- Yes
- No
- (independent) BeNeLux tree
- France: BeNeLux subtree
- other
- no/negative
TL;DR: The Belgian T. 13 B1, a fully domestic produced Tank-Destroyer armed with a 47mm gun
History
History
The Belgian T.13 self-propelled gun/tank destroyer is a vehicle that is little known to the general public. However, with around 200 examples produced between 1934 and 1940, it was the most widespread tracked armoured vehicle in the Belgian arsenal in May 1940.In 1932, the Minister of National Defense introduced the doctrine of integral territorial defense, a strategy focused on protecting the country from its borders. In March 1936, following a heated debate that culminated in the tumultuous departure of the Chief of the General Staff, this defense doctrine became more deeply rooted. It was particularly shaped by the sense of abandonment felt by the populations of Liège and Luxembourg, who feared they would once again endure the horrors of invasion in the event of a German attack.To execute this strategy, it was essential to have mobile troops capable of swiftly moving to the eastern border. This led to the creation of mobile units, such as the Ardennes Hunters. Established by a Royal Decree on March 10, 1933, these units spurred the development of specialized motorized artillery. It was during this period that Belgium’s first tank hunters and self-propelled guns were created, including the C.47 on the Mark VI chassis and, a little later, the T.13 Type I, which will be known as the T.13 B1.However, the defense policy led by Devèze, supported by a few members of the general staff, ultimately did not prevail in the long run. The complete defense of the country relied on two critical conditions: the maintenance of Franco-Belgian agreements and the non-militarization of the Rhineland, as outlined in the Treaty of Versailles and the Locarno Agreements.Rather than focusing on an organized defense along the border itself, the strategy aimed to conduct delaying actions in the Ardennes, buying time to establish more robust defense lines along natural obstacles, such as the Albert Canal and the Meuse River, or pre-existing fortifications like the KW Line, which ran between Koningshooikt and Wavre. Despite this shift in strategy, the military continued to recognize the importance of mobile anti-tank capabilities. Even in the face of defeat, the army’s leadership understood the vulnerability of the Ardennes to armored assaults.Captain Liddell Hart himself emphasized the critical need for mobile anti-tank capabilities to defend the Ardennes. As a result, the Chasseurs Ardennais and Cyclistes-Frontières units, tasked with conducting delay operations in the eastern part of the country, were given priority in the allocation of mobile anti-tank resources, specifically the T.13. These units greatly appreciated the T.13, finding it especially well-suited to their mission needs.As a result of Devèze’s strategy, this vehicle proved essential within the framework of the doctrine of defense in depth, which necessitated the army’s ability to maintain mobility, along with its anti-tank units. Although the 47mm C 47 L/30 D gun was excellent, it struggled to keep up with mechanized units when towed and required significant time to deploy into battery. These limitations could be partially addressed by mounting the gun on an armored and motorized chassis, such as the T.13. Therefore, it was crucial to equip as many units of the Belgian army as possible with this vehicle.This type of vehicle, while capable of destroying enemy armored vehicles, is a relatively inexpensive weapon system to produce. Furthermore, the Belgian army possessed the two key elements needed to rapidly develop such a weapon: a high-quality anti-tank gun manufactured domestically and a tracked chassis that could also be produced by Belgian forces.Producing actual tanks would have been significantly more expensive (300,000 Belgian francs, compared to 160,000 for a tank destroyer) and would have taken longer. Additionally, these vehicles might have encountered technical issues due to the Belgian industry’s limited experience in tank production.The license to manufacture the T.13 chassis was purchased from the British company Vickers-Carden-Loyd in 1933. This purchase proved highly advantageous for state finances, as producing 48 T.13s in Belgium would cost 5,935,680 Belgian francs, compared to 7,200,000 francs in Great Britain. At a time when minimizing expenses was crucial, the savings from producing the T.13 domestically were invaluable. Additionally, the national production of the tank provided employment for Belgian companies and their subcontractors.The companies involved in the production of the T.13 included Miesse from Buizingen (responsible for the T.13 B1 and B2 chassis), the SA des Ateliers de Construction de la Meuse in Sclessin (which modified the T.13 artillery tractors into B2), Cockerill (which manufactured the 47mm gun parts), the Ateliers de Construction de Familleureux (which produced the chassis for the T.13 B3), and F.N. Herstal, which supplied the Browning machine guns. Additionally, a variety of smaller companies benefited from the production of the T.13 by supplying essential components such as optical instruments, metals, and other materials to the larger factories.Due to the weight and design of the tractor, the gun had to be positioned at the rear, facing backwards. To protect the driver and gun crew, a set of folding armoured panels was used, creating an open-top configuration. The frontal panel included a left vision slit for the driver.
