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Renault FT
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Renault FT
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The Renault FT (frequently referred to in post-World War I literature as the FT-17, FT17, or similar) is a French light tank that was among the most revolutionary and influential tank designs in history. The FT was the first production tank to have its armament within a fully rotating turret.[note 1] The Renault FT's configuration (crew compartment at the front, engine compartment at the back, and main armament in a revolving turret) became and remains the standard tank layout. Consequently, some armoured warfare historians have called the Renault FT the world's first modern tank.[2]

Key Information

Over 3,000 Renault FT tanks were manufactured by France, most of them in 1918. After World War I, FT tanks were exported in large numbers. Copies and derivative designs were manufactured in the United States (M1917 light tank), in Italy (Fiat 3000), and in the Soviet Union (T-18 tank). The Renault FT saw combat during the interwar conflicts around the world but was considered obsolete at the outbreak of World War II.

Development

[edit]

The FT was designed and produced by the Société des Automobiles Renault (Renault Automobile Company).

FT Char Mitrailleuse layout (with first-pattern turret)

It is thought possible that Louis Renault began working on the idea as early as 21 December 1915, after a visit from Colonel J. B. E. Estienne.[3][4] Estienne had drawn up plans for a tracked armoured vehicle based on the Holt caterpillar tractor, and with permission from General Joffre, approached Renault as a possible manufacturer. Renault declined, saying that his company was operating at full capacity producing war materiel and that he had no experience of tracked vehicles. Estienne later discovered that the Schneider company was working on a tracked armoured vehicle, which became France's first operational tank, the Schneider CA.

At a later, chance meeting with Renault on 16 July 1916, Estienne asked him to reconsider, which he did, favourably.

Crew locations shown with hatches open (turret reversed)

Louis Renault himself conceived the new tank's overall design and set its basic specifications. He imposed a 7-ton limit to the FT's projected weight. Renault was unconvinced that a sufficient power-to-weight ratio could be achieved with the production engines available at the time to give sufficient mobility to the heavy tank types requested by the military.[5] Renault's industrial designer Rodolphe Ernst-Metzmaier generated the FT's execution plans. Charles-Edmond Serre, a long-time associate of Louis Renault, organized and supervised the new tank's mass production. The FT's tracks were kept automatically under tension to prevent derailments, while a rounded tailpiece facilitated the crossing of trenches. Because the engine had been designed to function normally under any slant, very steep slopes could be negotiated by the Renault FT without loss of power. Effective internal ventilation was provided by the engine's radiator fan, which drew its air through the front crew compartment of the tank and forced it out through the rear engine's compartment.

Renault encountered some early difficulties in getting his proposal fully supported by Estienne. After the first British use of heavy tanks on 15 September 1916 during the Battle of the Somme, the French military still pondered whether a large number of light tanks would be preferable to a smaller number of super-heavy tanks (the later Char 2C). On 27 November 1916, Estienne sent to the French Commander in Chief a personal memorandum proposing the immediate adoption and mass manufacture of a light tank based on the specifications of the Renault prototype. After receiving two large government orders for the FT tank, one in April 1917 and the other in June 1917, Renault was able to proceed. His design remained in competition with the super-heavy Char 2C until the end of the war.

The prototype was refined during the second half of 1917, but the Renault FT remained plagued by radiator fan belt problems throughout the war. Only 84 were produced in 1917, but 2,697 were delivered to the French army before the Armistice.

Naming

[edit]
FT at the Belgrade Military Museum, Serbia

Although it has sometimes been stated that the letters FT stand for the French terms faible tonnage (low tonnage), faible taille (small size), franchisseur de tranchées (trench crosser), or force terrestre (land force),[6] none of these names are correct. Neither was it named the FT 17 or FT-17. The name is derived from the two-letter production code that all new Renault projects were given for internal use: the one available was 'FT'.

The prototype was at first referred to as the automitrailleuse à chenilles Renault FT modèle 1917. Automitrailleuse à chenilles means "armoured car [lit: motorized machine gun] with tracks." By this stage of the war, automitrailleuse was the standard word for an armoured car, but by the time the FT was designed there were two other types of French tank in existence, and the term char d'assaut (from the French char – a cart or wagon, and assaut; attack or assault), soon shortened to char, had at the insistence of Colonel Estienne, already been adopted by the French and was in common use. Once orders for the vehicle had been secured it was the practice at Renault to refer to it as the "FT". The vehicle was originally intended to carry a machine-gun, and was therefore described as a char mitrailleur – mitrailleur (from mitraille; grapeshot) had by this time come to mean "machine-gunner".

Many sources, predominantly English language accounts, refer to the FT as the "FT 17" or "FT-17." This term is not contemporary and appears to have arisen post World War One. In Estienne's biography,[7] his granddaughter states, "It is also referred to as the FT 17: the number 17 was added after the war in history books, since it was always referred to at Renault as the FT." Lieutenant-Colonel Paul Malmassari (French tank officer and Doctor of History) states, "The Renault tank never carried the name FT 17 during the First World War, although the initials F.T. seem to appear in August 1917."[8] Some confusion might also have been caused by the fact that the American version of the vehicle, produced in the US under licence from Renault, was designated the M1917. When it was decided to equip the FTs with either cannon or machine-guns, the cannon version was designated char canon (cannon tank), and the latter, in accordance with French grammar, renamed char mitrailleuse (machine-gun tank).

It is frequently claimed that some of these tanks were designated FT 18. Reasons given for the claim include: it distinguished tanks produced in 1918 from those of 1917; it was applied to FTs armed with cannon as opposed to those with machine-guns; it distinguished FTs with a cast, rounded turret from those with a hexagonal one; it referred to the 18 horsepower engine; it indicated a version to which various modifications had been made.

Renault records make no distinction between 1917 and 1918 output; the decision to arm FTs with a 37mm gun was made in April 1917, before any tanks had been manufactured; because of various production difficulties and design requirements, a range of turret types were produced by several manufacturers, but they were all fitted to the basic FT body without any distinguishing reference; all FTs had the same model 18 hp engine. The Renault manual of April 1918 is entitled RENAULT CHAR D'ASSAUT 18 HP, and the illustrations are of the machine-gun version. The official designation was not changed until the 1930s when the FT was fitted with a 1931 Reibel machine gun and renamed the FT modifié 31. By this time, the French Army was equipped with several other Renault models and it had become necessary to distinguish between the various types.[9][10][11][12][13]

Production

[edit]

France

[edit]

About half of all FTs were manufactured in Renault's factory at Boulogne-Billancourt near Paris, with the remainder subcontracted to other companies. Of the original order for 3,530, Renault accounted for 1,850 (52%), Berliet 800 (23%), SOMUA (a subsidiary of Schneider & Cie) 600 (17%), and Delaunay-Belleville 280 (8%). When the order was increased to 7,820 in 1918, production was distributed in roughly the same proportion. Louis Renault agreed to waive royalties for all French manufacturers of the FT.

