Now the Belgian company Fabrique Nationale d'Herstal (FN) is widely known as a manufacturer of small arms. In the past, this company was also engaged in the production of various equipment, including motorcycles. In the mid-thirties, the development of promising heavy motorcycles with increased cross-country characteristics began. As part of the further development of the ideas laid down in the first projects, the multipurpose FN Tricar tricycle was soon created. This machine played an important role in the motorization of the Belgian army, although it could not have a noticeable effect on the combat potential of the troops.
In the mid-thirties, FN presented a very successful motorcycle, the M12a SM, which had a number of positive features. Having made sure of the high technical and operational characteristics of such equipment, the Belgian army decided to adopt it. Since 1938, M12a SM motorcycles have been supplied to the troops, which soon made it possible to seriously increase the degree of their motorization. However, the appearance of a new motorcycle did not allow solving all the pressing issues. In particular, the army still lacked a vehicle capable of transporting light and medium weight cargo.
Two FN Tricar tricycles. Photo Users.telenet.be/FN.oldtimers
The Belgian armed forces at that time had trucks with sufficiently high characteristics, but in some situations the capabilities of such equipment were excessive. Transporting payloads up to 700 kg by trucks was not very convenient in terms of fuel consumption and resource. For this reason, it was decided to develop a promising model of light equipment capable of transporting goods or people. An existing heavy motorcycle was chosen as the basis for such a vehicle.
In the M12a SM project, some technical solutions were used to improve the main characteristics. For example, to provide the ability to move off-road and cross water bodies ford, the power plant was equipped with a sealed body, which also simplified the washing of equipment. In addition, the motorcycle was notable for ease of maintenance, which was simplified due to the correct layout of some components and assemblies.
Tricycle in the basic passenger-and-freight configuration. Photo World-war-2.wikia.com
The heavy motorcycle performed well during testing and operation, which is why it was decided to use it as the basis for a promising tricycle. Work on the new project started shortly after the deployment of the serial production of the existing motorcycle. The promising project received the designation FN Tricar. In addition, the alternative name Tricar T3 or FN 12 T3 was used. Nevertheless, despite the presence of several designations, the car received wide popularity under the name "Tricar".
In order to simplify and accelerate development, FN specialists decided to make the most extensive use of existing components and assemblies. Moreover, the front part of the promising tricycle was supposed to be a slightly modified "half" of the base motorcycle. At the same time, it was required to create an updated frame, a platform for transporting a payload, a rear axle and some other devices from scratch.
A car from the Russian museum, side view. Photo Motos-of-war.ru
The base motorcycle M12a SM borrowed the front part of the frame, which had mounts for installing the front wheel with additional units and the engine. It was a spatial structure made of several pipes by welding. There was a front strut close to a triangular shape, on which devices for attaching the steering column and front wheel suspension were placed. Behind her was a rectangular section of the frame with mounts for the engine and parts of the transmission units. A curved pipe of increased diameter was placed above the engine, which served as a support for the fuel tank and the driver's seat. The rear of the frame has received attachments for connecting to the corresponding devices in the rear of the machine.
Especially for the FN Tricar tricycle, a new frame has been developed for mounting the rear axle and loading platform. As in the case of the borrowed part of the machine, the frame was made of pipes that were joined by welding. To simplify the repair, the power units of the tricycle were made detachable. Under the driver's seat, there was a set of five connecting devices, with the help of which the two frames were fastened into a single unit. If it was necessary to repair certain parts, the mechanic could disassemble the car, simplifying his work.
Two-cylinder boxer engine and gearbox. Photo Motos-of-war.ru
The front 12x45 wheel retains the suspension used in the previous project. A parallelogram suspension with a friction damper was used. A steering wheel of a traditional design was attached to the column, with the help of which the wheel was rotated around a vertical axis. A large wing with a small mudguard, a single headlight, mountings for a number plate, etc. were also borrowed from the original project without changes.
The new project again used a two-cylinder boxer engine housed inside a sealed housing. The engine had a displacement of 992 cc and pistons with a diameter of 90 mm and a stroke of 78 mm. At 3200 rpm, the engine produced 22 hp. The exhaust pipes of both cylinders passed into a common exhaust pipe. The latter ran along the tricycle frame, the muffler was under the cargo platform. Through a dry single-plate clutch, a four-speed manual transmission with one reverse speed and a lowering row was connected to the engine. The engine and gearbox were controlled using traditional handlebars. To start the engine, it was proposed to use a kickstarter brought out to the left side. A drop-shaped fuel tank with a capacity of 19 liters was placed above the engine.
Cargo platform with seats for passengers. Photo Motos-of-war.ru
On the rear frame of the FN Tricar, it was proposed to install an automobile-type wheel axle. It included two axle shafts for 14x45 wheels. The rear axle of the tricycle received a suspension based on semi-elliptical leaf springs. The rear axle wheels served as the driving wheels. The drive axle was driven by a propeller shaft passing under the driver's seat and cargo platform.
