- Yes
- No
TL;DR: Spanish hybrid tank, with AMX-30E turret mounted on Gepard or Leone hull
History
The first half of this hybrid vehicle begins in the early 1960s with the development of the French AMX-30. The AMX-30 had its first prototype developed in 1960, with a few more produced in the following years. Five pre-production vehicles were constructed, and designated AMX-30A. The vehicle entered production in 1966 as the AMX-30B.
In 1970, France and Spain came to an agreement for license production of the AMX-30s. These were designated AMX-30E, and the first was produced in 1974. 180 were constructed by 1979. Another 200 were produced by 1983 – a total of 299 (19 imported directly from France).
The AMX-30Es, while largely successful, were hindered by their engines. Spain sought to improve these, and a number of prototypes were built to test various modernisations. These included:
- AMX-30E with new French gearbox and power-assisted steering
- AMX-30E with a 750hp Continental engine and Allison transmission. Designated Prototipo 001 ‘El Niño’
- AMX-30E with 720hp MTU engine and ZF 4 MP 250 transmission (Prototipo 002)
- AMX-30E with HS-110 engine and Allison transmission (Prototipo 003)
- 60 vehicles upgraded to this standard, designated AMX-30ER1
- AMX-30E with 800hp GM engine and Allison transmission. Two constructed with additional modifications (new tracks, new FCS’, etc.) (Prototipos 009)
- AMX-30E with 850hp MTU engine and ZF transmission.
- 150 vehicles upgraded to this standard, alongside modernised FCS, designated AMX-30EM2
The strangest proposals however were Prototipo 006 and ‘Proyecto LEOX’. Prototipo 006 was a proposal — not built — to mount the turret of the Leopard 1 on the hull of the AMX-30E. The LEOX was essentially the opposite – the AMX-30E turret on the Leopard 1 hull. One prototype was constructed. Except, it wasn’t a Leopard 1 hull. Details on the frontal hull reveal it to be either the hull of a Gepard, the German SPAAG, or alternatively, the Leone, the Italo-German MBT prototype (and precursor to the OF-40). Sources are very unclear, and so this is speculation based on visual appearances. The mudflaps, headlights, and tow hooks appear to much more closely resemble the Leone, and not the Gepard (nor an OF-40). However, based on the only available image of the LEOX, the hull sides do appear slightly more angled than on the Leone, and the grille matches the Gepard. This certainly seems more plausible than obtaining the only prototype of the Leone from Italy — either way, the vehicle’s characteristics remain practically the same.
Details about the Leone (Lion)
An MBT project undertaken by Italy and Germany in the 1970s, seeking to produce a more cost-effective version of the Leopard I, primarily for export. The vehicle would be produced in both Italy (turret, cannon, electrical equipment) and Germany (hull, engine, transmission and running gear). The vehicle had a newly designed frontal hull, and a welded turret very similar to that of the Leopard 1A3. One prototype was constructed around 1975-1977, but the project never progressed further. The experience gained in the Leone project, however, would aid heavily in the development of the OF-40, a purely Italian construction.
- Leone (left), Gepard (centre), and LEOX (right)
No information exists regarding the testing of the LEOX, and it’s obvious that the project never progressed further than a prototype. The turret was presumably returned to an AMX-30E, and the hull went on to serve as a tug at GDELS-Santa Bárbara Sistemas’ factory in Seville, still there to this day.
- Modified LEOX hull serving as a tug
Characteristics
The AMX-30E turret is armed with an unstabilised French CN-105-F1 105mm cannon. This cannon fires HEAT, namely OCC 105 F1. This shell is fired at a velocity of 1000m/s, and can penetrate 400mm of armour at 0°. The cannon can also fire HE rounds. The turret is fitted with NVD sights for the commander and gunner. Both sights have 800x600 resolution, and a magnification of x6 for the commander, and x5.8-8.0 for the gunner. The tank has both a coaxial 12.7mm H2HB and 7.62mm A-A-F1N machine gun.
The hull is fitted with a MTU MB 838 CA M500 engine, producing 830hp. The Leone weighed 43 tons total – both the Leopard 1A3 and AMX-30 turrets weigh around 10t (although I would appreciate a more accurate source for either), and so we can deduce that the LEOX also weighs around 43t. This gives the vehicle a power-to-weight ratio of 19.3hp/t. The vehicle has a top speed of 66km/h, with a reverse speed of 26km/h.
The LEOX has thin armour all-around. The AMX-30E turret has a maximum thickness of 50mm, with LOS values of 80mm from the front, 41.5mm for the sides, 50mm for the rear, and 20mm for the roof. The Leone hull has identical armour to the Leopard 1. The frontal hull is 70mm thick, the sides 35mm, and the rear 25mm, with the hull and rear sloped at 30° and 78° respectively (the sides are also sloped but different to both the Leopard (40°) and OF-40 (0°)).
Conclusion
The LEOX is the perfect example of what a premium or event tank should be, and would fit amazingly in a future (Greco-)Iberian tree. If Spain is never going to be added though, it would fit fine in either the Italian, French, or German tree. It would sit at a BR of 8.0, alongside the Leopard 1, AMX-30, and OF-40.
Specifications
Armament
- 105mm CN-105-F1
- 9 rpm
- Ammunition
- OCC 105 F1 HEAT
- 400mm at 0° at 10m
- OE 105 F1 Mle.60 HE
- 25mm at 0° at 10m
- OCC 105 F1 HEAT
- Vertical Guidance
- -8°/+20°
- Sights
- Commander
- 800x600, x6
- NVDs
- Gunner
- 800x600, 5.8-8.0
- NVDs
- Commander
Armour
- Hull front — 70mm at 30°
- Hull sides — 35mm
- Hull rear — 25mm at 78°
- Turret front — 80mm, variable angles
- Turret sides — 41.5mm, variable angles
- Turret rear — 50mm, variable angles
Mobility
- Speed
- 66km/h forward, 8 gears
- 26km/h reverse, 4 gears
- Weight
- ~43t (estimated)
- Engine power
- 830hp, ~19.3hp/t (estimated)
Other
- Crew
- 4 – Commander, gunner, loader, driver
- Smoke grenades
- 4 launchers
Images
- No other images exist of this tank
Sources