The AMX-13 is a French light tank produced from 1952 to 1987. It served with the French Army, as the Char 13t-75 Modèle 51, and was exported to more than 26 other nations. Named after its initial weight of 13 tonnes, and featuring a tough and reliable chassis, it was fitted with an oscillating turret built by GIAT Industries (now KNDS_France) with revolver-type magazines, which were also used on the Austrian SK-105 Kürassier. The F3 was similar to the DEFA D921/F1 low-pressure gun developed for the Panhard AML-90, and even utilized the same ammunition, though it possessed a significantly higher muzzle velocity. By the late 1960s, an export model of the AMX-13 was also available with an even larger 105 mm CN-105 L/57 gun in a FL-12 turret. France also fielded a number of AMX-13s fitted with US Chaffee light tank turrets in the fighting in Algeria.

Argentina

The Argentine Army operated several locally produced variants of French armored fighting vehicles throughout the Cold War period, notably the AMX-13-105 light tank and the AMX-VCI armored personnel carrier, both derived from the AMX-13 chassis. These platforms were assembled and upgraded domestically in order to support Argentina’s armored and mechanized units.

During the 1982 Falklands War, Argentine AMX-13s were not deployed to the Falkland Islands. Argentine high command assessed that the islands’ terrain — characterized by peat bogs, marshland, rocky ground, and poor off-road mobility conditions — was unsuitable for tracked armored operations. Furthermore, the newly developed TAM (Tanque Argentino Mediano) main battle tank had not yet reached operational readiness in sufficient numbers.

Instead, the Argentine Army favored the deployment of wheeled armored reconnaissance vehicles such as the Panhard AML-90. The AML-90 offered superior strategic and tactical mobility on the islands’ limited road network and rough terrain, while also simplifying logistical support and maintenance requirements. Although its 90 mm low-pressure gun lacked the firepower of the AMX-13-105’s 105 mm main gun, Argentine commanders considered the trade-off acceptable given the operational environment.

Following the conflict, the AMX-13 remained in Argentine service for several years in secondary and training roles before being progressively phased out in favor of the TAM and more modern armored platforms.

Dominican Republic

AMX-13s saw service among both the loyalists and the rebels during the Dominican Civil War of 1965. Two AMX-13s used by the rebel forces were destroyed by M50 Ontos of the United States Marine Corps during the subsequent American intervention in the Dominican Republic.

Israel

thumb|Decommissioned Israeli AMX-13 on display at Yad La-Shiryon Tank Museum in [[Latrun]]

The AMX-13 was Israel's first modern tank and was purchased at a time when France was the only country willing to openly sell arms to Israel. By 1956, Israel had ordered 180 AMX-13 light tanks as part of an agreement to reinforce Israel's military and to maintain the balance in Israel's favour after the Egyptian–Czechoslovak arms deal. Besides buying whole AMX-13s, Israel also purchased a quantity of SA 50 75mm tank guns for upgunning some of the American M4 Sherman tanks. Due to the shortage of tanks, the IDF used them as main battle tanks and employed them to form a tank battalion in the 7th Armored Brigade. IDF reconnaissance units did not use AMX-13s.

By 1967, Israel had less than 100 AMX-13s and formed three AMX-13 battalions, all of which fought actively on all fronts during the Six-Day War. The first battalion moved south in the West Bank area through Taluzi and Tubas and occupied Nablus (against Jordan). The second, attacking Egypt, captured the strongpoints protecting the Gaza Strip and the coastal road in the north of the Sinai Peninsula. The third, finally, assaulted the Golan Heights in southwestern Syria.

The IDF realised that the AMX-13 tank was too lightly armoured and had a weak main gun. Losses were heavy at places like Rafah Junction and Jiradi Pass during the Six-Day War with many destroyed by heavier Arab-fielded Soviet armour, such as T-55 MBTs and IS-3 (tank) heavy tanks. Subsequently, Israel gradually phased out all of its AMX-13s following the Six-Day War, with most ending up being sold to the then newly established Singapore Army between 1968 and 1969.

India

thumb|Indian AMX-13

During the 1965 Indo-Pakistan War, India deployed AMX-13 Tanks to oppose the initial armour onslaught of Operation Grand Slam in the Chhamb-Jaurian area and also in the Battle of Asal Uttar.

