TAP Special #4 : AMX-13 DCA canon de 40mm

Hi again ! I’m back for another article translation from chars-francais.net, today’s about the AMX-13 DCA canon de 40mm. For the eventual new readers, these articles are aiming to highlight some vehicles which aren’t covered by World of Tanks (yet), so in other words, vehicles that not everyone is aware of.


Various studies were made as early as the 50’s in order to equip the French Army with self-propelled AA guns.
In 1956, the chassis of the AMX-13 and EBR were used to create prototypes with a turret hosting a Bofors 40mm L/70 gun.
With the SAMM S 980 turret studies being abandoned in 1957, as well as the 40mm L/70 gun’s production in 1958, the self-propelled project stopped there.
As a result, the first and only armoured French-manufactured self-propelled AA gun didn’t appear before 1966, still on an AMX-13 chassis, but with dual 30mm guns & SAMM S401 turret.


Physical specifications

  • Hull length : 4,88 m
  • Width : 2,51 m
  • Ground clearance : 0,37 m
  • Fuel tank’s capacity : 450 l

Mobility

  • Engine : SOFAM 8GxB
  • Maximum RPM : 3200 rotations/minute
  • Maximum power : 250 hp
  • Cooling system : water
  • Consumption : 50 l/h
  • Maximum speed : 60 km/h
  • Average speed : 45 km/h
  • Autonomy : 8 h or 400 km

Main armament

  • Gun : 40mm AA Mle 51 T1 (Bofors 40mm L/70)
  • Initial speed : 993 m/s
  • Rate of fire : 240 rounds/minute

Fire control

  • Radar : COTAM
  • Calculator : PHF 40
  • Gunsight : L879 binocular

Pictures :
http://www.chars-francais.net/2015/images/stories/photos/amxdca40_2.jpg
http://www.chars-francais.net/2015/images/stories/photos/amxdca40_3.jpg


See the original article (in French) by clicking right here. I hope you enjoyed this post, feel free to comment your thoughts about such articles, and see you in the next one ! Take care meanwhile.