AMX-30D armoured recovery vehicle

This is designated the AMX-30D and is designed to carry out three major tasks: the recovery of disabled and damaged vehicles, replacement of major components such as engines and engineer work. Equipment provided includes a hydraulically operated dozer blade at the front of the hull which is used to stabilise the vehicle while the crane is being used or during winching or for dozing. Mounted on the right side of the vehicle is a hydraulic crane which can lift 12,000 kg through 240° or 15,000 kg when being used to the front of the vehicle. The main winch has a maximum capacity of 35,000 kg and is provided with 90 m of 34 mm diameter cable while the auxiliary winch has 3,500 kg capacity and is provided with 120 m of 11.2 mm diameter cable. There are two variants of the AMX-30D, the AMX-30DI, which can lift a maximum load of 15,000 kg through a full 240° rather than just to the front of the vehicle and the AMX-30D(S), which is for desert operations and has modifications similar to those fitted to the AMX-30S MBT. The AMX-30D has a loaded weight of 36,000 kg and normally carries a spare engine at the rear.