Renault FT

FT
By David Bocquelet On June 10, 2014 2 Comments
Bocquelet 6 10 ,20142
France (1917)
(1917)
Light tank around 4500 built
4500
The worlds first modern tank

Tank development went on at the same pace in Great Britain and in France in
1915. When Little Willie had already passed all its tests, so had the French
Schneider CA-1. This machine was first suggested and conceived by Eugene
Brill, chief engineer of Schneider on the Holt tractor chassis and designed by
Col. Estienne, the French father of the tanks, between May and September
1915. It had to overcome many problems and was first engaged en masse
during General Nivelles offensive of April 1917 at Berry au Bac. It performed
poorly, lacking speed, good maintenance, protection, trench crossing ability
and was also very cramped. This painful experience made Estienne and other
tank enthusiasts in France to think differently, both tactically and technically,
and this ultimately led to the development of the Renault FT, a pioneering
vehicle whose basic features are still found on modern MBTs.
, 1915
, CA-1 Brille ,
Estienne,,1915 5 9
, 1917 4 Bac
,,,
Estienne ,, FT
,
The idea and concept

The Renault FT was also called FT 17 although this specific naming was
never acknowledged by Renault or any official working on the project. It was
to be related to the year 1917, like modele 1917 as it was customary for
many French weapons of the time, but this was introduced after the war. FT
has no meaning but was the next identification letters available for this
project in Renault nomenclature (some authors suggested later Faible
Tonnage low tonnage or Franchisseur de Tranches trench crosser). It
began as a concept, and became a personal project of Louis Renault, the
famous car maker. He sought the ideal weight-to-ratio proportion for a more
agile and faster tank than the Schneider CA-1 and the heavy Saint Chamond,
and also a cheaper and easier model to produce. All started after a meeting
between Colonel Estienne and him at the Hotel Claridge in Paris. Until then,
Louis Renault declined any involvement into tank production, claiming his lack
of experience with tracked vehicles and other commitments. However, as an
engineer he was taken up by the challenge, and after the meeting, started a
practical study for a light vehicle, easy to manufacture with a reduced,
unskilled workforce (factories had been depleted then by mass drafts and
enlisting).
FT FT17
1917 ,1917 ,
ft,(
Faible Franchisseur de ),
, weight-to-ratio
CA-1 Chamond
Estienne ,,
,,
,,,,
()
The core idea came from Estienne himself. Instead of cumbersome armored
boxes, he imagined an immense fleet of cheap bees, five or six light tanks
for the price of a single St Chamond. Small, fast and narrow, they could, by
their sheer number, overwhelm the enemy defense -hence the swarm of light
tank concept. Knowing the administrative and industrial roadblocks before
him, he approached one of the most prominent French industrialists of the
time. He also imagined a tank with a power-to-weight ratio good enough to
overcome trenches and shell craters, and a fully rotating turret to take full
advantage of a single weapon, either a gun or machine-gun. The fully rotating
turret was not new. It was used operationally since 1915 on many French
armored-cars, Renault, Peugeot and White, and by countless others around
the world. The 1905 Charron armored car already used fully revolving turrets.
Estienne ,
, Chamond,,,,
,
,
, 1915
,,1905 Charron

Development history

The light tank concept was not one that felt natural to military strategists,
despite the fact that it was easier to produce en masse. This was the gamble
of Louis Renault, whom, with the unwavering support of Col. Estienne, directly
called for the acceptance of his ideas from the commander in chief, Joffre, but
he was then rebuffed by the minister of the armaments and production, Albert
Thomas. The latter only agreed for a single prototype. More so, when
production got approved in December 1916, confirmed again in February
1917, the order was postponed due to priority being given to artillery tractors
instead.
,
, ,Estienne ,
,Joffre,,
, 1916 12 ,1917 2 ,

