Foreword:
What is the BeNeLux?
BeNeLux stands for Belgium - Netherlands - Luxembourg. It is an official politico-economic union and formal international intergovernmental cooperation of three neighboring states in western Europe.
Why combine the countries into one techtree?
From a historical point of view, Belgium and the Netherlands already have military cooperations. For example, there is a BeNeLux Navy Command, both countries purchased each others military products in the past, and with the Air Force, both the Netherlands and Belgian squadrons take turns protecting the BeNeLux Air Space.
From an ingame point of view the Netherlands and Belgium are two countries that both have lots of very interesting vehicles, but are also both a little lacking in some regards when we look at them from an ingame point of view. To give some examples:
Netherlands: Unique Air Force, Little lacking in Army, Very unique Navy.
Belgium: Unique Air Force, lots of unique Army vehicles, lacking in their Navy.You can quite easily see why a union of the two countries makes sense. Together both countries add to eachother, Belgium adds to the lacking Dutch army, and the Dutch add to the lacking Belgian Navy.
How about Luxembourg?
Well it is true that Luxembourg does not add anything of value to the BeNeLux techtrees (From an ingame point of view Luxembourg only has a TOW armed Humvee and an armed Police helicopter).
But then again they also wouldn’t make sense in a German or French techtree either. In reality Luxembourg does not have a place in War Thunder. But since the BeNeLux is an official union we decided to include Luxembourg just for the sake of giving them a place ingame.
Their Air Force and Army decals can be added alongside Belgian and Dutch onces.
A quick introduction:
Sadly neither Belgium, the Netherlands or Luxembourg ever made any indigenous helicopters of their own. For some time there was VFW-Fokker (A joint venture between the Dutch Fokker and German Vereinigte Flugtechnische Werke company) who were making helicopter designs, but only one proposed Attack Helicopter ended up being made in an unarmed form. This helicopter, the P277, is present in our tree, but only as an event vehicle.
This means that the rest of the tree is made up of foreign helicopter designs, with the primary Attack Helicopter force being made up of the Dutch AH-64 Apache’s.
Something else we did was make an Naval Helicopter Line. These are helicopters that were used by the Navy and are only armed with Torpedoes and sometimes small machine guns in the doors.
Naval forces in War Thunder can still be expanded more towards the modern age of Naval Warfare, and so we decided to add this Helicopter Line as a potential future thing we could see for Helicopters.
Another option is that these Helicopters could also be added to ships the same way Floatplanes work on ships. In that case the Helicopters in this tree are a simple showcase of what they are like.
Naval Helicopter Line
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Rank 5
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Westland AH-12A
Description: This is the Westland Wasp Mk.2 in service with the Dutch Navy. They were first operated onboard the Dutch Van Speijk-class Frigates. But later they also served on the Tromp-class Frigates and Kortenaer-class Frigates.
Type: Naval Helicopter
BR: 3.7Spoiler
Fuselage length: 9.24 m
Rotor diameter: 9.83 m
Height: 2.72 mPowerplant: Rolls-Royce Nimbus 103 turboshaft engine
Engine power: 710 hp
Max speed: 193 km/hArmament: (Two hardpoints)
Left fuselage hardpoint:
- 324 mm Mk 44 torpedoe (56km/h, 34kg warhead, active sonar seeker)
or- 324 mm Mk 46 torpedoe (74km/h, 43.9kg warhead, active or passive/active acoustic homing)
Right fuselage hardpoint:
- 324 mm Mk 44 torpedo (56km/h, 34kg warhead, active sonar seeker)
or- 324 mm Mk 46 torpedo (74km/h, 43.9kg warhead, active or passive/active acoustic homing)
Sikorsky SH-34J
Description: This is the Sikorsky H-34 in service with the Dutch Navy. They were operated onboard the Dutch HNLMS Karel Doorman aircraft carrier.
