AMX-45
| CCP-ARE Model 1974 | |
|---|---|
| Type | Main battle tank |
| Place of origin | Sieuxerr |
| Service history | |
| In service | 1974-Present |
| Used by | Sieuxerr |
| Production history | |
| Designer | GIAT Industries |
| Designed | 1963-1974 |
| Manufacturer | Roanne Tank Plant |
| Produced | 1974-1997 |
| No. built | 8,000~ |
| Specifications (AMX-45B3) | |
| Length | 6.6 m (22 ft) (w/o gun forward) 9.7 m (32 ft) (w/ gun forward) |
| Width | 3.3 m (11 ft) |
| Height | 2.5 m (8.2 ft) (To turret roof) |
| Crew | 4 (Commander, gunner, driver, loader) |
| Armor | Laminated steel/ceramic/composite mixture along with modular armor packages |
Main armament | CN-CR105 M.68 (50 rounds) CN-CR120 M.82 (40 rounds) |
Secondary armament | CN-MIT20 M.53 20mm coaxial autocannon (600 rounds) AA-MAS M.57 machine gun (2,080 rounds) |
| Engine | 8-cylinder diesel engine 1,400 hp (1,000 kW) |
| Power/weight | 26.1 hp/t (19.5 kW/t) |
| Transmission | SCT 2000 |
| Suspension | torsion bar |
| Ground clearance | .4 m (1.3 ft) |
| Fuel capacity | 1,400 l (370 US gal) |
Operational range | 550 km (340 mi) |
| Speed | 70 km/h (43 mph) |
| References | |
The CCP-ARE Model 1974 is a Sieuxerrian third-generation main battle tank that was designed by GIAT Industries and produced in Roanne Tank Plant.
Development
Development of the AMX-45 began after the lackluster trial performance of the AMX-30 in the 1960s, citing automotive and protection inefficiencies.
Design
OFL 120 F2
EIREL
Armament
Primary
CN-CR105 M.68
The initial M.74 model used the CN-CR105 M.68 105mm smoothbore tank gun. The CR105 fired a series of 105mm rounds with a focus on high-performance armor-piercing fin-stabilized discarding sabot (APFSDS) rounds. Testing with the ARE M.66 and later M.69 showed that the original understanding from the 1950s that new and rapidly developing HEAT ammunition would be near-impossible to armor against was untrue, and that HEAT was easier to resist than kinetic energy penetrators like APFSDS ammo.
The smoothbore nature of the CR105 M.68 allowed for more accurate and better penetrative performance of AP ammunition. The rounds retained effective accuracy and penetrative qualities out to over 3,000 meters. By the late 1970s however Sieuxerrian military intellgence became aware of the start of a new Ostlandic main battle tank project, known as Future Ostlandic Tank, or in Merovingian, Futur char ostlandique (FCO). The hypothesized FCO tank was considered to be near-immune to all existing and still-in-development 105mm ammo from the frontal aspect at and beyond 1,000 meters. Development of a new gun had been already underway, however this accelerated development as well as replacement of the 105mm gun on all M.74s.
Ammo for the 105mm gun would still be developed however, with the last round, the OFL-105 AC M.5UA, being accepted for use in the mid-1990. The round was able to penetrate some 520mm of RHA at a range of 2km.
CN-CR120 M.82
Influenced by the larger guns used by heavy tanks from the 1940s and 1950s, a program to eventually upgun the ARE M.74 from a 105mm to a 120mm had been underway not too long after the tank entered service. A number of different gun types were tested, including a 142mm gun-launcher, however these tested guns didn’t not pan out.
By 1982 the new gun, CN-CR120 M.82, had been accepted for use in the new turret for the ARE M.74B. The new 120mm gun provided ample penetration at combat distance over 2km against most tank threats.
Secondary
AA-MAS M.57
Mounted to the commander’s cupola is an AA M.57 machine gun. The machine gun is designed to be fired under-armor by the commander and can be employed against infantry and rotor-wing aircraft. The machine gun has 2,080 rounds in a magazine that extends around the rear of the commander’s cupola.
CN-MIT20 M.53
Coaxially mounted is a M.53 20mm autocannon. The coax is able to be elevated independently of the main gun, and can be elevated higher than the main gun. The primary use for the 20mm is for use against light ground vehicles, infantry and rotor-wing aircraft in lieu of the main gun. The 20mm autocannon is supplied with 600-rounds of ammunition.
Protection
Variants
- Char de combat principal - ARE Modèle 1966, CCP-ARE M.66
- Prototype model produced in the 1960s, only 8 produced before the vehicle was rejected.
- Char de combat principal - ARE Modèle 1969, CCP-ARE M.69
- An overall improved turret design that was also rejected.
- Char de combat principal - ARE Modèle 1974, CCP-ARE M.74
- First production model.
- AMX-45D
- Armored recovery vehicle based on the AMX-45.
- Engin Blindé du Génie
- Combat engineering vehicle.
- Series of large caliber air defense guns.
- Series of smaller caliber air defense vehicles.
- AMX-45B
- First upgrade to the tank in 1983. Added hunter-killer capabilities to the FCS and improved armor protection.
- AMX-45B Amélioré
- Adaption of the AMX-45B to be applied to older AMX-45 series tanks.
- AMX-45B2
- Digitization of the AMX-45. Accepted in 1985. Added vastly improved armor protection as well as improved drive train. Applied to new build and older tanks.
- AMX-45EX
- Final production model accepted into Sieuxerrian service. Further improved digitization.
- Self-propelled howitzer