Renault AGK (1939)
France, Heav Truck, about 1,480 built
The Renault AGK was a heavy commercial and military truck built by Renault between 1937 and 1940. Notably ahead of its time, it featured a cab-over-engine (forward control) design, which maximized platform space compared to conventional long-bonnet trucks of the era. It was heavily utilized by the French military at the onset of World War II, and many units were subsequently captured and repurposed by the German Wehrmacht.
Development
Until 1935, the French army barely updated its equipment. Military trucks for their immense majority still dated back to the First World War, used until they were completely worn out. In the complicated interwar political context where new budgets were rarely voted for, investments into new vehicles was sporadic and limited in scope. In addition the army used place numerous small orders with a wide range of manufacturers based on a myriad of different needs, resulting in a vast array of models and brands with huge maintenance difficulties, notably after many of these companies went out of business.
From 1935 onwards, with the German rearmament, there was a new emergency in order to simplify and standardize as well as extending the park of military trucks. The army decided to impose Renault as primary supplier, securing on average half of all orders for light and medium trucks placed between 1935 and 1939. Peugeot abandoned the medium and heavy vehicle sector, Citroën went into financial freefall after the death of André Citroën. Berliet, Panhard, Laffly, Latile and other very small manufacturers remained in the army's procurement list for specialized vehicles though.
With the declaration of war against Germany in 1939, a shift to mass production became necessary: Each manufacturer was asked to define a unique vehicle for each payload category. Like in other armies, to simplify production, small, canvas-topped trucks of an 1.5-tonne payload were ordered en masse, split between Citroën and Peugeot. Medium and heavier trucks came from Renault, Berliet, and Panhard. Renault started to innovate for heavy trucks aand already by 1934 came the first of its five production models, The ABF.
The ABF was its first heavy truck, with a 5-tonne payload, semi-forward-control cab. This forward-control cab (COE) was a novelty in France. Instead of conventional bonneted cabs, with the engine protruding in front of the driver, was considered now obsolete. With new compact engines that could be fitted below the front of the cab, there were undeniable advantages like improved visibility, reduction in the overall footprint and turning radius. Citroën and Berliet however continued with bonnet trucks, especially Berliet that had to house the largest truck engines of their day. The Army considered Renault's solutions and in 1938 ordered two derivatives, the Renault AGR and AGK models.
Thus, the Renault AG range was born, with conventional (bonnet) trucks like the AGC & AGT and cab-over models such as the AGK, AGP, AGR, AGOD & AGLD. Not all were retained by the army.
In 1940, older pre-war heavy models were updated with the addition of a gasifier system. The AGK model thus reappeared, equipped with blackout headlights to avoid air detection. It was powered by the 85 hp Renault Type 441 4-cylinder engine, for had a payload capacity of 6 tonnes.
In 1945, Renault unveiled the prototype of a new truck called the 208E1, which had a 7-tonne payload and same cab-over-engine design, derived from the AGK but featuring a two-piece windshield instead of a four-piece one.
Design of the Renault AGK
The forward control Renault AGK was introduced at the end of 1937, produced until 1940, replacing the 1935 Renault ABF, an early forward control model. Its payload depending on the early and later version was between 5 and 6.5 tonnes. The most produced has a 4,000 millimetres (160 in) wheelbase, common to all versions). The "all purposes" TTN 30-31 version developed later measured 7,430 millimetres (293 in) overall wor 2,430 millimetres (96 in) in width, and the the TTN 39 has a 7,570 millimetres (298 in) length. They differed from the very similar AGR by their 4-piece windshield, with folding upper panels. The bodywork was by Guilloré.
The tanker version has a 7,430 millimetres (293 in) length and a 2,200 millimetres (87 in) width and the "mobile workshop" version has a 7,700 millimetres (300 in) length and a 2,430 millimetres (96 in) width. Indeed the army was unsure of what it needed and the AGK general purpose came with a tarpaulin, the all-purpose (TTN) or panelled cab. The tyres were all of the same 270 x 24 inches type.
The first-generation AGK 1 was powered by a 4-cylinder petrol engine (120x130 bore/stroke) delivering 85 hp at 2,000 rpm, coupled with a
4-speed forward transmission and single-reduction rear axle, and a mechanical brake servo. I had cast steel wheels, not of the spoked style, with a small window set into the lower part of the doors. It was well-designed for the era. The power unit was positioned at the top center of the windshield is the turn signal housing. It had a 6-tonne payload capacity, or could carry certainly about 30 men in troop transport mode. It had no speficic military tires or adapted suspensions however. The wheel hubs were of the military spoked type. It seems only 20 AGK-1 in workshop and 18 AGK 1 in tanker versions were delivered.
The came the AGK 2 or late type, produced from 1939. It was equipped with a running board, behind the left-side tool box, there was now a space
for two 50-liter fuel tanks. The vehicle weight ranged from 5,200 kg to 6,320 kg depending on the version, with a reduced payload of 5,000 kg and a wheelbase of 4.00 m with a front track of 1.85 m, a rear track of 1.65 m, a length overall of 7.08 to 7.70 m depending on the equipment and a width 2.35 m, then a height of 2.70 to 2.94 m. It was powered by a gasoline engine, a 4-cylinder (120x130), 5.883 L, 85 hp at 2,000 rpm
for a top speed of 58 km/h, coupled with a 4-speed gearbox plus reverse.
The AGK in service
The AGK was essentially a road-bound heavy truck. It was not designed to undertake off-road work, with its classic tyres and leaf-spring suspensions. It was designed for supply, and apparently used mainly by the Air Force (Armée de L'Air) after the Army. 260 vehicles were obtained for the army and 180 for the air force in 1939 and by the end of April 1940, 600 had been manufactured. Other sources points out up to 1000 vehicles total, likely if production was maintained for a short time under the German occupation, albeit other sources points out a production ending in late 1940. The late vehicles made for the civilian market had a gasifier.
Before 1940 three versions were used by the army:
• Standard flatbed/troop transport truck
• Fuel/gasoline tanker
• Mobile workshop and specialized utility configurations.
The 600+ delivered to the French forces ready in May 1940 were deployed primarily as general-purpose troop and supply transports (specifically the TTN or "Transport de Troupes et Matériel" variants) and heavy workshop vans during the Battle of France. According to some photos, they were deployed for the Norewegian campaign, with a standard rown and olive camouflage. However the bulk were captured by the Wehrmacht afterwards, as the vast majority of active Renault AGK trucks were abandoned by retreating French forces or seized directly from depots and factories. Captured AGK trucks were designated as heavy cargo lorries (Lastkraftwagen).
They were throughout various European fronts, with photographic and archival evidence tracing their use in frontline logistics, in the supply echelons of motorized infantry units like the 36th Infantry Division (mot.). However the AGK seemed refined and perhaps to costly to built, it was replaced by the Renault AHN forced to build in massive numbers, nearly 29,000 directly for the German occupation forces. Mechanical wear and combat losses on the Eastern and Western fronts meant this park soon vanished.
| Specs AGK 2 |
| Dimensions : | 7-7.7m (279 in) x 2.35 (93 in) x 2.7-2.9m |
| Total weight: | 5,2-6,32 ton |
| Useful load: | 5 tonnes |
| Crew: | 1 driver, 1 co-driver, c30 seated rear |
| Propulsion: | Renault 441 4-cyl. 5.8L 85 hp |
| Suspension: | 4x2 leaf springs |
| Speed: | 58-59 kph |
| Range: | Unknown, c600 km |
| Production | From 600 to c1000 |