French mover photo

[R MICHAEL]

Hello all, I was looking this photo over and noticed what looks like a unit emblem. Can anyone ID this or pass along a website? thanks. Mike

[Hans Rinsma]

French mover photo

Hi Mike, I have looking to your superb photo, the tracked carrier that is towing the Opel Blitz truck is a Renault UE/AMX UE, alternative design also by Berliet.
It was a Infantry supply carrier with removable cargo box, often coupled to matching trailer.
Introduced in 1931, some 6000 were built, first by Renault, and during 1936-39 by AMX.
One of the French designations was Chenillette de Ravaillement d'Infanterie, M1931R.
The Germans captured and employed many as Infanterie Schlepper UE 630 ( F )'but also devised modifications and conversions, for exemple mobile weapon mounts ( MGs, guns, rockets).
Several have survived.
From the Unit emblem you better can ask the other members: Akira?

[R MICHAEL]

Thanks Hans for your informative answer! I have a few photos of these spread thru my collection and figured that they were some type type of light hauler. I even have a photo with the trailer you mentioned. I would say that it may be difficult to id the unit emblem as it seems there is not as comprehensive listing as there are for the WH. Have a great weekend Hans. Mike

[Andrew Hall]

Hello all, I was looking this photo over and noticed what looks like a unit emblem. Can anyone ID this or pass along a website? thanks. Mike

Mike, I know zip all about French markings but it's a flaming grenade symbol. It's familiar in the UK (as a cap badge) too.

Antoine Misner's site may have some info

http://www.chars-francais.net/sommaire.htm

HTH Andrew

[R MICHAEL]

thanks andrew! site I wasn't aware of and have book marked it .

[Akira Takiguchi]

"BLITZKRIEG" (Zaloga) says that it is a bridging sign, but I have nothing to verify this statement.

[R MICHAEL]

"BLITZKRIEG" (Zaloga) says that it is a bridging sign, but I have nothing to verify this statement.

your guess is better than mine at this point Akira. It looks as if there is an L inside of bomb(grenade) and I was hoping to maybe find out the division and therefor know the region that the division fought in. This comes from a small album and I have been curious as always to find out as much as possible. Thanks again! Mike

[David Lehmann]

Hello,

I am not 100% sure but the white round sometimes transformed in "grenade" symbol on some French vehicle is used to list the "class", "tonnage" of the vehicle : light, heavy etc. ... that may correspond to "bridging" info according to Zaloga ?

CHENILLETTE RENAULT UE
Made by Renault (produced by Renault, AMX, Berliet and Fouga), the UE supply carrier (infantry and cavalry units) had a crew of two men and generally no armament (sometimes an AA mount with a FM 24/29 and rarely a 25mm SA34 AT gun). The Renault UE (model 1931) and UE2 (model 1937, produced in 1939 - modified gearbox) was the vehicle produced in the highest number before June 1940 with 5148 vehicles delivered to the French Army. During May/June 1940 several Renault UE were armed with a 7.5mm FM 24/29 LMG (even protected by sandbags) and some were equipped with a 7.5mm MAC1931 MG in an armored AMX casemate intitially intended for an export version to China (1500 vehicles ordered in June 1940). Some rare vehicles were mounting a 25mm AT gun (150 vehicles ordered in June 1940).

A typical north-east infantry regiment has 9 Renault UE and a motorized infantry regiment is equipped with 15 Renault UE. The trailer that is often towed can be tracked or wheeled, depending of the ground the tracks are used or not.

The Renault UE carrier is used to :
• carry ammunitions
• tow a 25mm SA34/37 AT gun (behind the carrier or the carrier + trailer)
• carry the equipment of a MG platoon (4 MGs) or a mortar squad (2 mortars)
The 2 crew members are side by side but separated by part of the engine. In combat situation with bullets and shrapnels all around, they cannot speak together ; they are protected by armored rounded dome covers. In that case, they communicate thanks to lights on an orders transmitter panel (advance, speed up, slow down, right, left, stop, unhook, tip up etc.).

