AML-90

This page is about the French light tank AML-90. For other versions, see AML-90 (Family).

AML-90

AMX-13

AMX-13-90

AML-90

AMX-13

AMX-13-90

France

V Rank

Battle rating:

AB	RB	SB
7.0	7.7	7.7

Class:

Light tank

Research:95 000

Purchase:270 000

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Description

The AML-90 is a rank V French light tank with a battle rating of 7.0 (AB) and 7.7 (RB/SB). It was introduced in Update 1.95 "Northern Wind".

General info

Survivability and armour

Smoke grenades

Creation of a smoke screen in front of the vehicle

Armourfront / side / back

Hull10 / 10 / 10

Turret12 / 10 / 10

Crew3 people

Visibility84 %

Armour type:

• Rolled homogeneous armour (hull, turret)
• Structural steel (mudguards, storage boxes)
• Wheel (tires)

Armour	Front (Slope angle)	Sides	Rear	Roof
Hull	10 mm (51°) Upper glacis 10 mm (17°) Upper glacis	10 mm (4°) Front half 10 mm (6°) Rear half	10 mm Upper plate 10 mm (46°) Upper glacis 10 mm (20°) Lower glacis	10 mm (40°) Front glacis 10 mm (44°) Rear glacis
Turret	12 mm (30°) Turret front 12 mm (8°) Gun mantlet	10 mm (17-21°) 10 mm Viewports	10 mm (16°)	10 mm (16°) Front part 10 mm Rear part 8 mm Gunner hatch
Cupola	8 mm (spherical)

Notes:

• Wheels are 10 mm thick and a spare wheel covers the left side of the hull.
• Storage boxes and mudguards are 5 mm thick.
• The belly is 8 mm thick.
• The gun barrel is 20 mm thick.

The AML-90 lacks protection against heavy machine gun fire and is susceptible to damage by light machine gun fire. The crew is located in a rather small compartment, making the armoured car prompt to being knocked out by a single shot from almost any direction. It is also vulnerable to overpressure, meaning chemical energy ammunition will take out your vehicle regardless of where they impact. A kinetic energy ammunition can damage your AML through the projectile itself or the spalling generated but the inflicted damages are lesser and has a higher chance to knock out the crew members or critical modules than to destroy the vehicle. It should be noted that the thin armour has a chance to not activate fused shells like APHE, APCBC, etc, although it will trigger HEAT, HEATFS, HE and ATGM.

Mobility

Speedforward / back

AB101 / 20 km/h

RB and SB91 / 18 km/h

Number of gears10 forward

2 back

Weight5.5 t

Engine power

AB172 hp

RB and SB90 hp

Power-to-weight ratio

AB31.3 hp/t

RB and SB16.4 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	101	20	5.5	139	172	25.27	31.27
Realistic	91	18		80	90	14.55	16.36

Modifications and economy

Repair costBasic → Reference

AB3 035 → 4 406

RB3 664 → 5 320

SB4 919 → 7 142

Total cost of modifications76 700

127 300

Talisman cost2 000

Crew training78 000

Experts270 000

Aces1 100

Research Aces670 000

Reward for battleAB / RB / SB

120 / 160 / 200 %

190 / 190 / 190 %

Modifications

Mobility	Protection	Firepower
Tires Research: 5 300 Cost: 8 600 250 Suspension Research: 3 600 Cost: 5 800 165 Brake System Research: 3 600 Cost: 5 800 165 Filters Research: 4 000 Cost: 6 500 185 Transmission Research: 6 500 Cost: 10 000 300 Engine Research: 6 500 Cost: 10 000 300	Improved Parts Research: 3 400 Cost: 8 600 250 Improved FPE Research: 2 300 Cost: 5 800 165 Crew Replenishment Research: 4 000 Cost: 6 500 185	Horizontal Drive Research: 5 300 Cost: 8 600 250 Adjustment of Fire Research: 3 600 Cost: 5 800 165 Airstrike Research: 3 600 Cost: 5 800 165 Elevation Mechanism Research: 4 000 Cost: 6 500 185 90mm_CN90_Smoke_ammo_pack Research: 4 000 Cost: 6 500 185 Smoke grenade Research: 4 000 Cost: 6 500 185 Artillery Support Research: 6 500 Cost: 10 000 300 Improved optics Research: 6 500 Cost: 10 000 300

