The HS30 was introduced in 1958 and was built by the firm of Hispano-Suiza. The Infantry Fighting Vehicle variant was normally armed with a 20mm L/85 gun in a turret with 360-degree traverse, plus a 7.62mm machine gun and twin 4-barrel smoke dischargers.

The vehicle normally could carry four infantrymen and a squad leader in the troop compartment. They could fire their personal weapons over the sides of the compartment, but were exposed to enemy fire (the vehicle did not have firing ports).

Variants included a command vehicle; a 120mm mortar carrier, and an ATGM carrier with a single SS11 ATGM launcher.

While 2,176 vehicles of all variants were built, the vehicle was unsatisfactory (this was Hispano-Suiza’s first attempt at building an armored vehicle), and it was replaced in 1974 by the Marder IFV.

The HS30 IFV on display is fitted with a 106mm recoilless rifle and .50 caliber ranging machine gun in addition to its normal armament. One vehicle in each mechanized infantry platoon was normally so equipped.

The HS30 mortar carrier on display is armed with a 120mm mortar and 7.62mm machine gun, and was intended to provide organic indirect fire support for mechanized infantry units. It was eventually replaced by the M113A1G mortar carrier.