Berliet TBO-15 M3

Notes: Formerly one of the most common semi-tractors for the towing of tank transporters in French service, this truck has primarily been relegated to a reserve role in French service or scrapped entirely. It is not believed to have been exported. It is an old truck, with the first ones having been delivered to the French Army in 1961, and the last one built about 10 years later. The TBO-15 M3 is of conventional design for such a semi-tractor, with the engine at the front under a hood, the cab center, and the fifth wheel at the rear. The heated cab has seating for three and a rack behind the seats for the crew’s personal gear. Behind the cab are a spare tire and a pair of large-diameter-drum winches, each with a 15-ton capacity and 90 meters of cable as well as a brake and holding system. The winches are normally lead out to the rear, but can be led out to the front if self-recovery becomes necessary. The TBO-15 M3 also has tow hooks at the front and rear of the vehicle, and it can tow trailer types other than semi-trailers if required. The suspension, though it has large tires and looks beefy, is a 6x4 design (with the center axle being unpowered) and has only so-so off-road performance. The transmission is manual and pneumatically-assisted, but is said to always have been a bit balky, even when the trucks were new.

From 1973-74, an improved model, the TBO-310, was built in small numbers. This version has a more powerful engine with more torque. Another even more powerful version, the TBO-15A, was also designed and prototypes built, but it never went into production. By 1973, the design was already showing its age and the French Army was moving on to more modern semi-tractors.

Twilight 2000 Notes: Like most vehicles of any sort that were still in running condition, the surviving TBO-15 M3s and TBO-310s were pulled out of storage and reserve roles and returned to front-line service.

Vehicle

Price

Fuel Type

Load

Veh Wt

Crew

Mnt

Night Vision

Radiological

TBO-15 M3

$12,234

D, A

(Tow) 60 tons; 340 kg

18.45 tons

1+2

5

Headlights

Open

TBO-310

$12,434

D, A

(Tow) 64.5 tons; 365 kg

19 tons

1+2

5

Headlights

Open

Vehicle

Tr Mov

Com Mov

Fuel Cap

Fuel Cons

Config

Susp

Armor

TBO-15 M3

140/28

30/8

500

75

Stnd

W(3)

HF1 HS1 HR1

TBO-310

148/29

35/8

500

85

Stnd

W(3)

HF1 HS1 HR1

Renault R-390

Notes: This semi-tractor is basically a civilian truck given the minimum amount of changes to adapt it to a military role. It is generally used with the STA-43 tank transporter semi-trailer, but can be used with other NATO-standard semi-trailers. It is primarily meant for road use and has limited off-road capabilities, and the 6x4 suspension is quite low. The tires (single on the front axle, and dual on the rear two axles) are also a bit small for off-road use. The cab is of the forward control type, tilting to access the engine and transmission. The cab has seats for the driver and two passengers, with a bunk at the rear of the cab where a third passenger may sit. The cab has a heater and is also soundproofed. A wide variety of options may be added, including a 15-ton-capacity winch with 90 meters of cable, fog lamps, a spotlight, antilock brakes, and even creature comforts such as air conditioning, armrests, a dividing curtain for the bunk area, and a conventional civilian radio.

Price

Fuel Type

Load

Veh Wt

Crew

Mnt

Night Vision

Radiological

$10,350

D, A

(Tow) 70.6 tons; 395 kg

10.3 tons

1+4

3

Headlights

Open

Tr Mov

Com Mov

Fuel Cap

Fuel Cons

Config

Susp

Armor

266/40

60/9

650

144

Stnd

W(3)

HF1 HS1 HR1

Renault TRM 340.34T

Notes: This variant of the TRM 340.34 cargo truck series is designed for both off- and on-road use, and is equipped with a heavy-duty 6x6 suspension using single tires on the front axle and duals on the two rear axles. The layout is conventional, with a forward control cab (tilting for maintenance), and the fifth wheel at the rear. Options abound, including a sleeper cab, a heated cab, an engine pre-heater, heavy-duty air filtration, a vertical exhaust stack (normally, the truck exhausts to the rear), a power takeoff for the transfer case, EMP protection, and up to two winches with capacities of 15 tons each.

Vehicle

Price

Fuel Type

Load

Veh Wt

Crew

Mnt

Night Vision

Radiological

TRM 340.34T (Standard)

$11,272

D, A

(Tow) 100 tons); 340 kg

9.91 tons

1+2

3

Headlights

Open

TRM 340.34T (Sleeper Cab)

$11,762

D, A

(Tow) 100 tons; 395 kg

10.18 tons

1+3

3

Headlights

Open

Vehicle

Tr Mov

Com Mov

Fuel Cap

Fuel Cons

Config

Susp

Armor

TRM 340.34T (Standard)

244/61

55/16

250

124

Stnd

W(3)

HF1 HS1 HR1

TRM 340.34T (Sleeper Cab)

240/60

55/13

250

124

Stnd

W(3)

HF1 HS1 HR1

Renault TRM 700-100

Notes: This semi-tractor was introduced in 1987 specifically for use with semi-trailers carrying the then-new Leclerc tank. The TRM-700-100 appears to be based on the TRM 10000, using the same hard-topped four-door tipper cab, but enlarged to carry one more person (with a total of two persons in the rear seating area). The chassis, frame, and fifth wheel are specially reinforced to handle heavy loads at high travel speeds, though the TRM 700-100 has only average off-road performance. The suspension is 6x6, with single front tires and dual tires on the two rear axles. The 700-horsepower engine is coupled to an automatic transmission, and the truck has power steering. The TRM 700-100 is equipped with a pair of 18.35-ton-capacity winches behind the cab.

Price

Fuel Type

Load

Veh Wt

Crew

Mnt

Night Vision

Radiological

$15,756

D, A

(Tow) 106 tons; 710 kg

16.35 tons

1+4

5

Headlights

Open

Tr Mov

Com Mov

Fuel Cap

Fuel Cons

Config

Susp

Armor

292/58

65/13

1000

260

Stnd

W(3)

HF1 HS1 HR1

Renault TRM 12000T

Notes: This vehicle is a former Berliet design which was known as the TBH 280 when manufactured by Berliet. It is a variant of the Renault 12000 6x6 cargo truck (formerly known as the Berliet GBH). The TRM 12000T is designed for both road and cross-country use, and variants are also used by civilian companies. The TRM 12000T is primarily meant for towing tank transporter trailers, but can also tow other semi-trailers. It is not used by France, but is common in many parts of the Middle East, especially Morocco, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates.

Despite the light weight of this semi-tractor, construction is quite strong, with considerable cross-bracing of the frame and chassis. The layout is conventional, and the rear axles have both inter-wheel and inter-axle differential locks. The rear axles and wheels are assembled into a common bogie with considerable flex, allowing greater off-road capability. The TRM 12000T is generally equipped with either a single winch with a 15-ton capacity and 90 meters of cable, or two such winches. Options for the TRM 12000T abound, including a laminated shatterproof windshield (one-piece of two sections), an air intake extended to the roof level (instead of the normal hood level), sand filtration for the air intake, radiator, fans, and engine parts (normal for those sold to Middle Eastern and African armies), a built-in toolbox, a roof hatch reinforced for a weapon mount, an exterior outlet socket, and a spotlight. Fuel tankage is slightly unusual; like many such trucks, there are two tanks, but one of the TRM 12000T’s tanks is larger than the other, holding 250 liters while the other holds 200 liters of the total fuel capacity.

Price

Fuel Type

Load

Veh Wt

Crew

Mnt

Night Vision

Radiological

$10,322

D, A

(Tow) 53 tons; 355 kg

11.31 tons

1+2

3

Headlights

Open

Tr Mov

Com Mov

Fuel Cap

Fuel Cons

Config

Susp

Armor

248/63

55/16

450

103

Stnd

W(3)

HF1 HS1 HR1