French Renault FT in the Army Museum, Paris

United States

[edit]

When the US entered the war in April 1917, its army was short of heavy materiel and had no tanks at all. Because of the wartime demands on French industry, it was decided that the quickest way to supply the American forces with sufficient armour was to manufacture the FT in the US. A requirement of 4,400 of a modified version, the M1917, was decided on, with delivery expected to begin in April 1918. By June 1918, US manufacturers had failed to produce any, and delivery dates were put back until September. France therefore agreed to lend 144 FTs, enough to equip two battalions. No M1917s reached the American Expeditionary Forces (AEF) until the war was over.

Turret

[edit]
First mock-up of the canon turret, mounted on the FT prototype. The gun is a wooden dummy.[14]

The first turret designed for the FT was a circular, cast steel version almost identical to that of the prototype.[15] It was designed to carry a Hotchkiss 8mm machine gun. In April 1917 Estienne decided for tactical reasons that some vehicles should be capable of carrying a small cannon. The 37mm Puteaux gun was chosen, and attempts were made to produce a cast steel turret capable of accommodating it, but they were unsuccessful.[16] The first 150 FTs were for training only, and made of non-hardened steel plus the first model of turret.[17] Meanwhile, the Berliet Company had produced a new design, a polygonal turret of riveted plate, which was simpler to produce than the early cast steel turret. It was given the name "omnibus", since it could easily be adapted to mount either the Hotchkiss machine gun or the Puteaux 37mm with its telescopic sight. This turret was fitted to production models in large numbers. In 1918 Forges et aciéries Paul Girod produced a successful circular turret which was mostly cast with some rolled parts. The Girod turret was also an "omnibus" design. Girod supplied it to all the companies producing the FT, and in the later stages of the war it became more commonplace than the Berliet turret.[15][18] The turret sat on a circular ball-bearing race, and could easily be rotated by the gunner/commander or be locked in position with a handbrake.

Service history

[edit]

World War I

[edit]
US Army operating FTs on the Western Front, 1918

The Renault FT was widely used by French forces in 1918 and by the American Expeditionary Forces (AEF) on the Western Front in the closing stages of World War I.

Its battlefield debut occurred on 31 May 1918, east of the Forest of Retz, east of Chaudun, between Ploisy and Chazelles, during the Third Battle of the Aisne. This engagement, with 30 tanks, successfully broke up a German advance, but in the absence of infantry support, the vehicles later withdrew.[19][20][21] From then on, gradually increasing numbers of FTs were deployed, together with smaller numbers of the older Schneider CA1 and Saint-Chamond tanks.[22] As the war had become a war of movement during mid-1918, during the Hundred Days Offensive, the lighter FTs were often transported on heavy trucks and special trailers rather than by rail on flat cars.[citation needed] Estienne had initially proposed to overwhelm the enemy defences using a "swarm" of light tanks, a tactic that was eventually successfully implemented.[23] Beginning in late 1917, the Entente allies were attempting to outproduce the Central Powers in all respects, including artillery, tanks, and chemical weapons. Consequently, a goal was set of manufacturing 12,260 FT tanks (7,820 in France and 4,440 in the United States) before the end of 1919.[24] It played a leading role in the offensives of 1918, when it received the popular name "Victory Tank".

The British Army used 24 FTs for command and liaison duties, usually with the gun removed.[25]

Italy received 3 FTs in June 1918, but they did not see action and no other tanks were received until the end of the war.[26]

Interwar period

[edit]

After the end of World War I, Renault FTs were exported to many countries, including Belgium, Brazil, Czechoslovakia, Estonia, Finland, Iran, Japan, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Poland, Romania, Spain, Switzerland, Turkey, and Yugoslavia. Renault FT tanks were used by most nations having armoured forces, generally as their prominent tank type.

They were used in anti-Soviet conflicts such as the Russian Civil War and Polish-Soviet War. On 5 February 1920, Estonia purchased nine vehicles from France.[27][verification needed]

Japanese FT-Ko tank in Manchuria, 1932

French tanks deployed in Vladivostok were given to the Chinese Fengtian Army of Zhang Zuolin in 1919. 14 more Renaults were bought in 1924 and 1925. These tanks saw action to protect the border from the Soviets in the 1920s and against the warlord Wu Peifu in 1926. After the Japanese invasion of Manchuria, nearly all were handed over to the Manchukuo Imperial Army.[28]

Renault tanks were also used in colonial conflicts, for instance crushing a revolt in Italian Libya in 1919.[29] The French Army sent a company of FT tanks to Syria during the Great Druze Revolt.[28] In Brazil, the FT tanks were used by the Old Republic to crush various revolts between 1924 and 1927 and by Vargas forces against the Constitutionalist Revolution.[30][31]

During the Rif War, after the Battle of Annual, the Spanish Army ordered 10 FT armed with Hotchkiss machine guns and 1 char TSF to supplement a first Renault bought in 1919. These tanks formed a company deployed from 1921. After a first failure, they proved to be very effective and six more were delivered in 1925.[32] The Spanish FT were the first tanks in history to take part in an amphibious assault, the Alhucemas landing. The French Army deployed two battalions of FT during the war, including one company of tanks with Kégresse tracks.[33] After the end of the war, the French tanks remained in North Africa to finish the "pacification" of Morocco in the Atlas Mountains.[28] When the Spanish Civil War broke, half of the Renault crews remained loyal to the Spanish Republic while the others joined the rebels. France later sent 32 FTs to the Republicans;[32] the number of FTs sold to the Republicans by Poland is unclear; estimates vary between 16 and 94.

