Would you like to see this vehicle in-game?
- Yes
- no
0
voters
How should this vehicle be implemented?
- Tech tree
- Event vehicle
- Premium
- I voted no to the first question
0
voters
If it was to be implemented, which tree should receive it?
- France tree (original tank’s manufacturer) or via Belgium/BeNeLux (the retrofitting company)
- Independent BeNeLux tree via Belgium (the retrofitting company)
- Japan tree via Indonesia (as the nation that trialed the vehicle)
- LATAM tree via Dominican Republic (as the tank’s original owner)
- Give it to multiple trees (if applicable)
- I voted no to the first question
0
voters
AMX-13/105 Retrofit
Hello everyone! Today I would like to suggest an AMX-13/105 retrofit carried out by Sabiex International (now called OIP Land Systems). This singular vehicle has an EXTENSIVE history, stretching across the globe from Europe, to the Caribbeans & Southeast Asia. It’s a Dominican Republic tank which was obtained and retrofitted by the Belgian Company Sabiex International/OIP Land systems & was trialed by Indonesia.
The exact date of the retrofit is unknown. But what’s known is that the retrofitted tank was trialed and showcased to the Indonesian Cavalry Branch of the Indonesian Army in 2011. The trials in Indonesia did not succeed and the contract for a fleet retrofit program was given to a local company instead. After the trials, news of the vehicle disappears, with it only appearing in one photograph taken by OIP Land Systems.
The vehicle was eventually discovered in a European storage facility (most likely owned by OIP) by a British collector/restorer. He bought the tank and fixes it, Nowadays the tank regularly participates in events like The Tank Museum’s Tankfest, and can be easily identified by its distinctive features such as the roof mg pole mount above the main cannon and the double headlight housing frame.
In terms of its performance and how it looks, it’s quite similar to the Indonesian AMX-13/105 Retrofit by PT. Pindad (Yonkav 2). In-game it would be the same as the AMX-13 with a better engine , as well as a better firepower in the form of the CN-105-G1. (Same as the SK105 in-game), making it capable of firing the OFL 105 G1 APFSDS round.
This could be a good option for the Belgian (Benelux) or Indonesian sub-tree as a manufacturer country & country that trialed the vehicle respectively, as an event or premium vehicle, considering there’s already a more unique alternatives that could be implemented for both of the nations (Sabiex’s SK105A2 & PT. PINDAD AMX-13/105 Retrofit (Yonkav 2))
How to Identify the vehicle compared to other AMX-13/105s?
The simplest way is to look above the main cannon & the headlight housing. there’s a pole above the main cannon as well as the oblong double headlight frame with a spot light. Another key detail is that the fan housing right above the engine is pushed closer to the tracks as well it being bigger and significantly protrudes more compared to other AMX-13s
pole above the main gun
A. Background
Details
The story of this vehicle started in 1950s , when The United States refused the Dominican Republic’s request for military equipment, as such the then-President/Dictator Rafael Trujillo ordered 15 AMX-13 Mle 51s from France, and they received the vehicles in October 1959. In 1967, after the Dominican Civil War of 1965, some of the AMX-13s were upgraded with the fitting of a modern communications equipment. These post-civil war AMX-13s also received a pintle mount situated above the main cannon for a roof-mounted Browning .30 cal. in 1982, the Dominican Government signed an agreement with a Dutch company to exchange at least 12 operational AMX-13s for surplus M41 Walker Bulldogs leaving them with only two AMX-13s which they continued to operate until 2002.
Dominican AMX-13 Mle 51 (Type 2D Chassis) next to a Landsverk L/60L. The pintle-mounted .30 cal Browning above the main cannon was introduced after the 1965 Civil War
At this point, it’s not clear what happened to the Dominican AMX-13s. They were transported back into Europe, but it most likely didn’t enter Dutch Service, as it had received a modification when it returned to Europe. The exact time of the modification isn’t known, but it most likely done prior to 2011 and was conducted by Sabiex International, Now-called OIP Land Systems. We know this primarily based on OIP’s own website page where they display the vehicle alongside others, as well as the description of a video uploaded by an Indonesian Cavalry Battalion Commander. Why Indonesia? Because the vehicle was sent there by Sabiex International for trials & evaluation by the Indonesian Army.
