10 Facts About Renault UE

Renault UE Chenillette is a light tracked armoured carrier and prime mover produced by France between 1932 and 1940.

In 1937, from a number of competitors, the Renault UE2 was chosen as an improved type for large-scale production.

Renault UE however indicated he had no intention to pay licence rights, unless the French state fully compensated him; the three companies were thus invited to build a "similar" vehicle, not an exact copy.

Renault UE hoped to further develop the UE into a light tank by adding a turret; accordingly the hull resembled a tank chassis rather than a dedicated supply vehicle.

On 27 November 1931, the Section Technique de la Cavalerie asked Renault UE to rebuild one of his six chenillette prototypes into an armed tankette.

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Renault UE was always very intent on procuring foreign orders, but generally without much success.

In February 1938 Renault UE presented stronger tracks and more resistant road wheels, with an improved device to keep the axles waterproof, to the Commission de Vincennes.

The new type however was not tested immediately; only after Renault UE had presented another prototype, this time with seven road wheels — an extra wheel having been inserted in the space created by moving the bogie assembly twenty centimetres backward — both types were simultaneously compared between 7 and 23 February 1940.

However the new Renault UE suspension offered no clear advantages over the older model in terms of vibration level and crew fatigue, so both models were in the end rejected as possible modification projects of existing vehicles; AMX's type on 11 April 1940 was judged not to be acceptable for future production.

Renault UE was employed at the start of World War II by the French Army, and was pressed into German Army service, as well as being used in limited numbers by Free France and Romanian forces.