French cold war military softskin vehicles
French cold war Trucks
During the Cold War, France developed and used various military trucks for logistical support and transportation purposes. It's worth noting that during the Cold War, various other trucks from different manufacturers were also used by the French military and its allies. These trucks played a crucial role in supporting the armed forces, especially during deployments and operations. One notable example is the Berliet GBC 8 KT 6x6 truck, which was widely used by the French military during the Cold War era.
While the Berliet GBC 8 KT is a notable example, it's not an exhaustive list of all the military trucks used by France during the Cold War. Different models and variants from various manufacturers were employed to meet the diverse logistical needs of the military during that period. However, Renault always had been present as far as concerned military trucks as well, with a lineage going back to WW1. The diamond brand is still providing most of the softskin truck models of the French army today.
Full list & articles done
Cold War Trucks/Cars Inventory
ACMAT VRLA *
ACMAT VT4 *
ACMAT ALTV *
Hotchkiss M201/203 *
Delahaye VLR *
Peugeot P4 *
Berliet GBC 8 KT *
Berliet TBU *
Berliet TF *
Renault GBC 180 *
Renault R380 Hades TEL *
Renault G290 *
Renault CBH 385 *
Renault Sherpa 5 *
CAESAR SPG (Renault Sherpa 10) *
MFRD *
Renault Kerax *
Renault 420 fuel truck *
SUMB MH600BS *
Renault SAMP-T *
TRM-10000 *
TRM-2000 *
TRM-4000 *
TRM-700-100
Modern Truck Inventory
Renault TRM 10000 GP |
Renault RM 700-100 TT |
Renault TRM 2000 lorry |
Renault GBC 180 |
Renault Kerax* |
Iveco PPT3 |
PML VPCM |
Scania CCP10 |
Scania TRA TOE NG |
Renault ESRC |
Renault ESRC AVIT |
Renault CCPTA |
Mercedes CCP3/5 |
Renault Carapace |
Renault CDLR |
Renault PPDL |
Renault CDLR CBH 385 |
VLTT |
Grizzly LUV |
VOS-APP LUV |
VOS-PAT LUV |
Acmat VLRA |
Panhard VPS LUV |
Aquus AREG VLFS |
Renault T4 VLTP NG |
Arquus Trapper VT4 |
French Mil. Quads |
Renault Kangoo |
French Bulldozers |
Souvim Minesweeper |
EFA Bridgelayer |
Renault PFM BDL |
SPRAT AVLB
ACMAT
ACMAT VLRA 4x4 tactical truck, 14 of July parade
ACMAT was founded as ALM SA (Ateliers Legueu Meaux) in 1954, by René Legueu, and gradually specialized in off-road wheeled military vehicles. With time, they also proposed their heavy trucks and commercial vehicles in civilian versions. They are mostly use din the public sector, police, fire brigade. A small company, ACMAT manufactured only 12,000 vehicles since its founding, exported over 50 countries. In 1964, the HQ moved to Saint-Nazaire, near the Britanny Naval Yard.
ACMAT started with vehicle parts, spcializing in transfer case, front axles for trucks. It soon developed its own in-house patents for new technologies and specialized in all-terrain trucks, some used in the oil industry. With 1,000 km range on a single tank and at ease in the desert it soon appealed to the military. From August 1961, the ALM VCOM was developed for the Foreign Legion and it was tested during Operation Desert Fox in Mauritania and later in the Chadian liberation war with 193 units made for the 13th Demi-brigade in Djibouti.
1964 saw the foundation of ACMAT SA (Atlantic plant) to develop components across 12 patents. The VLRA became the company's best seller in 1967, the acronym standing for "Véhicule de Liaison de Reconnaissance et d'Appui" or Liaison, Reconnaissance, and Support Vehicle. The base model was a 4x4 rated for 2.5 tonnes payload, 1,600 km range plus 200 liters water tank. It was declined into multiple variants and adopted mostly by the French Foreign Legion and other army services.
ACMAT VLRA TPK 6.40 6x6 tactical truck, same
In May 2006, ACMAT was acquired by
Renault Trucks Defense and later became a subsidiary of Volvo Group. The ACMAT VLRA 2 was launched in 2009, based on the Toyota Hi-lux as an ALTV (Air-transportable), used in Afghanistan.
Berliet
Berliet GBC 8 KT 6x6:
Configuration: 6x6 (six-wheel drive)
Payload Capacity: Approximately 8 tons
Engine: V8 gasoline engine, transmission: Manual
The GBC 8 KT was used by the French military for various purposes, including cargo transport and troop movement. This truck was part of the Berliet GBC (Groupe Bélier de Camions) series, which included different models with varying payload capacities and configurations. The GBC trucks were known for their robustness and reliability, making them suitable for military operations.
Renault
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Under its own general sub-brand,
Renault Trucks resulted in a merger between
Saviem and
Berliet.
Renault Trucks Defense was a division created in 1975 after the acquisition of Berliet, but soon placed in grave difficulties after a large state contract to
Iveco, leading much later to an acquisition by Volvo. It became indeed by 2001 a subsidiary of
Volvo Group. By July 2012, the acquisition of
Panhard General Defense by Renault Trucks Defense led later to the constitution of
Arquus group. The latter proposes both armoured vehicles (such as the last VAB and Sherpa range, Xerax truck, AMC, MRAP concepts, and softskin ones, trucks notably. Today's range comprises the Sherpa 5 and 10 tactical trucks, Mascott Wheeled light logistic vehicle, Midlum, Premium and Magnum Logistic vehicle trucks.
Saviem
One of the "big names" of French trucks in the early cold war, Saviem is a brand initially created in 1955, when the new government started to rationalized French industrial production. The "Société Anonyme de Véhicules Industriels et d'Équipements Mécaniques" under the acronym Saviem was a French trucks/buses/coaches part manufacturers integrated into Renault group and headquartered in Suresnes near Paris. This was the merging of Renault heavy vehicle operations with prewar companies Somua and Latil. It disappeared in 1978 when merged with former rival Berliet inside Renault Véhicules Industriels. Anotehr company near Paris, Chausson was also part of this merger. Facilities were located at Blainville-sur-Orne (trucks) and Annonay (buses and coaches). Saviem partnered with many other manufacturers, making technology-sharing agreements, Renault being its foremost customer.
Saviem SM8
The Saviem SM8 was the foremost cold war tractical truck of the brand, manufactured from 1967 to 1975 at Blainville sur Orne. The name signified a 8-ton payload, and this was a whole range of medium-duty trucks in the SM range. It had a tip cab (Type 812), rigid form. Inside the range were two tractors, SM8 T, SM8 Y. Wheelbases ranged from 3m and 5.3m.
Engines of the SM8/SM7 were the 597/797 atmospheric 6-cyl. gasoline, 112 kW (150 hp) at 2900 rpm, torque 402 N/m (296 lb/ft) at 1700 rpm, 5-speed (4 synchronised) 301-12 manual gearbox, leaf springs with dampers.
The SM8 4x4 (1977-89) was the four-wheel-drive versions and common medium tactical military truck. It used a permanent 4x4 with locking centre differential in the transfer case and differential lock on the rear axle and Evidgom shock absorbers, proposed in single or dual rear wheels, two tip cabs in pressed steel or torpedo). Made by Saviem and RVI it became soon the Renault SM8 4x4 in 1980, then Renault TRM4000 in 1986, the basis for the TRM range.