Renault FT

GENERAL DATA
Other Designation(s)	Renault FT, also FT.17 (MG Tank) or FT.18 (Gun Tank)
Type	Light Tank	Radio Equipment	-
Manufacturer(s)	Renault, Berliet, SOMUA, Delauney-Belleville
Crew	2	Commander-Gunner: Turret Driver: Hull - Front
Production Quantity	3530 (FT-MG) *	Production Period	April 1917 – December 1918
	2720 (FT-Gun) *

(*) about 500 in service in 1940

DIMENSIONS
Combat weight	6500 kg (FT-MG)	Ground pressure	0.49 kg/cm² - 0.60 kg/cm²
	6700 kg (FT-Gun)
Length /hull	4.10 m / 5.00 m with tail	Length w/Gun	4.10 m / 5.00 m with tail
Barrel Overhang	0 m	Height	2.29 m
Width	1.75 m	Ground clearance	0.46 m

 

ARMAMENT
Primary Armament	1 x 37mm SA18 (Gun Tank) (1)	Ammunition Carried	237 (FT-Gun)
	1 x 8 mm Hotchkiss 1914 MG (FT-Gun) or 1 x 7.5 mm MG (FT-MG) (1)		4800 (FT-MG)
Traverse	360° (manual)	Elevation	?° (manual)
Traverse speed (360°)	-	Sight	?
Secondary Armament	-	Ammunition Carried	-
Location	1: turret

 

ARMOR
Assembly	Riveting
Armor Detail (from the horizontal)	Front	Side	Rear	Top/Bottom
Hull	16 mm / 60°	16 mm / 90°	16 mm / 90°	6 mm / 0°
Superstructure	8 mm / 20° (Driver's doors) 16 mm / 73° (Driver's cupola)	-	-	8 mm / 0° & 25°
Turret	16 mm / 78°	16 mm / 78°	16 mm / 78°	8 mm / 0° & 17°
Mantlet	22 mm / 90°	-	-	-

 

AUTOMOTIVE
Engine	Renault	Type & Displacement	4 cylinders, 4,48 l, water cooled
Horsepower (maximum)	35 hp at 1500 rpm	Power/Weight Ratio	5.4 hp / ton (FT-MG)
			5.2 hp / ton (FT-Gun)
Gearbox	Sliding gear: 4 forward, 1 reverse	Steering	Controlled differential & Steering levers
Brakes	?	Fuel Capacity	96 L Gasoline (Petrol)

 

SUSPENSION
Type	Coil and leaf spring	Road wheels	2 bogies, 5 Road-wheels/front bogie & 4 Road-wheels/rear bogie
Track return rollers	6	Sprocket-Wheels	Rear
Idler Sprockets	Front	Shock absorbers	-
Track Type	Simple pin, steel cast, integral grousers
Width	339.73 mm	Pitch	250 mm
Links(shoes)	32	Track ground contact	2 m

 

PERFORMANCES
Maximum Speed	10 km/h on road 7 km/h off road	Range	60 km (on road), 39 km (off road)
Mileage	12 L/100 km (on road)	Maximum grade	45° (from horizontal)
Trench crossing	1.35 m/1.98 m (with tail)	Vertical obstacles	0.61 m
Maximum fording depth	0.69 m	Minimum turning diameter	?m

 

Sources
Chars français	France's Vehicle History	-	-

 

Drawings

Renault FT-MG

Renault FT-MG (Cast Turret)

Renault FT-Gun

Renault FT-Gun (Cast Turret)

Renault FT-Gun Bigue

Renault FT-MG Bigue

 

File

Renault FT