World War II and after

[edit]

Renault FT tanks were also fielded in limited numbers during World War II, in Poland, Finland, France, Romania and the Kingdom of Yugoslavia, although they were already obsolete.[34] In May 1940, the French Army still had seven front-line battalions, each equipped with 63 FTs, one under-strength battalion as well as three independent companies, each with 10, for a total organic strength of 504.[35] 105 more were in service in the colonies of Morocco and Algeria and 58 in French Levant, Madagascar and Indochina.[36] Some FT tanks had also been buried within the ground and encased in concrete to supplement the Maginot Line.[37]

Captured FT tanks in German service in Serbia (World War II)

The fact that several units used the Renault FT gave rise to the popular myth that the French had no modern equipment at all; actually, they had as many modern tanks as the Germans; however, the majority had one-man turrets and were less efficient than German tanks such as the Panzer III and IV.[38] The French suffered from strategic and tactical weaknesses rather than from equipment deficiencies, although many of the French tanks were also markedly slow (unlike the German tanks of the time).[39] When the best French units were cut off by the German drive to the English Channel, around 390 FTs, previously used for training or stored in depots, joined the 184 to 192 FTs in service with internal security units.[40] The Wehrmacht captured 1,704 FTs.[40] They used about 100 for airfield defence and about 650 for patrolling occupied Europe.[citation needed] Some were used by the Germans in 1944 for street-fighting in Paris, but by this time they were hopelessly out of date.

Vichy France used Renault FTs against Allied invasion forces during Operation Torch in Morocco and Algeria. The French tanks were no match for the newly arrived American M4 Sherman and M3 Stuart tanks.[41] The last combat of the French Army FTs was during the Japanese invasion of French Indochina, when a section defended the Hue fortress.[42]

The last known use was in the 1980s during the Soviet–Afghan War, when some FTs were used as pillboxes or roadblocks.[43]

In 2003, derelict former Afghan military Renault FTs were found by US occupation forces in Afghanistan.

Derivatives

[edit]
Monument to the first Soviet tank in Nizhny Novgorod, a copy of "Russkiy Reno"

The FT was the ancestor of a long line of French tanks: the FT Kégresse, the NC1, the NC2, the Char D1, and the Char D2. The Italians produced the FIAT 3000, a moderately close copy of the FT, as their standard tank.

The Soviet Red Army captured 14 burnt-out Renaults from White Russian forces and rebuilt them at the Krasnoye Sormovo Factory in 1920. Nearly 15 exact copies, called "Russkiy Reno", were produced in 1920–1922, but they were never used in battle because of many technical problems. In 1928–1931, the first completely Soviet-designed tank was the T-18, a derivative of the Renault with sprung suspension.

Operators

[edit]
  • Spanish FT tank in Morocco, 1922
    Spanish FT tank in Morocco, 1922
  • Chinese FT tanks
    Chinese FT tanks
  • Lithuanian FT tanks in 1925
    Lithuanian FT tanks in 1925
  • Czechoslovak FT tank in 1928
    Czechoslovak FT tank in 1928

Variants

[edit]
  • Renault FT TSF
    Renault FT TSF
  • FT modifié 31 destroyed near Lisieux (Normandy) in June 1940
    FT modifié 31 destroyed near Lisieux (Normandy) in June 1940
  • A Yugoslavian M26/27 tank destroyed in the 1941 invasion of Yugoslavia
    A Yugoslavian M26/27 tank destroyed in the 1941 invasion of Yugoslavia
  • Char canon: an FT with a 37 mm Puteaux SA18 short-barreled gun: about 3/5 of tanks ordered, about 1/3 of tanks actually produced
  • Char mitrailleuse: an FT with an 8 mm Hotchkiss M1914 machine gun: about 2/5 of tanks ordered, about 3/5 of tanks produced
  • FT 75 BS: a self propelled gun with a short barreled Blockhaus Schneider 75mm gun:[16] 40 were produced.[65]
  • Char signal or TSF: a command tank with a radio. "TSF" stands for télégraphie sans fil ("wireless"). No armament, three-men crew, 300 ordered,[citation needed] 100 produced.[65]
  • FT modifié 31: upgraded tanks with 7.5 mm Reibel machine gun. After trials from 1929 to 1931, this modification was made in 1933–1934 on 1000 chars mitrailleurs still in French stocks. This version was sometimes referred to as the "FT 31", though this was not the official name.[65]
  • FT désarmé : French char canon whose 37mm gun has been removed in the 1930s to arm modern tanks, and used for various purposes:
    • Pont Bourguignon sur char FT: FT without turret carrying a light bridge, from an idea of General Louis Ferdinand Bourguignon.[66]
    • some were rearmed with an FM 24/29 light machine gun[40]
  • FT-Ko: Thirteen modified units imported by the Imperial Japanese Army in 1919, armed with either the 37mm SA18 cannon or machine guns; used in combat in the Manchurian Incident and subsequently for training[67]
  • M1917: US-built copy. 950 built, 374 of which were gun tanks and fifty of which were radio tanks. During World War II the Canadian Army purchased 236 redundant M1917s for training purposes.
  • Russkiy Reno: the "Russian Renault", the first Soviet tank, produced at Krasnoye Sormovo. A close copy. 17 units were produced. Also known as "Tank M" or "KS tank".[68]
  • Renault FT CWS: the Renault FT CWS or Zelazny ("iron") tanks were built in Poland for use as training vehicles only (Polish combat tanks were French manufactured). These tanks used spare French engines and components. The hulls and turrets were manufactured to French specifications in all other respects. Around 27 CWS FT tanks were built. CWS is the abbreviation for Centralne Warsztaty Samochodowe (translated as "Central Workshops for Motor vehicles" or "Central Truck Workshop"), a plant in Warsaw which performed maintenance and depot level repair.[69][70]
  • Renault M24/25: Also known as the Kégresse-Hinstin, these tanks were equipped with rubber Kégresse tracks and upgraded with detachable rollers on the front and rear for trench crossing. Saw action in the Rif War where it was found that it took too long to replace tracks when they came off so did not stay in service for long.[71][72][73]
  • Renault M26/27: a development of the FT with a different suspension and Kégresse rubber tracks; a number were used in Yugoslavia and five in Poland.[74]
  • FIAT 3000: an Italian derivation.
  • T-18: A Soviet derivation with sprung suspension and Fiat engines.[68]
  • Polish gas tank: A Polish modification built in the Wojskowy Instytut Gazowy ("Military Gas Institute") and tested on the Rembertów proving ground on 5 July 1926. Instead of a turret, the tank had twin gas cylinders. It was designed to create smoke screens, but could also be used for chemical attacks. Only one was produced.
  • Renault FT AC: A December 1939 plan to convert France's obsolete FTs into tank destroyers. The tank never left the drawing board. It was designed to have a 47mm APX anti-tank gun instead of the turret.[75]

Surviving vehicles

[edit]
Renault FT in Parola Tank Museum procured by Finland in 1919. In service until 1942
Renault FT running at the Musée des Blindés

Approximately 41 FTs,[76] two Russkiy Renos, and three FT TSF survive in various museums around the world. Twenty M1917s also survive.[77]