The vehicle (centre) with its tan camouflage in OIP’s facility
The modifications to the tank includes a modification of the FL-10 turret to house a new upgraded armament, from an original 75mm SA50 to a 105mm CN 105 G1 cannon ripped from an SK-105. This is because the writing on the cannon itself is in German. Even though the cannon is German, all of the electrical wiring inside the tank is in English, with Union Jacks being found in all of the control boxes. Additionally its engine is also switched from a SOFAM Model 8Gxb petrol engine with 250hp, to a Detroit Diesel V653 (Silver Type) giving it power of over 400hp. The engine is accompanied by a big turbo wrapped in thermal blankets as well as an automatic transmission. Additionally a radiator is fitted right behind the engine, as well as larger hydraulic fan situated above the engine on the top of the hull beside the driver. with the addition of the hydraulic fan, which protrudes significantly more compared to the other AMX-13s, the grille above the engine is slightly changed to accommodate the extension.
The vehicle is also fitted with a sight housing for a night sight & laser targeting system, although during Indonesian trials that feature seems to not have been realized, as such only the box was present. Of course the sight could be mounted further back on the rear of the housing, but then whats the point of the big square mount if its going to be 80% empty? So I think its just wasn’t fitted. Other modifications include a changing of the rear idlers. As well as the paint being switched to a Fire-retardant tan color.
As previously mentioned the retrofitted vehicle was shipped to Indonesia and was tested by the Cavalry Branch of the Army in 2011. At the same year, there was a plan by the Indonesian Army to restructure the Cavalry as well as obtain ~200+ tanks, of both new & upgraded/retrofitted throughout the period of 2010-2014. The vehicle is presumed to have been taken to Indonesia because of that. The plan was for the existing AMX-13 fleet of the Indonesian Army to be retrofitted, as many as 65 units. So this singular vehicle could’ve been sent as a technology demonstrator in case Sabiex won the contract, but it was given to the Indonesian Company PT. Pindad instead, with that program becoming the AMX-13/105 Retrofit (Yonkav 2). In Indonesian source there’s almost no mention of the vehicle at all, though this is most likely because OIP/Sabiex is owned by Elbit systems, as such a deal with Israel could be a controversial prospect if it were to go ahead. Nevertheless the Vehicle eventually returned back to Europe after the trial.
The vehicle in Indonesia during trials, 2011
in the late 2010s, Barrimore England-Davis, A vehicle collector & restorer, stumbled upon the tank at a storage facility in Europe while searching for some electrical components for an AMX-13 he’s currently restoring. In the storage facility, there was a line of vehicles, namely a Leopard 1, Gepard, M113, SK-105 Kurassier, and the AMX-13. The AMX-13 was covered in dust as it had been sitting there for a long time, and so he asked for details of the vehicle and was told he could purchase it, which he did. when he brought the tank back to England, there was no detailed specifications provided by the seller, as the vehicle is considered “commercially sensitive”.
After arriving in the UK, he decided to inspect the components of the vehicle, from which is how we know about the vehicle’s specifications. After inspecting, he found that there was some Indonesian sweet wrappers in the side bins and parts of a foil wrapper on the gun breech written in Indonesian and said “Do not Open”. Another thing found from Indonesia was a dead beetle found stuck inside a dirt clump on the hull of the tank.
The vehicle in the UK after being purchased by a collector/restorer
The vehicle was eventually cleaned and refueled, and they noted that the paint & maintenance is superb, meaning everything was greased, cleaned or painted, it has no excessively worn torsion bars, and the turret hydraulic system works without fault. He also mentions how fast the vehicle accelerates, as it only has 3 gears transmission of US design. One of the thing changed is the rear-wheel idlers, since the old one was causing some problems with the tracks.