In the basic configuration, it was proposed to equip the Trikar with a platform with low sides. In the original version, the platform was equipped with four seats for transporting people. The seats had a metal frame and leather upholstery. They were also equipped with a kind of armrests in the form of curved thin pipes. Two seats were placed directly on the front edge of the platform, which required the use of additional footrests. The other two were installed at the rear of the platform. When four passengers were accommodated in the back of a tricycle, there was enough space to carry certain goods.
The total length of a promising transport vehicle was 3.3 m, width - 1.6 m. The height, depending on the configuration, could exceed 1.5 m. High cross-country ability on rough terrain was to be provided with a ground clearance of about 250 mm and a wheelbase of 2.2 m. The curb weight of the FN Tricar tricycle in the cargo-passenger version was 425 kg, the carrying capacity was up to 550 kg. The maximum speed on the highway was determined at 75 km / h.
Frame and transmission. Photo Motorkari.cz
In 1939, the specialists of the Fabrique Nationale d'Herstal company completed the development of a new project, according to which a prototype of the Tricar multipurpose vehicle was soon built. During the tests, the high design characteristics of the machine were confirmed. It was also found that the proposed equipment differs from other representatives of its class by its uniquely high cross-country ability. So, with a load weighing 550 kg "Tricar" could climb an incline of 40% (22 °). To improve the climbing performance, the driver could connect a gearbox. In this case, the steepness of the overcome slope actually depended on the condition of the track and was limited only by wheel traction. In other words, the car began to slip before it ran out of power.
According to the test results, the Belgian army found the proposed model of equipment suitable for adoption. In the same 1939, the first order for serial production and the supply of a number of tricycles appeared. The first production vehicles of the new type were handed over to the customer within a few weeks after the signing of the contract.
Tricar (right) and motorcycles of the Belgian army. Photo Overvalwagen.com
The most important feature of the FN Tricar T3 project was the versatility of the resulting tricycle. Initially, it was supposed to be used to transport soldiers and cargo, but later new proposals appeared regarding the installation of one or another equipment or weapons. During the serial production of "standard" machines, the development company managed to build several prototypes of specialized equipment. Some of these projects managed to reach mass production.
The basic configuration of the Tricar machine was considered to be a cargo-passenger one. Such a car could carry the driver in the front motorcycle seat and four passengers on the cargo platform seats. Depending on various factors, with such a load, the car could retain part of the carrying capacity, which could be used to transport additional cargo that was stacked between the passenger seats. In the cargo-and-passenger version, the FN Tricar could be used as a transport for soldiers, a liaison vehicle, etc.
The disadvantage of the basic version of the tricycle was the open accommodation of the driver, passengers and cargo, because of which they were not protected from precipitation or wind. FN is known to have attempted to resolve this issue. So, there was a project for an additional awning to protect people. It was proposed to install an additional lightweight curved frame on the machine. The frame was supposed to support an awning that completely covers the front of the driver and forms a roof over the crew's seats. Above the steering wheel, the awning had three windows with glazing mounts.
Experimental car with awning. Photo Network54.com
Even after installing the awning, soldiers riding a tricycle remained defenseless in front of small arms or fragments of enemy shells. According to some reports, FN was developing a variant of the Tricar T3 with additional armor. Unfortunately, details of the protection of this specimen have not been preserved. Some sources mention that such a project has reached the stage of assembly and testing of a prototype. The armored tricycle did not go into production.
At the request of the customer, "Tricar" could be deprived of seats in the back, becoming a purely transport vehicle. The dimensions of the cargo area made it possible to accommodate the required load with an optimal distribution of its weight over the frame. In this form, the tricycle could be a general-purpose truck or an ammunition transporter - the specific role of the machine depended on the wishes and needs of the operator. After the end of World War II, in 1947, one of the most interesting options for a cargo tricycle appeared. A full-fledged driver's cab with side doors and large windshields was installed on the existing car by one of the operators. The side body was supplemented with a semi-rigid body, which turned it into a van. Currently, such a three-wheeled "truck" is an exhibit at the Belgian Museum Autorworld.
Anti-aircraft self-propelled gun with a large-caliber machine gun. Photo Network54.com
The divisions operating the FN Tricar machines were supposed to include mechanics and repairmen, who also relied on their own equipment. For the field repair of serial tricycles, a mobile workshop was developed, which differed from the basic modification in the body design. The cargo area has lost all crew seats except for the front left. A large box for transporting tools and small parts was placed behind the remaining seat. The drawer was accessed using a hinged top cover. A hatch appeared in the rear side of the body for loading boxes, placed in the volume under the upper box. To the right of such devices was another large volume with a hinged top cover.