Europe:

Asia:

North America:

  • U.S. Army Armor and Cavalry Collection, Fort Benning, Georgia in the United States. In 2003, two FT tanks, one would have mounted a 37mm cannon and the other an 8mm mg, were discovered in Kabul by Major Robert Redding. With permission from the Afghan government, the two tanks were transferred to the United States, where one of them, a machine gun tank, was restored and originally put on display in the Patton Museum of Cavalry & Armor, until the Armor Branch collection was transferred to Fort Benning. This FT is currently on display in the Armor Gallery of the NIM. The Armor Collection currently is restoring the other FT, 37mm gun tank. A previous FT at Fort Knox was transferred to US Army Heritage & Education Center at Carlisle Barracks, Pennsylvania.[91]
  • Louisiana State Military Museum at Jackson Barracks in New Orleans, Louisiana. An FT was inundated by floodwaters of Hurricane Katrina in 2005. It was restored by the Museum of the American G.I. and has been returned to display.
  • National World War I Museum, located at Liberty Memorial, Kansas City, Missouri. An FT, damaged by German artillery.[92]
  • An FT is on static display at the US Army Heritage and Education Center at Carlisle Barracks, Pennsylvania.
  • The Museum of the American G.I. in College Station, Texas has a completely original, fully functional, fully operational FT with functional 37mm main gun. The tank saw service during the war and exhibits minor battle damage on some track segments.
  • National Museum of the United States Army, Virginia, USA. One FT-17 nicknamed "The Five of Hearts."[93]
  • Fort Gregg-Adams, Virginia, USA. One FT with 6-Ton M1917 turret.

South America:

Australia:

See also

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Notes

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References

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Sources

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Further reading

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[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Renault FT

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
The Renault FT, commonly referred to as the FT-17, was a French developed during and introduced in 1917, marking a revolutionary advancement in armored warfare as the first production to feature a fully rotating turret and a forward driver's compartment with rear-mounted engine, establishing the basic configuration for nearly all subsequent designs. Weighing approximately 6.5 tons and measuring about 5 meters in length, it was powered by a 39 horsepower four-cylinder engine, achieving a top speed of around 8 kilometers per hour on roads, and was crewed by two personnel: a driver and a /gunner. Armament varied by variant, including a 37 mm in the primary turreted model or a Hotchkiss 8 mm , with additional models like the TSF for radio communication or the Char mitrailleur for machine-gun focus. Over 3,950 units were produced by between 1917 and 1918, making it one of the most numerous tanks of the war and influencing global through its and tactical flexibility in supporting infantry advances. The FT saw extensive combat service on the Western Front from May 1918, contributing to Allied offensives like the Battle of Amiens, and continued in use interwar by numerous nations, including the and , with some remaining operational into , such as during the Fall of in 1940. Its enduring legacy lies in pioneering key elements of modern , including ergonomic placement and turret-mounted weaponry, which shaped armored vehicle evolution for decades.

Development

Conception and Prototypes

During the latter half of 1916, the French Army faced pressing needs for improved armored vehicles amid the stalemate of World War I on the Western Front. The pioneering Schneider CA1 and Saint-Chamond tanks, developed as heavy assault vehicles, revealed critical shortcomings in their designs, including mechanical unreliability, excessive vulnerability to artillery fire, and poor trench-crossing ability due to short tracks and protruding chassis overhangs that frequently caused them to become mired or immobilized. These failures underscored the demand for a lighter, more agile alternative that could support infantry advances without the logistical burdens of heavier models. General Jean-Baptiste Eugène Estienne, recognized as the father of French tank forces and head of the Artillerie Spéciale program, advocated for such a "mosquito tank" concept—a compact, two-man vehicle weighing no more than 6 tons, powered by a 20-horsepower , capable of 8 km/h speed, and armed with a single for rapid production and deployment. In the summer of , Estienne approached automobile manufacturer , who had initially declined involvement in tank design but relented after discussions in July or August, committing his engineering team to develop the project in secrecy at the Renault Billancourt factory to bypass bureaucratic oversight. personally oversaw the basic specifications, emphasizing simplicity, low height for concealment, and a rear-mounted to allow a fully rotating turret forward. The initial wooden mock-up of the design was completed by September 1916 and subjected to basic mobility tests at the factory in October, confirming the feasibility of the compact layout with its innovative turret and separate compartments for , , and transmission. A full metal followed swiftly, finalized in late December 1916 and armed with a 7.92 mm Hotchkiss M1914 in the turret; it was formally demonstrated to military officials on 30 December 1916. Performance trials commenced in January 1917 at the Champlieu , where the attained speeds of approximately 7.5 km/h on roads, demonstrating superior maneuverability over rough terrain compared to heavier tanks, though it encountered challenges such as track shedding under stress and rapid engine overheating from inadequate cooling. These issues were addressed through iterative modifications, including wider tracks with improved tensioning and enhanced radiator airflow, enabling reliable operation by early 1917. The prototype's presentation to the Commission de l'Artillerie de Campagne met with rejection, as committee members deemed the vehicle too small, lightly armed, and unsuitable for frontline use alongside established heavy tanks. Estienne appealed directly to Undersecretary of State for Inventions Daniel Vincent, whose intervention, supported by War Minister Albert Thomas, overrode the decision; on 22 February 1917, an initial production order for 150 light machine-gun tanks was authorized, marking the transition from prototype to wartime manufacturing.

Design Evolution

Following the approval of the Renault FT prototype in early , several key refinements were implemented to enhance its performance and reliability for use. The adopted a 4-cylinder engine rated at 39 hp (29 kW) at 1500 rpm, which provided sufficient power for the light tank's frame while improving fuel efficiency over earlier experimental powerplants. To address mobility issues identified in initial testing, the tracks were widened and equipped with improved tensioning systems for better reliability and traction on varied terrain. Standardization efforts focused on modularity and balance to facilitate and tactical versatility. A fixed turret ring size was established, allowing for interchangeable turret configurations without major hull modifications, which streamlined and . The rear-engine layout was finalized to achieve balanced , positioning the powerplant at the back to counterbalance the front-mounted compartment and improve overall stability during movement. Engineering challenges, particularly in thermal management and , were resolved through targeted upgrades. The cooling system was enhanced with a thermo-siphon water-cooling setup, which efficiently dissipated from the during prolonged operations without requiring complex mechanical fans. The transmission was refined to a sliding gear mechanism with four forward speeds and one reverse, enabling more precise control and reducing the risk of mechanical failure under combat stress. These evolutions culminated in a production-ready frozen by mid-, with production beginning in late 1917 and the first vehicles delivered in 1917 for training, though their debut occurred in May 1918. The finalized dimensions included a length of 5.05 m (including the ), width of 1.74 m, height of 2.14 m, ground clearance of 0.43 m, and a weight of 6.5 tonnes, optimizing the FT for rapid deployment and maneuverability. Building on the core concepts from earlier prototypes, these changes marked the transition from experimental vehicle to a standardized that influenced future armored designs.

