Renault FT

Above: The Renault FT modified in 1931 to take the 7.5mm MAC machine gun. Note the square protective sleeve around the machine gun, a useful recognition feature

The Renault FT (also known as the FT 17) was mass produced during World War I with 3,187 as of armistice day 11th November 1918. Production continued after the war to complete contracts and use up components until 4,517 including variants had been delivered. With such a large number on hand there was little desire nor need to develop new tanks, so the FT soldiered on as the main French tank in the inter war years.

A report at the end of 1934 indicated that there were still 3,499 available for mobilisation. Although some studies and a few vehicles were built to improve the suspension the only major modification was to the machine gun on the tanks armed with one. The 8mm Hotchkiss machine gun was replaced on about 1,580 FTs with the Reibel 7.5mm MAC machine gun, the standard French AFV machine gun. Tanks so modified have a slightly different mantle and the machine gun rests in a u-shaped metal trough.This model was known as the FT-17 modifié 31 and was sometimes (although not officially) referred to as the FT-31.

The French deployed most of the FTs behind the Maginot Line, perhaps accepting their obsolescence, although there was a firm belief that the tank remained the best for rough or mountainous terrain: it was the type initially chosen for the Scandinavian adventures proposed before the invasion of France in 1940. Tank companies equipped with the Renault FT were larger in complement than other tank companies.

Characteristics and Tabulated Data

Engine: Renault 18hp, 4 cylinder, bore/stroke 95 x 160mm, 4,536cc producing 35hp at 1,300rpm

Gearbox: 4 and reverse

Max speed: 7.8kph

Sustained speed over broken ground: 2 to 3kph

Petrol capacity: 96l

All up weight: 6,500kg (MG); 6,700 (canon)

Armour: Turret 22mm and 16mm; vertical plates 16mm, oblique plates 8mm, horizontal plates 6mm

Crew: 2 commander/gunner in turret, driver in hull

Armament: 7.5mm MAC31 mg or 37mm gun with 237 rounds

Width of vehicle: 1.74m

Length: 5m with tail; 4.10 without tail

Height: 2.14m

Renault FT Characteristics for Command Decision

Renault FT Squadrons 10 May 1940

Tank Company	11th Tank Battalion	504th Tank Regiment Group	11th Tank Battalion was reduced to one company when the 1st and 2nd Companies formed 344th and 343rd Independent companies. A second company was added in April 1940
Tank Company	11th Tank Battalion	504th Tank Regiment Group
Tank Company	18th Tank Battalion	506th Tank Regiment Group
Tank Company	18th Tank Battalion	506th Tank Regiment Group
Tank Company	18th Tank Battalion	506th Tank Regiment Group
Tank Company	29th Tank Battalion	507th/513th Tank Regiment Group
Tank Company	29th Tank Battalion	507th/513th Tank Regiment Group
Tank Company	29th Tank Battalion	507th/513th Tank Regiment Group
Tank Company	30th Tank Battalion	507th Tank Regiment Group
Tank Company	30th Tank Battalion	507th Tank Regiment Group
Tank Company	30th Tank Battalion	507th Tank Regiment Group
Tank Company	31st Tank Battalion	501st Tank Regiment Group
Tank Company	31st Tank Battalion	501st Tank Regiment Group
Tank Company	31st Tank Battalion	501st Tank Regiment Group
Tank Company	33rd Tank Battalion	503rd/513th Tank Regiment Group
Tank Company	33rd Tank Battalion	503rd/513th Tank Regiment Group
Tank Company	33rd Tank Battalion	503rd/513th Tank Regiment Group
Tank Company	36th Tank Battalion	506th Tank Regiment Group
Tank Company	36th Tank Battalion	506th Tank Regiment Group
Tank Company	36th Tank Battalion	506th Tank Regiment Group
Tank Company	Colonial Tank Battalion	504th Tank Regiment Group	The Battaillon de Chars de Troupes Coloniales
Tank Company	Colonial Tank Battalion	504th Tank Regiment Group	The Battaillon de Chars de Troupes Coloniales
Tank Company	Colonial Tank Battalion	504th Tank Regiment Group	The Battaillon de Chars de Troupes Coloniales
Tank Company	343rd Independent Tank Company	Assigned to 2 DLCh then on 20 May to 3 DLI
Tank Company	344th Independent Tank Company	Assigned to 3 DLI

Organisation of the Tank Company (Type FT 17) Compagnie de Chars de Combat (Type FT 17)

Example Renault FT Organisation for Command Decision: 29th Tank Battalion (BCC), 513th Tank Regiment, attached to 3rd Army.

Wargaming Usage and Model Availability

The FT 17 was rarely involved in the initial phase of the campaign in 1940, being deployed further south than the main action in Belgium and Northern France. The 33rd Tank Battalion was the furthest north, attached to 9th Army and deployed just west of Charleville Mezieres, and saw some of the earliest action as the 9th Army scrambled backwards. The FT17 was more likely to be encountered in the desperate actions of the second phase of the campaign, often thrown in to scratch organisations or part of scattered garrisons of towns and airfields. It did not fare well.

Being such a prominent tank in World War I there is a reasonably good availability of this tank in model form. It is available in 20mm scale from (at least):

Early War Miniatures: http://earlywarminiatures.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=429_450_451&products_id=2357

First to Fight http://www.scale-model-kits.com/products/Light-tank-FT-17-FTF013.html

Fly Hawk http://www.themodellingnews.com/2014/10/go-on-guess-what-scale-these-are-in.html

HaT http://www.internetmodeler.com/2005/december/first-looks/HaT_Renault.php

Minairons http://www.warandpeacegames.com.au/Minairons_1_72_Renault_FT_17_Tank_Boxed_set_p/20gev006.htm

and every variant you could ever want from RPM http://www.internetmodeler.com/2003/january/first-looks/RPM_Renault.htmIn slightly smaller 1:76 is the Matchbox/Revell https://www.scalemates.com/kits/224131-matchbox-pk-176-char-b-1-bis-renault-ft-17