Renault YS 2

As of 20 July 1936, a programme for the development of an artillery reconnaissance vehicle was begun. The Renault YS 2 prototype was a conversion of one of the Renault YS prototypes, made of unpanned steel and with AMR 33 chassis. The conversion was significant, it was essentially a rebuild to resemble a commander's version of the Renault YS, with the addition of a hemispherical turret mock-up on the superstructure ceiling at the rear. Protective casemates were created along the sides of the turret to protect the optics of the artillery binocular rangefinder (1.6 m). The vehicle was to be equipped with ER 26ter and R 14 radios. The observer was also provided with an observation binocular telescope, which he slid out of an open hatch on the ceiling of the tower.
The prototype was presented on 30.7.1937, the vehicle bore the registration mark "58993". As part of the testing, the prototype was assigned to 309^e RATTT (régiment d'artillerie á tracteurs tous terraine) with a crew in Strasbourg, the vehicle's commander was Captain Salaumond). The prototype took part in manoeuvres in l'Ouest (under the command of the higher unit 11^e RA (régiment d'artillerie) with a crew in Vernon).
In 5/1938 the prototype is sent to the ARL factory in Rueil, where it underwent repairs, the turret was dismantled and the ARL company worked on a new type of turret. The development of new rangefinders was considered.
In the period following the declaration of war on Germany after its annexation of Poland in the so-called "ridiculous war" of 1939/40, it was included in the 71^e RA (2^e DLM (division légére mécanique)).
The vehicle was inspected by the General of Artillery on 4 May 1940. The vehicle was judged to be inadequate, no mass production was considered. The fate of the prototype is unknown to me.


*Source:
Francois Vauvillier - The encyclopedia of French tanks and armoured vehicles 1914-1940, Histoire & Collections, published in 2014, ISBN: 978-2-35250-322-4
[Francois Vauvillier - Les automitrailleuses de reconnaissance, Tome 2, L´AMR 35 Renault ZT, ISBN : 2-915239-70-3