Belgian Sherman IC Hybrid (Dozer) - Quick clearing with a British gun

Suggestions Ground
1
Would you like to see this in-game?
  • Yes
  • No
0 voters
Where would you like to see this vehicle?
  • (independent) BeNeLux tree
  • France: BeNeLux subtree
  • other
  • no/negative
0 voters

Hello all, welcome to this suggestion of the Belgian service variant of the Sherman Firefly Ic, seen as used by the Genie Squadron, with smoke launchers added to the turret cheeks.

TL;DR: Sherman Firefly Ic Hybrid in Belgian service post-WWII, with an M1 dozerblade


Dozer_M4_detoure
Dozer_M4_detoure1102×828 119 KB

History

History

The Firefly has had a relatively short service life in the Belgian army, being introduced in 1946, right after the end of the second World War. During and after World War II, agreements were made with the United Kingdom for the supply of equipment for the new Belgian army. Through the British, the new armed forces would also be able to participate in the occupation of Germany. The negotiations for these agreements were not always smooth, and tensions sometimes ran high. Nevertheless, it was eventually successful in rebuilding a new Belgian military force.

In 1948, over 200 Fireflies were purchased from Van Loo in Antwerp. This scrap dealer had acquired a massive quantity of military equipment at a bargain price from the British, following a surplus sale near Sint-Anna. The Belgian government paid 35,000 francs per unit, which was only slightly more than the scrap value. The tanks were refurbished at the Rocourt Arsenal. This Firefly model saw the biggest use with the 5th Genie Battalion.

5th Genie Battalion - 5de Bataljon Genie | 5ème Bataillon de Génie | 5Gn

5Gn_helm

The 5th Engineer Battalion (5Gn) was established on September 11, 1939, during Phase D of the mobilization plan at Major Deltenre Barracks on Luxembourg Avenue in Namur. The core of the 5Gn was provided by the 3rd Battalion of the 4th Engineer Regiment (III/4RGn). The 4th Engineer Regiment, an active engineering regiment, was responsible for forming nine new independent battalions at the beginning of the mobilization. After the establishment of these battalions, the 4th Engineer Regiment was removed from the order of battle.

The 5Gn was then incorporated as an organic engineer battalion into the 5th Infantry Division (5Div), an active infantry division whose headquarters was located in Mons during peacetime. In addition to providing general engineering support to the division, the 5Gn was also tasked with providing direct engineering support to the division’s subordinate units. The three infantry regiments of the 5th Division supported by the 5Gn were the 1st Hunters-on-foot Regiment (1J), the 2nd Hunters-on-foot Regiment (2J), and the 4th Hunters-on-foot Regiment (4J).

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After the Second World War this battalion was shortly reactivated again under the unit number/sign 102 ‘5 Gn’. They served from 1948 untill 1960 and were later-on consollidated in the 11th genie battalion.

SIPRI Arms Transfers Database for Belgium post-WWII

Spoiler
Recipient Supplier Year of order Number ordered Weapon designation Weapon description Number delivered Year(s) of delivery status Comments SIPRI TIV per unit SIPRI TIV for total order SIPRI TIV of delivered weapons
Belgium United States 1948 ? 50 ? M-4 Sherman tank 50 ? 1950 Second hand M4A3E4 and M4A1 76 mm 0.34 16.8 16.8
Belgium United States 1951 ? 20 ? M-7 105mm self-propelled gun 20 ? 1951 Second hand Second-hand 0.3 6 6
Belgium United States 1951 ? 22 ? M-101A1 105mm towed gun 11 ? 1951 Second hand Probably second-hand 0.18 3.96 1.98
Belgium United States 1950 ? 200 ? M-24 Chaffee light tank 200 ? 1951 Second hand Second-hand
Belgium United States 1950 ? 36 M-10 tank destroyer 36 ? 1950

Specifications

Dimensions: L/W/H: 5,89 m (w/o dozer), unknown length with dozer / 3,05 m / 2,62 m
Weight: 31,5 tons
Powerplant: Chrysler A57 multibank engine
Engine horsepower: 370 hp
Max speed: 40 km/h
Range: 193 km