During the 1965 Indo-Pakistani War in Chhamb-Jaurian in Jammu & Kashmir, the 20 Lancers, equipped with AMX-13 tanks, was under command of the 10th Infantry Division. Pakistan's surprise attack on 1 September, Operation Grand Slam, fell on 191 Infantry Brigade which was supported by "C" Squadron of the regiment, under Maj Bhaskar Roy. The Pakistani armoured attack comprised two regiments, one of M48 Patton medium tanks and one of M36B2 tank destroyers. The attack began at 0805 hours and was strongly resisted. During the initial phases of the attack, Roy destroyed six Pattons and three recoilless guns, and captured a jeep. A second attack was launched by Pakistani armour at 1100 hours and contested by the AMX-13s of 20 Lancers, which, despite being outgunned and outnumbered, destroyed a total 13 tanks that day and prevented the encirclement of 191 Infantry Brigade. For the defence of Chhamb-Jaurian, the regiment was awarded a theatre honour and Maj Bhaskar Roy was awarded Maha Vir Chakra for his leadership in this action.

In the Battle of Assal Uttar, on 8–10 September 1965 in Asal Uttar (Khem Karan, Punjab, India), a regiment of AMX-13s — 8th Light Cavalry — along with a regiment each of Centurions and M4 Shermans fought off and defeated a Pakistani armoured offensive comprising five regiments of M48 Patton tanks and one regiment of M24 Chaffee tanks.

Indonesia

thumb|Indonesian AMX-13/75 Modèle 51 (SM1) in the lead of another two AMX-13 tanks and one AMX-VTT APC

The Indonesian Army received 175 AMX-13/75, 32 AMX-VCI (including four command variants and six ARV variants), and 10 AMX-13 PDP from France in 1960, which were delivered in 1960–1962. Indonesia then bought around 100 to 180 ex-Royal Netherlands Army AMX-VCI in 1976, which were modernized and delivered in 1977–1978. The last batch of AMX-13 family were bought in 1980–1981, when the Army acquired 130 second-hand but modernized AMX-13/105 from the Netherlands.

The AMX-13s first saw combat against the 30 September Movement in 1965, when they were deployed to secure Suharto's control of Jakarta against an alleged coup by other generals'.

AMX-13/75 tanks and the VCI variants participated in the 1975 Indonesian invasion of East Timor (known in Indonesia as Operasi Seroja).

Indonesian AMX-13s also participated in the 2003–2004 Indonesian offensive in Aceh.

The AMX-13 gained momentary notoriety in Indonesian social media in September 2020, after an AMX-13 driver lost control when making a turn and ran over a street food vendor cart and four motorcycles. The accident happened on 10 September 2020 at around 11:00 WIB, at an intersection in Cipatat District, West Bandung Regency, during a 4th Cavalry Battalion company-level combat readiness exercise. No one was injured and the owners of the cart and vehicles were given compensation totalling 15.4 million rupiah.

Lebanon

The Lebanese Army was an important user of the AMX-13 in the Middle East, purchasing 42 AMX-13/75s and 22 AMX-13/105s from France in 1972 as part of a modernization program. During the Lebanese Civil War, the Lebanese AMX-13s saw extensive service in the hands of the regular Lebanese Army and various armed groups in and outside Beirut between 1975 and 1990, following the collapse of the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) structure in January 1976, and later again in February 1984 in the wake of the Mountain War. During this period, most of the regular Army's AMX-13s fell into the hands of the competing Christian-rightist Lebanese Front and Muslim-leftist Lebanese National Movement (LNM) militias or were taken way by dissident rebellious Lebanese Army factions. France later delivered an additional 13 AMX-13/90s to the regular Lebanese Army between 1978–1981 and again in 1984. Captured AMX-13s were employed by the Lebanese Arab Army (LAA), Army of Free Lebanon (AFL), Kataeb Regulatory Forces (KRF), Tigers Militia, Lebanese Forces (LF), South Lebanon Army (SLA), Amal Movement, and the People's Liberation Army (PLA). Nearly all AMX-13s were eventually returned by the demobilized militias to the Lebanese Army between 1990 and 1993. Currently, none of the Lebanese AMX-13 light tanks is believed to remain operational.

  • AMX-13 GTI: Improved suspension by Krauss-Maffei
  • AMX-13 THS: Prototype fitted with hydrostatic transmission
  • AMX-13: Fitted with Rapace 14 MBRL
  • AMX-13 HOT: Fitted with HOT ATGM launchers

Production variants

thumb|[[SS.11 anti-tank missile-launcher version of the AMX-13]]

thumb|upright|AMX-13 DCA AA version

thumb|Modified AMX VCI (APC version of the AMX-13) with the American M55 turret fixed with [[M45 Quadmount anti-aircraft quad guns]]