Naming

The Renault FT was originally designated as the "Char Renault FT" within the Renault factory, where "Char" denoted a tank and "FT" served as an internal project production code assigned to new developments, unrelated to any acronym or specific meaning like the year 1917. This code was part of Renault's standard nomenclature for tracking prototypes and production models during World War I. Common misattributions in popular media have linked "FT" to terms such as "faible tonnage" (low tonnage), "fusil de tranchée" (trench rifle), or even the design year of 1917, but historical records confirm these as postwar myths without basis in official documentation. Following the in 1918, the adopted the designation "FT-17" to reflect the tank's entry into service that year, though this gained widespread use only in the period as inventories were standardized. By the , the name was formalized across French records, often appearing as "Char léger Renault FT" to emphasize its role. In export and licensed production contexts, variations emerged to suit adopting nations' conventions; for instance, the referred to it as the "Six Ton Tank" or M1917 during its domestic manufacturing phase starting in 1918. Other countries occasionally used "Renault M17" for modified licensed versions, while broader terms like "Char léger Renault" persisted in French-influenced inventories abroad.

Production

French Manufacturing

The primary manufacturing of the Renault FT light tank occurred at Renault's main facilities in Boulogne-Billancourt near , with production initiating in late to support needs during . The initial output was modest, with the first 84 units delivered by the end of , but the process rapidly scaled up in 1918 as wartime demands intensified, enabling a total of 2,697 vehicles to reach the front before the Armistice on November 11, 1918. To achieve this accelerated pace, Renault shifted from prototype development to techniques, including simplified riveting methods for hull assembly that reduced construction time while maintaining structural integrity. Production rates peaked at around 100 units per month by late , primarily at the Billancourt plant, contributing to a cumulative French output of approximately 3,187 vehicles by November 1918. Subcontractors played a key role in this effort, with firms such as in , SOMUA (a Schneider ), and Delaunay-Belleville handling component fabrication—including engines and tracks—and assembling full vehicles to distribute the workload. produced about 800-1,025 units, while SOMUA contributed around 481-600 and Delaunay-Belleville around 280-390, helping Renault meet orders exceeding 3,500 tanks overall. Following the war, French production of the Renault FT continued on a limited basis through 1919 and into the early 1920s to fulfill export contracts and variant requirements, with final tallies reaching at least 3,694 units including all domestic builds. This phase focused on completing outstanding orders rather than new military , as the design's influence shifted toward licensed foreign production and upgrades.

American Production

In September 1917, following a telegram from General requesting light tanks for the , the secured a from to manufacture the Renault FT design domestically, with an initial order for 4,440 units to equip U.S. armored units. Production contracts were awarded to three American firms: Van Dorn Iron Works in , ; Maxwell Motor Company in ; and C.L. Best Company in , utilizing U.S. Army facilities for assembly and testing. The first American-built example, designated the M1917 Six-Ton , rolled off the line at Van Dorn in July 1918, though initial prototypes lacked turrets. To adapt the design for domestic production, the M1917 incorporated American components, including a Buda HU modified four-cylinder gasoline engine producing 42 horsepower at 1,460 rpm, which provided similar mobility to the original Renault powerplant despite slight differences in output. Other modifications included U.S.-sourced plating, electrical systems, and armament mounts compatible with the Hotchkiss or Marlin and M1917 37mm gun, though supply chain issues delayed full integration of weapons in early models. These changes aimed to streamline using readily available parts, resulting in a weighing about 6.25 tons with a top speed of around 5 mph on roads. By the end of 1919, approximately 950 M1917 tanks had been completed across the three facilities, but only about 514 were fully assembled with armaments and operational features before the halted further deliveries to frontline units. The abrupt end of World War I left most undelivered, with many stored in warehouses or at depots. Postwar, the surplus M1917s served primarily in U.S. Army roles through the and into the early , equipping tank schools and units for doctrinal development. As newer designs emerged, the remaining vehicles were largely decommissioned; many were scrapped during the and 1940s, while others were sold at scrap value to allies like for purposes.

Export and Licensed Builds

Following , the Renault FT became one of the most widely exported tanks, with selling surplus units to numerous nations seeking to modernize their armored forces. Approximately 3,000 FTs were produced in during the war, with total production reaching 3,694 including postwar units, and many were subsequently exported to countries including , , , , , , , , , , , the Netherlands, Brazil, , , and . These exports often served as the foundational light tanks for emerging armies, with recipients adapting them for local needs such as training or border defense. The most significant licensed production occurred in the United States (see American Production subsection). While the U.S. program represented the largest licensed effort, other nations produced derivatives rather than direct licensed copies of the FT. For example, Italy developed the Fiat 3000 based on the FT design, and the Soviet Union produced the T-18 light tank as a derivative in the 1920s. Some countries undertook limited local assembly or modification of imported FTs. For instance, Poland received around 120 FTs in 1919 as military aid, some of which were refurbished domestically for use in the Polish-Soviet War. Similarly, Yugoslavia imported 10 FTs in the interwar period, with minor adaptations for its terrain, though no extensive manufacturing occurred. These efforts underscored the FT's role as a blueprint for global tank development, but formal licensing beyond the United States remained rare due to the tank's obsolescence by the mid-1920s.

