french armoured car Panhard M8, the Peak of the M2 family

[CaID 8,988]

 

i would like to make a suggestion of a vehicles that would be a nice competitor to the AMX 10RC, the Panhard M8

 

Technically the Panhard M8 wasn't a competitor to the AMX 10RC. but it fall in direct competition to this wheeled tank. the Panhard M8 was a prototype of Panhard who was meant to be a reconaissance vehicles and a cheaper alternative to the tracked tank. the prototype presented at Satory in 1973 was a AFV version of the Panhard M2 8x8 vehicles who was a APC. France was opening a requirement of the VCAI or Vehicule de combat amphibique d'infantry (Infrantry amphibious combat vehicles) in 1967. a prototype was ordered from Panhard and AMX in 1969 which was the AMX 10RP and Panhard M2. the trial happen but no clear result come from them. in 1971, Panhard had developed a AFV from the M2, which was a 8x8 vehicles mounting the TK-105 turret. the vehicles having a good mobility and great firepower was featuring the Hydro-pneumatic suspension who's was at this time extremely advance and make the vehicles having a high mobility off-road. only no order came from this development. later the French army issue new requirement for a reconnaissance vehicles of which the M8 would be suitable, but it seem the M8 development wasn't reborn and the AMX-10RC was developed and chosen for the services.

 

Firepower

the main armament of the M8 was the BK Meca 105mm F2 gun as found on the AMX-10RC, only there shall not be the OLF 105 F3 APFSDS as it was introduced in 1987, nearly 15 years after the M8 was cancelled. the OCC F3 would be the only rounds accepted for the Panhard M8 and it's not a bad round by himself. the HEATFS having a penetration of 350mm would be more than capable to fight the MBT. the fire-rate of 8 rounds/minutes would give it the capacity to fight at the same level of the other vehicles. the elevation of -8°/+20° give it a good flexibility in uneven terrain. the rotation of 30°/s is more than enough for close combat. there is also a coaxial LMG next to the gun. the ammunition carried is unknown but probably around 35 rounds.

mobility

the mobility of the M8 would be nothing to be ashamed of. only weighting 13 tonnes , it is powered by a 8-cilynder Hispano-Suiza HS115 providing 250 hp . this is the same engine used on the AMX 10P and shall give it a power/weight ratio of 19.23 hp/tonnes . this is much better than the AMX-10RC. the top speed was reported to reach at least 90 km/h on road . the like the AMX 10RC, the M8 can turn on himself which is a rare feature for the wheeled vehicles, this is due to the independent differential of each wheels who allow the wheel to turn at different rate. this system also give the vehicles a better performance off road and cancel the drifting effect you can experiment when half of your wheels get in a different ground type such as the mud or snow. the wheels have hydro-pneumatic suspension which allow the outside wheels or inside wheels to lift the vehicles to cross vertical obstacle. the M8 is also fully amphibious with propeller installed in the rear, giving a speed of 8km/h in calm water . the ground pressure been of only 1kg per sq/cm would make it particularly good in off-road for a wheeled vehicles.

 

Protection

the protection of the M8 is different but equivalent to the AMX 10RC. the chassis been in steel, the turret been in aluminum. the vehicles would be technically immunized to the HMG on the front but not on the side. the overall protection can be considered as normal for a light vehicles.

Front hull upper = 25mm

Front hull lower = 15mm

side hull = 13mm

rear hull = 13mm

bottom hull = 8mm

top hull = 8mm

front turret = 65mm *alluminium

side turret = 42mm *alluminium

rear turret = 25mm *alluminium

top turret = 25mm *alluminium

the crew is of 5 men . 2 are placed in the turret (gunner,commander and loader) and 2 are in the hull (driver and radio-operator) the engine been at the rear would give the M8 a conventional configuration.

Specifications
Mass	13 tonnes
Length	6.7 m
Width	2.5 m
Height	2,00 m (without turret)
Crew	5 (commander, gunner, loader, radio operator, driver)
Main armament	105mm BK Meca F2
Engine	8-cylinder Hispano-Suiza HS115, 250 hp
Power/weight	19.23 hp/tonne
Suspension	Independent; hydro-pneumatic
Ground clearance	variable, between 214mm and 474mm
Fuel capacity	unknown but that do not matter
Operational range	1200 km
Maximum speed	90 km/h (56 mph) [5]

 

Source

https://www.chars-francais.net/2015/index.php/10-archives/de-1990-nos-jours/2649-1971-panhard-m8

https://en.topwar.ru/142022-francuzskiy-kolesnyy-tank-panhard-m8.html
http://weaponews.com/weapons/29119-french-wheeled-tank-panhard-m8.html

army and weapon 10 page 25 to 36 (as it was share by @ForeverAloneRage in private i would not share publicly more than the cover)

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[leroyonly 4,310]

Open for discussion. 

[Abaddon75 460]

yes French Class 3 (P) -ish +1 Please!

 

minus the APFSDS :/

BUT smaller and amphibious and hydro-pneumatics suspensions!

Edited February 22, 2022 by Abaddon75

[Milocat 4,842]

Very cool find, +1 from me.

[CaID 8,988]

21 hours ago, Abaddon75 said:

yes French Class 3 (P) -ish +1 Please!

 

minus the APFSDS :/

BUT smaller and amphibious and hydro-pneumatics suspensions!

you could make it simpler
AMX 10RC minus APFSDS + Amphibious

[Valcour 1,139]

Looks fun.  +1

 

[RAYhill 43]

+1 massive clean sides, perfect for massive decals