  • AMX-Chaffee: Some initial vehicles were fitted with the turret of the M24 Chaffee
  • AMX-13 [DTT]: Initial vehicles with the turret of the M24 Chaffee converted into a driver training tank (DTT). Gun removed.
  • AMX-13/75 Modèle 51: High-velocity SA 50 75 mm Gun in FL-10 turret, with four top rollers and revised stowage
  • AMX-13/75 Modèle 51 FL11: Low-recoil SA 49 75 mm gun in FL-11 turret as installed in Panhard EBR armoured car, with two top rollers
  • AMX-13 T75 (Char Lance SS-11): Fitted with SS.11 ATGM launchers
  • AMX-13 T75 avec TCA: Fitted with an electronic guidance system for the missiles (TCA stands for "télécommande automatique")
  • AMX-13/90 C90: FL-10 turret refitted with the CN 90 F3 90 mm gun
  • AMX-13/90 LRF: Fitted with a laser rangefinder
  • AMX-13/105 Modèle 58: Fitted with a CN 105-57 105 mm Gun in an FL-12 turret (used by the Argentine Army and the Netherlands)
  • AMX-13/105: Upgraded export version of the Modele 58 with a thermal sleeve and a revised hull front
  • AMX-13 Model 1987

Late production version

  • AMX-13 DCA bitube de 30 <abbr>mm</abbr>: SPAAG version with a retractable radar and two 30mm cannons fitted; 60 were produced beginning in 1969. (DCA = Défense Contre Avions)
  • AMX-13 [Training Tank]: AMX-13 with the turret removed; used for driver training
  • AMX-13 CD (Char de Depannage) Modèle 55 (AMX-D): Recovery version
  • AMX-13 PDP (Poseur De Pont) Modèle 57: Scissors-type bridgelayer

Modernisation packages

  • Cockerill 90&nbsp;mm Regunning Packaging: 90&nbsp;mm up gunning package
  • Giat Industries upgrade with a Baudouin 6F 11 SRY diesel engine and an upgraded turret
  • Giat Industries Add-on Armour package installed on turret front/sides and glacis plate
  • NIMDA Upgrade Package: Israeli retrofit package
  • INDRA Amazon Fire Control System upgrade with thermal imaging and a laser rangefinder

International

thumb|The Indonesian Army's AMX-13/105 Modèle 58 (SM1) Note the hydropneumatic suspension and also the modified hull and turret stowage bins as part of SM1 upgrade

thumb|The Indonesian Army's AMX-13/105 Retrofit

; Indonesia

  • AMX-13/75 Modèle 51 (SM1) some were upgraded in 1995 with Detroit Diesel DDA GM6V-53T, ZF 5WG-180 Automatic Transmission, and hydropneumatic "Dunlopstrut" Suspension. Based on Singapore SM1 upgrade packages but without the upgraded gunner sight.
  • AMX-13/105 Modèle 58 (SM1) some were upgraded in 1995 with Detroit Diesel DDA GM6V-53T, ZF 5WG-180 Automatic Transmission, and hydropneumatic "Dunlopstrut" Suspension. Based on Singapore SM1 upgrade packages but without the upgraded gunner sight. new 105&nbsp;mm gun (GIAT CN 105 G1) and turret (Steyr JT-1 Oscillating turret) from SK-105 Kürassier. The 75&nbsp;mm main gun remained unchanged. 25 in service as of 2024.
  • : 175 AMX-13/75 and 130 AMX-13/105 purchased from France and The Netherlands.
  • : 72 AMX-13/75s and 3 AMX-13 CD armoured recovery vehicles
  • : 20 AMX-13/75s
  • : 4,300 (of all types)
  • : Operationalized some amounts of Captured Indian AMX-13/75s.
  • : 340 second-hand AMX-13/75s received (150 from Switzerland, 150 from India, 40 from Israel) to the air-portable 12 tons light tank program (as "AMX 12t"), as regular French light tanks
  • The AMX-13/75 Modèle 51 FL11 and AMX-13 avec Canon 57 L/100, as premium French light tanks
  • The AMX-105A and AMX-13 F3, as regular French self-propelled guns.

See also

AMX series

  • AMX-VCI (derivative)
  • Mk F3 155mm (derivative)
  • AMX-10P
  • AMX-10 RC
  • AMX-50
  • AMX-30
  • AMX Leclerc
  • AMX GCT

Vehicles of comparable role, performance, and era

  • PT-76
  • SK-105 Kürassier
  • T69

References

Notes

Bibliography

  • David François, El Salvador – Volume 1: Crisis, Coup and Uprising 1970–1983, Latin America@War Volume 32, Helion & Company Limited, Warwick UK 2023.
  • David François, El Salvador – Volume 2: Conflagration 1984–1992, Latin America@War Volume 34, Helion & Company Limited, Warwick UK 2023.
  • Samer Kassis, 30 Years of Military Vehicles in Lebanon, Beirut: Elite Group, 2003.
  • M.P. Robinson, Peter Lau and Guy Gibeau, Images of War: The AMX 13 Light Tank, A Complete History – rare photographs from wartime archives, Pen & Sword Military, Barnsley 2018.
  • Chars-francais.net