Hello warriors,
this time, Yuri Pasholok visited the Saumur museum and had a look at the AMX-30 prototype. The history of the AMX-30 originated in the Europanzer project that was started in 1956. The vehicle was supposed to fit the 30 ton class (hence the name) and was supposed to have the power to weight of 30 hp/t and maximum speed of 65 km/h. Apart from two German company groups, AMX also participated in the program. In the end, the program had two results - the German Standartpanzer (also known as Leopard 1) and the French AMX-30. First two prototypes were built in 1960, another 7 in early 1963.
It's worth noting that the mass-produced vehicle (AMX-30B) was quite different from what came out of the testing. The vehicle was "perfected" for quite some time - for example some expert decided to put a hatch in the front. The early prototype was quite complicated in its own right - both the turret and the hull. It was "saved" by the Saumur museum but currently it is in very sorry state. Unfortunately, this is also not an exception as out of cca 800 vehicles owned by the museum, only few hundred are displayed to public and the rest is rusting away in some backyard of the whole building comples the way this prototype does. The effect of the Saumur weather is clearly visible on the vehicle as well as on the AMX-30C standing next to it - only five years ago, the AMX-30C was inside the exposition hall. The prototype itself is empty - its inside was stripped of all the devices and other stuff and is very rusty. It's a shame Saumur keeps such rare vehicles in such a state.
Note the absence of the front hatch on the prototype:
The vehicle lights are well-protected:
Track links on the side:
Suspension:
The exhaust has large mufflers. They are present on the mass-produced vehicles as well, but under cover
Driver's hatch
The prototype gun has no thermal shroud or fume extractor:
The shape of the turret is quite complex:
At the back of the turret, there were four smoke grenade launchers
Rangefinder
Any news about Chieftain and Cent X?And of course STB-1 looks better then this french frog :D
ReplyDeleteWeeaboo
Delete"It's a shame Saumur keeps such rare vehicles in such a state" It's also a shame that the museum doesn't get enough money to take care of every vehicle.
ReplyDeleteIt's all private donations and profits from the tickets.
DeleteIt's a shame, but it's not enough to fund everything.
i visited this museum in June 2012.
ReplyDeleteAdmission price is very reasonable and there are so many more vehicles outside that it's impossible to look after them all.
I spent a whole day there, took hundreds of pics and there collection of vehicles is impressive.
If I was rich I would buy the place, I highly recommend a fist if you're in the area, I am from Australia myself.
Recommend a visit that is, silly ipad typo in above post
ReplyDeletelawl!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! i just noticed your typo!!! made me chuckle!!
DeleteI don't think there is a hatch in the front, it is the cover for the engine intake when the tank has to ford a river. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AMX-30#/media/File:AMX30_afar.jpg Here it is missing.
ReplyDeleteYes, that's how these plates were used.
DeleteI really hope that's a mistake in the translation and not Mr. Pasholok really thinking those were hatches as that would be a bit disappointing for a historian.
Also correct me if I'm wrong but also the production version has no fume extractor, not only the prototype.
DeleteEffectively.
DeleteGrammar nazi here: The german word for standard is "Standard", just like in english. So it's Standardpanzer instead of "Standartpanzer". "Standart" is a common mistake by Germans, as the d at the end is spelled hard like a "t".
ReplyDeleteJust put a flag/banner on top and voilá - you've got a StandartePanzer! :D
ReplyDelete