AMX-30 rank are capable of penetrating its armor; hence, it is best to play more conservatively and not too aggressively during combat.

General info

Survivability and armour

Smoke grenades

Creation of a smoke screen in front of the vehicle

Armourfront / side / back

Hull79 / 35 / 30

Turret80 / 41 / 30

Crew4 people

Visibility88 %

The armour only reaches 190 mm at some angled parts of the front, the turret goes 100 mm at best, some rank I vehicles like the Panzer IV E could take you on frontally and easily win.

Be wary, also, of your ridiculously tall cupola, you can be destroyed even if you are behind cover just because of it.

Armour type:

• Cast homogeneous armour (front glacis, turret, cupola)
• Rolled homogeneous armour (hull sides, rear & roof)

Armour	Front (Slope angle)	Sides	Rear	Roof
Hull	50 mm (76-79°) Upper glacis - Top 79 mm (68°) Upper glacis - Bottom 79 mm (45°) Lower glacis - Top 30 mm (75°) Lower glacis - Bottom 57 mm (35°) Hull over the tracks	35 mm Top - Front 57 mm (35°) Top - Hull widening 35 mm (35°) Top - Centre 35 mm Top - Rear 30 mm Bottom 25 mm (70°) Belly	30 mm (10°) Upper plate 30 mm Hull over the tracks 30 mm Lower plate 25 mm (70°) Belly	79 mm (22°) Front glacis - Front 50 mm (11-14°) Front glacis - Rear 15 mm Rear 8 mm Radiator vents
Turret	50-150 mm (spherical) Gun mantlet 30 mm (61-75°) Turret front	41.5 mm (19-47°) 41.5 mm (8°) Cupola well	30 mm (spherical) 20 mm (54-64°) Turret underside	30 mm (13°) Gun mantlet 30 mm (19°) Turret - Front 20 mm Turret - Centre 20 mm (14-26°) Turret - Rear
Cupola	60 mm (cylindrical)			60 mm Outer ring 20 mm Centre

Notes:

• Suspension wheels are 15 mm thick while tracks are 20 mm thick.

Mobility

Reverse gearbox

Forward and backward movement is possible at the same maximum speed

Speedforward / back

AB73 / 73 km/h

RB and SB66 / 66 km/h

Number of gears5 forward

5 back

Weight36.0 t

Engine power

AB1 374 hp

RB and SB720 hp

Power-to-weight ratio

AB38.2 hp/t

RB and SB20.0 hp/t

Game Mode	Max Speed (km/h)		Weight (tons)	Engine power (horsepower)		Power-to-weight ratio (hp/ton)
	Forward	Reverse		Stock	Upgraded	Stock	Upgraded
Arcade	73	73	36	1,116	1,374	31	38.17
Realistic	66	66		637	720	17.69	20

The mobility, which is good but unexceptional, can be both a blessing and a curse since you will not be able to shoot accurately while on the move due to the proper lack of stabilizer.

Modifications and economy

Repair cost

AB3 150

RB3 584

SB4 896

Crew training10 000

Experts550 000

Aces1 300

Research Aces1 600 000

Reward for battleAB / RB / SB

2 × 140 / 210 / 240 %

2 × 208 / 208 / 208 %

Modifications

Mobility	Protection	Firepower
Tracks Suspension Brake System Filters Transmission Engine	Improved Parts Improved FPE Crew Replenishment	Horizontal Drive Adjustment of Fire 105mm_fr_CN105_Smoke_ammo_pack Elevation Mechanism Smoke grenade Artillery Support Rangefinder

Armaments

Main armament

105 mm CN-105-F1 cannon

Ammunition50 rounds

First-order22 rounds

Reloadbasic crew → aces

8.7 → 6.7 s

Vertical guidance-8° / 20°

The AMX-30 is a similar tank to its younger counterpart, the AMX-30 (1972), with the 20 mm coaxial autocannon replaced by a 12.7 mm heavy machinegun, still able to deal with lightly armoured targets such as SPAA, but doesn't deal the extra punch of an autocannon.

Like the AMX-30 (1972), it lacks a stabilizer and has incredibly weak side armour, but the excellent HEAT shell, comparable to other nations' HEATFS shells, the reasonable front armour (most tanks will still one-shot you though) and the good mobility make up for it.

