AMX Turret Trials, 1961-1965
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The following images, found at the Nationaal Archief, Den Haag under index Nationaal Archief, Den Haag, Ministerie van Defensie: Directoraat (Directoraat-Generaal) voor Administratieve Diensten, nummer toegang 2.13.171, inventarisnummer 280, are presented almost as they are found: without any context whatsoever.
Well, that’s not quite true. The images are part of a hodgepodge of documents concerning the Dutch Army's purchase of the AMX-13 family of vehicles, that is, the AMX-13 105mm light tank, the AMX-13 105mm casemated howitzer and the AMX-13 VTT armoured personnel carrier, plus all their subvariants.
The turret, belonging to an AMX-13 tank, appears to have been shot with AP and API ammunition of unknown calibre.
For reference, VS 2-1350-B/3 Handboek voor de Schutter van de Lichte Tank AMX-13, 1965, page 16, notes the following armour values for the turret:
| Turret | |
| Front | 25mm |
| - Under an angle of | 45° |
| - Equivalent at 90° | 40mm |
| Side | 25mm |
| Top | 10mm |
One of the annotations for the photos (V) notes how a "bullet" (rather than a shell or grenade) has penetrated, but only just barely. Photo VI further discusses this (partial) penetration.
Though this is certainly just speculation, it may be possible the turret was shot with .50 calibre (12.7×99mm) AP and API at close range. A distinct possibility, given the partial penetration.
For comparison, note the following table from FM 23-65, Browning Machine Gun Caliber .50 HB, M2, 1944 page 65:
| M2 AP | ||
|---|---|---|
| Penetration | Distance in yards | |
| Angle of impact | ||
| 90° | 70° | |
| 1 in (25mm) | 100 | - |
| ¾ in (19mm) | 400 | 200 |
| ½ in (13mm) | 700 | 900 |
In addition, FM 23-65, Browning Machine Gun Caliber .50 HB, M2, 1972, page 214 provides us with a slightly more detailed table, which gives the following values for M2 AP:
| Material | Inches at: | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| 200 m | 600 m | 1000 m | |
| Armor plate (homogenous) | 1.0 (25mm) | 0.7 (18mm) | 0.3 (8mm) |
| Armor plate (face-hardened) | 0.9 (23mm) | 0.5 (13mm) | 0.2 (5mm) |
In any case, the photos and their annotation are available below for the reader to form their own conclusion.
The test set-up of the turret.
Rounds fired at the turret roof.
Rounds fired at the right side bottom.
Rounds fired at the left side bottom and front.
Rounds fired at the left side bottom. Marked X is a penetration (i.e. the bullet’s tip was visible).
Marked X, a bullet’s tip was visible on the inside of the left side front armour.
Footnotes