AMX-32 (105)
| This page is about the French medium tank AMX-32 (105). For the other version, see AMX-32. |
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Contents
Description
The AMX-32 (105) is the first prototype subvariant of the AMX-32, being the third variant of the AMX-30 main battle tank family. Ateliers de Construction d'Issy-les-Moulineaux and Atelier de Construction de Puteaux co-developed an export tank in the late 1970s during the Cold War to meet a specific market niche for nations with low defense budgets. No production orders were made despite the development of six prototypes. In June 1979, the first prototype of a modified and improved AMX-30 for the export market, the AMX-32 (105), was presented. By deliberately duplicating the spaced armour system on the German Leopard 1A3 and Leopard 1A4, the AMX-32 (105) obtained similar armour protection and enhanced survivability against anti-tank guided missiles (ATGMs). Introduced in Update "Apex Predators", the AMX-32 (105) shares several key features of the AMX-30 Super such as a two-plane fully automatic stabilization system and thermal imaging equipment for the gunner. Conversely, the AMX-32 (105) suffers from being sluggish due to using the 680 hp engine found on the AMX-30 series tanks, in comparison to the 850 hp engine of the AMX-30 Super. Nonetheless, the AMX-32 (105) is a formidable vehicle that necessitates a distinct play-style due to its lacklustre mobility and armour.
General info
Survivability and armour
Like other NATO main battle tanks in the early 1960s, the emphasis on armoured combat shifted from heavy armour to a more agile and less armoured tank. This ideology is reflected in the AMX-30 and 32 series tanks, which are often regarded as the least protected main battle tanks ever produced. With only ~130 mm of effective armour on the upper front glacis, and ~65 mm effective armour on the lower front glacis and gun mantlet, the AMX-32 (105)'s biggest opponent is autocannon-armed vehicles. The AMX-32 (105) is capable of stopping all rounds below AP 23 mm frontally and at 500 m side-facing.
Armour type:
- Rolled homogeneous armour and cast homogeneous armour on the mantlet
| Armour | Front (Slope angle) | Sides | Rear | Roof |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hull | 35 mm (75°) Upper Glacis 50 mm (26°) Lower Glacis 25 mm (79°) Belly 57 mm (4°-57°) Hull over tracks |
35 mm (35°) + 20 mm Top 30 mm + 6 mm Bottom |
30 mm (0°-15°) 25 mm (71°) Belly |
10 - 15 mm |
| Turret | 30 mm (78°) Front slope 41,5 mm (7°-8°-22°) Cheeks 80 mm (rounded) Gun mantlet 50 mm (rounded) MG port 60 mm (rounded) Sides of mantlet |
41,5 mm (18°-22°) | 30 mm + 4 mm | 15 - 20 mm |
| Cupola | 35 mm (cylindrical) | 35 mm (cylindrical) | 35 mm (cylindrical) | 20 - 35 mm |
Notes:
- Suspension wheels, tracks, and torsion bars are 20 mm thick.
Mobility
The 680 hp engine found on the AMX-30 series tanks is the main cause of the AMX-32 (105)'s mobility struggles. Due to such a low powered engine, the AMX-32 (105) is slow to accelerate and doesn't fit in the role of 'hit and run', leaning towards a more static role in game. The tank is capable of neutral steering and can reverse at the same speed as it can go forward. Use these to your advantage when engaging targets, but be cautious when peeking targets as you may require more time to get into position than you anticipate.
When stock, the AMX-32 (105) struggles to reach 30 km/h on flat terrain. However, this doesn't imply that it can't achieve higher speeds. The AMX-32 (105) can attain its maximum speed on paved roads and other hard surfaces, but the AMX-32 (105) can easily lose up to 10 km/h when turning. You shouldn't expect to be the first to reach the best locations, you may not even reach the capture point in time until your teammates have capped it. Spading the vehicle will lead to a boost in its acceleration and enable it to reach higher speeds more efficiently.
For those who are used to the AMX-30 Super, this tank will feel terrible due to its lack of mobility, but this shouldn't discourage you from playing the AMX-32 (105). While the AMX-32 (105) leaves somethings to be desired when it comes to mobility, its weapon systems and stabilized cannon make up for its disadvantages.
| 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 | 38 | 1,054 | 1,336 | 27.74 | 35.16 |
| Realistic | 66 | 66 | 601 | 700 | 15.82 | 18.42 | |
Modifications and economy
| Mobility | Protection | Firepower | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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Armaments
Main armament
| 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 | 47 | -8°/+20° | ±180° | Two-plane | 23.8 | 32.9 | 40.0 | 44.2 | 47.1 | 8.71 | 7.70 | 7.10 | 6.70 |
| Realistic | 14.9 | 17.5 | 21.2 | 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 105 F1 | HEAT | 400 | 400 | 400 | 400 | 400 | 400 |
| OE 105 F1 Mle.60 | HE | 25 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 25 |
| OFL 105 F1 | APFSDS | 361 | 358 | 350 | 341 | 332 | 322 |
| 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° | |||
| OFL 105 F1 | APFSDS | 1,525 | 3.8 | - | - | - | 78° | 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
| Full ammo |
1st rack empty |
2nd rack empty |
3rd rack empty |
4th rack empty |
5th rack empty |
6th rack empty |
Visual discrepancy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 47 | __ (+__) | __ (+__) | __ (+__) | __ (+__) | __ (+__) | __ (+__) | __ |
Machine guns
| 20 mm 20F2 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mount | Capacity (Belt) | Fire rate | Vertical | Horizontal |
| Coaxial | 480 (500) | 740 | 0°/+20° | - |
| 7.62 mm A-A-F1N | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mount | Capacity (Belt) | Fire rate | Vertical | Horizontal |
| Pintle | 2,170 (100) | 900 | -10°/+40° | ±120° |
Usage in battles
Patience is key to using the AMX-32 (105) in all game modes. Although the tank has been stabilized, it remains ineffective as a 'run and gun' tank. The best ways to play the AMX-32 (105) is to take it slow when moving up, use lots of cover and wait for the enemies to come to you, and avoid autocannon armed vehicles. When engaging vehicles with autocannons, be as cautious as possible as they are your most dangerous enemy. If you're found in a situation where you both know each other's location, do not attempt to go head to head with them, as this will result in your death. Either reposition your tank to a new location or wait until their attention is diverted to a different vehicle to push out and attack.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Coaxial 20 mm autocannon with its own independent elevation
- One of the few French tanks with a stabilizer
- Access to a laser rangefinder and thermal optics for the gunner to assist in accurate long-range fighting
Cons:
- Lower frontal glacis armour and turret mantlet unable to stop any AP autocannon munitions of a calibre higher than 23 mm
- Lacklustre acceleration and mobility
History
With designs starting in 1975 for the AMX-32 series main battle tanks Ateliers de Construction d'Issy-les-Moulineaux and Atelier de Construction de Puteaux presented the first prototypes produced in June 1979 at Satory VII Exhibition of Military Equipment and Weapons. This version, the AMX-32 (105) consisted of a reworked turret, moving from cast homogeneous armour to rolled homogeneous armour, alongside adding the M527 gyrostabilized panoramic sight for the commander. The AMX-32's chassis underwent a revision, which included changing the front glacis armour from 79 mm cast homogeneous armour to 35 mm rolled homogeneous armour. To enhance HEAT projectile protection, 6 mm rolled homogeneous armour skirts were added to cover the tracks and lower side plate. Although the tank was intended for export, there were no export orders received, and the AMX-32 project was ultimately scrapped soon after.
Media
- Videos
- 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 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 |