Type: Naval Helicopter
BR: 4.0Spoiler
Fuselage length: 14.86 m
Rotor diameter: 17.07 m
Height: 4.36 mPowerplant: Wright R-1820-84 Cyclone turboshaft engines
Engine power: 1,525 hp
Max speed: 195 km/hArmament: (Two hardpoints)
Left fuselage hardpoint:
- 457 mm Mark 30 torpedo (46km/h, ? kg warhead, passive seeker)
Right fuselage hardpoint:
- 457 mm Mark 30 torpedo (46km/h, ? kg warhead, passive seeker)
Rank 6
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Westland SH-14D
Description: This is the Westland Lynx Mk.81 in service with the Dutch Navy. They were operated onboard the Dutch Van Speijk-class, Tromp-class, Kortenaer-class and Karel Doorman-class Frigates.
Type: Naval Helicopter
BR: 4.3Spoiler
Fuselage length: 11.66 m
Rotor diameter: 12.80 m
Height: 3.67 mPowerplant: 2 x Rolls-Royce Gem 42-1 turboshaft engines
Engine power: 1,120 hp each, 2,240 hp total
Max speed: 270 km/hArmament: (Two hardpoints)
Left door hardpoint:
- 324 mm Mk 44 torpedo (56km/h, 34kg warhead, active sonar seeker)
or- 324 mm Mk 46 torpedo (74km/h, 43.9kg warhead, active or passive/active acoustic homing)
Right door hardpoint:
- 324 mm Mk 44 torpedo (56km/h, 34kg warhead, active sonar seeker)
or- 324 mm Mk 46 torpedo (74km/h, 43.9kg warhead, active or passive/active acoustic homing)
NHI NH-90 NFH
Description: The NH-90 is made by NHIndustries, a collaborative company owned by Airbus Helicopters (formally Eurocopter), Leonardo (formerly AgustaWestland) and Fokker Aerostructures. They are operated onboard the Dutch Karel Doorman-class and De Zeven Provinciën-class Frigates.
Type: Naval Helicopter
BR: 4.7Spoiler
Fuselage length: 16.13 m
Rotor diameter: 16.30 m
Height: UnknownPowerplant: 2 × Rolls-Royce Turbomeca RTM322-1/9 turboshaft engines
Engine power: 2,417 hp each, 4,834 hp total
Max speed: 305 km/hArmament: (Four hardpoints)
Left fuselage hardpoint:
- 324 mm Mk 46 torpedo (74km/h, 43.9kg warhead, active or passive/active acoustic homing)
Left door:
- 12.7 mm FN M3M machine gun
Right door:
- 12.7 mm FN M3M machine gun
Right fuselage hardpoint:
- 324 mm Mk 46 torpedo (74km/h, 43.9kg warhead, active or passive/active acoustic homing)
Belgian/Luxembourg Helicopter Line
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Rank 5
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Airbus H145M
Description: One of the two only Luxembourg vehicles in all the BeNeLux techtrees. This is the Airbus H145M in service with the Luxembourg Police. Whilst none are armed yet, Thales 70mm rocket pods have been purchased and are most likely planned for the H145M’s. The helicopters are fitted with an HFForce weapon system so any weaponry added to the helicopters can be used right away.
Type: Utility Helicopter
BR: 7.7Spoiler
Length: 13.03 m
Rotor diameter: 11 m
Height: 3.45 mPowerplant: 2 x Safran Helicopter Engines Arriel 2E turboshaft
Engine power: 894 hp each, 1,788 hp total
Max speed: 241 km/hArmament: (Two hardpoints)
Left pylon hardpoint:
- 12-tube 70 mm FZ231 rocket pod
Right pylon hardpoint:
- 12-tube 70 mm FZ231 rocket pod
Rank 6
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Agusta A109BA
Description: The AgustaWestland AW109 in service with the Belgian Air Force. The A109BA was a purpose built version just for the Belgians. It was used for various roles, from reconnaissance, observation, anti-tank, medevac to transport.
