FN Tricar

FN Tricar
Manufacturer FN, Fabrique Nationale d‘ Arbes de Guerre, Liége
Production 1940
Engine 2x engines generating 4000rpm
Dimensions L: 3.4m
W: 1.7m
H: 1.5m
Weight 1,050 kg (2,310 lb) (dry)
FN Tricar 1947

The FN Tricar was a military motorcycle manufactured before WW2 by FN Herstal of Belgium. As of 2014, around only 7 exist and owned by private collectors.

History

Introduced in 1939, the FN (Fabrique Nationale) Tricar T3 was well received by the Belgian Army (only three Tricars seem to have been exported: to South America and the Dutch East Indies). Around 331 units were ordered and partially delivered before May 1940.

Description

Basically the Tricar could carry a load of 550 kg or five troopers including the driver. The vehicle was derived from the successful FN M12 motorcycle/sidecar combination. The Tricar had a top speed of 60 mph.

Various versions of the Tricar existed, from Utility/Personnel/Ammo carrier/Repair (Atelier mobile de depannage moto/mecanicien d'escadron) and also machine gun carriers (Maxim) in service for instance with the Bicycle-Carbiniers (Carabiniers-cyclistes). Truly a multipurpose and heavy duty design, the conversion possibilities of the Tricar were huge. There was even an armoured prototype. FN themselves operated a firefighting Tricar for their own factory firebrigade.

An extra supply of 88 Tricars were ordered with FN in February 1940 (for delivery in July that year). These were to mount a heavy FN-Hotchkiss 13.2 mm anti-aircraft machine gun. Unfortunately for the Belgian Army, these highly usable fighting vehicles would not be delivered in time.

Users

References

See also


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