🇧🇪 The Armour History of Belgium – Discussion & Suggestions
Belgium is often overlooked in discussions of War Thunder armour, yet it has one of the most diverse collections of vehicles in Europe. From WWI Renault FTs to Cold War Leopards and Gepards, Belgian armour spans locally-built interwar tank destroyers, American lend-lease, NATO-standard MBTs, and unique domestic prototypes. This list is an attempt at clearifying which ones served in the Belgian armed forces. It’s obviously missing a ton of unique prototypes and modifications, please visit their relative pages as linked below.
This suggestion is focused solely on the in-service vehicles and lacks a lot more uniqueness compared to the suggestions below, I’d highly suggest you visit them!
Related suggestions:
Pictures can be found in the first reaction to this post or in the links provided if a suggestion was made for that specific vehicle.
Interwar & WWII Vehicles (1918–1945)
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Renault FT – ~75 tanks, 1918–1940.
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Vickers Carden-Loyd Utility Mk VI (47 mm FRC) – 6 vehicles, 1931.
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T.13 tank destroyers (Belgian design):
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Vickers T-15 (1934) – 42 vehicles.
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Renault ACG.1 (47 mm) – 12 vehicles (1938–1940).
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Artillery tractors and half-tracks: FN-Kégresse, Latil M2TL6, Alvis-Straussler Hefty.
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Armoured cars:
- Staghound T17E1 (37 mm)
- Staghound T17E2 AA.
- AEC Mk II (6 pdr)
- AEC Mk III (75 mm).
- Morris Mk I
- M8 Greyhound.
- M8 Greyhound Type 0
- M8 Greyhound Type 1
Belgium focused on small, mobile TDs like the T.13 series, which gave surprisingly strong resistance in 1940.
SIPRI Table for post-WWII armour:
Table
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 Second-hand 0.34 16.8 16.8 Belgium United States 1950 36 M-10 tank destroyer 36 1950–1951 Second hand Second-hand 0.32 11.52 11.52 Belgium United States 1950 200 M-24 Chaffee light tank 200 1951 Second hand Second-hand; ‘MAP’ aid 0.30 60 60 Belgium United States 1950 50 M-3/M-5 Half-track armoured personnel carrier 50 1950–1951 Second hand Second-hand 0.06 3 3 Belgium United States 1951 784 M-47 Patton tank 784 1952–1954 New ‘MDAP’ aid 1.05 823.2 823.2 Belgium United States 1951 22 M-101A1 105mm towed gun 22 1951–1952 Second hand Probably second-hand 0.18 3.96 3.96 Belgium United States 1951 20 M-7 105mm self-propelled gun 20 1951 Second hand Second-hand 0.30 6 6 Belgium United States 1952 432 M-26 Pershing tank 432 1952 Second hand Second-hand; ‘MDAP’ aid 0.36 155.52 155.52 Belgium United States 1954 14 M-115 203mm towed gun 14 1954 Second hand Probably second-hand 0.30 4.2 4.2 Belgium United States 1955 50 M-30 107mm mortar 50 1956–1957 New 0.25 12.5 12.5 Belgium United States 1955 24 M-44A1 155mm self-propelled gun 24 1956 New 0.80 19.2 19.2 Belgium United States 1956 135 M-41 Walker Bulldog light tank 135 1956–1958 New Possibly second-hand 1.10 148.5 148.5 Belgium United States 1957 10 M-55 203mm self-propelled gun 10 1958 Second hand Second-hand 0.44 4.4 4.4 Belgium United States 1959 600 M-75 armoured personnel carrier 600 1960–1962 Second hand Second-hand; aid 0.10 60 60 Belgium United States 1960 19 M-48 AVLB armoured bridgelayer 19 1961–1962 New M-48A2 AVLB version 0.90 17.1 17.1 Belgium United States 1960 4 MGR-1 Honest John surface-to-surface missile launcher 4 1962 New Incl for use with US nuclear warheads (under US control) 0.50 2 2 Belgium United States 1962 41 M-109 155mm self-propelled gun 41 1963–1964 New 1.00 41 41 Belgium France 1962 554 AMX-VCI armoured personnel carrier 554 1963–1969 New Incl some tank destroyer version; incl production in Belgium 0.30 166.2 166.2 Belgium United States 1964 96 M-108 105mm self-propelled gun 96 1965–1966 New Probably second-hand (but not more than few years old) 1.00 96 96 Belgium France 1965 52 MO-120-RT 120mm mortar 52 1965–1966 New 0.30 15.6 15.6 Belgium Germany 1967 17 PiPz-1 armoured engineer vehicle 17 1969–1971 New 1.75 29.75 29.75 