Armaments

Main armament

90 mm DEFA F1 cannon

Ammunition20 rounds

First-order10 rounds

Reloadbasic crew → aces

8.7 → 6.7 s

Vertical guidance-8° / 15°

The AML-90 uses a powerful 90 mm DEFA F1 low pressure cannon. The AML-90 comes with a stock OCC 60-62 HEATFS ammunition, capable of penetrating most tanks at its BR at any distance. It should be noted that the AML-90 only carries 20 rounds at max, meaning all rounds should be aimed for a kill shot as the small capacity will make the tank ammunition deplete faster than in other tanks if precautions are not taken. Commanders should always shoot to kill in the least shots necessary, know center of mass, ammunition racks, etc to successfully engage a target.

90 mm DEFA F1					Turret rotation speed (°/s)					Reloading rate (seconds)
Mode	Capacity	Vertical	Horizontal	Stabilizer	Stock	Upgraded	Full	Expert	Aced	Stock	Full	Expert	Aced
Arcade	20	-8°/+15°	±180°	N/A	23.8	32.9	40.0	44.2	47.1	8.71	7.70	7.10	6.70
Realistic					14.9	17.5	21.3	23.5	25.0

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 60-62	HEATFS	320	320	320	320	320	320
OE 90 F1	HE	13	13	13	13	13	13

Shell details
Ammunition	Type of warhead	Velocity (m/s)	Projectile Mass (kg)	Fuse delay (m)	Fuse sensitivity (mm)	Explosive Mass (TNT equivalent) (g)	Ricochet
							0%	50%	100%
OCC 60-62	HEATFS	750	8.95	0.05	0.1	877.7	65°	72°	77°
OE 90 F1	HE	640	10.45	0	0.1	945	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)
OFUM PH90-F2	640	10.2	13	5	20	50

Ammo racks

Ammo racks of the AML-90

Full ammo	1st rack empty	2nd rack empty	3rd rack empty	4th rack empty	Visual discrepancy
20	16 (+4)	11 (+9)	7 (+13)	1 (+19)	No

Notes:

• Shells are modeled individually and disappear after having been shot or loaded.
• Racks 3 and 4 are first stage ammo racks. They total 10 shells and get filled first when loading up the tank.
  • These racks are also emptied early: the rack depletion order at full capacity is: 3 - 4 - 1 - 2.
  • Simply not firing when the gun is loaded will move ammunition from rack 1 then 2 into ready rack 4 then 3. Firing will interrupt the restocking of the ready racks.

Machine guns

7.62 mm A-A-F1N machine gun (coaxial)

Ammunition2 200 rounds

Belt capacity100 rounds

Reloadbasic crew → aces

10.4 → 8.0 s

Fire rate900 shots/min

7.62 mm A-A-F1N machine gun

Ammunition2 000 rounds

Belt capacity100 rounds

Reloadbasic crew → aces

10.4 → 8.0 s

Fire rate900 shots/min

7.62 mm A-A-F1N
Mount	Capacity (Belt)	Fire rate	Vertical	Horizontal
Coaxial	2,150 (100)	900	N/A	N/A
Pintle	800 (100)	900	-10°/+40°	±120°

The small calibre of the A-A-F1N machine guns makes them largely ineffective against all armoured vehicles but the ones with an open compartment. They still can be used to ping targets as a rangefinding help or to mow down minor obstacles blocking your line of sight.

