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Yes
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No
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Yes
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No
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Yes
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No
https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/873989469924122624/1132715491882975352/ehFFqCH.png
The AMX 30 Valorisé is one of the proposed standards that did not get adopted during the AMX 30 B2 program. The cost was too high and some parts were axed to get it within budget.
The AMX 30 Valorisé was the pinnacle of what GIAT could do at the time of the program. They crammed all technologies they could inside the chassis to make it a worthy upgrade.
The most obvious upgrade is the APX M453 (here SAGEM model) periscopic sight that is used by the commander as part of his director stabilizer. We will come back later to this.
The major upgrade over the normal AMX 30 is the new EFAB 120mm gun that was installed.
https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/844668962070855680/1000718059180408862/unknown.png
As one can note the new gun came with a new french APFSDS round as well as the OCC 120G1. It is still compatible with all NATO 120mm rounds as it is the same gun you found on the 4th AMX 32 (AMX 32 120) and all AMX 40s.
The EFAB 120 mm gun was the centre of french APFSDS development until the 105 was kept. This means the 120 has multiple experimental 120mm rounds to choose from.
However among these the closest to reach production is the “120mm AFAC” round, a 5.8kg tungsten apfsds shot a 1700 m/s
the AFAC round is always shown with the 30 Valorisé
https://media.discordapp.net/attachments/764544209188683847/1150480123259277312/Capture_decran_2023-09-10_a_19.15.19.png?width=1520&height=1140
Notes : the AFAC round can be used by the AMX 30 valorisé and the AMX 32. The 120mm gun can also use 120mm german rounds.
In FCS term the AMX 30 Valorisé recieved an upgrade over its predecessor.
https://i.imgur.com/XZYsLqu.mp4
(link in case it does not play) https://i.imgur.com/XZYsLqu.mp4
https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/844668962070855680/1155497873891409991/XZYsLqu.mp4
“(Taking about gunner’s station) On remplace la référence inertielle du viseur APX M453 par une deuxième référence inertielle liée à l’artillerie”. => “The inertial reference of the APX M453 sight is replaced by a second inertial reference point linked to the artillery (understand the main gun)”.
What does this lingo means ? It just means that when the gunner takes over the control of the gun, the FCS switches from the commander’s hunter killer (director stabilizer) mode to a classic gun stabilizer.
Over the AMX 30, this version got a normal stabilizer (for the gunner) and a hunter killer (director stabilizer) for the commander. This dual system is usually known as COSTAC and is usually portrayed as some weird technology. However through this short clip, we can see there was just a question of lost in translation. As GIAT mostly insisted on the commander’s hunter killer function (that no other 1960s MBT had back then), the normal stabilizer was only considered a back up solution, and therefore was not put forward to the foreign visitors. This led to confusion over the system. Confusion which continued to be carried over to its successor the AMX 32 (but less for AMX 40 as they had corrected their marketing error).
The gunner and commander are provided with LRF and LLTV equipment by their own respective sights (APX M453 and APX M421).
Being part of what led to the AMX 30 B2, it shares motor capabilities with the HS-110-2 740 hp engine and SESM ESM 200 Minerva.
Furthermore there are two versions of the APX M453 which only differ by their external appearance. The one showcased in this suggestion is the SAGEM model (right) however the Sere-Bézu (left) model can be mounted as well and can help create a “second” model of AMX 30 Valorisé should the need arise.
Overall the AMX 30 Valorisé is a good addition to the AMX 30 family providing needed capabilities to the tech tree.
Sources :
Saumur Museum and Cavalry School Library donation to the ECPAD (French Army Archive) document archive - Video exerpts from the COSTAC system video by AMX/APX
Spoiler
https://i.imgur.com/esnzzQS.png
https://i.imgur.com/Y3Iy0UC.png
Revelant video exerpts
https://i.imgur.com/6Nl4kyz.mp4
https://i.imgur.com/HCWaTQe.mp4
https://i.imgur.com/XZYsLqu.mp4
The Tank Magazine 1978
Spoiler
https://media.discordapp.net/attachments/844668962070855680/1000637026514776204/image1.jpg
https://media.discordapp.net/attachments/844668962070855680/1000640321262211102/image2.jpg
https://media.discordapp.net/attachments/844668962070855680/1000635241418981407/image0.jpg
International Defense Review 1977
Spoiler
https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/844663495638646825/1078672496015982692/IDR_1977-04_p.747.jpg
Interconair Defense Magazine Issue 15 , 1977 (Sept-Dec)
Spoiler
https://i.imgur.com/uUfRhYf.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/eIL33OL.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/wkCuxXx.jpg
Satory V exhibit by Armées D’Aujourd’hui ( which is Forces Armées Françaises renamed Armée D’aujourd’hui on July 1975, both are published by the Service d’informations et de relations publiques des armées (SIRPA) which means this is a French government/ french army source)
Spoiler
https://i.imgur.com/P8vB9kw.png
“La tête panoramique stabilisée à deux grossissement du viseur APX M453 pour chars, permettant le tir en marche”
=> The stabilized head of the 2 zoom positions APX M453 sight for tanks, which enables fire while moving (for the commander, its part of the hunter killer mode)
