Ukrainian marines name the main drawback of AMX-10RC
21 July, 2023 French AMX-10RC of the Ukrainian military. July 2023. Ukraine.
Photo credits: Radio Svoboda The Ukrainian marines have shared the advantages and disadvantages of the French AMX-10RC in the modern war. RFE/RL journalists interviewed the marines of the 37th Marine Brigade, armed with these French armoured fighting vehicles.
AMX-10RC crews have already participated in the assault on Russian positions and the liberation of territories south of Velyka Novosilka located almost on the border of the Donetsk and Zaporizhzhia regions. The AMX-10RC armoured fighting vehicle with 105mm gun was provided to Ukraine by France. The servicemen reluctantly call them tanks, since the wheeled AMX-10RC have quite light armor.
Nevertheless, the Ukrainian command used these French wheeled armored vehicles as tanks.
French AMX-10RC of the Ukrainian military. July 2023. Ukraine.
Photo credits: Radio Svoboda
"We played the role of tanks at that moment and fought, roughly speaking, a tank battle, although not very from close range - there was 2 kilometers, even 3 on some targets. In AMX, it is not very clear what is being shot at you, you only hear the hits from the side, but you don't understand what it was till the end. It was generally the first mission, before that I had no experience at all," says a marine of the 37th Brigade with the call sign "Casper".
After the battle, the wheels of all the vehicles were pierced by debris. One or two damaged wheels did not allow the AMX to immediately return to battle after replenishing the ammunition. "Once we drove onto those positions, the mortars attacked.
One wheel, we think, hit an anti-personnel mine, because it ruptured. And others, most likely, tore mortar rounds," said the marine with the call sing "Bach". That is why the military calls the ??? tank reluctantly - the wheels are much more vulnerable than the tracked platform on which the "classic" tanks are built.
- French AMX-10RC of the Ukrainian military.
July 2023. Ukraine. Frame from the video "Radio Liberty"
- French AMX-10RC of the Ukrainian military.
July 2023. Ukraine. Frame from the video "Radio Liberty"
- French AMX-10RC of the Ukrainian military.
July 2023. Ukraine. Frame from the video "Radio Liberty"
- French AMX-10RC of the Ukrainian military.
July 2023. Ukraine. Frame from the video "Radio Liberty"
"This war is an artillery war.
We actually do not see the enemy, only incoming rounds: a mortar of all calibers, and artillery. The weak point of this tank is the wheels, the fragments will cut all the wheels at once, this affects the speed, maneuverability, all the advantages of this tank are immediately lost," explains the marine of the same brigade with the call sign "Filin". This vehicle is inferior to the dances in armor - it is much lighter, and therefore the crew inside the AMX is more vulnerable.
"We are trying to work not as a charge, because it is not a tank at all, it is more like an APC, not even an BMP. It has light armor, but given the gun, they consider it to be a tank," Casper says. However, the gun in the AMX-10RC is powerful and allows it to work from indirect fire positions.
And together with the maneuverability and speed, this is what the Ukrainian marines like about the French vehicle. "The gun here is of the 105mm caliber, quite good, fires accurately if you make a reconciliation," Casper notes the advantages of the gun of the armored vehicle. The attack on the French AMX-10RC was the first such combat experience not only for Casper, but also for all crews of armored vehicles.
The marines were trained for over a month.
"They were called up in January and went to France for a month to study. In a month, they mastered each of their positions, we have a crew of 4 people here. According to the French, in a month we mastered a program of what they do in six," Filin shares.
In the south of Donetsk region and in the Zaporizhzhia region, the advance of the Armed Forces of Ukraine continues, but it is accompanied by active attempts of Russian counterattacks.