De Renault FT (vaak aangeduid in de literatuur na de Eerste Wereldoorlog als de FT-17, FT17 of iets dergelijks) was een Franse lichttank die een van de meest revolutionaire en invloedrijke tankontwerpen in de geschiedenis was. De FT was de eerste productietank met zijn bewapening in een volledig roterend torentje. De configuratie van de Renault FT – bemanningscompartiment aan de voorkant, motorcompartiment aan de achterkant en hoofdbewapening in een draaiend torentje – werd en blijft de standaard tankindeling. Als zodanig hebben sommige historici van gepantserde oorlogvoering de Renault FT 's werelds eerste moderne tank genoemd.
De Renault FT(often called the FT-17) was arguably the most influential tank ever built. While earlier tanks were lumbering “landships” or “boxes on tracks,” the FT established the definitive configuration: engine at the back, driver at the front, and armament in a fully rotating turret on top. Small, cheap to produce, and manned by just two men, it introduced “swarm” tactics to the battlefield, overwhelming German lines through numbers and mobility rather than raw size.
Attribute
Technical Specification (Renault FT)
Role
Light Infantry Support Tank
Bemanning
2 (Commander/Gunner, Driver)
Motor
Renault 4-cylinder petrol (35–39 hp)
Maximum Speed
7.7 km/h (4.8 mph) — Brisk walking pace
Main Armament
37mm Puteaux SA 18 gun (Male) OR 8mm Hotchkiss MG (Female)
Harnas
8 mm to 22 mm
Gewicht
~6.5 tonnes
Unique Feature
Removable “Tail” for trench crossing
Design Engineering: The Standardized Layout
The Fully Rotating Turret:Before the FT, tanks had guns mounted in “sponsons” on the sides or fixed in the front hull. The FT’s turret allowed it to engage targets 360 degrees without turning the whole vehicle, a breakthrough that remains the global standard for tank design today.
The Tail Skid:To solve the problem of a short-wheelbase tank falling into deep trenches, Renault engineers added a curved metal “tail” at the rear. This acted as a stabilizer, letting the tank slide across gaps it otherwise couldn’t bridge.
Automotive Heritage:Unlike the specialized heavy tanks of the era, the FT used many components derived from the French automobile industry, making it significantly easier to mass-produce across multiple factories (Renault, Berliet, Schneider, etc.).
Driver-Commander Communication:Because it was so noisy inside, the commander (standing or sitting on a leather strap in the turret) often “steered” the driver by kicking his shoulders or back—one kick for left, one for right, or a kick to the head for “stop.”
Global Legacy and Long Service
WWI “Swarm” Tactics:First used in May 1918 at the Forest of Retz, the FT proved that dozens of small tanks were harder for artillery to hit than a single massive one. By the Armistice, over 3,000 had been built.
The American Connection:The US produced its own licensed version, theM1917 6-ton Tank. Though they didn’t reach the front in time for WWI, they formed the backbone of the infant US Tank Corps under figures like George S. Patton.
Interwar Proliferation:The FT was exported to over 20 countries. It fought in the Russian Civil War, the Polish-Soviet War, and even the Spanish Civil War. It became the “founding tank” for many nations’ armored forces, including Japan and the USSR.
Still Fighting in 1940:Amazingly, the French Army still had over 500 FTs in front-line service when Germany invaded in WWII. While totally obsolete against Panzers, they were used for airfield defense and internal security. The Germans even captured many and used them asBeutepanzer(captured tanks) for policing occupied Europe.
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