It was officially accepted in May 1917, when Ptain replaced Nivelle, but, still,
the reluctant director of Motor Services, general Mourret, was not replaced
before September by Louis Loucheur, who finally gave the green light. In the
meantime, the prototype delivered in January 1917 performed first trials at
Renaults Billancourt factory, before being sent to the Artillerie spciale
proving grounds at Champlieu for corrections. Although performing according
to plans, it was later met with skepticism by the commission officers present
at Marly on 22 April. Some asked for better ventilation, a wider turret and hull,
or to raise the ammunition capacity to a staggering 10,000 cartridges! Still,
the project had the enthusiastic support of the Consultative Committee of the
assault artillery, and General Ptains arrival on the scene seemed to unlock
the situation. He was sold on Estiennes ideas, but for different reasons: He
saw these as a morale-booster for simple soldiers. Helater ordered that all the
trucks carrying these tanks to the frontline had this mention written in large
characters on their back plate: Le meilleur ami de linfanterie (infantrys
best friend).
1917 5 , , ,
Mourret, Loucheur 9 ,,
1917 1 Billancourt , Artillerie
speciale Champlieu ,
4 22 ,,
10000 !,,
Estienne ,:
Helater ,
: ami de l 'infanterie()
Design

The Renault FT prototype included a rotating turret, a concept already tested

with the Little Willie, a rear engine configuration, a front driver, with the turret
operator (and commander) right behind. Compared to the short and narrow
hull, the modified Holt chassis was big enough to allow sufficient grip on any
ground. To manage large trench crossings a rear tail was mounted, which
facilitates balance and hanging. Instead of mobile fortresses or land
cruisers, the Renaut FT seemed lightly armed, but the turret made it versatile
and efficient in most circumstances.
, ,,
,() ,
,
, Renaut ,

Renaults talented engineer Rodolphe Ernst-Metzmaier designed a narrow

riveted box (slightly more than an average shoulders width), with flat sides,
pointed noise and sloped rear. All available internal space was used, with
almost no room to spare. The engine was located at the rear, and separated
from the fighting compartment by a firewall. The driver sat on the front, his
feet acting on the brake and release clutch pedals between the large pair of
idler wheels. The commander stood just behind him. At first the standing
position was only meant for short-term offensive, but with time, a leather
strap was fixed on both sides, as an improvised sitting. However, the
commander still had to stand up to use his narrow cupola.
Rodolphe Ernst-Metzmaier (
),,,
,,

,,,,

The crew accessed the tank through the front, through a two-doors hatch, and
collapsible upper vision armored panel. The commander could exit from the
rear turret hatch, a feature which became mainstream on French tanks. The
driver had three vision slits, one on the collapsible panel, two on the sides.
,,
,,,
The Renault 4-cylinder air-cooled petrol engine was started either by a rear
crank or an internal one. It was handily reachable from above, protected by a
large hood. The petrol tank was installed after the turret and before the
engine, high for gravity and well-protected except from above.
,
,,
A steel chain was usually suspended on the rear tail in order to be used for
towing another vehicle. Large metal boxes were suspended on the flanks, with
shovels, picks, spanner and other tools, as well as sometimes additional fuel
tanks and spare track links. There was no means of communication between
the turret operator and driver and the interior was almost deafeningly noisy,
so a kind of kicking code in the back, shoulders or even head of the driver
was used to transmit steering orders. These were armed with a Puteaux SA 18
37 mm (1.45 in) short-barreled, low-velocity gun, or a coaxial Hotchkiss 7.92
mm (0.31 in) machine gun.
,,,
,
,,,
SA 18 37 (1.45 )short-barreled,,
7.92 (0.31 )
Production (1917-18)
(1917 - 18)
The prototype was examined by a commission, but almost cancelled in favor
of the new Char 2C heavy tank, which never made its appearance before the
armistice. After a few mass-production modifications on the prototype, the
first wave was ordered in December 1916 for deliveries in February 1917, but
amended, then suspended, and was still in jeopardy in May, despite the
arrival of Ptain. It was not until September 12 that the new armament
minister Louis Loucheur took Thomass office, and the project was definitely
approved. Under Charles-Edmond Serres supervision, the first 84 machines
were delivered prior to the end of 1917, and 2697 more until November 1918.
This was, by far, the largest tank production by any country at that time, but
caused problems to Renault which was still not ready to fulfill such orders and
convinced other firms to share the lot, like Berliet at Lyon, and (Schneider)
Somua and Delaunay Belleville. It was proposed as a licence to foreign
countries as well, and the US industry was first in line, the federal government
receiving a single tank and complete plans for 1200 more, both to cover the
needs of the French and US Army.
, 2 c ,
, 1916 12 1917 2 ,
,,5 , 9 12 ,
Loucheur ,Serre Charles-Edmond
, 84 1917 ,2697 , 1918 11 ,
, ,,
, Berliet ()Somua
,, ,1200 ,