Crew: 4 (Driver, Loader, Gunner, Commander)
Armour:
Front: 50.8 mm at 56°
Sides: 38.1 mm at 0°
Rear: 38.1 mm at 10°
Roof: 25.4 mm

Armament
Gun 76,2 mm QF 17 pounder Mk.V
Munition HE (Mk.1), AP (Mk.6), APC (Mk.4), APCBC (Mk.8), SMK (SS Mk.1)
Ammunition 80
Protection system 2 x 6 76 mm smoke grenades
Coax 7.62 mm L3A1 (5000 rounds)
Pintle mount Yes, 12.7 mm M2 machine gun (800 rounds)

Place in War Thunder

Although this Sherman Firefly Ic is very similar to the ones in the Italian Tech tree, it still has some small differences. The Smoke grenade launchers and the Dozer blade would be the most notable unique addition. It would be a good representation of a Genie tank in War Thunder.

Regarding nations

BeNeLux

As the BeNeLux subtree for France has now been confirmed, France has the highest chance of recieving Belgian equipment. However an independent BeNeLux would also be very possible. For further info please go to: BeNeLux (Belgium, Netherlands & Luxembourg) Ground Forces.

Pictures

On the field

Schermafbeelding 2025-01-20 193312
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His Majesty Boudewijn aboard a Sherman Ic Firefly - Flawinne 15/09/1950

Sources

Sources
2

+1 like aways for BeNeLux

3

If I’m being honest, this is the only BeNeLux Sherman I’ve seen suggested lately that I have actually voted “yes” on. Pretty much every other Sherman is a direct copy of an American/British vehicle, and I’d much prefer to add them to their respective trees first.

Nonetheless, I don’t believe I’ve ever seen a Firefly mount the M1 Dozer before, and a Composite version at that, so it’s an interesting combination of an American upgrade and a British tank that is fair enough for my liking.

1 Like
4

Mod for the would be Sherman in a BeNeLux subtree and also for the already existing Sherman hybrid(s?)

5

I agree, we’re missing over 8 US sherman variants and at least 3 British ones (with also 2 Canadian Shermans we’re missing).

The Belgians and the Dutch literally just used all of these variants, combined whatever was left of the huge scrapyards after WWII, and pushed them into service as they didn’t have anything else anyway after losing everything in 1940. Belgium used the huge British/Canadian Scrapyard in Antwerp and the Dutch used a couple big scrapyards around the Netherlands. They would be almost always ‘copy-paste’ in WT terms (although there are a lot of fieldmods, like dozers/smoke grenades/etc.) and also make the most sense in an independent Benelux in any occasion.

We really need more Shermans in their OG nations, but Gaijin clearly chose to limit the amount of shermans in the US/UK tech tree, otherwise you’re have to research the ‘same’ vehicle over 22 times. Especially with how modifications/variants are implemented in game as separate vehicles (with only a couple vehicles in-game that actually change in their model/version/variant with researching a modification, like the 2S6 (becomes the 2S6-M1) and the Jaguar GR.1A (that becomes the GR.1B)).

4 Likes
6

The Belgian Sherman Hybrid Ic was the only one to use the M1 dozer as far as I know, at least when looking at Italian/British/Canadian/South African units.

The M1 Dozer was mostly used on the M4 sherman instead (the one with the 105 mm), as that was more of an engineering vehicle, perfect for clearing roads/bunkers/tenches and assisting with its big HE shells.

7

I think that France has a few other mediums that could be added around the same BR as these Shermans, which is why subtrees like BeNeLux are at their best when providing support vehicles and anti air. Not that I’m opposed to their upgraded MBTs and mediums by any means, but I just don’t want to them be used solely to provide copied Centurions, Shermans, and Leopards.

Because to me, the idea of copy paste as “lineup filler” is annoying because it implies that said lineups exist only to help the player grind to top tier, when in reality each BR should provide unique vehicles that offer interesting gameplay that isn’t just focused on maxing out RP and SL gains (although some non-meta minor nation vehicles are exceptionally good at this anyways).

1 Like
8

+1 for Benelux tree only

independent tree with their own tanks, France itself had enough with imported stuff

2 Likes