French Amx-56 Leclerc - France have always been seen as pioneer of tank design and warfare and considered to be inventor of world first modern tank Renault FT. Currently Amx-56 Leclerc Tank is serving as the Main Battle Tank of France and considered to be technologically most advance tank of the world. France has started the production of the Amx-56 Leclerc in 1991 as a successor to Amx-30.
Armor Protection - Amx-56 Leclerc Tank is protected by active protection system from GIAT, which fires a variety of smoke grenades and infra-red screening rounds, as well as anti-personnel grenades. The hull and the turret of Amx-56 Leclerc are protected by various layers of modular composite armor, which can be replaced easily for repair or upgraded over the years. Amx-56 Leclerc also has the option of adding Explosive Reactive Armor tiles to further enhance its survival
Mobility - Amx-56 Leclerc Tank has an eight-cylinder engine V8 diesel engine producing 1500 hp with fully-automatic transmission having five forward and two reverse gears. The maximum on-road speed of Amx-56 Leclerc Tank is 75 km/h and 55 km/h cross country. The maximum range tank is 550 km, which can further enhanced to 650 km with removable external tanks.The combat weight of Amx-56 Leclerc Tank is just 56 tons which made it one of the lightest main battle tanks in the world, This further provides it with one of the best power-to-weight ratios among the Western tanks of 27 hp per ton and makes it one of the fastest accelerating MBTs of its generation because it can reach 0 to 32 km/h in 5 seconds. The engine exhaust gasses from the engine are cooled to reduce the thermal signature to protect it against IR seeking anti-tank munitions.
Fire power - The Leclerc is equipped with a Nexter 120 mm smooth-bore gun. This gun is capable of firing the same NATO standard 120 mm rounds. The Amx-56 Leclerc Tank has a unique auto-loading system which was specifically designed to reduce the crew needed to three by eliminating the human loader. The Leclerc auto-loader allows a rate of fire of 12 rounds per minute and it can fire all modern day rounds like High Explosive Anti-Tank Round, Kinetic Energy Sabot Round, Chemical Anti-Tank Rounds and Armor Piercing and Discarding Round. The main gun of Amx-56 Leclerc Tank is controlled by fire control computer which uses Infrared beam and other sensors to acquire data regarding range finding and Target acquisition to process and make sure the round fired from the main 120 mm guns hits on target. The main gun of Amx-56 Leclerc Tank is electrically stabilized with the main chassis of the tank, that give the capability to Amx-56 Leclerc Tank to fire while traveling at a speed of 50 km/h on a target 4,000 meters away. The gun is 52 calibers long instead of the 44 calibers common on most tanks of the Leclerc's generation, giving the rounds a higher muzzle velocity to penetrate the armor of other tank.
Amx-56 Leclerc Tank is also equipped with a 12.7 mm coaxial machine gun which is an increased amount of fire power than 7.62 mm coaxial machine gun compared to other modern tanks and it also got one Remote operated 7.62 mm commander machine gun which can be fired while commander being seated inside the tank which further increase the crew surviving potential.
Limitation's - Amx-56 Leclerc Tank is over dependent on the technology and electronics, For instance the auto loader which takes the place of human loader personnel to load the main gun which is protected against possible failure and quite flawless as compared to other prototype auto loaders of other countries but its failure can leave the tank in defenseless situation and same applies for its electrically operated remote 7.62 mm commander machine gun which is indirectly operated from within the tank itself. It also shares the same disadvantage of over-engineered tanks which are difficult and expensive to mass produce.
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