Design Features

Chassis and Mobility

The Renault FT featured a compact constructed from a riveted , providing a lightweight yet robust structure weighing approximately 6.5 tonnes in combat configuration. The design incorporated a sloped front plate to improve obstacle climbing capabilities, allowing the tank to ascend low barriers and rough terrain more effectively during support operations. In , a detachable rear extension was introduced to enhance trench-crossing performance, extending the vehicle's effective length to bridge gaps up to 1.8 meters wide without becoming immobilized. The suspension system consisted of unsuspended wheels arranged in four units per side, supporting eight small wheels that distributed weight across the terrain, paired with vertical coil and leaf springs for basic shock absorption. Tracks measured 34 cm (13.5 inches) in width and were fitted with rubber blocks on some production models to reduce noise and improve traction on varied surfaces, though standard variants used links with grousers for durability in environments. This setup enabled a maximum speed of 8-10 km/h and cross-country speeds around 6 km/h, prioritizing reliability over high mobility in the tank's role as a accompaniment. Powering the vehicle was a Renault four-cylinder delivering 39 hp at 1,500 rpm, with a displacement of 4.5 liters and water-cooled design for sustained operation in field conditions. The fuel capacity stood at 95 liters, providing an operational range of approximately 35 km, sufficient for tactical maneuvers but limiting extended deployments without resupply. This configuration yielded a of about 6 hp per , supporting the ability to climb slopes up to 30 degrees and ford water obstacles to a depth of 0.9 meters. Despite these attributes, the Renault FT's mobility was constrained by a ground pressure of 0.55-0.60 kg/cm², which proved problematic in muddy or soft soils, often leading to bogging down and requiring external assistance for recovery. Later variants attempted to mitigate this through track modifications, but the original design's narrow profile and unsophisticated suspension highlighted its vulnerabilities in prolonged off-road use.

Turret and Armament

The Renault FT featured two primary turret designs to balance production efficiency and . Early models employed a cast octagonal turret with rounded edges, constructed from forged for enhanced durability, though its complex process limited output. Later production shifted to a simpler riveted turret, either octagonal or rounded, assembled from rolled armor plates typically 16 mm thick on the sides for the riveted version and up to 22 mm for welded variants, allowing for cheaper and faster assembly while maintaining adequate defense against small-arms fire. The turret supported 360-degree manual rotation via a handwheel mechanism, enabling flexible targeting without repositioning the entire vehicle, and was mounted on a ring approximately 1.2 meters in diameter for stability. Primary armament options included the 8 mm in the "female" configuration, carrying around 4,000 to 4,800 rounds in belts for sustained fire at a rate of 450–500 rounds per minute, or the 37 mm cannon in the "male" version, with 120 to 237 rounds stored aboard and a practical rate of 10–15 rounds per minute. The gun's elevation ranged from -11° to +30°, providing versatility in engaging low or elevated targets, while the had similar traverse capabilities within the fully rotating turret. Initial fire control lacked dedicated optical sights, relying on the commander's direct , though later upgrades incorporated basic telescopic or reflector sights for improved accuracy. This setup prioritized simplicity and reliability in combat. The Renault FT's turret design represented a key innovation as the first production to enclose its main armament in a fully traversing turret, departing from fixed or side-mounted guns in earlier models and establishing a template for modern armored vehicles that emphasized all-around and crew efficiency.

Crew Layout and Protection

The Renault FT was operated by a two-man consisting of a driver positioned in the forward compartment and a who doubled as the gunner and loader in the rotating turret. The managed all functions, including aiming and firing the armament, while communicating directions to the driver via simple signals such as foot pedals or voice, as the design prioritized simplicity and compactness for rapid production. This division of roles reflected the tank's support , allowing the to focus on awareness without the burden of driving. The internal layout divided the vehicle into distinct sections: a front driver compartment separated by a bulkhead from the central fighting space housing the turret, with the rear compartment dedicated to the 39-horsepower four-cylinder engine for optimal and mobility. Access for the crew was facilitated by a split hatch on the rear of the turret for the , which opened outward, and a side-opening hatch with a raisable front vision panel for the ; additional hatches provided emergency egress. Riveted steel armor plates protected the crew, with the thickest sections reaching 22 mm on the turret front and 16 mm on the hull sides, tapering to 6 mm on the and lower hull, rendering it proof against small-arms and shrapnel but vulnerable to direct hits from larger calibers. For visibility, the driver employed fixed episcopes mounted in the front plate for forward observation, with some later incorporating rotatable periscopes to improve during movement; the commander benefited from vision slits around the turret and an optional with armored louvers. Ventilation was provided by louvered roof vents over the engine compartment to exhaust heat and fumes, though the cramped interior often led to discomfort in prolonged operations. Key vulnerabilities included the thin 6 mm roof armor, which offered little defense against hand grenades or aerial attacks, and the absence of any specialized protection against chemical agents, limiting the tank's suitability for contaminated environments despite its era's gas warfare threats.

Variants

Main Combat Types

The primary armed variants of the Renault FT were designed for direct , with the and models forming the core of frontline deployments. The FT char mitrailleuse, the most prevalent subtype, accounted for roughly two-thirds of French production and was armed with an 8 mm in a turret that could be either cast steel or riveted construction. This configuration emphasized suppression, with approximately 2,000 units built in as part of the total domestic output of about 3,177 tanks by late 1918. The weight of 6.5 tonnes allowed for mobility with a top road speed of around 8 km/h. The FT char canon, comprising about one-third of production or around 1,000 units in , featured a 37 mm low-velocity gun in a similar turret design for engaging fortifications and light anti-tank roles. This armament provided greater punching power against soft targets and early armored threats, though its short barrel limited range and penetration. At 6.5 tonnes, the gun version had similar mobility to the machine gun model. and licensed builds often allowed buyers to specify armament, leading to customized or fits based on operational needs. The American M1917 , produced under license, mirrored these combat types but incorporated U.S.-specific modifications such as all-steel idler wheels, a revised track tensioning system with per-side screws, and relocated exhaust on the left hull side. It typically mounted a Rockwell 1917 (a .30-06 of the Colt-Browning M1895) or the 37 mm M1916 gun, with a polygonal riveted turret standard across all units. These changes addressed preferences and compatibility with American munitions, while retaining the FT's core chassis for a total U.S. output of 950 vehicles, though few saw combat before the .

Specialized Models

The Renault FT saw adaptation into several specialized variants for support, command, and experimental purposes, comprising a small portion of total production across approximately 3,700 to 4,000 units built. These modifications prioritized utility over combat, often sacrificing armament for equipment like radios or engineering tools, and were predominantly developed by French manufacturers with some export customizations. The FT TSF (Télégraphie Sans Fil), or signal , was a command equipped with a radio set for coordinating battalions and relaying orders to . It featured a fixed armored in place of the rotating turret, including a with observation and an extendable frame antenna for communication, while armament was removed to accommodate the radio operator's station and increased crew of three (, operator, and ). Approximately 188 units were produced, with orders initially set at 200 in late 1917 and expanded to 470 by early 1918, though acceptance during was limited to fewer than 50 by the French War Office and about 25 by specialized units. For engineering roles, the FT 75 BS served as a close-support , mounting a 75 mm Blockhaus Schneider short-barreled in a fixed superstructure to demolish trenches, fortifications, and obstacles ahead of advances. This variant retained the standard FT and mobility but positioned the driver centrally with the firing forward, carrying around 40 rounds for high-explosive at short ranges. Approximately 40 examples were manufactured, with production beginning in 1918 but continuing into 1919, reflecting its niche role in breaching the . Experimental adaptations included the FT Kégresse, a conversion using rubber-banded tracks over the rear wheels for improved cross-country performance in soft terrain, while retaining the front wheels and FT hull. Around 20 such vehicles were built in the , primarily for French trials, with some exported and used by (10 units) and (5 units) for and transport. Other prototypes, such as a rare unarmed version for under fire and a 1918 flamethrower model, remained unproduced beyond testing due to the war's end and technical challenges. Postwar, export users created specialized models like the Polish FT-17W, a command similar to the TSF with radio equipment for coordination, adapted from imported FTs in the . Chinese forces also converted several FTs by replacing the original with a British model for better reliability in regional conflicts. These customizations were limited, often one-off or small batches tailored to local needs.

