- Yes
- Maybe
- No
History.
The Chenillette Renault UE is a light tracked armoured vehicle of French origin. Contrary to the fashion of the time, the French army decided to use light tracked armoured vehicles as non-combat vehicles in the late 1920s.
In 1930, the French army made an official request to French companies and soon after there was a response from Renault, Citroën and Latil. The Renault vehicle, named ‘tracteur armoured de ravitaillement d’infanterie type UE’, won the competition and a first tranche of 60 vehicles was requested in late 1931. Over time, the demand for these small vehicles increased to follow the French infantry mechanisation doctrine, and by 1940, almost 5,000 vehicles had already been built, with most of those captured after the fall of France in June 1940. Most of those vehicles, after due testing and modifications, were re-used as fighter or transport vehicles for a quite long period of time.
In 1943, given the almost total uselessness of the “chenillettes”, it was decided in extremis to reuse these crawlers for the transport and use of a 28/32 cm Schweres Wurfgerät 40/41 rocket launcher. Some of these vehicles, at least one, was used by the motor-carrier battalion of the 205. Infanterie-Division at the Soviet-Germanic front, and the rest of the converted vehicles, classified according to the German designation as “Selbstfahrlafette für 28/32 cm Wurfrahmen auf Infanterie-Schlepper UE (f)” (“Self-propelled gun for 28/32 cm throwing frames on Infanterie-Schlepper UE (f)”) were modified by 1944 into two versions, one with the launchers attached to the side of the vehicle and one with the launchers attached to the raised platform at the rear of the vehicle.
Many of these vehicles were lost or destroyed as the conflict continued, but at least one of them survived to the present day in an armoured vehicle museum.
Armaments and propulsion.
The vehicle was armed with a quadruple 28/32 cm Schweres Wurfgerät 40/41, a set of four frames into which explosive or incendiary rockets of two types (280 and 320 mm) were inserted. Only the necessary ammunition for a salvo was carried on board, i.e. four already loaded in the frames.
As an engine, the vehicle was powered by a 38 hp Renault 85 petrol engine, which could propel the vehicle up to a top speed of around 30 km/h.
Specifications.
Spoiler
Length: 2.8 m
Width: 1.9 m
Height: 1.6 m
Maximum weight: 2,7 tons
Crew: 2
Engine: Renault 85 petrol engine (38 hp)
Maximum speed: 30 km/h
Armament: 4x 28/32 cm Schweres Wurfgerät 40/41 (4 ammo)
Armour: 0-9 mm
Pictures and drawnings.
Sources.
Spoiler
28/32 cm Wurfrahmen (Sf) auf Infanterieschlepper UE(f) : Germany (DEU)
“Waffen-Arsenal 158”
Guerra abierta: Selbstfahrlafette Infanterieschlepper UE
HISTORIA PARA NO DORMIR: Baukommando Becker, cuando el reciclaje se convierte en necesidad (2ª parte)
Renault UE supply tankette (1932)
Renault UE - Wikipedia
Renault UE Chenillette - Wikipedia
Selbstfahrlafette für 28/32cm Wurfrahmen auf Infanterie Schlepper UE(f) | Panzerpedia Wiki | Fandom
Wurfrahmen UE630(f) - Steel Division Wiki
Немецкая реактивная артиллерия в годы войны. Часть 1-я
Veicoli blindati trofeo Wehrmacht. Francia
Its among strangers. Quality French croissant
https://sbsarmormodels.yolasite.com/resources/Vol13_UESBSGBart.pdf
“French Tanks of World War II (1): Infantry and Battle Tanks”
28/32 cm Nebelwerfer 41 - Wikipedia
Renault UE Schnyet - NamuWiki