AMX 13 DCA
The AMX 13 DCA was a French anti-aircraft tank developed on the basis of the AMX 13 light tank .
development
At the request of the French military command, an anti-aircraft tank was developed from 1960 to replace the outdated M16 devices . The prototype was initially equipped with a 40-mm automatic cannon L / 70 AD , which was then replaced by two 30-mm automatic cannons. The troop tests took place in 1962 and from 1965 70 vehicles were manufactured and delivered.
description
Was as a base pan of the AMX 13 used. The Modèle S401A tower had rounded corners, was relatively large and equipped with an overhanging compartment at the stern to accommodate the radar antenna. The two cannons were equipped with flash suppressors. The vehicle had three hatches for the crew members (two on the tower ceiling, one on the left in the hull), which had corner mirrors . The "RD515 Œil Noir" target recognition radar with a collapsible antenna on the rear of the tower was used for target acquisition.
The tank was equipped with two 30 mm automatic cannon type HS831A the company Hispano-Suiza with a maximum shot size of 5000 m (flat fire) at a cadence equipped of 300 rounds per minute. There were two fog throwing cups on each side of the tower. The radar of the AMX 13 DCA showed an effective search range of up to 3000 m altitude within a radius of 12 km. After the target acquisition, the gunner had to do this in his optical sight. Then the radar switched to distance measurement. Azimuth , altitude and distance were transmitted to the guns via a fire control computer. The target tracking could only be done optically or by hand, so the operators had to be extremely concentrated. Since this was naturally not always the case, the hit rate was not inconsiderably reduced. Another disadvantage was the long pulse duration (7 µs) of the radar and the radar antenna, which was also fixed at an angle of 10 ° in the elevation range.
The main task of the vehicle was close-range defense, especially against low-flying combat aircraft and helicopters. With the appropriate ammunition, the AMX 13 DCA could also intervene in ground combat. Combating aerial targets while driving was only possible at very low speeds and on a completely flat surface. Any tilting in longitudinal or transverse inclination resulted in the gunner losing sight of the target.
These disadvantages meant that only a small number of devices were ordered. After experimenting with different guns on chain and wheeled racks for a successor model (AMX30DCA30, AMX30SA, VADAR), it was decided to introduce the Roland and Crotale systems .
Technical specifications
- Armament: two 30 mm automatic cannons
- Length: 5.40 m
- Width: 2.50 m
- Height: 3.80 m
- Top speed: 60 km / h
- Weight: 17.2 t
- Crew: 3
literature
- FM by Senger and Etterlin: Tanks of the World 1983. Arms and Armor Press, London / Melbourne, p. 159 ff.
