The tanks that France has been delivering to Ukraine since mid-May are “unsuitable” for attacking Russia on the eastern front, says a Ukrainian officer. This commander argues that their armor is too light for high intensity conflict.
Promised by France in mid-May and delivered immediately to the Ukrainian army, the dozens of French armored vehicles and light tanks are not suitable for the counter-offensive currently being led by Kiev in the east of the country, the Donbas region. These military vehicles, type AMX 10 RC, are equipped with a 105mm gun and have six drive wheels, yet they do not seem suitable for carrying out operations in a high intensity conflict.
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“It’s light armor which makes them unsuitable for attacking“says Major Spartanets, who commands a battalion of the 37th Naval Infantry Brigade, currently deployed in the Donetsk region.
“There were instances where a 152mm shell exploded nearby and the shrapnel pierced the vehicle. The fragments pierced the armor and the ammunition store on board detonated. inside, he was killed in the tank”.
Major Spartanetsat Agence France Presse
Therefore, these vehiclesare used for support fire because of their light armor: sending them to attack to be destroyed is useless, because it is a risk mainly for the crew“, continues the Ukrainian commander.
Not designed for this type of fights
These wheeled reconnaissance armored vehicles are very mobile but were not designed to withstand the current anti-tank arsenal encountered on the battlefield.
This type of armored “was not designed for combat against heavy tanks that weigh three times its weight and have more powerful guns and armor“, advances Pierre Servent, specialist in defense issues. “In war, enemy artillery sprays the entire terrain and the AMX 10 RC takes the impact less well, that’s obvious”.
However, this French tank remains a formidable weapon of war, as long as it is used properly, namely behind infantry soldiers, far from the front: a military vehicle equipped with a 105mm gun is perfect for exploit a breakthrough and rush into a breach. In January, the French military expert Michel Goya noted on twitter the strengths and weaknesses of this type of tank.
“Their armament is good, their observation instruments are very good“, recognizes Major Spartanets, moreover. “They are on wheels, quick to deploy, with a large fire capacity“, supports Pierre Servent, who notes that “in this manœwork there, the AMX 10 RC is totally relevant for the point-by-point conquest of the ground and enemy positions“.
Before being deployed in Ukraine, these French light armored vehicles had already proven themselves in Mali, Bosnia and Afghanistan.