They then removed the sight housing and painted it a different color, from a tan color to NATO green. Though they cant remove the original paint since its fire-retardant, they decided to just put a base coat over the tan and paint it Satin green. Another thing that was changed was the oscillating turret’s canvas covering. Since the old one has been torn up either in Indonesia’s humid weather or in the storage facility’s. Now, the tank is in running condition, and since being restored, has been participating in tank shows such as The Tank Museum’s Tankfest, where the vehicle makes a regular appearance.
The Vehicle Appears regularly in the Tank Museum’s tankfest
B. Specifications
Details
General Specifications
- Crew: 3 (Commander, Gunner, Driver)
- Length (w/ gun): 4.88 m (6.36 m)
- Width: 2.51 m
- Height: 2.35 m
- Weight (combat): 13.7 t (14.5 t)
- Armor: 10-40mm RHA
Profile
Left
Right
Rear
Front
-
Transmission: automatic transmission
- Gear: 3-speed
- Gear: 3-speed
-
Engine: Detroit Diesel water-cooled 6V53 (Silver-Type model) inter-cooled & turbocharged
- Horsepower: over 400hp
- Radiator is mounted behind the engine
- big hydraulic fan above the engine for expelling air and cooling the engine
- Horsepower: over 400hp
-
Max Road Speed: ~60-70 km/h due to the increase hp
Armament
- Modified FL-10 Turret
- CN-105-G1 (German writing on the gun suggests its from an Austrian SK105)
- OFL 105 G1 APFSDS
- OCC 105 F1 HEAT
- OE 105 High Explosive
- OFUM 105 Smoke rounds
- unknown coaxial MG, presumed to be the 7.5mm MAC 31
Systems
- 4x smoke grenades
- -6°/+13° elevation
- 4-5 second reload
- 36 rounds stowage (12x in ready rack)
the tank has a sighting mount supposedly with a night sight & laser targeting hardware, as it has a large armoured box next to the main gun, but that sighting system doesn’t seem to be fitted during the trials in Indonesia nor when the vehicle was left in storage in Europe later.
System / Crew Compartment
Driver’s steering tillers & dashboard with switches and gauges
When being restored in the UK, the tank received a new set of rear idlers
Mounts & a hole for the sighting system
C. More Images
Details
VIDEOShttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iMCxb2EmoF8
Incline testing of the vehicle in Indonesiahttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BabU0E05sZ0
Video of the vehicle being driven around in the UKhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=82zjvQbIarM
Footage of the tank during Tankfest 2024
IMAGES
The vehicle being driven around by the Indonesian Cavalry in 2011
The tank being showcased to the Indonesian Cavalry’s higher ups in 2011
Closer look at the vehicle in OIP’s Facility
The tank after being repainted & restored
The vehicle in Tankfest 2023
D. Sources
Details
- Robinson, M. P., Lau, P., & Gibeau, G. (2017). The AMX 13 Light Tank: A Complete History. Pen & Sword Military.
- A UNIQUE FIND (very interesting article on the vehicle)
- DEFENSE STUDIES: Pussenkav Ujicoba AMX-13 Upgrade
- Daftar Alutsista TNI Angkatan Darat - forumku
- DEFENSE STUDIES: Pindad Mulai Mengerjakan Retrofit Tank AMX-13
- AMX-13 Retrofit Tank Sabiex - Indonesian Trial | Youtube
- Youtube Channel of the tank’s current owner
- TANKFEST 2025 Guest Vehicles - The Tank Museum
- Redirecting...
- https://www.oiplandsystems.com/slider/trading-and-stock/
- (No Longer) A Show Of Shame - Belgian Weapons Deliveries To Ukraine - Oryx
- https://hmvf.co.uk/topic/44083-char-francaise-amx13-amx-13-amx-13-105-amx/
- CN 105-57 - Wikipedia
- AMX-13 - Wikipedia
- AMX-13 | War Thunder Wiki
Any suggestions or corrections would be highly appreciated!
