Looking for info on 'Turreted' prototype of French AMX 105 / Mk.61 SPG

[Pioneer]

G’day Gents


Just finished reading through one of my old (and favorite!!) books An Illustrated Guide to Modern Tanks and Fighting Vehicles, Lansdowne Press, 1980
I am looking for information - designation/name, pictures, drawings & tech data................. of a one-off (I think?) 'turreted' variant of the French AMX 105 / Mk.61 105mm Self-Propelled Gun, of the late 1950’s.
It had a 105mm/L? Gun in a 360-degree turret, the gun having an elevation of +70-degree and a depression of -7-degree. Eighty rounds of 105mm ammunition were carried. A 7.5mm anti-aircraft machine gun was mounted in a 360-degree cupola on the roof of the turret. Total combat weight was 17,000 kg (17 tons) and a crew of five.

The type was tested by the French and Swiss armies but was not adopted.Note: On Wikipedia (yes I know ), it makes mention of a AMX Mk 62 (AMX-105B) prototype with 105 mm howitzer in a turret and a AMX Mk 63 (AMX-105B, AMX Mk F2) prototype of Mk 62 with MG cupola fitted to turret! I'm not sure if these are the designations of the design I have read about?


The design sounds like it was a quantum leap over the original casement-type AMX 105 SPG, itself a variant of the venerable AMX-13 series!

Thanks in advance
Regards
Pioneer

 

[Pioneer]

Ok a mate of mine has just emailed me this picture of what he thinks is the 'Turreted' AMX 105 /Mk.61 SPG!

He says that from the information he has been given, that it is designated the AMX-105B (Mk.62)!

Here is hoping that this may jog someones knowledge and recollection of information.
Going by this picture, it looks somewhat of French FV433 Abbot SPG
Again I wonder what caliber the gun is? 105mm/L?


Regards
Pioneer

 

[xiaofan]

Two pictures of what maybe the 'Turreted' AMX 105 /Mk.61 SPG, one is Swiss vehicle and other one is French vehicle. French vehicle seems like lost one its wheel.

 

[Herman]

I believe 4 of these things were built and the "Mk 62" designation is actually model of 62, referring to the year of construction or introduction.

 

[Pioneer]

Thanks heaps Xiaofan for your pictures and Herman for your information!
Those picture look very similar (if not the same) to the one my friend forwarded me (and I have posted!)
Going by these picture, it sure looks more practical than the earlier original AMX-105 Mk.61!

Lets see what else we can find!


Regards
Pioneer