ACMAT MTV WPK 4x4

     Notes: This is a smaller, lighter, 4x4 version of the 8x8 ACMAT WPK.  It has the same layout except for the 4x4 configuration, and uses most of the same drive and structural components, including the same engine.  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.  As with the larger model, there is a hatch over the commander’s position at which may be mounted a .50/12.7mm or smaller weapon. 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 WPK may have one or two fuel tanks, each holding 210 liters of fuel.

Berliet GBC 8 KT Gazelle

     Notes: This elderly vehicle has been in the French inventory since the late 1950s.  It is also in service with Algeria, Austria, China (where they are license built), Iraq, Morocco, and Portugal (where they are also license-built, and called the Tramagal).  They were designed specifically for the conditions in Algeria, which was a French colony at the time. It is a 6x6 medium truck with a conventional layout.  The cab has a removable canvas top, and the rear cargo area is also canvas-covered.  The windshield of the cab may be folded forward if the roof is rolled back, to allow for a gunner in the cab. The cab also has folding side windows, and the doors may also be entirely removed. The spare tire is located under the left side of the chassis behind the cab, with the fuel tank opposite the spare tire. The front bumper has a 5-ton winch with 60m of cable, and the cargo area has bench seats down the center of the bed facing out. The GBC KT is powered by a Berliet Magic MK520 multifuel engine, rated at 125 horsepower. Despite not being in the least bit buoyant, the GBC can ford 1.2 meters of still water for short periods. The GBC can tow up to 6 tons cross-country, and a special trailer, the Titan, was specifically designed for it.

     A variant of the GBC 8 KT, the GBC 8 MT, is identical except for the shape of its hood and engine housing and is powered by a 150-horsepower diesel engine. The GBC 180 is the result of an upgrade kit applied in the late 1990s, prolonging the GBC’s life in the French Army by over twenty years. The GBC 180 has upgraded wheels, brakes, drive shafts, cabs, clutches, gearboxes, and electrical systems.  It also has a new Renault 06.02.26 diesel engine developing 175 horsepower. As of 2024, the GBC 180 was still in service with the French Army; I have no information of its use by any other country or agency.

     French troops using the GBC called it the “Bebert,” a diminution of the name Bernard, which, in French, is pronounced very similar to the name Berliet. The GBC appeared in the Marvel movie Captain America – the First Avenger, as a HYDRA vehicle, painted in night blue.

Citroen FOM

     Notes: This is a medium truck formerly used by France, and possibly still used by Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Chad, Ivory Coast, Mauritania, and Senegal.  It is a vehicle designed for cross-country mobility and desert operations, and has large tires and a strong suspension.  The FOM also has excellent oil and air filters. The FOM also comes in a hard body version, and was also used as a weapons carrier. The rear cargo area may be covered with a canvas tilt over bows; the cab is also covered by a canvas roof, and the windshield may be folded forward. At the front of the vehicle is a winch with a capacity of 5 tons and 60 meters of cable. The engine is a Citroen 6-cylinder gasoline engine developing 97 or 140 horsepower, or a 6-cylinder diesel developing 85 horsepower. The 140-horsepower gasoline engine showed a tendency to overheat in the desert and was primarily used by civilian off-road racers. Civilian off-road racers value the FOM for its excellent torque.

Renault TRM 2000

     Notes: This is a larger, high-mobility version of the TRM 1200 listed in French Light Unarmored Vehicles.  The French Army, Morocco, Namibia, and Qatar use it.  The Ukrainians were given a number of them during the ongoing war. The TRM 2000 has a higher ground clearance than the TRM 1200, and more robust suspension.  The cab is square, and is mounted over the engine and transmission.  The cargo area is covered with a tarpaulin over bows, and the front bumper mounts a winch with a 2.5-ton capacity and 60 meters of cable.  The cab can have a hard or soft roof. The cargo bed has drop sides and a drop tailgate, and the sides and tailgate may be completely removed. The engine is a Type 720S supercharged diesel developing 117 horsepower with an S5-24/3 transmission. The TRM 2000 can ford 80 centimeters, climb a 50% slope, and negotiate a 30% side slope (depending on the cargo or body carried) without rolling over. It can tow 2 tons cross-country.

     Variants include an ambulance, command post carrier, tanker, missile carrier, mortar carrier, ground-surveillance radar carrier, and 20mm Tarasque autocannon carrier. 

Renault TRM 4000

     Notes: This truck is a commercial vehicle (the Saviem SM8) modified for use as a military truck.  The layout is standard, with a cabover design.  The cargo area has a canvas cover over bows, and has drop sides and tailgate, both of which are also removable.  The roof of the cab has a hatch with a machinegun mount.  There is a winch in the front bumper with a 4.5-ton capacity and 60 meters of cable.  The engine is a MAN Type 797 diesel developing 133 horsepower, coupled with an ET301 manual transmission. The steering and brakes are power assisted. The TRM 4000 can ford up to 90 centimeters of still water, climb a 50% slope, and negotiate a 30% side slope (depending on the cargo or body carried). The TRM 4000 can tow 3.8 tons cross-country or 6 tons on roads. The TRM 4000 can haul 5.34 tons on roads.

     Variants include a Crotale SAM launcher, crane, dump truck, fire engine, light recovery vehicle, tanker, and command vehicle.