As conceived by the authors of the project, the crew of the repair vehicle was supposed to be able to replace a variety of units of damaged equipment. For this, about half of the volume of the body was given for the transportation of large spare parts. It was proposed to transport wheels, wheel forks, steering columns, axle parts, etc. A mount for another spare wheel was placed on the rear side of the body. The crew of the repair vehicle consisted of two people. A set of transported spare parts and tools made it possible to carry out minor and medium repairs right in the field. It is known that repair tricycles were built in series and supplied to the Belgian army.
Firefighter tricycle at the FN plant. Photo Network54.com
At the beginning of 1940, the FN company proposed a new version of the three-wheeled vehicle, equipped with its own weapons. In this configuration, the tricycle became an anti-aircraft self-propelled gun. The reinforced cargo platform housed an existing installation with a 13, 2-mm FN-Hotchkiss heavy machine gun. The gunner, located on the same platform with him, was supposed to control the weapon. There were manual drives for horizontal and vertical guidance, sighting devices and a water cooling system for the barrel. The anti-aircraft version of the FN Tricar could be used to defend against an air attack, while at the same time having a certain potential in terms of fighting ground targets.
In the first months of 1940, the Belgian army got acquainted with the anti-aircraft tricycle and decided to put it into service. In February, a contract appeared for the manufacture and supply of 88 vehicles. The last batch of equipment was required to be handed over in July of the same year.
At least one FN Tricar T3 remained at the factory. A convenient multifunctional platform was equipped with the necessary equipment, turning it into a fire truck. Two front seats remained in the body, and the rear of the platform was given over to the installation of a sliding ladder and a drum with a sleeve. According to various sources, a similar fire engine has been used by the company for many years.
FN Tricar on trials in Portugal. Photo Network54.com
Belgium was the main customer of unusual multifunctional machines. Nevertheless, some other states also showed interest in such technology, although the volume of export supplies was minimal. Only three transport tricycles were sent overseas in accordance with purchase contracts. This technique was intended for one of the South American countries (presumably Brazil) and the Netherlands. In the latter case, the military immediately sent the received equipment to the Dutch East Indies. Another machine was handed over to Portugal for testing, but for various reasons, the contract for further deliveries of serial products did not appear.
The last known order for the supply of equipment of the FN Tricar family was signed in February 1940. Its subject was anti-aircraft self-propelled guns with heavy machine guns, which should have been assembled and handed over to the military by mid-summer. However, this order was never completed. According to various sources, the Fabrique Nationale d'Herstal company either managed to produce only a few self-propelled anti-aircraft guns, or never completed the assembly of at least some of such equipment. One way or another, the Belgian army did not receive the desired combat vehicles.
Tricycle with cab and van from the Belgian Museum Autoworld. Photo Wikimedia Commons
The reason for the termination of the production of equipment was the entry of Belgium into the Second World War and the rather rapid completion of hostilities with a negative result. Since the beginning of the conflict, Brussels has maintained neutrality, but on May 10, 1940, Nazi Germany launched an offensive. Already on May 28, Belgium surrendered. The occupation authorities curtailed the production of tricycles previously ordered by the defeated army. By the time production was completed, only 331 Tricars had been built by FN. Apparently, this number includes both production vehicles and prototypes of various modifications, as well as a factory fire engine.
Unlike the relatively weak Belgian army, the German armed forces by that time had a large fleet of motorcycles, half-tracked all-terrain vehicles of a similar layout and other light multipurpose equipment. As a result, the Wehrmacht and other structures of Germany could do without continuing the construction of the Belgian Trikars. At the same time, some of this technology still found application and was operated in parallel with German-made motorcycles.
Tricycles from one of the private collections. In the foreground is an equally interesting car - FN AS 24. Photo Mojetrikolky.webnode.cz
The relatively small number of vehicles built led to unpleasant consequences. Some of the three-wheeled vehicles were out of order during operation, after which they were scrapped. The other technique has honestly worked out its usefulness with the same consequences. According to reports, no more than ten copies of an unusual multifunctional machine have survived to our time. It is noteworthy that in one of the private collections located in the Czech Republic, there are three samples of FN Tricar at once. Another example of a tricycle in a cargo-passenger version can be seen in the "Motorworld of Vyacheslav Sheyanov" museum (Petra Dubrava village, Samara region). A unique piece, which underwent post-war modernization and received a closed cabin with a van, is located in the Autoworld Museum in Brussels.
The outbreak of World War II and the occupation did not allow Belgium to obtain the required number of FN Tricar multi-purpose vehicles in all the desired modifications. Nevertheless, more than three hundred units of such equipment had a positive effect on the capabilities and potential of the army. The delivery of tricycles was an important step in the motorization of the Belgian army. For a number of reasons, the latter was never able to realize all the benefits from acquiring such equipment, but at the same time it was able to test in practice a number of unusual ideas that could be used in the future. Two decades later, Fabrique Nationale d'Herstal returned to the development of army tricycles. The result of these works was a new re-equipment of the army.
