Berliet CBA
| Industry | Automotive, military vehicles |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1899 |
| Founder | Marius Berliet |
| Headquarters | Lyon , France |
| Products | Trucks, military vehicles, automobiles |
Berliet CBA represents a range of medium-duty trucks equipped with chain drive, originally developed for military applications and subsequently adapted for civilian use. Manufactured by the French company Berliet between 1913 and 1932, this model was among the most prevalent trucks during World War I before being succeeded by the Berliet GD series.
World War I
Introduced in 1913, the initial CBA models were powered by an inline four-cylinder petrol engine (designated L) with a displacement of 4,398 cm3 and an approximate fiscal horsepower rating of 22 CV. The vehicle's weight was roughly , capable of carrying loads from 2.8 to 3 tonnes. It employed a rear-wheel chain drive system and braking was applied via mechanisms on both the transmission and rear drum brakes. Although early military evaluations in 1913 did not result in immediate orders, large-scale manufacturing began with the onset of World War I to satisfy the French army’s needs for transporting troops and equipment. This initial version remained in production until mid-1915. Additionally, a forward-control variant named CBD underwent military trials and was later converted into transit buses and 30-seat coaches.
In mid-1914, Berliet enhanced the CBA by introducing a more robust engine (code Z) with increased displacement of 5,322 cm3 and rated at 30 CV. Payload capacity improved to between 3.5 and then 4 tonnes, while the vehicle’s curb weight was reduced by compared to the earlier model. From mid-1915 onward, this upgraded version replaced its predecessor. Thousands were manufactured throughout the war and postwar years, serving both military and civilian markets until production ceased in 1926.
Most CBAs were equipped with open cabins shielded by canvas covers, accompanied by loading platforms similarly protected with tarpaulin. Specialized configurations included wooden ambulance bodies outfitted with sterilization and radiology equipment, machine gun mounts for anti-aircraft roles, and versions designed to tow lighter trailers. Starting in 1918, CBAs played a role in motorized field artillery units by carrying guns and ammunition on their cargo beds.
Later years
Following the war, some CBAs were lost in combat, others were sold to private buyers—often through auctions—and a number remained stored in depots as reserves for potential future mobilization.
The 1919 models introduced cabins with sheet metal panels mounted on hardwood frames, featuring a door on the left side and roofs covered with tarred cloth. By 1923, these trucks incorporated windshields and rear-view mirrors. Primarily marketed to civilians, the French army still acquired 449 units between 1924 and 1926. The curb weight increased to , with a payload capacity of 4 tonnes. The wheelbase saw a slight extension alongside an enlarged cargo area; however, chain drive systems and solid rubber tires were retained. Engine power was rated at 25 CV.
In 1920, Berliet unveiled the CBA9 variant capable of handling a 5-tonne payload: an empty weight of , a wheelbase measuring 4.20 meters, and a platform length of 3.88 meters. Its Z17 engine produced 24 CV at 1,400 rpm. Various versions were procured by the French army between 1924 and 1926; additionally, tanker-bodied trucks were purchased by the French Air Force during 1926–27.
The CBAB model (produced from 1925/26 until 1932) featured rear-wheel chain drive and solid rubber tires sized at front wheels of 1,030 mm x 140 mm and double rear wheels measuring 1,030 mm x 160 mm. It had a wheelbase of 4.19 meters, cargo dimensions of 3.80 by 1.85 meters, curb weight of , and could carry up to 3.5 tonnes. Its MLB4 engine delivered 20 CV at 1,300 rpm. Between 1928 and 1930, gasifier-equipped variants such as the CBAG and CBABG2 were supplied to the military.
The GCA and GCAB represented extended-wheelbase CBA variants produced exclusively for military use during 1923–24; these marked Berliet’s first 'G'-series trucks designed for payloads exceeding three tonnes. With a wheelbase lengthened to 4.65 meters and a load capacity of five tonnes, they ran on solid rubber tires powered by a four-cylinder Z3 engine rated at 25 CV but providing approximately . The army ordered forty units.
In 1926, Berliet introduced the CBAC as successor to the CBA9 model, offered in two wheelbase lengths: short (4.74 m) and long (4.86 m). It featured a petrol MLB6 engine coupled with chain drive technology. Payload capacity was rated at five tonnes; official power output stood at 15 CV; tires measured 1,016 mm x 203 mm; short version curb weight reached . In 1931, inline four-cylinder diesel engines (MDA followed by MDB) were added to this range, increasing displacement beyond seven liters with power outputs around . The French military placed an order for fourteen petrol-powered CBAC units in 1932 intended for multipurpose applications.
By the late twenties, Berliet’s medium-duty truck portfolio based on the CBA platform included models such as the CBAB, CBAC, GCM (with payloads up to seven-and-a-half tonnes), GCE (also seven-and-a-half tonnes), as well as six-wheeled GPC variants capable of handling ten tonnes; several gasifier-equipped versions were available within this lineup.
The GD series launched in 1926 featured universal joint drives replacing chain systems and gradually phased out the CBA range. Production of CBA trucks concluded in 1932.