T.13 B1 ‘0539’ on a patrol, with the frontal armour plate folded downAs a result, the gun had a limited traverse with full protection (120°). To achieve a 360° range of motion, the three forward panels had to be folded down, leaving the crew unprotected. However, the gun crew still had some partial cover from the gun shield. The weapon used was the 47mm (1.45 in) FRC M32 anti-tank gun, derived from the infantry version. On the right side of the turret, an additional fixed machine-gun port was installed, housing a Belgian-built F.N. model 30, a BAR automatic rifle. The T.13 passed all tests successfully.
The T.13 B1 series would all recieve an 05 designation on their license plates, which is the easiest way to see the difference between the B1 and B2 series.
Specifications
Dimensions: L/W/H: 3,65 m 2,05 m 1,97 m (2,23 m when turret top shield raised)
Weight: 4,6 tons
Engine: Meadows E.T.P. at 55 hp (2800 rpm)
Speed: 48 km/h:
||6 km/h |1st gear || 12 km/h | 2nd gear || 22 km/h | 3rd gear || 36 km/h | 4th gear || 48 km/h | 5th gear||Crew: 3 (Driver, Loader, Gunner/Commander)
Armour:
Turret: 7 mm
Movable plates: 8 mm
Fuel tank shield: 5 mm
Armament 1x 47 mm C47 mod.31/32 and 1x 7.65 mm Fusil-mitrailleur 1930 machine gun Munition types see below for description: APBC and HE Ammunition 108 Elevation & Traverse manual Fire suppression none Fire Control modes Manual with telescopic sight Place of production: Buizingen
Years of production: 1934
Producer: Miesse
Production number: 35+1
Belgian munition types for the C.47 F.R.C. Mod.31 gun
| Designation | Gun | Caliber | Type | Velocity | Weight | Penetration | Notes | Fire rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| O.E.A. | C.47 F.R.C. Mod.31 | 47 mm | HE | 450 m/s | 1,665 kg | 180+ g of TNT | TNT filler, Obus Explosif en Acier (O.E.A.) | |
| O.R.A.Tr. | CC.47 F.R.C. Mod.31 | 47 mm | APBC | 675 m/s | 1,578 kg | 63mm at 0 meters, 0° | Obus de Rupture en Acier Traçant (O.R.A.Tr.) |
The mud flaps, leaf spring for the hook and license plate placement for the T.13 B1, all which differ externally from the T.13 B2 variant
Specifications on the Fusil-mitrailleur 1930 (Fm 30) Browning
| Fusil-mitrailleur 1930 (Fm 30) Browning Technical Data | |
|---|---|
| Country of Origin: | Belgium |
| Manufacturer: | Fabrique Nationale, Herstal (Belgium) |
| Role: | Light machine gun |
| Caliber/cartridge | 7.65 mm |
| Type of feed | 20 rounds clip |
| Weight | 9,300 kg |
| Overall length | 119.4 cm (47 in) |
| Length of barrel | 61.1 cm (24.07 in) |
| Muzzle velocity | 850 m/sec (2650 fps) |
| Rate of fire (cyclic) | 600 rpm or 350 rpm |
| Effective range | 550 m |
Place in War Thunder
The T.13 series is a staple of Belgian pre-ww2 engineering and the B1 variant could serve as an early production variant of the T.13 B series in-game.
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
- Bernard Vanden Bloock, Belgian Fortifications, May 1940; Appendix B: Weapons, World War II Online - Technical Publications, 2003.
- Laurent Halleux, Franck vernier, Le V.C.L. T.13 B: Un nouveau type de véhicule au service des chausseurs Ardennais; Du tracteur d’artillerie au canon automoteur, Patrimoine Militaire, n.d.
- Pierre Muller, Les chasseurs de chars T.13 : des armes défensives pour un pays neutre (1934-1940) , Journal of Belgian History, XLIX, 2019, 1, pp. 64-80.
- Nevington War Museum, Belgium Tanks. Belgium Tanks - Nevington War Museum
- Jane’s - World War II Tanks and Fighting Vehicles - The Complete Guide, 2002 pp. 214-215.
