The Ukrainian commander believes that the AMX-10 RC light tanks supplied by France to Ukraine, which are currently being used in the counteroffensive on Kyiv, are not suitable for frontal attacks due to too thin armor, reports AFP.

What French tanks are capable of on the battlefield, the commander of the battalion of the 37th separate marine infantry brigade, which is currently stationed in the Donetsk region, a major on the pseudo “Spartanets”, was convinced.

“Not suitable for attack”

“They are used to support fire through light armor. Their armament is good, the surveillance devices are very good. But unfortunately it’s light armor that makes them unfit to attack,” said the Spartan.

In January, French President Emmanuel Macron promised the delivery of these highly mobile wheeled armored reconnaissance vehicles equipped with a formidable 105 mm gun. Four months later, they were already on the front lines, Kyiv reports.

But in this tense war, where heavy artillery strikes are constant, their thin armor proves to be a major weakness, according to Major Spartan.

The AMH-10 crew died from shrapnel

“There were cases when a 152-millimeter projectile exploded nearby and shrapnel pierced the car,” the 34-year-old officer said. And, unfortunately, this already led to the death of the crew.

“A shell exploded near the car, shrapnel pierced the armor and the ammunition (on board) exploded. The crew of four unfortunately remained inside; died in armored vehicles,” said the Ukrainian officer.

According to Major Spartanec, some AMX-10 RCs also have transmission problems, possibly due to their use on dirt roads, he believes.

“Sending these vehicles (into an attack) to destroy (…) is (…) pointless, because it essentially creates a risk for the crew,” said the officer, without specifying the number of these French armored vehicles in his brigade .

Ukraine lost at least 3 such French machines

French military expert Michel Goya noted on Twitter in January that the high mobility of these armored vehicles makes them very useful for use by units behind the front line or to quickly exploit front-line breakthroughs.

However, the AMX-10 RC is not designed “to fight battle tanks with heavier guns,” he added, noting that its armor is too weak to deal with “all anti-tank weapons on the modern battlefield.”

The Oryx website, which tracks equipment losses from both sides based on images available online, says at least three AMX-10 RCs have been “abandoned” after being decommissioned during front-line combat.

Major “Spartanets” claims that his fighters underwent a month’s training in France to learn how to use the machine, but this was not enough to fully master it.

According to the French army, the AMX-10 RC, which weighs about 20 tons, is protected against light infantry weapons. Developed in the 1970s, it is gradually being replaced in France by the more modern Jaguar armored car.

Oshkosh and Husky have better armor

The Ukrainian officer claims that the armor of the American light transporters Oshkosh and the British Husky, also delivered to Kyiv, is more suitable and effective than that of the AMX-10 RC.

The Oshkosh and Husky are designed to withstand IEDs and ambushes.

From the experience of Major Spartanets, their doors can withstand “four” direct hits from an RPG-type grenade launcher.

He showed AFP reporters two Oshkosh used by his unit. One of them has a hood – a “weak point”, according to the officer – slightly damaged by shrapnel.

“Otherwise, from a protection point of view, the vehicle is very strong,” says Spartan.

When the Oshkosh hits a mine, the wheel can be blown off, “but don’t worry infantry,” he said.

Conversely, when a transport vehicle of Soviet design, such as BMP or BMD, hits a mine, “it is very unfortunate for both the crew and the equipment.”