If towing a 25mm SA34/37 AT gun, the Renault UE carries generally also AT mines and reserve shells for the 25mm AT gun in the tipper. The trailer is then only used to carry the personal equipments of the AT gun crew.

If the Renault UE is used as ammunition supply tractor for the frontline units it can carry enough supply for a rifle company :

1) In the tipper :
• 8100x 7.5mm cartridges for the FM 24/29 LMG
• 2088x rifle/carbine cartridges (8mm or 7.5mm)
• 150x hand grenades
• 144x VB grenades (rifle grenades)
OR
• 18000x cartridges

2) In the trailer :
• 162x mortar shells
• 8500x cartridges
OR
• 15000x cartridges

Weight : 2.640t for the tractor (live load 0.660t) + 0.776t for the trailer (live load 0.500t) (total live load = 1.160t)
Length : 2.80m (+ 2.59m for the trailer)
Width : 1.74m (1.62m for the trailer)
Height : 1.25m (0.77m for the trailer)
Crew : 2 men
Maximum armor : 9mm
Maximum speed : 30 km/h (15-20 km/h offroad) (Renault engine, 4 cylinders, 40 hp at 2800 rpm, 2120 cm3)
Transmission : 3 forward, 1 reverse (UE) or 4 forward, 1 reverse (UE2)
Armament : sometimes FM 24/29 LMG and more rarely MAC1931 in an AMX casemate or 25mm SA34/37 AT gun

About 5148 Renault UE has been built for the French army (according to François Vauvillier's "L'automobile sous l'uniforme"). The German army captured some 3000 UE tractors (of those many were damaged and were only used to provide spare parts I guess) and had them overhauled in an assembly plant at Paris (Issy-les-Moulineaux) under the direction of the M.A.N. company.

These tractors were used in different tasks :
• towing light infantry guns (leIG18) and 3.7cm Paks
• towing 5.0cm, 7.5cm and 7.62cm Paks as well as heavy infantry guns (sIG33)
• transporting position material and seated wounded
• self-propelled mount for installed 3.7cm Pak36 and 2.5cm Pak112/113(f)
• scout car with installed machine gun
• armored car for the protection of airfields
• ammunition carrier +/- trailer to arm gun positions
• 28/32cm rocket launcher
• for training, simulating dummy tanks
• artillery observation
...

A significant rebuilding was the Renault UE reconnaissance tank. By the Becker building staff, 24 tractors were equipped with an armored rear body in which radio equipment and observation personnel were housed. Several of these vehicles were used by the 21. PzD.

The Luftwaffe rebuilt UE tractors into genuine small tanks used for securing its airfields and bases. By installing machine guns behind shields and in armored balconies, small series of securing vehicles were created. The French UE tractor is also used by the Luftwaffe for towing aircraft bombs. Large bombs were simply attached to chains and dragged over the ground. Sometimes transport sleds made of wood were also used to move the bombs.

UE 630(f) Schlepper (about 3000 Renault UE have been used)
• Infanterie UE-Schlepper (f)
• Mannschaftstransportwagen Renault UE(f) (2 different versions)
• Kleiner Funk- und Beobachtungspanzer auf Infanterie-Schlepper UE (f) (40 produced)
• Fernmeldekabel Kraftwagen Renault UE(f)
• Selbstfahrlafette für 3.7cm Pak36 auf Renault UE(f) (700 pieces)
• Selbstfahrlafette für 28/32cm Wurfrahmen auf Infanterie-Schlepper UE (f) (2 versions, 40 produced)
• Gepanzerte-MG-Träger Renault UE(f)
• Munitionsschlepper Renault UE(f)
• Sicherungsfahrzeug UE(f) – Luftwaffe security vehicles armed with 7.92mm and/or 13mm MGs
• Panzerkampfwagen Attrape auf UE(f) (dummy tank for training)
• Schneeschleuder auf Renault UE(f) (50 converted in snow ploughs in 1942)
• Schneefräser auf Renault UE(f) (snow milling)

Best regards,

David Lehmann

[R MICHAEL]

Very helpfull Dave! Thanks.