Pansarbil M8 "Bibi-Belle" - Captured by Sweden in Congo in the 1960's

Til_Dovre_Faller · December 3, 2025, 2:41pm

PANSARBIL M8 "Bibi-Belle"

Nina Bell’s time in service: 1962-1964

ARMAMENT

Spoiler

Main armament: 1× 37 mm gun M6
-Ammunition capacity 80 rounds
Secondary armament rear pivot: 1x 12.7x99 M2 Browning machinegun
-Placement: on pivot, rear of the turret
-Mobility: around 20 degrees depression and 80 degrees elevation
-Length: 1,429 mm
-Barrel length: 910 mm
-Cartridge: .50 BMG (12.7×99mm NATO)
-Action: Short recoil-operated
-Rate of fire: 750–850 rounds/min
-Muzzle velocity: around 890 m/s
-Effective firing range: 1,800 m
-Maximum firing range: 7,400 m
-Feed system: Belt-fed
Secondary armament over mantlet: 1x 6.5x55mm Kulspruta 58 machinegun
-Placement: on mount front of turret
-Mass: 11.79 kg
-Length: 1,263 mm
-Barrel length: 630 mm
-Width: 118.7 mm
-Height: 263 mm
-Cartridge: 6.5×55mm
-Action: Gas-operated, open bolt
-Rate of fire: 650–1,000 rounds/min
-Muzzle velocity: 840 metres per second (2,800 ft/s)
-Effective firing range: 800 m
-Maximum firing range: 1,800 m from tripod
-Feed system: Non-disintegrating DM1 or disintegrating M13 linked belt

TECHNICAL DATA
Weight: 7,8 metric ton
Length: 5 Meter
Width: 2.5 Meter
Height: 2.3 Meter
Crew: 4 Men
Armor: Up to 19mm
Engine: Hercules JXD 6-cyl 110 hk
Top Speed: 90 Km/h
Operational Range: 560km

HISTORY
When Congo became an independent state the 1rst of July 1960, a mutiny broke out within their army and it became clear that they weren’t able to keep up law and order. As a result of this, they turned to the United Nations and requested military assistance for this. Originally, the United Nations wanted forces from nearby nations to participate in this operation, but in order to show that the United Nations were a “Wolrd body” they decided to include two nations from Europe, which of was Ireland and Sweden in addition to two more nations from Asia, which was Malaysia and Indonesia. A couple other nations participated in this operation later on. In the end, in late July there were over 8.000 United Nation troops in the country. Sweden had initially transferred nearby troops from among Gaza, but later reinforced it’s troops and effort in Congo.

In the autumn of 1961, a part of the Swedish battalion was stationed in Leopoldville where they were ordered to reinforce United Nation troops at the Kamina base which was inside enemy territory. The 14th of September, one of the Swedish platoons managed to knock out two of the Katangese’s 8x M8 Greyhounds which were advancing on the Kamina base thanks to support from the Swedish J29 that had been transferred earlier the same autumn.

The United Nations managed to gain some control in this area afterwards, and when the Swedish United Nations battalion regrouped at the Kamina base on 7 April 1962, they found the two knocked out M8’s that they knocked out six months earlier. At Camp Militaire another M8 was captured. This one was equipped with an turret extension. This was then removed, and the vehicle was named Bibi Belle. At one point Bibi Belle were equipped one Kulspruta 58 machinegun chambered in 6.5x55mm, wich was an Swedish variant of the Belgian FN MAG. The fate of the vehicle(S) is uncertain.

The M8 Greyhounds that were operated by them , were sold to them by Great Britain/Usa after the end of ww2. The M8 greyhound was a light armored car developed by the American Ford Motor Company during the second world war, and was put in service by American and British forces from 1943.

IN GAME
This could be a great addition to the Swedish techtree at Rank 1, featuring an unique M8 Greyhound configuration that would be great use for grinding the techtree. With the vehicle having both an 12.7mm Anti air machinegun with great elevation, and the twin 8mm mg’s wich also is an anti air system, with decent enough elevation, this could be really good against open tops and aircrafts in the right situations.

Ive only managed to find one image of Bibi Belle, but they share the same camouflage/paint and marks.