Belgium Germany 1967 36 BPz-2 armoured recovery vehicle 36 1968–1970 New 1.40 50.4 50.4 Belgium Germany 1967 346 Leopard-1A1 tank 346 1968–1971 New Incl production of components in Belgium (incl fire control for some); incl 12 driver training version 2.10 726.6 726.6 Belgium United States 1970 11 M-110 203mm self-propelled gun 11 1972 New Incl for use with US nuclear warheads (under US control) 1.00 11 11 Belgium United States 1970 514 AIFV infantry fighting vehicle 514 1982–1988 New Incl production under licence in Belgium 0.90 462.6 462.6 Belgium United Kingdom 1970 469 Spartan armoured personnel carrier 469 1973–1980 New Incl 203 Samson recovery, Sultan command post, Samaritan ambulance versions; most licence-built in BE 0.25 117.25 117.25 Belgium United Kingdom 1970 43 Striker tank destroyer 43 1976–1978 New Most produced under licence in Belgium 0.80 34.4 34.4 Belgium United Kingdom 1970 136 Scorpion light tank 136 1973–1975 New Most licence/assembled in Belgium 0.83 112.88 112.88 Belgium United Kingdom 1970 153 Scimitar light tank 153 1973–1975 New Most licence/assembled in Belgium 0.83 126.99 126.99 Belgium Germany 1972 80 Jagdpanzer-4-5 self-propelled gun 80 1975–1976 New Incl assembly and Belgian fire control system production in BE 1.10 88 88 Belgium Ireland 1977 123 BDX armoured personnel carrier 123 1978–1981 New Incl 80 for police (13 with 81mm mortar); produced in Belgium 0.18 22.14 22.14 Belgium United States 1979 525 M-113 armoured personnel carrier 525 1982–1989 New M-113A1B version; incl variants; produced under licence in BE 0.25 131.25 131.25 Belgium United States 1979 5 M-752 Lance TEL missile launcher 5 1977–1978 New Incl for use with US nuclear warheads (under US control) 0.50 2.5 2.5 Belgium United States 1983 127 M-109A1 155mm self-propelled gun 127 1984–1985 New $119 m deal; offsets 90% in BE; M-109A2 version 1.10 139.7 139.7 Belgium Austria 1997 54 Pandur armoured personnel carrier 54 1998–2000 New $42 m deal; offsets 100% in BE; incl 5 command, 4 ARV, 4 ambulance versions 0.30 16.2 16.2 Belgium France 2000 60 Box Mortar 120mm mortar 60 2000–2001 New Designation uncertain 0.20 12 12 Belgium Austria 2001 6 Pandur armoured personnel carrier 6 2002 New Ambulance version; incl production in BE 0.30 1.8 1.8 Belgium Germany 2005 220 Dingo-2 armoured personnel carrier 220 2005–2011 New EUR170 m ‘MPPV’ programme; offsets in BE; incl ambulance & command post versions 0.35 77 77 Belgium Italy 2005 440 LMV armoured personnel carrier 440 2007–2008 New EUR75 m deal (option on 120–180 more not used) 0.15 66 66 Belgium Switzerland 2006 242 Piranha-3 armoured personnel carrier 242 2008–2015 New EUR700–800 m ‘AIV’ programme; offsets in BE; incl IFV, fire-support, command, ambulance, recovery versions 0.30 72.6 72.6 Belgium United States 2020 322 L-ATV armoured personnel carrier 198 2023–2024 New EUR91 m deal; JLTV version; incl Belgian production 0.18 57.96 35.64
Post-War Re-Armament (1947–1960s)
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M22 Locust – light tank (~1947).
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M5 Stuart – 10 vehicles (1948).
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Sherman fleet:
- Sherman VC and Sherman Hybrid IC (The Belgian Army had over 200 Sherman Fireflies, including ones they reworked themselves.)
- M4A1(76)W and M4A1(76)W HVSS: in use from 1949/50, phased out of service from 1952 on.
- M4(105): in use from 1949/50, phased out of service from 1952 on. Note: possibly also M4A3(105).
- Sherman Dozer: a number of Sherman Fireflies were fitted with dozer blades; in use by the Engineers 1951 - 1960.
- Sherman Crab: one or two examples in use by the Engineers from 1951.
- Sherman DD: one example
- Sherman ARK: one example
- M32B1 TRV and M32A1B1 TRV.
- M74 TRV.
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And the following Sherman-related AFVs:
- M10 17-pdr SP Gun (Achilles IIC): thirty-six in use from 1950/51.
- M36 90-mm GMC: in use from September 1949, phased out of service in 1953.
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M24 Chaffee – light tank, 1951–1958.
- M24 Chaffee (e)
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M26 & M26A1 Pershing – 423 vehicles (1951–1969).
