- Yes
- No
TL;DR: Domestic Spanish upgrade of license-built AMX-30s, fitted with a new engine, upgraded fire control system, and domestic APFSDS
History
The development of the French AMX-30 followed work on the Europanzer, a joint German-French-Italian project to develop a unified MBT. The first French Europanzer prototype was built in 1960. In 1961, Germany presented their prototypes. In 1963, both Germany and France decided to separately develop their respective designs, as neither could agree on the characteristics. France took their Europanzer design and refined it, resulting in the construction of five pre-production vehicles that year, designated AMX-30A. The vehicle entered production in 1966 as the AMX-30B.
- An AMX-30A on parade
In the 1960s, the main tanks of the Spanish Army consisted primarily of US M47s and M48s. Spain wanted to replace these, and initially approached Germany, looking at the Leopard 1. While the German government approved the signing of an export contract, Britain pushed against the sale due to the use of the L7 105mm, and their hesitancy in selling to the Spanish dictatorship. In 1964, while negotiations about the Leopard 1 were ongoing, Spain tested two AMX-30s. France offered Spain the ability to domestically produce the AMX-30, and as such, while Britain continued to push back against the sale of the Leopard 1, France and Spain came to an agreement for license production of the AMX-30 and its ammunition in June 1970. 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 AMX-30Bs were imported directly from France in 1970). The AMX-30Es differed from the AMX-30Bs by:
- Use of heavier torsion bar suspension, later adopted by France on the AMX-30B2
- Commander’s MG mount modified for the Spanish Army MG42/58 and later MG3
- Antenna tube over the spare track link on the right of the hull
- More pronounced driver’s hatch bulge for improved head room
- American AN/VRC radios
- The first set of 19 AMX-30Bs saw service in Spanish Sahara (modern-day Western Sahara) from 1970— 1975. These 19 were later modified to AMX-30E standard.
In 1982, Spain adopted the OFL 105 F1 APFSDS rounds for the AMX-30Es, which were carried alongside the standard OCC 105 F1 HEAT rounds. In 1984, Empresa Nacional Bazan and Santa Barbara announced the C-437 (sometimes referred to as CETME437A) 105mm APFSDS round. This round features a longer sub-projectile than other domestic rounds produced by CETME. This round entered production and saw service with the AMX-30s. Later, the C-512 round was developed, which featured improved performance over the C-437, although I am currently unsure if it was equipped on any of the AMX-30s.
The AMX-30Es were hindered by their engines, as well as general mechanical unreliability. As such, 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 (sometimes referred to incorrectly as AMX-30EM1)
- 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 (Prototipos 011).
- 150 vehicles upgraded to this standard, alongside modernised FCS, designated AMX-30EM2
The first modernisation was the AMX-30ER1, with the HS-110 engine and Allison CD-850-6A transmission. 60 vehicles were upgraded to this standard — the first was delivered in 1988. However, this upgraded only solved the automotive issues. Prototipo 011 was tested in mid-1986, and chosen in 1987 as the basis for the more comprehensive AMX-30EM2 upgrade.
A total of 150 vehicles were upgraded to the AMX-30EM2 standard from 1989—1993, and featured:
- Ka-501 engine and ZF LSG 3000 transmission
- Suspension upgrades as seen on the French AMX-30B2
- American Hughes Mk 9A/D fire control system, including laser rangefinder
- New commander’s and gunner’s sights, including thermals
- Muzzle reference system and wind sensor
- Smoke grenade launchers
- Side skirts
- 12.7mm M2 on the loader’s hatch
Note
Although widely stated online, the AMX-30EM2 was not stabilised.
“The M60 had primary barrel stabilization that allowed it to fire at low speeds; the AMX-30 didn’t, and that was its Achilles’ heel. From this point on, the AMX-30’s fire control was superior to the M60’s.” — interview with former AMX-30EM2 driver, found here
- AMX-30EM2 during training exercises
The AMX-30EM2s didn’t see service for long, with all AMX-30s pulled out of service by 2002 — only 9 years after the last were upgraded. The first AMX-30s were replaced partly by new M60A3 TTSs in the early 1990s. In 1995, Spain leased 108 Leopard 2A4s from Germany, as well as signed deals for the development and domestic construction of the Leopard 2E. These replaced the M60s in the early 2000s. The rest of the AMX-30s, including the EM2s, were replaced by the VRCC-105s (B1 Centauro) that arrived between 2000–2001 and 2004–2006.
