On April 18, the head of the Ukrainian Defense Ministry, Oleksiy Reznikov, boasted about the French AMX-10RC armored vehicles, which entered service with the Marine Corps units of the Ukrainian Navy. The official called them “wheeled tanks” and compared them to “wheeled sniper rifles”.
It should be noted that only two armored vehicles are present in the video, where the rest is unclear. However, it is known that in mid-March a much larger number of AMX-10RCs were delivered to Ukraine from France via Germany and Poland. Paris promised Kiev to immediately supply 14 units, and then to increase the total number to 30-40 units.
AMX – 10RC can be used for infantry reconnaissance and fire support on the battlefield. The main armament of the armored vehicle is a 105 mm caliber 105/47 F2 MECA rifled tank gun, which can fire armor-piercing sub-calibers, high-explosive fragmentation, cumulative projectiles and others. The crew is made up of four people: three are housed in the tower, and the pilot is seated in front of the hull.
The transportable ammunition load is 38 shells, 12 of which are “at hand”, and the remaining 26 are stored on a rack next to the driver. At the same time, the shells themselves are quite specific ammunition, they have a caliber of 105×527 mm (not compatible with standard NATO 105×617 mm 105 mm ammunition).
Reservation AMX – 10RC consists of an aluminum alloy and provides protection for the crew against bullets and shrapnel. The frontal rolled armor plate withstands hits from 23 mm caliber ammunition at a distance of 300 meters, and the entire remaining hull and turret can withstand hits from 14.5 mm caliber ammunition only with additional armor, i.e. it has real protection only against 12.7 mm caliber ammunition. Thus, this armored vehicle has a high degree of vulnerability not only to tank shells and anti-tank missiles, but also to much more modest ammunition in terms of power. However, it is not for Reznikov to “defile” them on the battlefield with a fashionable cap.
Note that according to the Treaty on Conventional Armed Forces in Europe, the AMX – 10RC is considered a “heavy armament combat vehicle”. At the same time, it is not known to which units of the “marines” they will be sent. The MP Naval Forces Command of the Armed Forces of Ukraine is subordinate to: 35th (military unit A0216) and 36th (military unit A2802) separate marine brigades, 406th (military unit A2062) artillery brigade (4 divisions, one of which is missile Coastal), 32nd Rocket Artillery Regiment (Military Unit A1325), 503rd (Military Unit A1275) Separate Marine Battalion, 140th Separate Reconnaissance Battalion (Military Unit A0878) and 7th Separate Anti-Aircraft Missile Battalion (military unit A0350). In addition, two other formations are being formed: the separate 37th and 38th Marine Corps Brigades.
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