Type: Utility Helicopter
BR: 9.0Spoiler
Fuselage length: 11.45 m
Rotor diameter: 11 m
Height: 3.5 mPowerplant: 2 × Pratt & Whitney Canada PW206C Turboshaft engine
Engine power: 560 hp each, 1,120 hp total
Max speed: 311 km/hArmament: (Two hardpoints)
Left pylon hardpoint:
- 12.7 mm M3P machine gun in a FN HMP400 pod
or- 12.7 mm M3P machine gun and 3 x 70 mm rockets in a FN RMP pod
or- 7-tube 70 mm FZ233 rocket pod
or- 12-tube 70 mm FZ231 rocket pod
or- 19-tube 70 mm FZ225 rocket pod
or- 2-tube HeliTOW anti-tank missile launcher
or- 4-tube HeliTOW anti-tank missile launcher
Right pylon hardpoint:
- 12.7 mm M3P machine gun in a FN HMP400 pod
or- 12.7 mm M3P machine gun and 3 x 70 mm rockets in a FN RMP pod
or- 7-tube 70 mm FZ233 rocket pod
or- 12-tube 70 mm FZ231 rocket pod
or- 19-tube 70 mm FZ225 rocket pod
or- 2-tube HeliTOW anti-tank missile launcher
or- 4-tube HeliTOW anti-tank missile launcher
Dutch Helicopter Line
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Rank 5
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Sud-Aviation SA-3160 Alouette III TOW
Actual photos of the one that was fitted with a TOW launcher don’t exist, so instead the photo shown here is normal Alouette III in Dutch service.Description: This specific helicopter is a little unknown, and questions regarding if it was actually real also still float around a lot. But if the information turns out to be real, a single Dutch Alouette III was tested with TOW missiles and .50 cal machine guns. The results were not great so nothing was ever heard from it again.
Type: Utility Helicopter
BR: 7.7Spoiler
Length: 10.03 m
Rotor diameter: 11.02 m
Height: 3 mPowerplant: 1 × Turbomeca Artouste IIIB turboshaft engine
Engine power: 870 hp
Max speed: 210 km/hArmament::
Exact pylon details and weaponry tested are unknown. All we know is that it had TOW missiles and 12.7 mm machine guns.
Rank 6
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Boeing AH-64A
Description: The first AH-64 Apache in service with the Dutch Air Force. These first AH-64A versions were leased by the Dutch untill the more capable AH-64D variant came allong. One sad thing about the Dutch AH-64A’s is that they never carried Stinger air-to-air missiles.
Type: Attack Helicopter
BR: 11.3Spoiler
Fuselage length: 15.54 m
Rotor diameter: 14.63 m
Height: 3.87 mPowerplant: 2 × General Electric T700-GE-701 turboshaft engines
Engine power: 1,690 hp each, 3,380 hp total
Max speed: 367 km/hArmament: (Five hardpoints)
Outer left pylon hardpoint:
- 19-tube 70 mm M261 rocket pod
or- 4-tube AGM-114 Hellfire anti-tank missile launcher
Inner left pylon hardpoint:
- 19-tube 70 mm M261 rocket pod
or- 4-tube AGM-114 Hellfire anti-tank missile launcher
Central fuselage hardpoint:
- 30 mm M230 Chain Gun
Inner right pylon hardpoint:
- 19-tube 70 mm M261 rocket pod
or- 4-tube AGM-114 Hellfire anti-tank missile launcher
Outer right pylon hardpoint:
- 19-tube 70 mm M261 rocket pod
or- 4-tube AGM-114 Hellfire anti-tank missile launcher
Rank 7
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Boeing AH-64D (Block I)
Description: The AH-64D Apache in service with the Dutch Air Force. This version is the original model that was accepted into Dutch service.
One sad thing about the Dutch AH-64D’s is that they never carried Stinger air-to-air missiles.
Another downgrade compared to the US AH-64D’s, the Dutch ones are not fitted with the AN/APG-78 Longbow millimeter-wave fire-control radar target acquisition system and the Radar Frequency Interferometer.Type: Attack Helicopter
BR: 11.7Spoiler
Fuselage length: 15.54 m
Rotor diameter: 14.63 m
Height: 3.87 mPowerplant: 2 × General Electric T700-GE-701 turboshaft engines
Engine power: 1,890 hp each, 3,780 hp total
Max speed: 367 km/hArmament: (Seven hardpoints)
Left wingtip hardpoint:
- AMASE ountermeasure dispenser pod
Outer left pylon hardpoint:
- 19-tube 70 mm M261 rocket pod
or- 4-tube AGM-114 Hellfire II anti-tank missile launcher
Inner left pylon hardpoint:
- 19-tube 70 mm M261 rocket pod
or- 4-tube AGM-114 Hellfire II anti-tank missile launcher
Central fuselage hardpoint:
- 30 mm M230 Chain Gun
Inner right pylon hardpoint:
- 19-tube 70 mm M261 rocket pod
or- 4-tube AGM-114 Hellfire II anti-tank missile launcher
Outer right pylon hardpoint:
- 19-tube 70 mm M261 rocket pod
or- 4-tube AGM-114 Hellfire II anti-tank missile launcher
Right wingtip hardpoint:
- AMASE ountermeasure dispenser pod
Boeing AH-64D (Block II)
Description: The AH-64D Apache in service with the Dutch Air Force. This Block II version is a slightly more modernsized version in Dutch service.