The HEAT shell is comparable to other nations' HEATFS shells, and has a good penetration amount (400 mm flat), but will often bounce on angled surfaces. When the shell penetrates, it usually causes enough shrapnel to one-shot a tank. In a fight against lightly armoured vehicles, like SPAA, the HEAT round will often cause hull breaks.

105 mm CN-105-F1					Turret rotation speed (°/s)					Reloading rate (seconds)
Mode	Capacity	Vertical	Horizontal	Stabilizer	Stock	Upgraded	Full	Expert	Aced	Stock	Full	Expert	Aced
Arcade	50	-8°/+20°	±180°	N/A	28.6	39.5	48.0	53.1	56.5	8.71	7.70	7.10	6.70
Realistic					17.9	21.0	25.5	28.2	30.0

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
OCC 105 F1	HEAT	400	400	400	400	400	400
OE 105 F1 Mle.60	HE	25	25	25	25	25	25

Shell details
Ammunition	Type of warhead	Velocity (m/s)	Projectile mass (kg)	Fuse delay (m)	Fuse sensitivity (mm)	Explosive mass (TNT equivalent) (kg)	Ricochet
							0%	50%	100%
OCC 105 F1	HEAT	1,000	10.95	0.05	0.1	1.02	62°	69°	73°
OE 105 F1 Mle.60	HE	700	12.1	0	0.1	2	79°	80°	81°

Smoke shell characteristics
Ammunition	Velocity (m/s)	Projectile mass (kg)	Screen radius (m)	Screen deploy time (s)	Screen hold time (s)	Explosive mass (TNT equivalent) (g)
OFPH 105 F1	700	11.4	20	5	25	50

Ammo racks

Ammo racks of the AMX-30

Full ammo	1st rack empty	2nd rack empty	3rd rack empty	4th rack empty	5th rack empty	Visual discrepancy
50	23 (+27)	22 (+28)	19 (+31)	9 (+41)	1 (+49)	No

Notes:

• Shells are modeled individually and disappear after having been shot or loaded.
• Rack 2, 3, 4 and 5 are first stage ammo racks. They total 22 shells.
• These racks get filled first when loading up the tank and are also emptied first.
• The depletion order at full capacity is: 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 1.
• Simply not firing when the gun is loaded will move ammo from rack 1 into rack 5 then 4, 3 and 2. Firing will interrupt the restocking of the ready racks.

Optics and night vision

AMX-30 Optics
Type of optic	Magnification	Night Vision Devices
		Image Intensifier			Thermal Imager Resolution	Notes
		Resolution	Light Mult	Noise Level
Gunner's Sight	X6.8 - X8.0	800 x 600	8.0	High	Not Fitted	Image intensifier unlocked by "NVD" modification (tier 4)
Commander's View	X6	800 x 600	8.0	High	Not Fitted	Image intensifier unlocked by "NVD" modification (tier 4)
Driver's View	X1	800 x 600	5.0	High	Not Fitted	Image intensifier unlocked by "NVD" modification (tier 4)

Machine guns

12.7 mm M2HB machine gun (coaxial)

Ammunition800 rounds

Belt capacity200 rounds

Reloadbasic crew → aces

10.4 → 8.0 s

Fire rate575 shots/min

Vertical guidance0° / 20°

7.62 mm A-A-F1N machine gun

Ammunition2 100 rounds

Belt capacity100 rounds

Reloadbasic crew → aces

10.4 → 8.0 s

Fire rate900 shots/min

12.7 mm M2HB
Mount	Capacity (Belt)	Fire rate	Vertical	Horizontal
Coaxial	800 (200)	577	0°/+20°	N/A

7.62 mm A-A-F1N
Mount	Capacity (Belt)	Fire rate	Vertical	Horizontal
Pintle	2,100 (100)	900	-10°/+45°	±120°

Usage in battles

This tank cannot stand a fight on its own, therefore, only two tactics are viable.

First (the most dangerous), you can try getting behind the enemy lines and attacking the SPAA, you will often get hull breaks thanks to the HEAT round, be wary of bushes however, they will stop your HEAT shells, you can attempt to take on enemy tanks, provided it is from the side, and you can hit the ammunition (HEAT will rarely cause fire, and the weak shrapnel makes it hard to take out entire crews).

