The AMX-VCI () is one of the many variants of the French

AMX-13 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 re ...

light tank. It was the front line APC of the

French Army The French Army, officially known as the Land Army (, , ), is the principal Army, land warfare force of France, and the largest component of the French Armed Forces; it is responsible to the Government of France, alongside the French Navy, Fren ...

until replaced by the AMX-10P. It is still used by some countries, for example Mexico, where it goes under the name of DNC-1 and is armed with a 20mm cannon.

History

Beginning in 1957, some 3,000 vehicles were produced. It was initially produced as the AMX-13 VTT (), which carried ten infantrymen and was armed with either an AA-52 7.62 mm machine gun or a 12.7 mm

M2 Browning machine gun The M2 machine gun or Browning .50-caliber machine gun (informally, "Ma Deuce") is a heavy machine gun that was designed near the end of World War I by John Browning. While similar to Browning's M1919 Browning machine gun, which was chamber ...

in an open mounting. The final versions had a turret equipped with a 20mm light

autocannon An autocannon, automatic cannon or machine cannon is a automatic firearm, fully automatic gun that is capable of rapid-firing large-caliber ( or more) armour-piercing, explosive or incendiary ammunition, incendiary shell (projectile), shells, ...

, producing a vehicle that can be seen as an early example of the

infantry fighting vehicle An infantry fighting vehicle (IFV), also known as a mechanized infantry combat vehicle (MICV), is a type of armoured fighting vehicle and armoured personnel carrier used to carry infantry into battle and provide direct fire, direct-fire suppo ...

Variants

The AMX-13 VCI itself was the basis for a number of variants: * AMX-VTP: Original APC variant armed with an open-mount light machine-gun * AMX-VTT (AMX-VCI): APC fitted with a turret mounted light machine-gun * AMX-LT: VTT based artillery fire control vehicle * AMX-PC: VTT based Command Post * AMX-VCA: VTT based 155 mm Support Vehicle designed to accompany the Mk F3 SPH * AMX-VCG: Combat engineer version * AMX-VCI 12.7: Version with a 50 calibre (12.7 mm) HMG used by France and the Netherlands * AMX-VCI M-56: Fitted with a 20mm cannon * AMX-VCPM de 81: VTT-based 81 mm Mortar Carrier * AMX-VCPM de 120: VTT-based 120 mm Mortar Carrier * AMX-VCTB (): VTT-based Ambulance * AMX-VTT avec tourelle NA2: Fitted with ATGM launcher * AMX-VTT ROLAND: Roland SPAAML * AMX-VTT Version 1987: Modernised version with all the tank automotive improvements * AMX-VTT with Minotaur Mine System: Minotaur scatterable mine-laying system fitted on the rear * AMX-13 RATAC: VTT-based RATAC ground

surveillance Surveillance is the monitoring of behavior, many activities, or information for the purpose of information gathering, influencing, managing, or directing. This can include observation from a distance by means of electronic equipment, such as ...

radar Radar is a system that uses radio waves to determine the distance ('' ranging''), direction ( azimuth and elevation angles), and radial velocity of objects relative to the site. It is a radiodetermination method used to detect and track ...

vehicle * AMX DOZER: bulldozer blade equipped version * AMX-13 VCPC: Argentinian Army version of the AMX-13 VCI * AMX-13 mod.56 VCI: Belgian Army version with a .30 Browning mounted in a CALF38 turret * AMX-13 mod.56 1 mm mortar carrier Belgian Army version * AMX-13 mod.56 ommand post Belgian Army version * AMX-13 mod.56 NTAC atgm Belgian Army version with a rear-mounted ENTAC missile launcher * AMX-13 mod.56

argo In Greek mythology, the ''Argo'' ( ; ) was the ship of Jason and the Argonauts. The ship was built with divine aid, and some ancient sources describe her as the first ship to sail the seas. The ''Argo'' carried the Argonauts on their quest fo ...

Belgian Army version * AMX-VTT TOW: Dutch Army version with a TOW launcher on a cupola * AMX-GWT (GeWonden Transport): Dutch army version of the VCTB * AMX-VCI Retrofit:

Indonesia Indonesia, officially the Republic of Indonesia, is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania, between the Indian Ocean, Indian and Pacific Ocean, Pacific oceans. Comprising over List of islands of Indonesia, 17,000 islands, including Sumatra, ...

n Army modernization with the hull lengthened 20 cm to accommodate

Navistar International Motors, LLC (formerly Navistar International Corporation) is an American manufacturer of commercial vehicles and engines, established in 1986 as a successor to the International Harvester company. International Motors produces ...

400hp engine, redesigned engine deck, frontal armor, and exhaust, also modification to transmission and suspension. * DNC-1:

Mexican Army The Mexican Army () is the combined Army, land and Air Force, air branch and is the largest part of the Mexican Armed Forces; it is also known as the National Defense Army. The Army is under the authority of the Secretariat of National Defense o ...

local designation, slightly modernized version with a diesel engine and a 20 mm. cannon, upgraded by SEDENA

Combat history

Lebanon

A total of 60 AMX-VCIs were delivered to the Lebanese Army in 1971-72, with additional 30 vehicles being reportedly delivered in May 1983. A number of VCIs were seized by the Amal Movement militia and the pro-Israeli

South Lebanon Army The South Lebanon Army or South Lebanese Army (SLA; , ), also known as the Lahad Army () or as the De Facto Forces (DFF), was a Christianity in Lebanon, Christian-dominated militia in Lebanon. It was founded by Lebanese military officer Saad H ...