Interesting Fact
In 1990–1991, two AMX-30EM2s were tested with explosive reactive armour (ERA), similar to that of the French AMX-30B2 BRENUS . One was just fitted with the mounts, and the other was actually fitted with the ERA. The ERA was a domestic type produced by Santa Barbara and ENOSA named SBBR (Santa Barbara Blindajo Reactivo), with a later variant called SABBLIR (SAnta Barbara BLindajo Reactivo). Ultimately, mounting ERA on the AMX-30s was made redundant by the arrival of newer and better-armoured MBTs into the Spanish Army. However, the ERA did make it into production on the VCI/C Pizarro
Characteristics
The AMX-30EM2 is fitted with an unstabilised 105mm CN-105-F1 cannon. It fires a range of ammunition, including OCC 105 F1 HEAT, penetrating 400mm @ 0°, as well as OFL 105 F1 APFSDS, penetrating 361mm @ 0° @ 10m, and 186mm @ 60° @ 2000m. Two compatible domestic APFSDS rounds exist, although data on their performance is scarce, and the latter may not have been equipped on AMX-30s. The first is C-437, able to penetrate a NATO single-heavy target @ 60° @ 5000m, translating to >150mm at that range and angle. C-512 perforates a 120mm target @ 70° @ 3500m. The AMX-30EM2 is also fitted with two 12.7mm M2 HMGs, one coaxial, and one on the loader’s hatch, as well as a 7.62mm MG1A3 on the commander’s cupola.
The turret features the Hughes Mk 9A/D FCS, which contains a laser rangefinder, ballistic computer, muzzle reference system, and Hughes Infrared Equipment (HIRE) thermal imager. This thermal imager is 1st generation, and for the gunner only. Externally, the turret has four 76mm smoke dischargers on either side, for a total of eight.
The AMX-30EM2 is thinly-armoured, and features no armour upgrades over the base AMX-30B/E. The turret and hull are both cast, and as such, quite variable in thickness and angle. The hull front is around 50mm @ 68°, hull sides 35mm @ 35°, and hull rear 30mm @ 10°. The turret front is even more variable, but around 40mm at the front, and 30mm at the sides and rear.
The AMX-30EM2 features the MTU MB 833 Ka 501 diesel engine, producing 850hp, connected to a ZF LSG 3000 transmission with four forward and two reverse gears. The tank weighs around 37t, resulting in a power-to-weight ratio of 22.9hp/t. For comparison, the AMX-30B2 has a 680hp engine and power-to-weight ratio of 18.4hp/t. The AMX-30EM2 can reach a top speed of 65km/h.
Conclusion
The AMX-30EM2 is one of the more advanced AMX-30 upgrades to this day, and deserves a place in the game. Compared to the AMX-30B2 (8.7) in-game, it is noticeably more mobile and has access to slightly more powerful APFSDS rounds, and has a few side-grades, such as 2x 12.7mm HMGs instead of 1x 20mm, and as such potentially warrants a higher BR of 9.0. It would fit either as part of a (Greco-)Iberian tech tree, or alternatively if Spain is never going to be added as a sub- or main-nation, as a French premium/event vehicle.
Specifications
Armament
- 105mm CN-105-F1
- Unstabilised
- OCC 105 F1 HEAT
- 400mm at 0º
- OFL 105 F1 APFSDS
- 361mm at 0° at 10m
- C-437 APFSDS
- >150mm at 60° at 5000m
- C-512 APFSDS
- >120mm at 70° at 3500m
- OE 105 F1 Mle.60 HE
- 25mm at 0° at 10m
- OFPH 105 F1 Smoke
- 2x 12.7mm M2HB, 1x 7.62mm MG1A3
- Laser-rangefinder
- 1st gen thermals (gunner)
Armour
- Turret
- 80 / 41 / 30 mm
- Hull
- 79 / 35 / 30 mm
Mobility
- Speed
- +65/-65km/h
- Weight
- 37t
- Engine power
- 850hp, 22.9hp/t
Other
- Crew
- 4
- Smoke grenades
- 8 launchers
Images
Sources
Spoiler
AMX-30 Main Battle Tank Enthusiasts’ Manual: 1960-2019. M.P. Robinson and Thomas Seignon
Spanish State and Kingdom of Spain (Cold War) - Tank Encyclopedia
IHS Jane’s Weapons: Ammunition 2012-2013. Leland S Ness and Anthony G Williams
Historia y tecnología militar: Entrevista a Lancero, antiguo carrista del Ejército Español
AMX-30E - Wikipedia (only used for some of the history)