ACMAT MTV WPK 6x6/8x8

     Notes: The ACMAT MTV WPK 6x6 is a larger version of the ACMAT MTV WPK 4x4 found in French Medium Unarmored Vehicles.  It has a great degree of similarity to other such trucks of its line, including the cab, most of the structural components, the engine, and many of the drive components.  Perhaps the most significant difference is the 6x6 suspension.  The cab, as on the 4x4, has a hatch in roof with a weapon mount able to take weapons up to .50/12.7mm in size.  In addition to the standard load/troop carrier, there is a van/shelter body, and a model used to carry ISO containers or palletized loads. The 6x6 is powered by a Perkins turbocharged diesel developing 210 horsepower; the transmission is a Type S 6.65 with six forward and one reverse gear. Steering and brakes are power assisted. A 170-liter drinking water tank is located between the cab body and the chassis. The fuel supply is split between two 210-liter tanks on either side of the cab body behind the front wheels.

     The 8x8 version of the MTV is different in that there are no standard load/troop carriers.  Instead, the 8x8 MTV is a PLS-type vehicle, used to carry ISO containers or palletized loads, and equipped with an Ampliroll 100 NB load-handling system to help load and unload the cargo by sliding it on rollers in the tipping flatbed.  Another variant is a shelter/hard body carrier. The passenger capacity is for an improvised troop seating arrangement. The 8x8 version uses the same engine as the 6x6 version, but is equipped with a Type CR 250 transmission with the same gear range. Steering and brakes are power assisted. On the 8x8 version, both front axles are steering axles.

     As of 2010, these trucks are no longer being offered by ACMAT.

ARIS Ark

     Notes: Used primarily by Italian amphibious troops, the Ark is essentially an M548 tracked prime mover with the front of the vehicle replaced by a boat-like hull, and the engine compartment made completely watertight.  This transforms a previously barely amphibious vehicle into one which can carry out naval landings and is amphibious without preparation. Other changes include the cab, which is somewhat higher and has watertight doors; improved bilge pumps; a snorkel-type device added to provide air for the engine during amphibious operations; and four ducted propellers have been added to the rear for propulsion in the water.  The Ark is otherwise basically the same as the M548 base vehicle, including a ring mount over the commander’s position for a weapon. The engine is the standard Detroit Diesel 6V53 204-horsepower engine, coupled with an automatic transmission.

     Twilight 2000 Notes: This vehicle is not available in the Twilight 2000 timeline.

Berliet GBC 180

     Notes: This is a Berliet GBC 8 KT that has undergone a major renovation and rebuild program.  The object is to save money by updating existing trucks that are still in decent structural shape.  The upgrades include a more powerful engine, beefed-up suspension to increase load carrying ability, a new automatic transmission, better brakes, and a new cab made of steel and fiberglass.  The new cab can take an add-on armor kit if desired, and can be equipped with air conditioning.  The engine is upgraded to a MIDR 06.02.26 diesel with an output of 175 horsepower.  The standard transmission is manual, but there is an option for an automatic transmission. There is an option for a mid-body winch with a capacity of 6 tons, with the 50-meter cable able to be led out to the front or rear.

*The AV listed applies only to the cab; the rest of the truck is AV1.  The cab floor is AV4Sp.

Berliet GBU 15

     Notes: Production of this vehicle began in 1959, but France, Belgium, China, and the United Arab Emirates were still using numbers of these vehicles by 2000.  It is a cabover truck with a large cab that seats 4 and has four doors, and the cab roof is canvas; the front windshield may be folded down forward and the canvas roof stowed.  The cargo area has a drop tailgate, removable sides, and a canvas cover.  An 8000-kg winch is mounted at the rear.  The GBU 15 uses a Berliet multifuel engine with 214 horsepower; “multifuel” is almost an understatement, as in addition to standard fuel types, the GBU 15 will also run on liquid paraffin, JP4 jet fuel, a gasoline-oil mix, LNG, light fuels and mineral or vegetable oil. The GBU-15 will not run at peak efficiency on all of these fuels; some are useful only if the truck stays within lower gear ranges. The transmission is manual with five forward and one reverse gear. The GBU 15 has good torque, if not power, it can tow 15 tons.

     Variants include an artillery tractor with an enlarged cab, TBU 15 tractor-trailer (may tow 22 tons), TBU 15 CLD wrecker, dump truck, and tanker. I’ve had the opportunity to be near a running GBU 15 briefly; it smelled absolutely noxious.

Brimont ETR

     Notes: The ETR is a 4x4 all-terrain vehicle load carrier used by the French Air Force.  The four wheels are independently suspended, and the vehicle is of a cabover design with large windshields.  Air conditioning and heating are standard.  The vehicle has a drop tailgate, canvas cover, and troop seats.  The ETR is steered with both the front and rear wheels, allowing a very tight turning radius (4.37m).  Rear wheel steering cannot be used above a combat move of 12 and is automatically switched off above that speed; turning radius without rear steering is 6.9 meters.  Towing capability is 8.4 tons. The ETR is capable of climbing a gradient of 70-100%, depending on the surface and the tires mounted on the truck. The standard engine is a Renault diesel developing 132 horsepower, but a 155-horsepower diesel and a 170-horsepower diesel were also available. Steering and brakes are power assisted. Variants include an artillery (105mm) or heavy mortar mover, crane, dump truck, engineer vehicle, backhoe, fire truck, recovery vehicle, and shelter carrier. The Brimont ETR is also seeing considerable civilian use; it is even used in off-road rough-terrain races.

