Development of the Renault UE2 Renault UE Chenillette

renault ue2 renault uk trailer @ musée des blindés @ saumur; upward bend of front mudguard make described modèle 37; internal mechanical parts of late production vehicle.

from 1935, in reaction german rearmament, french infantry embarked on major expansion , modernisation programme. part of project replace chenillette modèle 31 improved type, should remain within weight limit of earlier vehicle or 2.6 metric tons. interest side of french industry high , during 1937 5 companies proposed prototypes: lorraine, hotchkiss, fouga, berliet , renault.

lorraine de dietrich, company specialised in locomotive construction, presented tractor , trailer commission de vincennes on 23 april 1937. prototype tested between 28 april , 10 june. though @ 4 tons heavier specified, type approved commission on 8 july, period of testing extended 23 august. compared modèle 31, lorraine chenillette more dedicated supply vehicle, larger size of allows superior carrying capacity, crew comfort , range, while suspension 2 bogies , 4 large road wheels ensures tactical mobility. on 8 september commission concludes there no objections series production; prototype had on 25 august been presented commission de l infanterie @ mourmelon tactical evaluation. infantry favoured type decided use production capacity longer lorraine 37l, there lack of heavier movers; first order of hundred made 1939 in september changed 1 other type.

on 3 november 1937 hotchkiss presented prototype of tractor; on 10 december of trailer. on both elements manufacturer had not done testing, vehicles having been transported vincennes finished. therefore, commission delayed trials until 27 december allow hotchkiss make final adjustments on base area. tractor tested until 10 february 1938. type closely resembled general outline of renault ue. main difference presence of 2 bins instead of one, able tilt sideways, positioned on of mudguards. doubled carrying capacity. instead of small hoods, 2 large armoured covers, retractable back, served both entrance hatch , visor. engine, differential , steering system judged acceptable. suspension system considered weak, not having been reinforced match larger cargo mass avoid surpassing specified total weight. consisted of 2 bogies, each 2 small road wheels, sprung narrow horizontal coil springs. large tension wheel trailed on ground, lowered ground pressure compensate larger weight of bins increased track resistance , vibration. cross-country speed 15 km/h. during testing when loaded entire bogies collapsed, prototype rejected.

the fouga aircraft company submitted prototype tractor , trailer on 2 february 1939. tested until 8 may. vehicle closely resembled renault ue, had higher roof, making hoods unnecessary , enlarging cargo space. suspension had 2 bogies per side each 2 road wheels, sprung leaf springs. type, submission late because choice had been made rivalling type, rejected because mechanical parts not accessible , vibration level high.

berliet obtained order prototype on 4 december 1936. tractor , trailer presented commission de vincennes on 6 march 1939, testing starting immediately. type again resembled renault ue higher. had 3 bogies per side 2 road wheels each, sprung horizontal coil springs. weight 3.05 metric tons, stop speed 36 km/h, range 143 kilometres. first report of commission favourable , trials resumed on 24 april, lasting till 20 may. transpired tractor attain top speed of 30 km/h when pulling trailer. commission concluded on 8 june berliet chenillette superior renault ue in speed, range , mechanical reliability , saw no objection against taking production. rejected army in order concentrate production facilities single type, had replaced ue: ue 2.

renault had been further developing renault ue 1931 onwards. features had been introduced production series, expressed new prototypes; others had remained mere paper projects. renault lobbied attain official, , financed, state orders development projects , on 20 december 1934 had managed obtain 1 improved renault ue, renault ue 2. 1 one during 1935 , 1936 improved components submitted commission de vincennes tested , modified according wishes of army. these included: reinforced pistons; new gear box 4 speeds forward , 1 reverse; reinforced differential; longer front mudguards of part bent upwards form continuous plane glacis, semi-automatic attachment system trailer , night light @ lower left of vehicle. these changes not fundamental — commission not aware supposed end in new type — renault used fact argument select ue 2 replacement vehicle: improvements introduced without interrupting production, whereas switch different design might cause fatal delay in rearmament process. proved decisive consideration army , november 1937 choice made renault ue2 become type mass production: chenillette de ravitaillement d infanterie modèle 1937 r. order placed amx — nationalised former renault factory — on 3 december. other manufacturers employed also: in fact fouga had obtained order on 2 december; berliet given 1 on 16 march 1938.

these manufacturers did not take modèle 37 production; in fact made modèle 31 complete first production batches; in summer of 1939, when french economy went full gear prepare increased war production, gradual transition ue 2 made, though new features, such mudguards, appear in summer of 1936; summer of 1937 instead of original restor headlights armoured type of guicherd fitted. army did not discern between 2 ue types , in statistics subsumed chenillettes received under denominator modèle 31. on 1 september 1939 2848 renault ues of both models had been manufactured. in 1940 production of 300 vehicles per month aimed at. ensure such high output renault bought sup factory @ pontlieue, start ue 2 assembly line there. on 1 april 1940 amx had built 1080 renault ue2s, fouga 260 , berliet 310. in may monthly deliveries reached total number of 509, made possible emptying factory matériel stocks; on 1 june 4977 renault chenillettes of both models had been built, 4557 delivered; total production destined france 5148, on assumption 2300 vehicles had been produced after 1 september. in seventies still assumed production realised before december 1937 — mistakenly equated of modèle 31 — not included in number; total production overestimated @ 6200.