The Tank That Changed Everything
The Renault FT, designated Char léger Renault FT modèle 1917, was the first production tank to implement a layout that became the worldwide standard: driver forward, turret centrally mounted, and engine at the rear. Its development began in 1916 and culminated in a combat-tested light tank optimized for mass production and tactical infantry support.
Development and Design
General Jean-Baptiste Estienne initiated the project in 1916, advocating for a light tank suited to infantry support roles and capable of being manufactured in large numbers. In July 1916, Estienne presented the concept to Louis Renault, who agreed to begin design work despite limited experience with tracked vehicles (Gale 2016, pp. 68–69). A wooden mockup was completed in October 1916. Initial trials followed in early 1917, with formal approval granted in April 1917.
The designation “FT” originated from Renault’s internal production series and does not signify a military acronym. The design introduced a two-man crew layout: the driver positioned in the hull front and the commander/gunner located in a rotating turret mounted above the fighting compartment (Zaloga 1988, p. 6). The engine was placed in a separate compartment at the rear.
Mechanical Characteristics
The Renault FT was powered by a Renault 4-cylinder gasoline engine rated at 35 horsepower. Combat weight reached approximately 6.6 metric tons. Maximum road speed did not exceed 7.7 km/h under ideal conditions. Operational range averaged 35 km on roads.
Primary armament was either a 37 mm Canon Puteaux SA 18 or an 8 mm Hotchkiss modèle 1914 machine gun. The tank’s riveted steel armor ranged from 8 to 22 mm in thickness. The vehicle featured vertical coil spring suspension and unsprung steel tracks, with power transmitted via a 4-speed gearbox to the rear-drive sprockets (Lawrynowicz 2006, pp. 6–9).
Initial production tanks were equipped with cast turrets that were costly and slow to produce. These were later replaced with the simplified polygonal omnibus turret, constructed from flat riveted plates and capable of accepting either primary weapon system (Zaloga 1988, pp. 4–5).
Production Overview
Total wartime production reached 3,694 units (Zaloga 1988, p. 12). Of these, 3,177 were delivered to the French Army. The United States acquired 514 FTs from French stocks for training and operational evaluation. Additional vehicles were supplied to allied nations in limited quantities, including Italy and the United Kingdom (Forty 2020, p. 87).
Due to insufficient capacity at Renault’s primary factory at Billancourt, the French government authorized licensed production to Berliet, SOMUA, and Delaunay-Belleville beginning in mid-1917. These manufacturers followed standardization protocols for chassis and turret subassemblies to maintain parts interchangeability.
Combat Deployment
The Renault FT first entered combat service in May 1918 during counteroffensive operations near the Forêt de Retz. The tanks were assigned to bataillons de chars légers, each comprising 75 vehicles organized into three companies (Gale 2016, pp. 127–128).
The vehicle’s narrow width and compact silhouette enabled operation in forested and trench-scarred terrain. The rotating turret facilitated 360° fire coverage, and the tank’s low profile proved advantageous in defensive support operations. Throughout 1918, the FT was used extensively in infantry assaults, supporting advances and reinforcing exposed flanks.
According to contemporary records, 746 Renault FTs were lost in combat by the Armistice (Forty 2020, p. 87). These losses were attributed primarily to field artillery and mechanical breakdowns.
Export and Postwar Service
Following the Armistice, the Renault FT was exported extensively. The United States produced 950 near-identical licensed copies designated Six-Ton Tank Model 1917 (M1917), assembled by multiple contractors including Van Dorn Iron Works and Maxwell Motor Company (Lawrynowicz 2006, p. 9; Hunnicutt 1992, pp. 17–18).
Soviet forces captured several FTs during the Russian Civil War and reverse-engineered the design into the KS (Russkiy-Reno) and subsequently the T-18 (MS-1). Italy produced the Fiat 3000, a direct derivative. Japan incorporated FT design elements into the Type 92 and Type 94 light tanks.
Renault FTs remained in limited service in various nations well into the 1930s. By 1940, several hundred were still in operation, including approximately 560 in France during the Battle of France. Some units were employed as airfield security or static defense positions. Captured FTs were later repurposed by German occupation forces for rear-area duties and anti-partisan operations (Zaloga 1988, p. 45).
Operational Summary
| Specification | Renault FT |
|---|---|
| Crew | 2 (driver, commander/gunner) |
| Weight | 6.6 metric tons |
| Engine | Renault 4-cyl, 35 hp |
| Top Speed | 7.7 km/h (road) |
| Armament (primary) | 37 mm SA 18 or 8 mm Hotchkiss MG |
| Armor Thickness | 8–22 mm |
| Transmission | 4-speed gearbox, rear-drive |
| Suspension | Unsprung steel track, vertical coil |
| Turret Type (late model) | Riveted flat-plate “omnibus” turret |
| Total Production (France) | 3,694 units |
| French Army Allocation | 3,177 units |
Conclusion
The Renault FT introduced a standardized turreted layout that became the structural basis for all subsequent tank designs. Its two-man configuration, compartmentalized drivetrain, and simplified manufacturing profile established it as the world’s first modern tank. Though lightly armed and armored by later standards, the FT demonstrated effective tactical utility in the final offensives of World War I and provided a foundational template for interwar tank development across multiple countries.
References
- Cameron, Robert S. Mobility, Shock, and Firepower: The Emergence of the U.S. Army’s Armor Branch, 1917–1945. Washington, D.C.: U.S. Army Center of Military History, 2008.
- Forty, Simon. The History of Tanks. London: Amber Books, 2020.
- Gale, Tim. French Tanks of the Great War: Development, Tactics and Operations. Barnsley: Pen & Sword Books, 2016.
- Hunnicutt, R. P. Stuart: A History of the American Light Tank, Volume 1. Novato, CA: Presidio Press, 1992.
- Lawrynowicz, Witold J. Renault FT & U.S. Six-Ton Tank M1917. Warsaw: Model Centrum Progres, 2006.
- Zaloga, Steven J. The Renault FT Light Tank. Osprey Vanguard 46. London: Osprey Publishing, 1988.