AMX-10M

This page is about the French tank destroyer AMX-10M. For other versions, see AMX-10P and AMX-10RC.

AMX-10M

AMX-10M

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				398			__.__
Realistic				248			__.__

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

Ammo racks of the AMX-10M

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

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Pros and cons

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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

• Skins and camouflages for the AMX-10M from live.warthunder.com.

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

• [Devblog] AMX-10M: A Familiar Beast

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