The French-made AMX VCI (for "Vehicule de Combat d'Infanterie") infantry combat system was designed to a specific French Army vehicle requirement made in the years following World War 2. The VCI was based on the AMX-13 light tank which eased production of the new vehicle by utilizing many existing components. The VCI would go on to see production begin in 1967 and become the primary infantry mover of French forces.
Visually, the AMX VCI was characterized by five road wheels per track side. Twin hatches at the rear of the hull offered up an entry / Exit point for the 10 passengers. One distinct design element of the VCI in regards to its passengers was in the implementation of side-gun firing ports, which protected the occupants but allowed them to still fire their weapons in self-defense. Additionally, the inclusion of a turret-mounted self-defense machine gun was a relatively new concept for this particular type of vehicle for the time in which it appeared. The profile was of a very low design and the appearance very utilitarian. Nevertheless, the platform maintained solid workman-like history and was the main infantry fighting vehicle of the French Army for years despite the huge drawback of not having any type of amphibious capability.
Note: The above text is EXCLUSIVE to the site www.MilitaryFactory.com. It is the product of many hours of research and work made possible with the help of contributors, veterans, insiders, and topic specialists. If you happen upon this text anywhere else on the internet or in print, please let us know at MilitaryFactory AT gmail DOT com so that we may take appropriate action against the offender / offending site and continue to protect this original work.
Specifications
AMX - France Manufacturer(s)
Argentina; Belgium; Cyprus; Ecuador; France, Indonesia; Lebanon; Mexico; Netherlands; Qatar; Sudan; Venezuela; United Arab Emirates Operators
The "Military Factory" name and MilitaryFactory.com logo are registered ® U.S. trademarks protected by all applicable domestic and international intellectual property laws. All written content, illustrations, and photography are unique to this website (unless where indicated) and not for reuse/reproduction in any form. Material presented throughout this website is for historical and entertainment value only and should not to be construed as usable for hardware restoration, maintenance, or general operation. We do not sell any of the items showcased on this site. Please direct all other inquiries to militaryfactory AT gmail.com. No A.I. was used in the generation of this content; site is 100% curated by humans.
