- Yes
- No
- (independent) BeNeLux tree
- France: BeNeLux subtree
- other
- no/negative
TL;DR: .50 cal Quadmount on a FN-4RM/62C truckbed.
History
History
In the early 1950s, the Belgian army began replacing vehicles that had been put into service shortly after World War II. FN Herstal introduced this 4x4 ‘ardennes’ truck with a payload capacity of 3 tons. FN lacked the capacity to produce all the vehicles, so part of the production was outsourced to Brossel and Miesse in Anderlecht, Belgium. Production ended in 1954, with 4,150 units made (Kamp Vogelsang, n.d.).
The artillery Brigade at Brasschaat combined its 1 ton M45 Quadmount turret (leftover from the stocks bought off the British and US) with the FN flatbed trucks at their disposal, creating this makeshift mobile anti-air vehicle. Testing was done at the shooting ranges in Brasschaat. Ultimately this variant was to be but a footnote in the Belgian artillery history, largely overshadowed by the more modern and standardised MAN 630 L2A 11.136H dieseltruck with M55 Quadmount (Vierloops Luchtafweer). These trucks became available in very large amounts in the 60s to the Artillery Battalion (Dutch: Bataljon Artillerie) and the 14e Regiment Luchtdoelartillerie, which was the major anti-air group in the Belgian armed forces. They used the older .50 cal Quadmount on a FN-4RM/62C truckbed mostly as SHORAD to cover their NIKE Hercules missiles in 1961, but most of these FN trucks were replaced by the MAN ones used by Belgian troops stationed in Germany in the 1970s. Most of the Belgian airfields were defended by the FN truck for only a short while at about 10 years (Kamp Brasschaat,1961).
The aforementioned MAN diesel truck with the M55 Quadmount.Witnessing how the army was implementing their trucks, FN also started manufacturing armoured vehicles from the same 4RM/62 truckbed, resulting in the FN-4RM/62F AB.MI.MO and the FN 4RM/62f ABC.
Specifications
Dimensions (meters): L/W/H: 5.66 / 2.24 / 2.50 (cabin) and 2.75 (at turret)
Weight: 4 tons
Engine: 92 hp at 3,000 rpm
Speed: 75 km/h
Range: 500 kilometersCrew: 4 (Driver, Loader, Gunner, Commander)
Armour: none
Main armament: 1x4 Browning M2HB in M45 Quadmount
Place in War Thunder
This medium-truck anti-air would fit perfectly before the VTT DCA and at about the same BR as the CCKW 353 AA. And it would be a good representation of post-WWII Belgian problem solving for a cheap AA alternative with the equipment they had at-hand right after WWII.
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
Sources
Sources
Kamp Vogelsang (n.d.) Light trucks Lichte Vrachtwagens
Laurent. (n.d.). Anti Aircraft 50 mm quadruple/vierloop – Armée Belge Belgisch Leger. Armée Belge Belgisch Leger. Anti Aircraft 50 mm quadruple/vierloop – Armée Belge Belgisch Leger
FN 4X4 Army-Truck | Military1. (n.d.). FN 4X4 Army-Truck | Military1. FN 4X4 Army-Truck | Military1
Kamp Brasschaat (1961). Handleiding Artillerie. Belgisch Leger.
JANE’s Military Vehicles and Ground Support Equipment, 1985, p.319
ORD, 7-8-9, SNL, Z123.300 (Bil) VRACHTWAGEN, 3ton, 4 x 4, kipvrachtwagen en troepenvervoer.:
