Black Lion Decals 72045 Belgian Army 1930-1940

Although having pioneered with armoured cars in 1914 and having bought Renault FT's shortly after World War I, the mechanisation of the Belgian Army was no easy matter. The Minerva's from 1914 were upgraded and no new armoured cars were purchased and when the Renault FT's were taken off the inventory in 1934, no new tanks were available in their intended role. For new vehicles, Belgium looked at the United Kingdom and purchased in the early 30's some Vickers Carden Lloyd tankettes (later equipped with a 47 mm gun and moveable shield) and Dragon carriers, which later formed the basis of the T-13 I/II. Due to Belgium's wish for neutrality, the T-13 I/II was designed as a defensive weapon with the gun firing backwards. The next model, the T-13 III was upgraded and fired forward. Also the T-15 light tank was aquired, based upon Vickers' commercial light tank. The armament however was only a machine hun. The only real tank in Belgian service was the Renault ACG-1. This tank's turret was specially produced for the Belgian vehicles and surplus turrets were used in the coastal defense. Other vehicles in use in the Belgian Army were the Berliet VUDB (only 1 tested in the 30's), the Vickers Utility B carrier for towing the FRC 47 mm gun, the Marmon Herrington Ford tractor used as tractor and staff car, the Citroen Kegresse C6P19 halftrack staff car and the locally produced FN motorcycles with or without sidecar or as a tricycle. Basic color of all vehicles was an overall light khaki brown. Basic markings were a red-yellow-black roundel (relatively small) and a four digit numberplate with the Belgian flag.