The AMX-VCI (French: Véhicule de Combat d'Infanterie) 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.
Beginning in 1957, some 3,000 vehicles were produced. It was initially produced as the AMX-13 VTT (véhicule de transport de troupe), 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.
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-gunAMX-VTT (AMX-VCI): APC fitted with a turret mounted light machine-gunAMX-LT: VTT based artillery fire control vehicleAMX-PC: VTT based Command PostAMX-VCA: VTT based 155 mm Support Vehicle designed to accompany the Mk F3 SPHAMX-VCG: Combat engineer versionAMX-VCI 12.7: Version with a 50 calibre (12.7 mm) HMG used by France and the NetherlandsAMX-VCI M-56: Fitted with a 20mm cannonAMX-VCPM de 81: VTT-based 81 mm Mortar CarrierAMX-VCPM de 120: VTT-based 120 mm Mortar CarrierAMX-VCTB (Vehicule Chenillé Transport Blessés): VTT-based AmbulanceAMX-VTT avec tourelle NA2: Fitted with ATGM launcherAMX-VTT ROLAND: Roland SPAAMLAMX-VTT Version 1987: Modernised version with all the tank automotive improvementsAMX-VTT with Minotaur Mine System: Minotaur scatterable mine-laying system fitted on the rearAMX-13 RATAC: VTT-based RATAC ground surveillance radar vehicleAMX DOZER: bulldozer blade equipped versionAMX-13 VCPC: Argentinian Army version of the AMX-13 VCIAMX-13 mod.56 VCI: Belgian Army version with a .30 Browning mounted in a CALF38 turretAMX-13 mod.56 [81 mm mortar carrier]: Belgian Army versionAMX-13 mod.56 [command post]: Belgian Army versionAMX-13 mod.56 [ENTAC atgm]: Belgian Army version with a rear-mounted ENTAC missile launcherAMX-13 mod.56 [cargo]: Belgian Army versionAMX-VTT TOW: Dutch Army version with a TOW launcher on a cupolaAMX-GWT (GeWonden Transport): Dutch army version of the VCTBDNC-1:Mexican Army local designation, slightly modernized version with a diesel engine and a 20 mm. cannon, upgraded by SEDENAA total of 30 AMX-VCI were reportedly delivered to the Lebanese Army in May 1983, with a number of them being seized by the pro-Israeli South Lebanon Army (SLA) militia in February 1984 after the defeat of the Lebanese government forces by Shia Muslim and Druze militias. 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. VCIs up-armed with US M40 106mm recoilless rifles were later employed by Lebanese Army General Michel Aoun’s loyalist troops in the battles against his Christian rivals of the Lebanese Forces (LF) militia at East Beirut in February 1990.
Argentina: Argentine Army Cyprus: VTT/VCA and command post versions in service with the Cypriot National Guard. Ecuador: Ecuadorian Army Indonesia: Indonesian Army 200 in service Mexico: Mexican Army 409 in service Qatar: Qatar Armed Forces (Army) Sudan: Sudan People's Armed Forces Venezuela: Venezuelan Army United Arab Emirates: United Arab Emirates Army Belgium: Belgian Army, successor to the M75 armoured personnel carrier. AMX-13 mod.56 VTT (305 vehicles), AMX-13 mod.56 PC (72 vehicles), AMX-13 mod.56 Cargo (58 vehicles), AMX-13 mod.56 Mor (90 vehicles), AMX-13 mod.56 MILAN (86 vehicles) and AMX-13 mod.56 ENTAC (30 vehicles). Replaced by the M113A1-B and the AIFV-B. France: French Army, replaced by the AMX-10P. Lebanon: 60 vehicles in service with the Lebanese Army from surplus French Army stocks between 1983-1990. Replaced by the M113 and the AIFV-B-C25. Netherlands: Dutch ArmySouth Lebanon Army: ex-Lebanese Army vehicles in service between 1984 and 2000. Italy: Italian Army, AMX-13 VCI (various versions) (80-100 vehicles)