One sad thing about the Dutch AH-64D’s is that they never carried Stinger air-to-air missiles, but instead the Block II AH-64D’s did get access to the AMASE (Apache Modular Aircraft Survivability Equipment) pod that was mounted where the Stingers would normalle be.
Another downgrade compared to the US AH-64D’s, the Dutch ones are not fitted with the AN/APG-78 Longbow millimeter-wave fire-control radar target acquisition system and the Radar Frequency Interferometer.Type: Attack Helicopter
BR: 11.7Spoiler
Fuselage length: 15.54 m
Rotor diameter: 14.63 m
Height: 3.87 mPowerplant: 2 × General Electric T700-GE-701C turboshaft engines
Engine power: 1,890 hp each, 3,780 hp total
Max speed: 367 km/hArmament: (Seven hardpoints)
Left wingtip hardpoint:
- AMASE ountermeasure dispenser pod
Outer left pylon hardpoint:
- 19-tube 70 mm M261 rocket pod
or- 4-tube AGM-114 Hellfire II anti-tank missile launcher
Inner left pylon hardpoint:
- 19-tube 70 mm M261 rocket pod
or- 4-tube AGM-114 Hellfire II anti-tank missile launcher
Central fuselage hardpoint:
- 30 mm M230 Chain Gun
Inner right pylon hardpoint:
- 19-tube 70 mm M261 rocket pod
or- 4-tube AGM-114 Hellfire II anti-tank missile launcher
Outer right pylon hardpoint:
- 19-tube 70 mm M261 rocket pod
or- 4-tube AGM-114 Hellfire II anti-tank missile launcher
Right wingtip hardpoint:
- AMASE ountermeasure dispenser pod
Boeing AH-64E
Description: The newest additon to the Dutch Air Force, the AH-64E is another improvement over the AH-64D with more powerfull engines and brand new systems.
Unlike the previous Dutch AH-64D versions, this E variant does come with the AN/APG-78 Longbow millimeter-wave fire-control radar target acquisition system and the Radar Frequency Interferometer.
One sad thing about the Dutch AH-64D’s is that they never carried Stinger air-to-air missiles.Type: Attack Helicopter
BR: 12.0Spoiler
Fuselage length: 15.54 m
Rotor diameter: 14.63 m
Height: 3.87 mPowerplant: 2 × General Electric T700-GE-701D turboshaft engines
Engine power: 1,994 hp each, 3,988 hp total
Max speed: 367 km/hArmament: (Five hardpoints)
Outer left pylon hardpoint:
- 19-tube 70 mm M261 rocket pod
or- 4-tube AGM-114 Hellfire II anti-tank missile launcher
Inner left pylon hardpoint:
- 19-tube 70 mm M261 rocket pod
or- 4-tube AGM-114 Hellfire II anti-tank missile launcher
Central fuselage hardpoint:
- 30 mm M230 Chain Gun
Inner right pylon hardpoint:
- 19-tube 70 mm M261 rocket pod
or- 4-tube AGM-114 Hellfire II anti-tank missile launcher
Outer right pylon hardpoint:
- 19-tube 70 mm M261 rocket pod
or- 4-tube AGM-114 Hellfire II anti-tank missile launcher
Premium
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Rank 6
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Boeing AH-64D (1st Sale Model)
Description: This specific AH-64D Apache was the very first model shown of for the Dutch Air Force. On the photo above we see it displayed in a hanger with some text on the side of the nose. This specific model in this techtree serves as the simple premium that people can buy to gain faster access to the techtree.
However, whenever I propose specific one-of versions of vehicles I also strongly believe that the model ingame should be a 100% exact copy of the model shown. And incase of this specific one it comes with some weaponry differences compared to the standard AH-64D in Dutch service.