Second, stay with your team, ideally behind another tank (do not lead the formation, it'll paint a target onto the tank), use your HEAT shells to disable tracks or take out one or two crew members and ease the task of your teammates.

Compared to the vehicles it will face, the AMX-30 ranges from Inferior to Harmless, every enemy vehicle should be regarded the same way, as major threats that will destroy it in a couple of hits at best. Aiming for the ammunition is the only way for you.

Pros and cons

Pros:

• Fuel tank armour surrounding frontal ammo rack, much like Cold War Russian tanks
• High velocity HEAT shell that can penetrate up to 400 mm of flat armour
• Good mobility - slightly more mobile than the German Leopard I
• Access to smoke shells you can fire with the main gun - useful for blinding sniper spots or covering advances

Cons:

• Uses a single type of chemical projectile, HEAT shells, which are stopped by any kind of terrain obstacle and by tanks using ERA kits.
• Does not have a stabilizer
• Very tall cupola
• Only 30-35 mm thick side armour
• This early version of the AMX-30 lacks the 20 mm autocannon found on the AMX-30 (1972)
• Fuel tanks everywhere in hull, front and sides, likely to cause a fire

History

The AMX-30 is a main battle tank that was designed and produced by the French company Ateliers de construction d'Issy-les-Moulineaux (AMX). Development of the tank began in the early 1960s, and it entered service with the French Army in 1966. The development of the AMX-30 began in 1960, when the French Army began to look for a replacement for its aging fleet of tanks, which included the M4 Sherman and the AMX-13. The new tank was required to have a low silhouette, be highly mobile, and be capable of engaging targets at long ranges. The design was also required to be cost-effective, as the French Army was operating on a limited budget.

The first prototype of the AMX-30 was completed in 1963, and it underwent testing throughout the year. The tank was powered by a Hispano-Suiza HS-110 diesel engine, which provided a top speed of 65 km/h on the road. The tank was armed with a 105 mm gun, which was capable of firing a variety of ammunition types, including armour-piercing, high-explosive, and smoke rounds. The AMX-30 entered production in 1965, and the first tanks were delivered to the French Army in 1966. Over the next few years, the tank was exported to several other countries, including Spain, Greece, and Saudi Arabia.

In the 1970s, the French Army began to upgrade the AMX-30 with a number of improvements, including a new engine and improved armour protection. The upgraded version of the tank, known as the AMX-30B2, entered service in 1983.

The AMX-30 saw action in several conflicts around the world, including the Gulf War, the Kosovo War, and the Iraq War. The tank was generally well-regarded for its mobility and reliability, but its armour protection was criticized as inadequate in some situations.

The production of the AMX-30 continued until 1992, by which time a total of around 3,500 tanks had been produced. The tank was eventually replaced in French Army service by the Leclerc tank in the 1990s. However, some countries, such as Spain, continued to operate the AMX-30 until the early 2000s. Today, the AMX-30 is largely retired from service, although some tanks can still be found in museums and private collections around the world.

Media

Skins

• Skins and camouflages for the AMX-30 from live.warthunder.com.

Videos

French MBTs discusses the AMX-30 at 1:07 - War Thunder Official Channel

The Shooting Range #175 - Pages of History section at 04:50 discusses the AMX-30.

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

• [Wikipedia] AMX-30
• [Tanks Encyclopedia] AMX-30

Ateliers de construction d'Issy-les-Moulineaux (AMX)
Light tanks
AMX-13	AMX-13-M24 · AMX-13 (FL11) · AMX-13 · AMX-13 (SS.11) · AMX-13-90 · AMX-13 (HOT)
Armoured cars	AMX-10RC
Medium tanks	AMX M4 · AMX-50 (TOA100)
MBTs
AMX-30	AMX-30 · AMX-30 ACRA · AMX-30 (1972) · AMX-30B2 · AMX-30B2 BRENUS · AMX-30 Super
AMX-32/40	AMX-32 (105) · AMX-32 · AMX-40
Heavy tanks	AMX-50 Surbaissé · AMX-50 Surblindé
Tank destroyers	ELC bis · AMX-50 Foch
SPAAGs	AMX-13 DCA 40 · AMX-30 S DCA
Export	AMX-13