AMX-30 Bridge

The AMX-30 Bridge is a French bridge-laying engineering vehicle based on the AMX-30 tank chassis.^[1]

AMX-30 Bridge
Type	Armoured vehicle-launched bridge
Place of origin	France
Specifications
Mass	42.5 metric tons (94,000 lb)
Length	11.40 m (with bridge)
Width	3.95 m (with bridge)
Height	4.29 m (with bridge)
Crew	3
Armor	80 mm (3.14 in)
Engine	Hispano-Suiza HS-110 12 cylinder 700 hp (522 kW)
Power/weight	16.5 hp/ton
Suspension	torsion bar
Operational range	600 km (373 miles)
Maximum speed	50 km/h (31.1 mph)

Design

The chassis of this variant is almost identical to the AMX-30. Instead of the turret, a scissors bridge is laid hydraulically over the rear of the vehicle. Deployment and retraction time of the bridge is about 5 minutes, and has a span of 20 meters.^[2] The bridge is erected vertically, and can therefore be easily seen by enemy forces.^[1]

Night vision optics and NBC (nuclear, biological and chemical) defense systems are standard fittings.^[1]

History

The AMX-30 was manufactured by Nexter. The first prototype of the AMX-30 Bridge was built in the mid 60s, but production did not start until the mid 70s.^[1]

It was intended to be used in tandem with the AMX-30, having no armament of its own.^[1] It was not used by the French Army; 12 vehicles are in use by the Saudi Arabian Army.^{[when?][citation needed]}