- Yes
- No
- (independent) BeNeLux tree
- France: BeNeLux subtree
- USA (as Luxembourg skin, event vehicle, etc.)
- other (please comment)
- no/negative
TL;DR: Luxembourg-operated M966 TOW. Zero armour, high mobility, powerful TOW missile.
History
History
The Luxembourg Army has historically fulfilled reconnaissance and support roles rather than fielding heavy mechanized units. Throughout the Cold War, Luxembourg cooperated closely with Belgium within the Belgo-Luxembourg military framework. Luxembourg light infantry units often trained and deployed alongside Belgian mechanized forces, requiring compatible equipment for mobility and anti-armour operations.
After the retirement of the M151 MUTT in the late 1980s, Luxembourg procured several versions of the AM General HMMWV, which became the core of the country’s tactical wheeled fleet. These included cargo, liaison, command-post, and anti-tank variants. The M966 TOW Carrier was of particular importance: as Luxembourg lacked tanks or IFVs, the TOW-armed Humvee served as the nation’s only guided anti-tank capability.
The M966 TOW variant originated in the U.S. Army as a dedicated anti-tank platform capable of firing every generation of the BGM-71 TOW missile family, including the TOW, Improved TOW, TOW-2, and later tandem-warhead variants. It featured a reinforced roof ring-mount, rear stowage for additional missiles, and a folding tripod mount enabling dismounted operation.
Luxembourg incorporated the M966 into its Support & Reconnaissance Company, mirroring Belgian doctrine for light anti-tank detachments: rapid ambush, stand-off firing positions, and shoot-and-scoot tactics. These vehicles participated in joint exercises, such as anti-armour training with Belgian battalions and NATO readiness evaluations.
During the 1990s and 2000s, Luxembourg continued to rely on Humvees for both national defence and international missions, including KFOR and EU deployments. While not always deployed with live TOW systems abroad, the M966 remained Luxembourg’s sole vehicle designed from the outset for anti-tank combat.
Eventually, modernization programs, including the acquisition of Dingo 2 vehicles and later participation in the French SCORPION programme, led to the retirement of the Humvee fleet. Nevertheless, the M966 TOW stands out as one of the very few Luxembourg vehicles with combat-capable armament suitable for War Thunder.
Specifications
Parameter Value Notes Weight ~4 t combat weight Engine 6.5 L V8 diesel ~190 hp Top road speed ~89 km/h Crew 4 (commander, gunner, driver, loader) Primary armament 1 × BGM-71 TOW launcher Roof-pintle-mounted AT launcher Secondary armament None / optional pintle MG Ammunition load 1 ready missile + several spares Exact number unknown Protection Light aluminium/fiberglass No effective armour Stabiliser None Vision equipment Day optics only No TI TOW Missile Specifications
(From Jane’s Armoured Fighting Vehicle Retrofit Systems 1993–94)
Specification Details Type Wire-guided SACLOS, BGM-71 family Length BGM-71A1/B: 1.16 m Diameter 0.152 m Wingspan 0.46 m Launch weight BGM-71A1/B: 18.9 kg Warhead BGM-71A1/B: 3.9 kg HEAT (2.63 kg HE) Range 65 m – 3,750 m Penetration (est.) BGM-71A1/B: 600 mm RHA Speed ~278 m/s
Place in Game
A classic fast TOW carrier: no armour, excellent mobility, and a lethal long-range missile. Perfect for ambush, flanking, and hit-and-run tactics. Comparable to other light TOW vehicles at mid-tier.
Estimated rank: VI
Regarding nations
BeNeLux / Luxembourg
This is one of the very few Luxembourg combat vehicles that can realistically be added to War Thunder. As such, it fits naturally in a BeNeLux tech tree or BeNeLux subtree within France.
Pictures
Sources
Sources
Blau, A. (1993). Krieg im Land der Morgenstille: Der Luxemburger Einsatz in Korea. Éditions Saint-Paul.
CityBiblio. (n.d.). Le Luxembourg et son armée. https://citybiblio.lu/resource/le-luxembourg-et-son-armee
Defence Belgium. (2021, June 3). Le Luxembourg se tourne vers le programme SCORPION pour le remplacement de ses Hummer et Dingo. https://defencebelgium.com
LuxemBook. (n.d.). Le Luxembourg et son armée. https://luxembook.lu/products/le-luxembourg-et-son-armee
Osprey Publishing. (1994). Modern U.S. Army light vehicles 1945–1995. Osprey Publishing.
Spezialeinheiten.net. (n.d.). Humvee – Luxembourg. http://www.spezialeinheiten.net/index.php?action=humvee
Tank Encyclopedia. (n.d.). Grand Duchy of Luxembourg (1945–present). https://tanks-encyclopedia.com/luxembourg
Jane’s Information Group. (1993). Jane’s armoured fighting vehicle retrofit systems: 1993–94. Jane’s.
Jane’s Information Group. (1985). Jane’s armoured fighting vehicles of the world 1985–86. Jane’s.
Wikipedia Contributors. (n.d.). BGM-71 TOW. In Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BGM-71_TOW
Stockholm International Peace Research Institute. (2025). SIPRI Arms Transfers Database. Generated November 19, 2025. https://armstrade.sipri.org