Renault TRM 180/200

     Notes: These are trucks that all share a core chassis, but use different engines and suspension packages to yield trucks with different performance characteristics.  They are derived from a commercial truck brought up to military standards, and were designed to supply the needs of less advanced nations.  They are thus easy to take care of and can tolerate a lot of abuse, neglect, and oddball locally produced parts.  The cab has a hatch with a mount for a light machinegun; it is a cabover design which tilts forward for access to the engine and transmission.  Optionally, the cab may have a canvas cover or a removable hard top. The cab may have right-handed or left-handed controls, and automatic transmission is optional while manual transmission is standard. Also optional is a spare wheel behind the cab. TRM 180s are powered by a MIDR 06.02.26 V 182-horsepower diesel, while TRM 200s are powered by a MIDR 06.02.26 W 196-horsepower diesel. In addition to a standard troop/cargo carrier, the trucks are available in shelter/van bodies or flatbed versions.

Renault TRM 340.34

     Notes: This is a heavy 6x6 truck used by France.  It is of a conventional design, with a cab and hood that tilts forward to access the engine and transmission.  The cab has heating and air conditioning. It was developed to meet heavy engineer requirements. Power is provided by a MIDR 6.35.40 supercharged diesel developing 335 horsepower. Steering and brakes are power assisted. Towing is up to 12 tons off-road.

     Variants include a dump truck, firefighting vehicle, and a tractor-trailer (may tow 75 tons or half that off road).

Renault TRM 6000

     Notes: This is basically a smaller version of the TRM 9000; it uses many of the same automotive components and even the same engine (but without a turbocharger).  The design was originally by Berliet, but it was bought by Renault.  The TRM 6000 has been exported, but is not used by the French Army. The cargo area has drop sides and a drop tailgate.  The cab may have a hard or soft top and is a cabover design. Towing capacity is 6 tons cross-country. Note that if the TRM 6000 stays on roads, it can haul 7 tons.  Options include an extra 200-liter fuel tank, a winch with a capacity of 4.5 tons and 60 meters of cable, and larger tires. The engine used is the MID 06.20.30 with 185 horsepower, coupled with a manual BDSL 021 transmission with six forward and one reverse gear.

Renault TRM 9000

     Notes: The TRM 9000 is a cabover-design heavy truck used by France, Algeria, Egypt, Morocco, and Saudi Arabia.  It is also based on a previous Berliet design which was bought by Renault, specifically the Berliet GBD. The rear cargo area has drop sides and tailgate and a canvas cover.  The TRM 9000 can be fitted with a winch with a capacity of 4500 kilograms and 60 meters of cable. The TRM 9000 is powered by a MIDS 06.20.30, the same engine as on the TRM 6000 but fitted with a turbocharger; it has 228 horsepower. The suspension, however, is a 6x6 suspension beefed up over the TRM 6000. Towing capacity is 10 tons cross-country. Load hauling may be increased to 10 tons if the TRM 9000 stays on roads.

     Variants include an artillery tractor, command vehicle, radio vehicle, tanker, Exocet or Otomat anti-shipping missile launcher, UAV launching vehicle, Shahine SAM launcher, recovery vehicle, and a semi-tractor trailer that can tow 27 tons.

Renault TRM 10000

     Notes: This is a development of the TRM 9000, with a longer wheelbase, more powerful engine, and different transmission.  This vehicle replaced the Berliet GBU 15 in French service, and Saudi Arabia also uses it.  The rear cargo area has a removable canvas top, and removable sides and tailgate.  Seats for up to 24 persons may be added.  There is an 8-ton winch, which may be mounted at the front or rear.  The cab has space for up to four, or two seats may be replaced with a bunk.  The cab also has a top hatch with a machinegun mount.  The fuel is split between two 250-liter tanks. Power is provided by a MIDR 06.20.45 supercharged diesel developing 260 horsepower; the standard transmission is manual, though an automatic transmission is optional.  The Uprated TRM 10000 is capable of taking more weight due to improved suspension and frame components; it has a 326-horsepower engine. Variants include an artillery tractor (with an enlarged cab), dump truck, tanker, crane, mine carrier, RPV carrier, MRL carrier, and surface-to-surface missile carrier.  TRM 10000s have seen combat service in Ukraine, as deliveries of older French Army TRM 10000s were made to Ukraine starting shortly after the February 2022 invasion.

*The AV listed applies only to the cab; the rest of the truck is AV1.  The cab floor’s AV is 4Sp.

Renault TRM 12000

     Notes: This is a large cargo truck of conventional design and construction.  It is based on the Berliet GBH 280; Renault bought the design in the 1980s. It is normally used by France to tow heavy artillery (it can tow pieces or trailers up to 36 tons).  The cargo area has drop sides, and the front has a winch of a 10 ton capacity that can be led out to the front or rear.  The TRM 12000 is powered by a MIDS 06.35.40 diesel developing 280 horsepower, coupled with a manual transmission, though an automatic transmission is optional.  The suspension consists of conventional leaf springs and telescoping shock absorbers, and there are locking differentials. Variants include a dump truck, tipper truck, and a tractor truck.