Simca-Unic F594 WML

     Notes: This is an aging French truck now mostly relegated to reserve status or range target practice.  It began production in the 1950s, and the last one was built in the mid-1960s. It is a militarized version of a civilian truck, the Simca-Unic Cargo. The F594 WML is changed to four-wheel drive and has a reinforced suspension, including stronger leaf springs. It is a cabover design with a removable canvas top over bows and a canvas roof for the cab, with a fold-down windshield. It has a winch with 60 meters of cable and a capacity of 4.5 tons. This truck is powered by a Ford V8 F9 gasoline engine with 85 horsepower. The civilian front grille was replaced by a radiator protection grid. The F594 WML can haul 5 tons on roads; towing is 2 tons cross country, and 4 tons on roads.

     A late 1970s update for the F594 WML replaced virtually every worn part of the truck (reduce Wear Value by two), and replaced the engine with an uprated Ford V8 developing 100 horsepower. The transmission was changed to a Synchromesh transmission due to the base vehicle’s balky manual transmission. The designation was changed to F937 WML.

Sovamag TC24

     Notes: This medium French truck resembles a large jeep and has good off-road capability.  It is basically a larger version of the TC10.  It was originally designed by Sovamag, which became a part of Auverland, which became a part of Panhard. The cab has seats for the driver and passenger, and there is a rear cargo bed.  The TC24 usually mounts fairly heavy weapons, such as an M2HB, 20mm Giat autocannon, or 106mm recoilless rifle. The TC24 is powered by an IVECO/SOFIM 2.8-liter turbodiesel developing 115 horsepower. The TC24 can be airdropped and LAPESed. Standard equipment includes two 40-liter cans for drinking water, and a rack of three jerry cans at the rear for fuel.  Optional armor is available for the vehicle; this turns the vehicle into the TC24 Blinde.  A version with a lightened suspension is available; this version has a much-reduced cargo capacity, but improved agility.

     Variants include a tanker, a fire engine, one of several hard bodied versions, and a cargo/troop carrier. 

FFSA SUMB 3000kg

     Notes: This is a long wheelbase version of the SUMB 1500kg found in French Light Unarmored Vehicles. The layout is standard, with the engine at the front, cab behind it, and rear cargo area.  The cab and cargo area are covered with a tarpaulin, though later radio fittings required an all-metal cab.  Bench seats are fitted down the center of the cargo area, back-to-back.  The front bumper has a winch with a 2-ton capacity and 60 meters of cable.  The wheels can be locked, if necessary, when using this winch.  Variants include cargo/troop carrier, shovel, and communications vehicle. The SUMB was built from the late 1950s to late 1960s, but by the 1980s, there was a great difficulty sourcing spare parts, and in the 1990s, the SUMBs were rebuilt, with the 115-horsepower diesel engines in the stats below and rebuilt suspensions. Towing is limited to 2 tons cross-country.

ACMAT VLRA TPK

     Notes: This is the base vehicle of the VLRA range.  All other trucks in the VLRA series are modification of this vehicle.  The description is generally similar the 4.15, but it is larger.  Variants of this vehicle include a cargo/troop carrier, an ambulance, a command post, a patrol vehicle similar to the 4.15 FSP and a shelter carrier. The SM3 version of this light French truck has drop sides, drop tailgate, and troop seats down the center facing outwards.  Its chassis is strengthened for airdrops and LAPES operations.  The STL version is the same, but is not strengthened for air delivery, and has a higher suspension for use in brushy terrain.  All vehicles have a 100-liter tank for drinking water, and both have canvas covers that can be rolled up to open up the sides while still keeping the sun off your head.  The entire VLRA TPK line has excellent parts commonality between their light and medium trucks. Power is provided by a Perkins 6.354.4 developing 138 horsepower, coupled with a manual transmission. The brakes are power assisted, but steering is not. No weapon mounts are provided with the basic vehicles.  The 4.20 and its variants may tow 3 tons.

     The 4.36 STL is an extended wheelbase version of the 4.20.  Variants include an airdrop version, an enclosed bus, and a workshop vehicle. 

     The 6.40 SM3 is larger than the 4.20 series and has 6x6 suspension.  Versions include a drop-side troop carrier, a cargo version without seats, a shelter carrier, a tanker, a medium recovery vehicle, and a fire truck, as well as a tractor trailer able to tow 13.3 tons. Power is provided by a Perkins 6.354.4 diesel developing 145 horsepower.

     The 4.21 SM3 is a patrol version of the VLRA TPK 4.20 SM3 with drop sides and five weapon mounts.  There is a heavy weapon mount in the center of the cargo area that can mount an ATGM, SAM, machinegun, grenade launcher, or recoilless rifle.  There are two other lighter weapon mounts on both sides of the vehicle (NLT/NMT equivalent).  The vehicle is otherwise the same as the SM3, but heavier. The 6.40 CTL is of the same concept as the 4.21 SM3, but based on the larger 6.40 chassis.

     The 4.20 BL is a light armored personnel carrier version, also called the 4.20 Blinde. The cab is also armored and has a hatch on the roof with a weapon mount, and there is another weapon mount on the roof of the passenger compartment. The 6.50 BL is similar to the 4.20 BL, but based on the 6.40.

     The 6.50 SH/STL2 is a logistics carrier, able to carry the standard NATO container or several standard NATO pallets. It can also carry a variety of shelter bodies, or be configured to carry a large number of troops. This vehicle has drop sides and a drop tailgate, both of which are also removable.

     The entire VLRA series is in use by France and by most African nations, as well as Ireland; some 30 countries use the VLRA TPK line of trucks.