The Renault UE Chenillette was a light tracked armoured carrier and prime mover produced by France between 1932 and 1940.
In 1930 the French Infantry decided to develop a light armoured vehicle able to tow and supply small cannon and mortars. In 1931 the Renault company was given the contract for production of its Renault UE, combined with the Renault UK trailer. In 1937, from a number of competitors, the Renault UE2 was chosen as an improved type for large-scale production. Of both types combined over five thousand were built, including licence production in Romania, and they were part of the standard equipment of all French infantry divisions. Most Renault UE vehicles in French service were unarmed; those in 1940 captured by Germany were used for a variety of purposes, including being armed with machine-guns, antitank-guns and rocket artillery.
At the beginnings of the "missile forces", the means of transport necessary to carry the weapon were always important. Stationary launchers were good for large missiles (the V2) or those that required long take-off run (the V1).
Missiles of calibre smaller than 100 mm could do with short tube - or rail-type launchers. The Germans used tube- or box-type launchers. The latter were often used as both transport containers and short rail launchers. Essentially, once the missile was on place, it could be launched directly from the ground, or loaded onto a mobile launcher vehicle and fired from a convenient spot while the crew remained inside a vehicle.
This idea was used when reinforcing the "Atlantic Wall" defence system. A flat Wu R40 launcher, made of weided profiles, with four box launchers with rocket-powered Wk Spr 28 cm explosive missiles was fitted in the cargo compartment of a Renault UE universal carrier. The vertical angle of launch could be adjusted with two forward supports between + 10° and + 20°, while the direction was adjusted by positioning the entire vehicle. Aiming was made using a measurement rod with aiming sector marked. Only a "sector" could be defined as the missile offered low accuracy of fire combined with high explosive power which hit the surrounding men and equipment without the need to fall precisely on the actual target.
The results of such fire were displayed to Marshall Rommel during his visit to the 21st Panzer Division in Normandy. The display was found satisfactory, resulting in orders to fit more vehicles with missile launchers.

Renault UE Chenillette
Light Tracked Armoured Carrier
Prime Mover
French Military Vehicles
Renault UE Production
Renault UK Trailer
French Infantry Equipment
WWII Armoured Vehicles
Military History
Renault UE2
Armoured Vehicle Production
French Army Equipment
World War II France
German Captured Vehicles
Rocket Artillery
Missile Forces
Mobile Missile Launchers
Atlantic Wall Defense
Wu R40 Launcher
Wk Spr 28 cm Missile
Marshall Rommel
21st Panzer Division
Normandy Campaign
Military Technology
Historical Weaponry