(SLA) militia in February 1984 after the defeat of the Lebanese government forces by

Shia Muslim Shia Islam is the second-largest Islamic schools and branches, branch of Islam. It holds that Muhammad in Islam, Muhammad designated Ali ibn Abi Talib () as both his political Succession to Muhammad, successor (caliph) and as the spiritual le ...

and

Druze The Druze ( ; , ' or ', , '), who Endonym and exonym, call themselves al-Muwaḥḥidūn (), are an Arabs, Arab Eastern esotericism, esoteric Religious denomination, religious group from West Asia who adhere to the Druze faith, an Abrahamic ...

militias during the Mountain War. The captured vehicles were quickly pressed into service by the SLA, who used them during the South Lebanon conflict (1985–2000) until the collapse of the militia in the wake of the Israeli withdrawal of April 2000; those used by Amal were returned to the Lebanese Army earlier in October 1990. VCIs up-armed with US M40 106mm recoilless rifles were also employed by Lebanese Army

General A general officer is an Officer (armed forces), officer of high rank in the army, armies, and in some nations' air force, air and space forces, marines or naval infantry. In some usages, the term "general officer" refers to a rank above colone ...

Michel Aoun's loyalist troops during the Elimination War waged against his Christian rivals of the

Lebanese Forces The Lebanese Forces ( ') is a Lebanon, Lebanese Christianity in Lebanon, Christian-based political party and Lebanese Forces (militia), former militia during the Lebanese Civil War. It currently holds 19 of the 128 seats in Lebanon's Parliamen ...

(LF) militia at East Beirut in February 1990, who in turn also managed to capture some VCIs from Army barracks, which were returned in 1991-94.

Operators

Current operators

* : VTT/VCA and command post versions in service with the

Cypriot National Guard The National Guard of Cyprus (), also known as the Greek Cypriot National Guard or simply the National Guard, is the military force of the Republic of Cyprus. It consists of air, land, sea and special forces elements, and is highly integrated wit ...

. * :

Ecuadorian Army The Ecuadorian Army () is the land component of the Ecuadorian Armed Forces. Its 25,650 active soldiers are deployed in relation to its military doctrine. The contemporary Ecuadorian Army incorporates many jungle and special forces infantry un ...

* :

Indonesian Army The Indonesian Army ( (TNI-AD), ) is the army, land branch of the Indonesian National Armed Forces. It has an estimated strength of 300,400 active personnel. The history of the Indonesian Army has its roots in 1945 when the (TKR) "People's Se ...

200 acquired in the 1960s. As of 2016, only 75 vehicles remain in service. * :

409 in service * : Qatar Armed Forces (Army) * : Sudan People's Armed Forces * : Venezuelan Army and

Venezuelan National Guard The Bolivarian National Guard of Venezuela ( - GNB), is a gendarmerie component of the National Bolivarian Armed Forces of Venezuela, National Armed Forces of Venezuela. The national guard can serve as gendarmerie, perform civil defense roles, or ...

(AMX-VCTB Modernized) * : United Arab Emirates Army

Former operators

* :

Belgian Army The Land Component (, ), historically and commonly still referred to as the Belgian Army (, ), is the Land warfare, land branch of the Belgian Armed Forces. The King of the Belgians is the commander in chief. The current chief of staff of the Land ...

, successor to the M75 armored personnel carrier. AMX-13 mod.56 VTT (305 vehicles), AMX-13 mod.56 PC (72 vehicles), AMX-13 mod.56 Cargo (58 vehicles), AMX-13 mod.56 Mor (90 vehicles), AMX-13 mod.56 MILAN (86 vehicles) and AMX-13 mod.56 ENTAC (30 vehicles). Replaced by the M113A1-B and the AIFV-B. * :

, replaced by the AMX-10P. * : 90 vehicles in service with the Lebanese Army from surplus

stocks between 1971 and 1993. Replaced by the M113 and the AIFV-B-C25. * : Dutch Army, 345 AMX-PRI (infantry fighting vehicle), 162 PRCO (command), 46 PRVR (cargo) et 46 PRGWT (ambulance). 67 PRI modified to mortar carriers (PRMR) et 26 to tank destroyers (PRAT), with TOW missiles * Amal Movement militia: ex-Lebanese Army vehicles in service between 1984 and 1990. *

: ex-Lebanese Army vehicles in service between 1990 and 1994. *

: ex-Lebanese Army vehicles in service between 1984 and 2000. * :

Italian Army The Italian Army ( []) is the Army, land force branch of the Italian Armed Forces. The army's history dates back to the Italian unification in the 1850s and 1860s. The army fought in colonial engagements in China and Italo-Turkish War, Libya. It ...

, AMX-13 VCI (various versions) (80-100 vehicles)

Evaluation-only operators

* :

Israel Defense Forces The Israel Defense Forces (IDF; , ), alternatively referred to by the Hebrew-language acronym (), is the national military of the State of Israel. It consists of three service branches: the Israeli Ground Forces, the Israeli Air Force, and ...

, captured 2 abandoned Lebanese Army VCIs during the

1982 Lebanon War The 1982 Lebanon War, also called the Second Israeli invasion of Lebanon, began on 6 June 1982, when Israel invaded southern Lebanon. The invasion followed a series of attacks and counter-attacks between the Palestine Liberation Organization ...

.Robinson, Lau and Gibeau, ''Images of War: The AMX 13 Light Tank, A Complete History – rare photographs from wartime archives'' (2018), p. 190.

Notes

References

* * * * * * *

External links

Photos and file on the AMX-13 VCI at ArmyRecognition.com
{{DEFAULTSORT:Amx-Vci Tracked armoured personnel carriers Armoured personnel carriers of France Military equipment introduced in the 1950s Armoured personnel carriers of the Cold War