'Thin-armoured' French tanks impractical for attacks, says Ukraine commander

France 24 ^ | July 2, 2023 | Staff

[C19fan]

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky thanked French leader Emmanuel Macron for sending light combat tanks to Kyiv, and Defence Minister Oleksiy Reznikov was filmed riding in one.

But a Ukrainian commander says the highly mobile AMX-10 RC infantry fighting vehicles -- sometimes described as light tanks -- are "impractical" for front-line attacks, claiming one four-man crew has already died because of the vehicle's thin armour.

[C19fan]

The vehicle in question is the wheeled AMX-10-RC. The vehicle is meant for reconnaissance not meant to be used to assault prepared positions. It is the Ukrainians fault for not using the vehicle properly getting their own soldiers killed. I guess the fact that it does have a 105 MM gun meant to the Ukrainians it was meant to used as a tank.

[AnotherUnixGeek]

I guess this is one way for the French to field-test their hardware in battle conditions.

[BobL]

Oh PLEASE, NATO never claimed their weapons were intended to fight the Russians. They were intended to fight peer-level countries, like Serbia or Iraq.

[srmanuel]

Ultimately, you’re correct, it is the responsibility of Ukrainian officers to know these things.

However, to defend Ukraine a little, imagine having to learn to operate equipment from all the different NATO countries in a few weeks and having to do so while in combat, it’s an impossible situation.

Added to that lack of training, the pressure from NATO politicians for Ukraine to show some concrete successes in the current counteroffensive and you have the recipe for the average Ukrainian Soldier being thrown into a meat grinder without proper training and using equipment they are not proficient in how to use.

[Bounced2X]

AMX-10 RC

Armor: Frontal armour resistant against 23mm API from 300m 14.5mm AP all-around with add-on armor
Main armament: 105mm F2 BK MECA L/47 medium-pressure gun (38 rounds)
Secondary armament:
1 × 7.62 mm NF1 coaxial machine gun (4,000 cartridges)
1 × 12.7 mm M2HB AA machine gun (optional)
4 × GALIX smoke dischargers

[butlerweave]

beggars can’t be choosers

[DaBroasta]

I thought the first rule when employing french armor in battle was to retreat—then surrender.

[LouAvul]

Not a tanker, but I’d be reluctant to take anything other than a track mounted machine to the front lines anyway.

[AndyJackson]

claiming one four-man crew has already died because of the vehicle's thin armour.

The Zeepers will claim that this is more Russian propoganda and Putin is out of missiles, dead, finished and dying from 100 different diseases. I would merely ask, if this admission of the loss of a single piece of equipment is gross understatement or whether the really only lost one.

Sort of, well we knew this wouldn't work, but we sent one out against a fortified Russian position and golly sheezam!! Surprise surprise. Or did they mount a larger scale assault?

[shotgun]

“hey Mack, how thick do you think this GI issued shirt is?”

[cld51860]

I have the same problem in World of Tanks. 😏

[grey_whiskers]

But...but they have five gears for reverse! /Blackfive reference>

[Sirius Lee]

I thought the first rule when employing french armor in battle was to retreat—then surrender.

French armor is thickest on the back of their vehicles.

[butlerweave]

I hate the EBR 105 ,LOL

[linMcHlp]

Spring 2022, Ukraine lost hundreds of men and many vehicles by trying armor spearheads. Leading elements were destroyed, and following elements would continue into the cauldrons despite noticing the loss of communications.

Then Ukraine would try the same thing again. But with time, troops began to notice that commanders would no longer accompany the columns. THEN, some troops realized that, when communications “died,” the remaining troop carriers should not proceed.

The commanders were sticking to Soviet-think as they were accustomed.

Some more independent Ukrainian thinkers began to use UAV drones for observation, for artillery about the sams time that Ukraine withdrew offense maneuvering that OBVIOUSLY led to slaughter.

But notions of winning armor dashes beyond support:

- on the flanks
- using UAV drones for observation
- using UAV drones for destroying Russian drones
- using anti-drone gun systems
- using drones for mine detection

continue, and therefore Ukraine wastes its armor.

The armor should be used to support the troops. The AMX-10-RC gun has very good performance, when used accordingly.

[drSteve78]

Y’all just being mean today. That’s a perfectly wonderful cardboard tank, looks just like a real one.

[niteowl77]

Frontal armor proof against 23mm cannon, but can be improved with add-ons...

Not exactly a main battle tank.

[dfwgator]

Well at least the rifles were only dropped once.

[entropy12]

Hey it was a FREE GIFT from France. Uke’s want more free gifts of heavier tanks now.

[Noumenon]

And one hell of a reverse gear.