Vickers 6-ton Mk. F - Unique proposal to Belgium

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In 1934 Vickers approached Belgium with a uniquely made model for the Belgian requirements. Eventhough this model ultimately didn’t get sold, its succesor, the Belgian T.15 Light Tank ultimately came to fruition from this prototype.

TL;DR: A ‘Belgian’ Vickers 6-ton with a 3-pounder

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History

History

In the 1930s, the Belgian Army’s Armored Corps relied on outdated Renault FT tanks, which were ill-suited for the rapidly evolving nature of armored warfare. In an attempt to address this, military leaders implemented a modernization program for the Renault FTs. The upgrades included replacing the original 39-horsepower engine with a more powerful 50-horsepower petrol engine, adding a 10mm armor plate to the turret for increased crew protection, and redesignating the tank as the FT-18. Despite these efforts, the upgrades only marginally improved the tank’s speed, reaching a mere 20 km/h. The additional weight from the new armor further reduced its mobility. By 1934, the FT-18s were relegated to reserve status and transferred to the Belgian Gendarmerie, with most being scrapped before World War II.

Faced with a shortage of suitable armored vehicles, the Belgian Army began searching for a replacement. In 1934, they received an offer from Vickers, who were keen to sell their Vickers 6-ton light tank, a model that was gaining popularity in export markets among developing armies. The Vickers 6-ton featured a two-man turret, armed with a main cannon and a secondary machine gun, along with a reliable petrol engine and a compact chassis designed for mobile infantry support. Vickers developed a customized version of the tank for Belgium, designated the Vickers 6-ton Mk. F.

The Mk. F was equipped with a new Rolls-Royce Phantom II engine, replacing the unreliable Puma air-cooled engine. However, this modification required the engine to be placed in the fighting compartment at the front of the vehicle, which in turn forced the turret to be shifted slightly to the right and moved backward. The redesign also included an air intake on the front left of the hull and a rear muffler positioned next to the turret.

Testing of the Mk. F began shortly afterward, but the Belgian Army quickly identified several significant issues. The engine was excessively noisy, generating heat inside the fighting compartment, and cooling problems persisted. Additionally, the air intake positioned at the front of the hull made the tank an easy target during exercises, as the shine from the metal was visible to enemies. Despite the innovative design, the Belgian Army ultimately rejected the Mk. F due to these flaws.

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Vickers 6-ton Mk. F cutaway

Vickers-Armstrong would later return with the T-15 reconnaissance tank design, which was eventually accepted for production by the Belgian Army. However, the Finnish Army later adopted the Mk. F, designating it as the Vickers Mk.E Type B after testing two prototypes fitted with improved Armstrong-Siddeley engines.

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T.15 Belgian light tanks in May of 1940

Specifications

Dimensions: L/W/H: 4,55 m / 2,32 m / 2,21 m
Weight: 7,3 tons
Engine: 6-cylinder Rolls Royce Phantom II Engine (120 hp)
Speed: 31 km/h
Armour: 25 - 19 mm RHA

Crew: 3 (Driver, Gunner, Commander)

Armament
Gun 47 mm OQF 3-pdr
Munition APHE
Ammunition 49
Coax 7,7mm Vickers machine gun

Place in War Thunder

In the proposed Benelux Tech Tree, the Vickers 6-ton Mk. F could serve as a Belgian reserve tank or as a rank 1 premium for the British tech tree. As a light tank, it has minimal armor, capable of withstanding only .50 caliber rounds from the front and artillery splinters. The Mk. F’s best strength lies in its mobility, allowing it to flank enemies and fire into their sides with its 3-pounder gun. The 3-pounder features an APHE shell capable of penetrating about 40mm of armor at point-blank range, which, while not particularly impressive even for a rank 1 tank, is an improvement over the French Puteaux SA-18. Ultimately, the Vickers 6-ton Mk. F should be appreciated for its historical significance. Despite its initial rejection by the Belgian Army, it was one of the first modern tanks used by Belgium and played a key role in influencing their tank development leading up to World War II.

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

On the field

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Vickers 6-ton Mk. F Front

Sources

Sources
1 Like
2

A great addition to French low-tier lineups through the BeNeLux sub-tree. +1

3

Its driving me insane that there isnt a Vickers E in the British tree when we are where that damn tank came from.