Operational History

World War I Deployment

The Renault FT entered combat for the first time on 31 May 1918 near the Forest of Retz, east of Chaudun, during the Third Battle of the , where approximately 36 tanks from the French 501st Special supported Moroccan infantry in halting a German advance. These early deployments demonstrated the FT's potential for close infantry support, leveraging its compact size and mobility to navigate wooded terrain effectively. By July 1918, during the Second Battle of the Marne, the French committed around 100 FTs as part of a larger Allied counteroffensive, where the tanks contributed to turning back the German thrust toward and marking the FT's first major tactical success in coordinated assaults. In August 1918, the FT played a breakthrough role in the offensive, the opening of the Allied , with French units deploying significant numbers—up to several hundred in subsequent phases—to exploit gaps in German lines alongside and . The tank's speed, reaching up to 7-8 mph on roads, allowed it to advance rapidly behind creeping barrages, aiding in the capture of key positions and contributing to the disruption of German defenses. This performance highlighted the FT's suitability for mobile exploitation, though its light armor remained vulnerable to anti-tank fire. The Meuse-Argonne offensive from to November 1918 saw extensive FT use, with and American forces deploying hundreds in support of infantry advances through difficult terrain like the Argonne Forest. The , having received 239 Renault FTs (redesignated M1917), formed the 1st Tank Brigade under Lt. Col. , comprising the 344th and 345th Battalions; this unit arrived in in 1918 and first engaged at the on 12 , where 144 FTs supported the reduction of the German salient. Overall, by the on 11 November 1918, around 500 FTs had been committed to combat across and Allied units, proving effective in rapid maneuvers but hampered by mechanical unreliability, including frequent overheating and transmission breakdowns that caused high non-combat attrition. Total losses during the war numbered 746 to enemy action, though mechanical failures accounted for the majority of operational casualties.

Interwar Operations

Following the end of , the Renault FT served as the standard in the throughout the 1920s and into the 1930s, forming the backbone of its armored forces due to the large surplus of over 3,000 vehicles produced during the war. These tanks were extensively employed in colonial policing operations, including deployments to French Morocco during the (1921–1926), where French forces utilized modified Renault FTs equipped with Kégresse rubber-band tracks for improved mobility in rugged starting in 1925. Similarly, Renault FTs were used to maintain order in the French Mandate of Syria during the , supporting infantry in suppressing local uprisings and securing mandate territories. Exported Renault FTs played significant roles in early interwar conflicts abroad. In the Polish-Soviet War of 1920, the Polish Army fielded approximately 120 Renault FT tanks, with units from the 1st participating decisively in the Battle of Warsaw, where they provided critical support and contributed to the Polish counteroffensive that halted the Soviet advance. During the (1936–1939), around 100 Renault FTs operated on the Republican side, including 32 newly acquired from and , 10 survivors from earlier colonial service, and additional vehicles captured from Nationalist forces; these tanks were primarily used for support in urban and rural engagements, though their light armor limited their effectiveness against anti-tank weapons. The Renault FT profoundly shaped interwar tank doctrine and training across multiple nations, emphasizing its role as an infantry support vehicle rather than an independent striking force. In , annual military maneuvers routinely involved over 1,000 Renault FTs, allowing the army to refine tactics for close coordination with foot soldiers in defensive operations. Its design influenced infantry support tactics in the , where British observers studied the FT's turret and layout during joint exercises, informing early developments in employment. In the , the Renault FT directly inspired the production of the "Russian Renault" copy in the early , which adapted the original's layout to support emerging deep battle doctrines focused on mobile armored . To extend their service life, many Renault FTs underwent upgrades in , including engine modifications for some units—such as replacements with more reliable s maintaining the original 39 hp output—and the addition of radios to standard models for better command coordination, with the TSF radio variant seeing expanded use. Approximately 1,000 tanks were retrofitted with the 7.5 mm between 1933 and 1934 to improve firepower against soft targets. Despite these enhancements, the Renault FT was widely recognized as obsolete by , as its thin armor and low-velocity 37 mm gun proved inadequate against emerging medium tanks and anti-tank rifles fielded by potential adversaries. Nevertheless, the French Army retained thousands in service due to the sheer volume available and delays in modernizing to heavier designs, relegating them primarily to training and reserve roles by the late 1930s.

World War II Engagements

During the German invasion of in 1940, approximately 1,600 Renault FT tanks remained in French inventory, with around 530 in active frontline units in and over 1,000 in reserve or storage, primarily due to their obsolescence. These vehicles saw limited mobile combat but were often employed in defensive positions, including as improvised fixed pillboxes along the River line to support infantry defenses during the . The rapid German advance led to the loss or capture of most of these tanks through abandonment, mechanical failure, or destruction by superior German forces. Following the French capitulation, captured about 1,704 tanks, redesignating them as Pz.Kpfw. 17R 720(f) for machine-gun variants and Pz.Kpfw. 18R 730(f) for cannon-armed models. Roughly 1,200 were refurbished and pressed into service for secondary duties, including security patrols on the Eastern Front during and static defenses along the Atlantic Wall against potential Allied invasions. Around 100 were allocated to airfield protection, while others supported occupation forces in until mechanical wear and ammunition shortages rendered them ineffective by late 1943. Vichy French and Free French forces continued utilizing surviving Renault FT tanks in North Africa, where a small number supported defensive operations, providing limited infantry support against Axis advances. Italian forces, having acquired FT tanks interwar, employed about 100 in training and coastal defense until 1943, while Greek units used a handful of their prewar FTs in the Greco-Italian War and subsequent German invasion before their withdrawal from combat. In Asia, Japanese forces operated captured Chinese Renault FT tanks throughout the Second Sino-Japanese War from 1937 to 1945, primarily for training and rear-area security in occupied territories. During the Winter War of 1939-1940, Finnish Renault FT tanks engaged Soviet invaders in defensive roles, with 32 vehicles forming a single battalion that conducted reconnaissance and anti-tank ambushes despite their outdated design. By 1944, the Renault FT had been largely phased out of active combat across all belligerents due to vulnerability against modern anti-tank weapons and vehicles, with total wartime losses estimated at around 2,000 from destruction, capture, or scrapping. The tank's final engagements occurred in the Pacific theater in 1945, where surviving Japanese-held examples in Indochina and China saw sporadic use in static defenses against advancing Allied and Chinese Nationalist forces during the closing months of the war.

