The correct technical term is because the turrent is an
oscillating turrent. Imagine two rather uneven shaped sauces placed
rim to rim. Instead of a system of hydralic struts to raise or
lower the gun, the two halves raise, lower and oscillate to raise
or lower the gun accordingly.
The gun is fed by automatic rotating magazine system with 6 rounds
each, much like those of a pistol, the spent shell casings are
ejected out of the rear of the turret.
Pretty neat solutions to make it compact and light weight.
Before any of you chumps shoot off your gob about being too light
etc, consider this in any tank to tank battle, its mostly a hide,
shoot, scoot and shoot from another hide position. Not the slug
fest all small boys imagine tank battles are.
Even the M1A2 is capable of scooting between hides at breakneck
speeds.
Now to really stretch your french see:
http://www.armyrecognition.com/europe/France/vehicules_legers/AMX-13/AMX_13_France_description.htm
See also http://www.world-digest.com/fact/ground/AMX_13.htm