Usage in battles

AML-90 should be primarily used as a scout flanking vehicle due to its high speed, low profile, scouting capabilities and firepower (tremendous for such a small vehicle). The AML-90 has primarily 3 uses:

Scouting:

As its name says, scouting. When on large maps, the scouting ability should be used at its full potential. The low profile and high speed make it able to crawl to cover fast and without creating much suspicion, while marking targets for friendlies to engage.

Flanking:

Due to the high speed and really powerful gun, the AML-90 can be used to hit any enemy from the back. This tactic should be a "Hit n' Run", you should disable or destroy targets and leave before they can engage you. The powerful gun can even be able to take on a Maus or E-100 if used properly (320 mm of penetration at all ranges at 0°). Use smoke to cover your trail when you have been spotted.

Sniping:

Despite the optics not having a huge zoom, it is enough to be able to detect, target and engage enemy vehicles at all ranges thanks to the HEAT-FS round. Be aware of your ammo as it can only carry 20, so make all shots count. It also creates a relatively small smoke trail when firing compared to other cannons at the battle rating (105 mm, other 90 mm, 122 mm) thanks to the muzzle brake. Bushes can also be used to make this vehicle invisible due to its low profile. A big bunch of branches can cover almost 70% of the front of the AML-90, making it a moving and deadly bush. It also creates a small engine sound that will be, most of the time, masked up by other tanks, giving you a stealth capability which can be exploited in urban combat.

Pros and cons

Pros:

• Its very small size makes it easy to get around and avoid shots.
• 320 mm penetrating HEAT-FS ammo should be able to take care of any expected enemies.
• Has access to smoke grenades and smoke shells that will allow it to move around unseen.
• Has a roof mounted 7.62 mm that can be good to shoot planes and open-topped vehicles.
• Armour is thin enough to not fuse some high calibre APHE shells, most notably from Soviet cannons.

Cons:

• Prone to overpressure damage.
• Only has a crew of 3, a single shot will most likely knock the AML-90 out.
• Only 10 to 12 mm of frontal armour, can get penetrated by .50 cal HMG fire and other small-calibre weapons.
• Very low ammo count of 20 shells.
• Terrible brakes, it will take you 20 metres to stop.
• Wheeled vehicle mobility: any obstacle makes you lose a lot of speed (walls, fences, potholes, hills).
• Taking smoke shells means having to take less HEAT-FS on the already limited ammo storage.

History

Design

In the 1950s, the French Army was still operating Daimler Ferrets that were becoming obsolete. For their replacement, French companies were solicited to produce a light armoured car. Panhard proposed the AML in 1957, along concurrent projects like the ELC AMX.

Development

The first prototypes were tested in 1959 and the vehicles entered service in 1961. The early versions were armed with a 60 mm mortar in the turret. A new turret integrating a 90 mm cannon was developed the same year they entered service. The AML was an export success with many armies around the world adopting the AML 90, in particular African or Middle-Eastern countries with limited budgets. Almost 5,000 units were produced.

Combat usage

The AML 90 saw service in the French Army and in numerous armies around the world, the most renowned foreign operators being South Africa, Spain, Israel, Saudi Arabia and Iraq. The AML 90 saw combat action during many conflicts throughout the years: Six-Day War, South African Border War, Iran-Iraq war, Toyota War among the most know and remains in service until today.

Media

Skins

• Skins and camouflages for the AML-90 from live.warthunder.com.

Videos

The Shooting Range #194 - Metal Beasts section at 00:30 discusses the AML-90.

My Best Scout Game Ever - AML-90 - PhlyDaily

See also

Other vehicles of similar configuration and role

• AUBL/74

External links

• [Wikipedia] Panhard AML
• [Tanks Encyclopedia] Panhard AML

Panhard
Armoured Cars	AML-90
AMD.35	AMD.35 · AMD.35 (SA35)
E.B.R.	E.B.R. (1951) · E.B.R. (1954) · E.B.R. (1963)
Export	AML-90