HOME | DD

Description
The Renault FT was the brainchild of French Army Colonel Jean-Baptiste Estienne. The idea of fielding light-class tanks during the Great War was not in line with French authorities, the accepted doctrine being on use of the large and lumbering "landships" - roaming fortresses outfitted with cannon and machine gun. Regardless, the resulting Renault light tank design, the FT of 1917, produced a two-man system mounting a then-potent 37mm cannon or one 8mm machine gun. The FT displayed all the features that became the norm in tank design till this day.

Description
The Renault FT was the brainchild of French Army Colonel Jean-Baptiste Estienne. The idea of fielding light-class tanks during the Great War was not in line with French authorities, the accepted doctrine being on use of the large and lumbering "landships" - roaming fortresses outfitted with cannon and machine gun. Regardless, the resulting Renault light tank design, the FT of 1917, produced a two-man system mounting a then-potent 37mm cannon or one 8mm machine gun. The FT displayed all the features that became the norm in tank design till this day.