FT-17 light tank (French)

Description

The French FT-17 tank was a revolutionary design that changed the history of armoured warfare. It was the first tank to have a fully rotating turret, which gave it a 360-degree field of fire. It also had a rear engine compartment, which separated the crew from the hot and noisy machinery. The FT-17 was a light tank, weighing only about seven tons, and was more agile and faster than the heavy tanks of its time. It could cross trenches with the help of a tail spur, and had a simple suspension system that made it easy to maintain.

General Estienne designed the FT-17, and it entered production by Renault in 1917. It entered service in 1918, and played a crucial role in the final offensives of World War I. The French army deployed over 3,000 FT-17s on the Western Front, where they proved effective against German machine guns and artillery. The FT-17 also saw action in other theatres, such as Italy, Russia, Poland, and Morocco. Additionally, many countries including the United States, Britain, Italy, Japan, China, and Finland imported the FT-17.

The FT-17 had a two-man crew: a driver and a commander/gunner. The driver sat in the front of the hull, while the commander operated the turret. The turret could mount either a 37mm cannon or an 8mm machine gun. It was later modified in 1931 with a Reibel 7.3mm machine gun; this variant was designated the FT 31.

It’s armour was thin; ranging from 6 to 22mm, ineffective against almost any form of AT weapon, but sufficient to protect against small arms fire. Despite only weighing 6 tons, it only had a top speed of about 8 km/h, and a range of about 60 km.

A number of variants were produced including the unarmed FT TSF (télégraphie sans fil) command tank and the FT 75 BS self propelled gun.

The FT-17 was a pioneer of modern tank design, and influenced many later models. It demonstrated the advantages of having a turret and a rear engine, which became standard features for most tanks. It also showed that light tanks could be more effective than heavy tanks in certain situations. Due to its innovative design, the FT-17 saw service with many armies until the late 1930s, and some even survived until World War II. It is regarded as one of the most successful and influential tanks of all time.

• • Model: FT-17 light tank
  • Country/Army: French
  • Dimension (mm) (WxLxH): 
  • Material: UV Cured resin
  • Original Designer: Counlane Models
    
• Model supplied unassembled and unpainted. Some additional finishing may be required during assembly. 
• Finished colour of the product may vary from images shown.
• Photos and dimensions are at 28mm unless noted otherwise.
• All dimensions are complete with weapons unless otherwise stated.
• Other scales and dimensions may be available upon request.

Please note that at scales smaller than 20mm a different will be supplied due to the size, this model will be a Deweycat Productions design.