Panhard AML

Panhard AML-245
Panhard AML at the Musée des Blindés, Saumur.
TypeArmored car
Place of originFrance
Service history
Used bySee Operators
Wars
List of Conflicts
Production history
Designed1959[1]
ManufacturerPanhard
Produced1960–1987[2]
No. built4,812[3][4]
VariantsSee Variants
Specifications
Mass5.5 tonnes (6.1 short tons; 5.4 long tons)[5]
Length5.11 m (16 ft 9 in)[6]
 length3.79 m (12 ft 5 in) (hull)[6]
Width1.97 m (6 ft 6 in)[6]
Height2.07 m (6 ft 9 in)[5]
Crew3 (commander, driver, gunner)[6]
Main
armament
90 mm D921/GIAT F1 (20 rounds)
60mm Brandt mortar (53 rounds)[6]
Secondary
armament
7.62 mm MAS coaxial machine gun (2,400–3,800 rounds)[6]
EnginePanhard 1.99 L (121 in3) Model 4 HD flat 4-cylinder air-cooled petrol[7]
90 hp (67 kW) at 4,700 rpm[5]
Power/weight16.36 hp/tonne (11.9 kW/tonne)[5]
SuspensionWheeled 4x4
Ground clearance0.33 m (1 ft 1 in)[5]
Fuel capacity156 L (41 US gal)
Operational
range
600 km (370 mi)[6]
Maximum speed 100 km/h (62 mph)[6]

The Panhard AML (automitrailleuse légère, or "light armoured car")[3] is an armoured car with reconnaissance capability.[8] Designed by Panhard on a lightly armoured 4×4 chassis, it weighs an estimated 5.5 tonnes, and is thus suitable for airborne deployment.[9] Since 1959, AMLs have been marketed on up to five continents; several variants remained in continuous production for half a century.[10] These have been operated by fifty-four national governments and other entities worldwide, seeing regular combat.[11]

The AML-245 was once regarded as one of the most heavily armed scout vehicles in service, fitted with a low velocity DEFA D921 90 mm (3.54 in) rifled cannon firing conventional high explosive and high explosive anti-tank shells, or a 60 mm (2.36 in) breech loading mortar with 53 rounds and dual 7.5mm MAS AA-52 NF-1 machine guns with 3,800 rounds, all mounted coaxially in the turret.[9] An AML is capable of destroying targets at 1,500 meters with its D921 main gun. In this configuration it is considered a match for second-line and older main battle tanks.[12][13]

AMLs have appeared most prominently in Angola, Iraq, and Chad, as well as in the Lebanese Civil War between 1975 and 1990.

  1. ^ Defence Update (International), 1984, Volume 1 Issue 48–58 p. 8.
  2. ^ "Mobile firepower for contingency operations: Emerging concepts for US light armour forces" (PDF). Defense Technical Information Center. 4 January 1993. Archived (PDF) from the original on 22 October 2014. Retrieved 18 August 2015.
  3. ^ a b Cullen, Tony; Drury, Ian; Bishop, Chris (1988). The Encyclopedia of World Military Weapons (1988 ed.). Greenville: Crescent Publications. pp. 68–70. ISBN 978-0-517-65341-8.
  4. ^ Collet, Andre (1989). Armements: mutation, réglementation, production, commerce. Paris: Économica. p. 55. ISBN 978-2717816808.
  5. ^ a b c d e Christopher F. Foss (16 May 2000). Jane's Tanks and Combat Vehicles Recognition Guide (2000 ed.). Harper Collins Publishers. p. 252. ISBN 978-0-00-472452-2.
  6. ^ a b c d e f g h Christopher F. Foss (1976). Jane's World Armoured Fighting Vehicles (1976 ed.). Macdonald and Jane's Publishers Ltd. p. 132-133. ISBN 978-0-354-01022-1.
  7. ^ Ogorkiewicz, R. M. AFV Weapons Profile 039 Panhard Armoured Cars (Windsor, Berks: Profile Publications).
  8. ^ David Miller (10 February 2003). Conflict Iraq: Weapons and Tactics of the US and Iraqi Forces (2003 ed.). Salamander Books, Ltd. p. 88. ISBN 978-0-7603-1592-7.
  9. ^ a b David Jordan (2005). The History of the French Foreign Legion: From 1831 to Present Day (2005 ed.). Amber Books Ltd. pp. 181–185. ISBN 978-1-59228-768-0.
  10. ^ Henk, Daniel (2006). South Africa's armaments industry: continuity and change after a decade of majority rule (2006 ed.). University Press America. p. 164. ISBN 978-0-7618-3482-3.
  11. ^ Based on adding together all operators in the map and those listed below.
  12. ^ Christopher F. Foss (1977). The illustrated encyclopedia of the world's tanks and fighting vehicles: a technical directory of major combat vehicles from World War I to the present day (1977 ed.). Chartwell Books. p. 93. ISBN 978-0-89009-145-6.
  13. ^ Tokarev, Andrei; Shubin, Gennady (2011). Bush War: The Road to Cuito Cuanavale: Soviet Soldiers' Accounts of the Angolan War (2011 ed.). Jacana Media (Pty) Ltd. pp. 128–130. ISBN 978-1-4314-0185-7.