AMX-30

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RANK 4 FRANCE
Somua SM PACK
This page is about the premium French medium tank AMX-30. For other versions, see AMX-30 (Family).
AMX-30
fr_amx_30.png
GarageImage AMX-30.jpg
AMX-30
AB RB SB
8.0 8.0 8.0
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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's rank are capable of penetrating its armour; 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 Sl icon.png
RB3 584 Sl icon.png
SB4 896 Sl icon.png
Crew training10 000 Sl icon.png
Experts550 000 Sl icon.png
Aces1 300 Ge icon.png
Research Aces1 600 000 Rp icon.png
Reward for battleAB / RB / SB
Talisman.png 2 × 140 / 210 / 240 % Sl icon.png
Talisman.png 2 × 208 / 208 / 208 % Rp icon.png
Modifications
Mobility Protection Firepower
Mods new tank traks.png
Tracks
Mods new tank suspension.png
Suspension
Mods new tank break.png
Brake System
Mods new tank filter.png
Filters
Mods new tank transmission.png
Transmission
Mods new tank engine.png
Engine
Mods tank tool kit.png
Improved Parts
Mods extinguisher.png
Improved FPE
Mods tank reinforcement fr.png
Crew Replenishment
Mods new tank horizontal aiming.png
Horizontal Drive
Mods tank cannon.png
Adjustment of Fire
Mods tank ammo.png
105mm_fr_CN105_Smoke_ammo_pack
Mods new tank vertical aiming.png
Elevation Mechanism
Mods smoke screen.png
Smoke grenade
Mods art support.png
Artillery Support
Mods tank rangefinder.png
Rangefinder
Mods night vision device.png
NVD

Armaments

Night vision device
Improves visibility by enhancing natural light or active illumination.

Main armament

Ammunition50 rounds
First-order22 rounds
Reloadbasic crew → aces
8.7 → 6.7 s
Vertical guidance-8° / 20°
Main article: CN-105-F1 (105 mm)

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) (+41) (+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

Ammunition800 rounds
Belt capacity200 rounds
Reloadbasic crew → aces
10.4 → 8.0 s
Fire rate575 shots/min
Vertical guidance0° / 20°
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
Videos

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


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 DCA
Export  AMX-13

France medium tanks
M4 Derivatives  M4A1 (FL10) · M4A4 (SA50)
AMX-50  AMX M4 · AMX-50 (TOA100) · AMX-50 (TO90/930)
AMX-30  AMX-30 · AMX-30 (1972) · AMX-30B2 · AMX-30B2 BRENUS · AMX-30 ACRA · AMX-30 Super
AMX-32/40  AMX-32 · AMX-32 (105) · AMX-40
Leclerc  Leclerc · Leclerc S2 · Leclerc SXXI · Leclerc AZUR
Other  D2 · S.35 · Lorraine 40t
Germany  Panther "Dauphiné"
USA  ▄M4A1 · ▄M4A3 (105) · ▄M4A4 · ▄M26

France premium ground vehicles
Light tanks  AMD.35 (SA35) · H.39 "Cambronne" · LVT-4/40 · AMX-13 (SS.11) · AMX-13-M24 · E.B.R. (1954) · E.B.R. (1963) · VBCI-2 (MCT30)
Medium tanks  M4A1 (FL10) · Panther "Dauphiné" · AMX-30 · AMX-30 Super · AMX-50 (TO90/930)
Heavy tanks  B1 ter · 2C bis · Somua SM
Tank destroyers  Lorraine 155 Mle.50