FWD SU-COE in service with the Netherlands Armed Forces

[Hanno Spoelstra]

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:

Source: https://nimh-beeldbank.defensie.nl/f...4-0246d00501b1


SU-COE with registration number 14980:

Source: https://nimh-beeldbank.defensie.nl/f...f-f44ccc7d8f11


SU-COE 4x4 6-ton Tractor with registration number 15161:

Source: https://nimh-beeldbank.defensie.nl/f...0-c9b86c2280f5

[Hanno Spoelstra]

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.


Source: DAF via Wim den Dunnen


Reg. no. LM-14-35 in 1950:

Source: https://nimh-beeldbank.defensie.nl/f...a-3b097d0e67e4

[Hanno Spoelstra]

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.




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.

Souce: https://nimh-beeldbank.defensie.nl/f...1-f2ed9a2b3b70

[Hanno Spoelstra]

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:

Source: https://nimh-beeldbank.defensie.nl/f...c-88dc31bfc754


SU-COE snowplow awaiting disposal:

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally Posted by Hanno Spoelstra

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:

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.







4-ton GS truck in service with the Netherlands army, ca. 1950. Registration number 17074:

Source: https://nimh-beeldbank.defensie.nl/f...1-d02c5a38b221