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FWD SU-COE in service with the Netherlands Armed Forces

In 1948, the Royal Netherlands Army acquired 202 FWD SU-COE trucks for their EOD unit(Munitie en Mijn Opruimings Dienst (MMOD)). Reportedly, these came in knock-down form and were assembled in the Netherlands.
By 1951 the Netherlands Army had only 27 left, and the number reduced to 18 by 1954. Not much later, they were all struck off strength.

A number were transferred to the Netherlands Air Force where they were converted into aviation fuel tractors, glider winches and snow plows.

FWD SU-COE 4-ton 4x4 trucks in Netherlands Army service after WW2:
Attachment 128068
Source: https://nimh-beeldbank.defensie.nl/f...4-0246d00501b1

SU-COE with registration number 14980:
Attachment 128069
Source: https://nimh-beeldbank.defensie.nl/f...f-f44ccc7d8f11

SU-COE 4x4 6-ton Tractor with registration number 15161:
Attachment 128070
Source: https://nimh-beeldbank.defensie.nl/f...0-c9b86c2280f5

Tractor for aviation fuel bowser

SU-COE converted for the Air Force ca. 1950-1951. They were fitted with a double cab and fifth wheel coupling as a tractor for the DAF YF-101 aviation fuel bowser. 48 were converted.

Attachment 128071 Attachment 128072
Source: DAF via Wim den Dunnen

Reg. no. LM-14-35 in 1950:
Attachment 128078
Source: https://nimh-beeldbank.defensie.nl/f...a-3b097d0e67e4

In the late 1960s, some of the double cab SU-COE tractors were converted to glider winches. 10 or 12 were converted.

The winch engine was a Buick 8 cylinder 130-hp inline petrol engine with a Dynaflow automatic transmission delivering power to a DAF rear axle onto which two winching drums were fitted. I think the engine was a Buick Straight-8 engine (Fireball 8), as produced from 1931 to 1953.

Attachment 128073 Attachment 128074

The SU-COE glider winches were painted yellow at some point in time as they were used by civilian glider clubs. This photo was taken ca. 1980.
Attachment 128075
Souce: https://nimh-beeldbank.defensie.nl/f...1-f2ed9a2b3b70

Last incarnation of the RNLAF SU-COE, hardly recognisable. Converted in 1968, they were fitted with a DAF diesel engine, one-man Kuiphuis cab to serve as an airfield snow plow. In use well into the 1980s.

SU-COE snowplow clearing snow at Eindhoven Air Force Base, Januari 1981:
Attachment 128077
Source: https://nimh-beeldbank.defensie.nl/f...c-88dc31bfc754

SU-COE snowplow awaiting disposal:
Attachment 128076

Contract SM/6175

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hanno Spoelstra (Post 285911)

FWD SU-COE 4-ton 4x4 trucks in Netherlands Army service after WW2:

Steve Guthrie wondered if the Commonwealth armies used these 4-ton SU-COEs with US Army cargo bodies. To which Melvyn Bean commented:

Quote:

The British certainly had some under contract SM/6175 which were supplied in 1943-4. The contract was for 500, but seems to suggest that 526 were delivered, 176 to the UK, the remaining 350 were listed as going to India. Who the ones in India were used by, I don't know.

Some seem to have been built with steel cargo bodies but most seem to have been delivered with the wooden cargo body. It was the standard US cargo body spec with the size of 88" x 168". Several other makes had this width body but this length seems to have only been for FWD's.

We do know the Netherlands army acquired 202 in 1948 - reportedly unassembled - so that is where a sizeable portion of that order went. They were likely diverted to the Netherlands instead of being shipped to India.

Attachment 128098 Attachment 128100

Attachment 128099 Attachment 128101

4-ton GS truck in service with the Netherlands army, ca. 1950. Registration number 17074:
Attachment 128103
Source: https://nimh-beeldbank.defensie.nl/f...1-d02c5a38b221