Pansarbil M8 "Lulle-Bell" - Captured and modified by Swedish forces in Kongo in 1961

Til_Dovre_Faller · December 2, 2025, 3:24pm

PANSARBIL M8 “Lulle-Bell”

Lulle Bell’s time in service: 1962-1964

ARMAMENT

Spoiler

Main armament: 1× 37 mm gun M6
-Ammunition capacity 80 rounds
Secondary armament: 2x1 8x63mm ksp m/36 lv dbl Twin machinegun
-Placement: Front of the turret, above the mantlet
-Swedish modified: M1917 Browning machine gun
-Swedish name: Dubbelkopplad Luftvärnskulspruta m/36
-Cartrigde: 8×63mm patron m/32
-Barrel length: 609 mm
-Magazine: Ammunition belt
-Ammunition stowage: Uncertain, but images show many ammunition crates, i would from the images guess around 4 boxes.
-Weight: 47 kg
-Rate of fire: 450 rounds/min (600 for M1917A1)
Secondary armament: 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

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. One of these m8’s with recognition mark “31” which weren’t heavily damaged was quickly restored to working order and nicknamed “Lulle Bell”. I am not sure what this name means, if it’s related to some cartoonish stuff or a more inappropriate meaning. However, it was at the same time modified by adding a Swedish double-coupled m/36 anti-aircraft machine gun taken from a broken Terrängbil M/42 KP car. 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.