AMX-30B2 MBT-Operation Desert Storm

The French participation in the Gulf War, codenamed Opération Daguet, saw the deployment of the 6e Division Légère Blindée ("6th Light Armored Division"), referred to for the duration of the conflict as the Division Daguet. Most of its armored component was provided by the AMX-10RCs of the cavalry reconnaissance regiments, but a heavy armored unit, the 4e Régiment de Dragons ("4th Dragoon Regiment") was also sent to the region with a complement of 44 AMX-30B2s. Experimentally, a new regimental organisational structure was used, with three squadrons of thirteen tanks, a command tank and six reserve vehicles, instead of the then normal strength of 52 units. Also six older AMX-30Bs were deployed, fitted with Soviet mine rollers provided by Germany from East German stocks, and named AMX 30 Demin. The vehicles were all manned by professional crews, without conscripts. The Daguet Division was positioned to the West of Coalition forces, to protect the right flank of the U.S. XVIII Airborne Corps. This disposition gave the French commander greater autonomy, and also lessened the likelihood of encountering Iraqi T-72s, which were superior both to the AMX-10RCs and the AMX-30B2s. With the beginning of the ground offensive of 24 February 1991, French forces moved to attack its first target, "Objective Rochambeau", that was defended by a brigade from the Iraqi 45th Infantry Division. A raid by Gazelle helicopters paved the way for an attack by the 4e Régiment de Dragons. Demoralized by heavy coalition bombardments, the Iraqi defenders rapidly surrendered. The following day, the 4e Dragons moved on to their next objective, "Chambord", where they reported destroying ten tanks, three BMPs, fifteen trucks and five mortars with the assistance of USAF A-10s, and capturing numerous prisoners. The final objective was the As-Salman air base ("Objective White"), that was reported captured by 18:15, after a multi-pronged attack, with the 4e Dragons attacking from the South. In all, the AMX-30s fired 270 main gun rounds in anger.

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• AMX-30B2
• MBT
• Giat
• Opération
• Daguet
• 6e
• Division
• Légère
• Blindée
• 4e
• Régiment
• de
• Dragons
• XVIII
• Airborne
• Corps
• Operation
• Desert
• Storm
• Iraq
• As
• Salman
• French
• Army
• combat
• armored
• vehicles

[inagod]

beautiful as a tank can be

[PotatoGunsRule]

I always liked the look of the AMX 30.

[MrFlaujac]

@thenoobfactor

search near the leopar 1

this 2 tank are brother

[Ahamster1]

S.E.X.Y. TANK!

[thenoobfactor]

@oiseautempete The sloping on the side of the hull is different, but the front of the turret looks much like an m47, with a gun mantlet similar to the centurions.

[oiseautempete]

@thenoobfactor

You need googles... the AMX30 is completly different from the M47 or M48,the turet is very different and the gun much bigger: the only analogy, all 2 are tanks...

[MrLilgwen]

@metalmadsen that's why they made the AMX-56 (leclerc)

[MrLilgwen]

@metalmadsen it was made right after 1945

[peepeevagi]

French tanks are sexy :3

[metalmadsen]

It is a petty that they forgot to put armour on it!

[thenoobfactor]

Looks a lot like a Patton tank. Similar turret and wedged hull armour.

[druisteen2]

@Kamfrenchie

no he is blue , whive stars and strippes