This AH-64D will be an exact copy of the one shown on the photo, and we can see that it’s fitted with two external fuel tanks, and two 4-tube Hellfire missile launchers. And on the wingtips there is no AMASE (Apache Modular Aircraft Survivability Equipment) pod present, so the model proposed here also doesn’t get it. Also just like the base AH-64D variant in use with the Dutch Air Force, this one also is not fitted with the AN/APG-78 Longbow millimeter-wave fire-control radar target acquisition system and the Radar Frequency Interferometer.
All in all this AH-64D is a bit less capable then the base AH-64D variant, and in my eyes that justifies it being a Rank lower and at BR 11.3 instead of 11.7.
Type: Attack Helicopter
BR: 11.3Spoiler
Fuselage length: 15.54 m
Rotor diameter: 14.63 m
Height: 3.87 mPowerplant: 2 × General Electric T700-GE-701 turboshaft engines
Engine power: 1,890 hp each, 3,780 hp total
Max speed: 367 km/hArmament: (Five hardpoints)
Outer left pylon hardpoint:
- 4-tube AGM-114 Hellfire II anti-tank missile launcher
Inner left pylon hardpoint:
- RCEFS external fuel tank
Central fuselage hardpoint:
- 30 mm M230 Chain Gun
Inner right pylon hardpoint:
- RCEFS external fuel tank
Outer right pylon hardpoint:
- 4-tube AGM-114 Hellfire II anti-tank missile launcher
Event
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Rank 6
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VFW-Fokker/Westland P277
Description: This is a rather odd one for this techtree, but allow me to explain. This Helicopter was designed by VFW-Fokker and Westland, and one unarmed prototype was made. Now VFW-Fokker is the important bit here, Fokker is a Dutch company ofcourse, and VFW is a German one. VFW-Fokker was a joint venture between the two companies and they developed some interesting things.
The P277 didn’t go any further then the unarmed prototype. And with that it’s a bit odd deciding where the helicopter would end up if added ingame. Because you got a Dutch, German and British company that developed it.
My personal opinion is that all three countries can get it, but only limited to a event vehicle. Maybe squadron could work too. But definetly not a researchable techtree vehicle. So that’s why it’s here in our tree as an event helicopter.Type: Attack Helicopter
BR: 10.0Spoiler
Fuselage length: 13.1 m
Rotor diameter: 12.80 m
Height: 2.5 mPowerplant: 2 × Rolls-Royce Gem 4 turboshaft engines
Engine power: 1,050 hp each, 2,100 hp total
Max speed: 290 km/hArmament: (Three hardpoints)
Left pylon hardpoint:
- 19-tube 70 mm rocket pod
or- 4-tube HOT anti-tank missile launcher
or- 4-tube TOW anti-tank missile launcher
or- MATRA R.550 Magic air-to-air missile and 4 x FIM-43 Redeye air-to-air missiles
or- MATRA R.550 Magic air-to-air missile and 4 x FIM-92 Stinger air-to-air missiles
Central fuselage hardpoint:
- 7.62 mm machine gun
or- 20 up to 30 mm autocannon
Right pylon hardpoint:
- 19-tube 70 mm rocket pod
or- 4-tube HOT anti-tank missile launcher
or- 4-tube TOW anti-tank missile launcher
or- MATRA R.550 Magic air-to-air missile and 4 x FIM-43 Redeye air-to-air missiles
or- MATRA R.550 Magic air-to-air missile and 4 x FIM-43 Stinger air-to-air missiles
That is it! The BeNeLux Helicopter Techtree!
Before we end it for today, please give us your opinion on the techtree in the polls below!
- Yes.
- No, I would add the countries as sub trees to existing techtrees ingame.
- No.
- Yes.
- I want to see sub-trees added to existing ingame nations.
- No.
Some extra sources
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Belgium:
All operated aircraft (Including helicopters): https://www.belgian-wings.be/Netherlands:
Helicopter armaments: Helikopterbewapening | Materieel | Defensie.nl
P277 info: PAH-2: alternatives to and evolution of the Tiger attack helicopter | Secret Projects ForumLuxembourg:
Luxembourg Air Wing: Luxembourg Armed Forces - Wikipedia
