The AMX-VCI is one of the many variants of the French AMX-13 light tank. It was the front line APC of the French Army until replaced by the AMX-10P. It is still used by some countries, for example Mexico, where it goes under the name of DNC-1 and is armed with a 20mm cannon.
History
Beginning in 1957, some 3,000 vehicles were produced. It was initially produced as the AMX-13 VTT, which carried ten infantrymen and was armed with either an AA-52 7.5 mm machine gun or a 12.7 mm M2 Browning machine gun in an open mounting. The final versions had a turret equipped with a 20mm light autocannon, producing a vehicle that can be seen as an early example of the infantry fighting vehicle.
Variants
The AMX-13 VCI itself was the basis for a number of variants:
AMX-VTP: Original APC variant armed with an open-mount light machine-gun
AMX-VTT : APC fitted with a turret mounted light machine-gun
DNC-1: Mexican Army local designation, slightly modernized version with a diesel engine and a 20 mm. cannon, upgraded by SEDENA
Combat history
Lebanese Civil War
A total of 60 AMX-VCI were delivered to the Lebanese Army in 1971-72, with additional 30 vehicles being reportedly delivered in May 1983. A number of VCIs were seized by the Amal Movement militia and the pro-Israeli South Lebanon Army militia in February 1984 after the defeat of the Lebanese government forces by Shia Muslim and Druze militias during the Mountain War. The captured vehicles were quickly pressed into service by the SLA, who used them until the collapse of the militia in the wake of the Israeli withdrawal of April 2000; those used by Amal were returned to the Lebanese Army earlier in October 1990. VCIs up-armed with US M40 106mm recoilless rifles were later employed by Lebanese Army General Michel Aoun's loyalist troops during the Elimination War against his Christian rivals of the Lebanese Forces militia at East Beirut in February 1990.
: Belgian Army, successor to the M75 armored personnel carrier. AMX-13 mod.56 VTT, AMX-13 mod.56 PC, AMX-13 mod.56 Cargo, AMX-13 mod.56 Mor, AMX-13 mod.56 MILAN and AMX-13 mod.56 ENTAC. Replaced by the M113A1-B and the AIFV-B.
: French Army, replaced by the AMX-10P.
: 60 vehicles in service with the Lebanese Army from surplus French Army stocks between 1971-1990. Replaced by the M113 and the AIFV-B-C25.
: Dutch Army, 345 AMX-PRI, 162 PRCO, 46 PRVR et 46 PRGWT. 67 PRI modified to mortar carriers et 26 to tank destroyers, with TOW missiles
Amal Movement militia: ex-Lebanese Army vehicles in service between 1984 and 1990.
South Lebanon Army: ex-Lebanese Army vehicles in service between 1984 and 2000.