Renault produced two variants of the FT, the female, or machine-gun model,
which was more common, and the male, armed with a short-barreled 37
mm (1.45 in) Puteaux SA 18 gun. Those models also differed by their
definitive Omnibus turret, multi-faceted (standard) or rounded with bent
metal plates, also known as the Girod turret first introduced by Berliet
(hence the Berliet turret). By December 1917 3100 FTs were to be produced
with the Omnibus turret, in both types, as well as 700 derived BS versions
(fitted with a short 75 mm howitzer) and 200 TSF, radio versions. In January
1918, the order was again shifted for 1000 female, 1850 male, 970 BS
(howitzer versions) and 200 TSF. In October the total order has reached a
staggering 7820 machines. In November the armistice came and the order
was cancelled, 1850 had been delivered so far by Renault, 800 by Berliet, 600
by Somua, and 280 by Delaunay-Belleville. The largest turret manufacturer
was Paul Girod Aciries at Ugine, which casted, assembled and forged round
and octagonal models.
FT ,,,,, short-
barreled 37 (1.45 ) SA 18 ,,
(), Berliet(
Berliet )1917 1917 12 FTs ,,
BS 700 ( 75 ) 200 TSF,1918 1
, 1000 ,1850 ,970 BS( ) 200
TSF7820 10 11 ,,1850
,800 Berliet,Delaunay-Belleville Somua 600
,600 Ugine Acieries ,,

Problems were experienced with the armor plates. Many came at the time
from Britain, which caused delays due to local priorities. The supply of the
new 37 mm Puteaux gun, specially redesigned from a light artillery gun, was
also slow to reach full production. Despite the considerable delays (almost a
year) before an effective production started, the first batch was still plagued
with defects. About one third of the initial order had to be shipped back to the
manufacturer for corrections. There was also a continuous lack of spare parts,
which hampered the units operational capabilities and limited maintenance in
the field. The poor quality of the fuel filters in particular, and the highly
sensitive fan belts caused considerable turmoil and up to ten per cent of
active vehicles were unfit for service in 1918 because of this, waiting for
replacement parts.
, 37
,, ()
,
,
,
1918 ,
In 1919 a new redesigned version was proposed by Renault, including a more
powerful engine, a long-barreled Puteaux gun and additional cases fitted in
their tracks. It was successfully exported throughout the world. Some of them
were immediately put into action, like the Finnish and Polish versions against
the Soviets.
1919 , ,long-
barreled ,

 66562""1918

1918 1919 ""

"" 1917 ""

1918

Char "La "1918

FT SA 19 37 1.45 238
37
"Char "1918

FT506E RAS 1918 Berliet

TSF 1918
 75 BS 40 1918

"Passe-partout"1 1920

"Lis"puk Czolgow
 FT(mod)"Slibinas" Radviliskis 1925

"" FTs1920

17112nd 1935
 79 Ko Gata 1937

Carro de Assalto 1935

6 M1917 1920 -1925

6 M191737 1.46
1927

FT"Koiras" med Naaras

FT modifi 31 " 31" 31

 33 31 1940

31 63 1940

1 Batallion 1941 4
17R 730(F) 1943

730(F) 1944