The Musée des blindés de Saumur presents two flagship tanks of the French military industry

The Musée des Blindés de Saumur is one of the world's most important collections of armoured vehicles from the First World War to the present day. This institution not only represents a very important technical heritage but also fulfils perfectly its mission of memory of France in combat which is part of our history.

The AMX 30 tank and the Panhard EBR

The AMX 30 tank

For the 47th edition of the Rétromobile show, the Musée des Blindés de Saumur presents an emblematic tank of the French military industry, the AMX 30. Built in the Ateliers de construction d'Issy-les-Moulineaux, it was put into service in 1957 and served the colours of France for 50 years. For its time it was a modern armoured vehicle, its silhouette was very low and thanks to its powerful Hispano Suiza 12-cylinder flat engine, the AMX 30 was very manoeuvrable and could quickly reach 65 km/h.

Thanks to its one-piece moulded turret and its perfectly waterproof hull, the AMX 30 could operate in a contaminated atmosphere and cross rivers 4 m deep.

Over 3 m wide with its 75 mm thick armour, the AMX 30 remains imposing to this day.

The AMX 30 presented at the show is one of the latest modernised versions specially equipped for desert regions. It took part in Operation Daguet in the Gulf War conflict in southern Iraq from 1990 to 1991.

Technical sheet of the  AMX30 :

Service: 1957 to 2011
Production: 3,571 units
Length: 6.60 m
Width: 3.10 m
Weight according to the version: from 36 to 40 tons
Totally sealed body: river bottom passage, nuclear, biological and chemical protection.
Armament : one 105 mm gun 47 shells - one 7,62 mm machine gun 2000 cartridges - one 20 mm machine gun 480 shells
Engine: Hispano Suiza poly-fuel 720 hp - 12 flat cylinders turbo - 28.700 cm3
Consumption: 190 litres per 100 km
Speed: 65 kph

 

Char de combat AMX30 DAGUET en déplacement dans le désert

 

 

 

Dynamic presentation of the EBR Panhard tank of the Musée des Blindés

This year, the team of the Musée des Blindés de Saumur will present a Panhard Armoured Reconnaissance Engine in dynamic demonstration. This tank adopts revolutionary technical solutions. The prototype was built in 1939. Equipped with 8 wheels, 4 of which are entirely metallic and can be lifted to facilitate road travel. The German invasion of 1940 stopped the development of this tank. In 1948 the principles of the wheeled tank were taken up again and Panhard produced the first EBR in 1952. This armoured vehicle has the advantages of a contemporary armoured vehicle. Very low silhouette, 8 driving wheels, 4 of which can be lifted on the road, the 4 wheels equipped with puncture-proof tyres are steered. The hull is symmetrical, the front and the rear are identical and each one is equipped with a cockpit and a reverser of controls which makes it possible not to turn over. The engine is a jewel of goldsmithery, 12 flat cylinders with air cooling, light alloy engine block, crankshaft and connecting rods mounted on bearings. The 200 hp propelled the EBR to over 100 kph.

At the time, the Willys Jeeps of the French army that accompanied the EBR on open roads had a hard time keeping up with the convoy. The EBR is a brilliant example of Panhard's technical creativity.

Technical sheet of the EBR PANHARD :

Commissioned: 1952
Length: 2.40 m
Width: 2.30 m
Weight: 13 tons
Crew: 4 men
Production: 1200 units
Symmetrical body, a cockpit at each end.
Armament: one 75 mm gun -3 7.5 mm machine guns
Engine: 12 air-cooled flat cylinders of 200 hp
Displacement: 6 litres
Propulsion: 8 driving wheels, 4 of which can be lifted.
Fuel tank: 380 litres
Range: 700 km
Consumption : 54 litres per 100 km
Speed : 115 kph

Engin blindé de reconnaissance PANHARD dans un environnement forestier