In 1917, the Renault company set out to create a light combat vehicle that would break away from the bulky, awkward tanks of the early war years. By placing its engine at the rear, crew compartment at the front and mounting its weapons in a fully rotating turret, the FT established the template for every subsequent tank design.As France ramped up production in 1918, over 3000 FTs rolled off the lines, entering battle in ever-larger waves. On 31 May 1918 thirty of these nimble machines spearheaded the Third Battle of the Aisne, halting a German advance-though lacking infantry support they later withdrew. During the Allied Hundred Days Offensive they were hauled forward on trucks and trailers, proving far more mobile than their heavier predecessors and earning the nickname 'Victory Tank'. Even before the Armistice, the FT's influence echoed beyond France. The United States built its own M1917 variant, Italy developed the Fiat 3000 and the Soviet Union produced the T-18, while Britain and Italy each employed small numbers for liaison tasks. Although eventually outclassed by newer, faster models, the Renault FT served into the interwar years and cemented its place as the world's first truly modern tank.

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Renault FT Tank