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Half-tracks: M3A1, M4 81 mm mortar carrier, M16 & M16A1 AA carriers.
SPAA
- M16 & M16A1 AA carriers.
SPG / Artillery
- M7 Priest 105mm HMC: in use 1951 - 1964. Note: also M7B2, possibly also M7B1.
- M44 (until 1964).
This era cemented Belgium’s role as a NATO armour user, relying heavily on US MDAP equipment.
Cold War (1950s–1990s)
Tanks
- M46 Patton I (90 mm) – 8 vehicles (1952).
- M47 Patton (90 mm) – 1954–1968. (780x vehicles)
- Upgraded with Cobelda LRF
- M41 Walker Bulldog(A1, A4) – 1958–1974.
- Leopard 1 (105 mm) – 322 vehicles, from 1969 (Z002.000).
- Leopard 1BE (1968)
- Leopard 1BE SCT (Système de Conduite de Tir / fire control system )
SPAA
- M16A1 MGMC (until 1970)
- Bedford M55
- MAN 630 L2A 11.136H dieseltruck with M55
- FN-4RM/62C M45 Quadmount
- Gepard B2 (28 vehicles, 1978–1994).
- Gepard B2LV (27 vehicles, 1978–1994). (LRF variant)
SPG / Artillery
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M55 203 mm (1962–1972). (M47 chassis with modified turret)
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M108
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M109
- A1
- A2
- A3
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AMX-13 Mortier (90 vehicles, 1962–).
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M992 VBCL (1994–2007).
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CATI 90 (90 mm MECAR)
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FN 4RM/62f ABC (90 mm MECAR)
APCs
- M75 (771 vehicles, 1957–1983).
- AMX-13 VTT family (Milan, ENTAC).
- M113A1B (many variants, 1960s–1980s).
- Beherman Demoen BDX Timoney (95 vehicles, 1979–1993)
- Some armed with twin MILAN launcher
IFV
- AIFV-B family:
- AIFV-B-Milan
- AIFV-B .50 cal
- AIFV-B-C25
- FN-4RM/62F AB.MI.MO (60 mm CM60A1)
Belgium adopted a strong mix of US and European armour, standardizing with NATO calibers.
CVR(T) Era (1970s–2000s)
Belgium became one of the largest CVR(T) operators outside the UK, ordering more than 700 CVR(T)'s:
- FV101 Scorpion (76 mm) – 133 vehicles, 1973–2005.
- Scimitar (30 mm) – 153 vehicles, 1973–2005.
- FV102 Striker
- FV103 Spartan MILAN
These formed the light, fast reconnaissance element of Belgian armoured brigades.
Leopard 1 & Final MBTs (1980s–2000s)
- Leopard 1A5BE – core Belgian MBT until the early 2000s.
- Specialized Leopard variants: training, recovery, and support tanks.
- Gepards (as shown above)
- Gepard B2 (28 vehicles, 1978–1994).
- Gepard B2LV (27 vehicles, 1978–1994). (LRF variant)
By the mid-2000s, Belgium phased out heavy tanks entirely, focusing on wheeled and infantry support vehicles.
Modern Belgian APCs & IFVs
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MPPV Dingo 2 (various versions: MAG, .50 cal, command post, ambulance, FAC, battlefield surveillance).
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Piranha IIIC: (138 Piranha IIIC in 7 variants)
- Piranha IIIC APC (64, armed with 12.7 mm)
- Piranha IIIC DF30 (32 fire support version with MK44 Bushmaster II in an ORCWS-30)
- Piranha IIIC DF30 (Spike) (MR launchers)
- Piranha IIIC DF90 (18 fire support version with a Cockerill 90 mm cannon)
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Pandur I (60 initial vehicles)
- Pandur I
- Pandur I (2020s) (44; 39 have a 12.7mm remote weapon station)
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Oshkosh CLV ‘Falcon’ (2024)
- 135 vehicles armed with FN DeFNder light RWS armed with a 7.62mm machine gun
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Jankel FOX RRV
- Armed with 40 mm grenade launcher or a 12.7 mm, with an FN MAG.
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VBMR Griffon
- 380+ x VTT - Armoured personnel carrier (armed with FN remote station 12.7mm or 7.62mm) (partially delivered)
- 24x Griffon MEPAC (120 mm mortar) (not yet delivered)
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EBRC Jaguar
- 60 EBRC Jaguar
Belgium shifted to lighter, modular vehicles to support international operations.
Sources
Sources
- Belgian Army archives: Rupsvoertuigen registers / Vogelsang lists.
- Nevington War Museum.
- Chamberlain, P. & Ellis, C. British and American Tanks of World War Two.
- SIPRI Arms Transfer Database.