Postwar Utilization

Following , the Renault FT continued in limited service primarily within French colonial forces for policing and security roles. In during the (1946–1954), approximately 50 FT tanks were deployed for internal security and patrol duties, leveraging their light weight for operations on local bridges and jungle trails. Similarly, in during the Algerian War of Independence (1954–1962), a small number of surviving FTs were employed by French forces for rear-area policing, though they saw no significant combat due to their obsolescence against modern insurgent tactics. Beyond French territories, captured or inherited Renault FTs appeared in several conflicts. During the (1946–1949), the Nationalist forces utilized a handful of prewar Renault FTs, primarily as training vehicles and for static defense in northeastern , with some lost to Communist forces or scrapped post-defeat. In the , a few Renault FTs were operated by Egyptian and other Arab armies, marking one of the tank's final combat appearances; these were quickly outmatched by more advanced Israeli armor and relegated to support roles. Yugoslav postwar briefly employed captured German-held FTs for training and border security in the late 1940s, before transitioning to Soviet-supplied T-34s. In training and reserve capacities, the Renault FT lingered into the in several armies. The retained a few loaned FTs (and their M1917 derivatives) for armored training at facilities like until the late 1940s, after which they were demobilized. maintained around a dozen FTs in reserve units through the early for crew instruction, with final retirement occurring by the mid- amid Soviet re-equipment programs. Most global stocks were phased out by the 1960s, with no recorded combat use after 1954. Demilitarization efforts accelerated postwar, as the FT's outdated design rendered it unsuitable for frontline service. Between 1945 and 1950, the majority of surviving FTs—estimated at several hundred in French inventories—were scrapped for metal recovery to support reconstruction. Others were repurposed; in , surplus FT chassis were converted into agricultural tractors by removing armament and armor, distributing them to farmers for plowing devastated farmlands and towing canal barges, a practice echoing post-World War I conversions. A smaller number were preserved as monuments or museum pieces, such as examples in Polish and Afghan collections repatriated in the 2010s.

Legacy

Design Influence and Derivatives

The Renault FT introduced several key innovations that defined modern tank design, including a front-mounted driver position, rear-mounted engine, and a centrally located fully rotating turret housing the main armament. This layout provided superior , firepower flexibility, and production efficiency compared to earlier rhomboidal tanks, influencing the configuration of subsequent vehicles worldwide. The design's emphasis on a compact, with a two-man also prioritized mobility and ease of manufacture, setting a template for tanks that emphasized infantry support over heavy breakthrough roles. This configuration was widely adopted in interwar and World War II-era tanks, serving as the basis for approximately 20 designs across multiple nations. For instance, the Soviet and German both incorporated the FT's core layout of forward crew compartment, rear powerplant, and , which became the standard for most medium and s by . British military theorist praised the FT's accessibility and mass-producibility in his writings. Direct derivatives of the Renault FT emerged primarily in and among its allies during the . The Renault NC 27/31, developed in the late 1920s, modernized the FT chassis for cavalry use with improved Kégresse rubber-band tracks, long-stroke suspension, and a more powerful , resulting in 23 units built for export and evaluation. In the United States, the experimental T3 of the early 1920s drew directly from the FT's design principles, incorporating a similar turret and layout in prototypes tested by the U.S. Army Ordnance Department before evolving into the M1917 production copy. The British Medium , prototyped in 1919, was inspired by the FT's compact form, featuring an enlarged oval turret and rear placement derived from wartime observations of French , though only a handful of test vehicles were completed. Foreign adaptations further extended the FT's reach, with several nations producing licensed copies or close variants. The developed the MS-1 (later designated T-18) in 1928 as its first domestically produced tank, directly copying the FT's and turret while adding vertical spring suspension; approximately 960 units were built between 1928 and 1931. Japan's early tank program traced its light tank lineage to imported FT models, evolving through the Type 87 Chi-I into the Type 95 Ha-Go of 1936, which retained the FT's emphasis on a low-profile, turreted design for and support. In , the CV-33 tankette series of the 1930s, while primarily influenced by British Carden-Loyd designs, incorporated FT-inspired elements such as a compact armored hull and machine-gun armament in response to Italy's operational experience with captured FTs during . The Renault FT's enduring legacy shaped doctrine through the , emphasizing versatile, mass-producible vehicles for rapid deployment and close support in tactics. Recent analyses in the , including historical reviews of armored evolution, underscore the FT's role as the foundational model for over a century of development, highlighting its influence on doctrines prioritizing mobility and turreted firepower amid shifting battlefield technologies.

Surviving Vehicles

Approximately 47 complete Renault FT tanks survive worldwide, according to surveys conducted through 2025. These preserved examples represent various production variants, including cast-turret and polygonal-turret models, and are primarily held in public museums, with a smaller number in private collections. Recent preservation efforts include two restorations at MM Park in completed in 2025. No major new discoveries of complete vehicles have emerged since the , though ongoing research suggests possible undocumented examples in Asian private holdings. France maintains the largest concentration, with four Renault FT tanks at the in , including two in running condition restored through a 2022 project by the museum's technical team. One notable example is serial number 6024.18, a standard 37mm-armed FT-17 that participated in the 1940 and was recovered postwar for display. The collection also features a TSF radio variant and others used for demonstration purposes during public events. In the United States, at least two original Renault FT tanks are preserved at the U.S. Army Heritage and Education Center in , alongside related M1917 copies. A running M1917 variant, built under license from the Renault FT design, underwent restoration and was demonstrated operationally at the National Armor and Cavalry Museum, Fort Moore, Georgia, in 2023. The holds one example at in Bovington, an early cast-turret model used for educational displays. Poland preserves three, including a running-condition FT-17 gifted by and restored at the in . Overall, roughly 15 of the surviving FTs are operational or runners, thanks to dedicated preservation efforts by institutions like the and private groups, while the remainder are static exhibits.

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