Renault FT-17 is a French light tank of the First World War. The first prototypes of the car were created at the end of 1916, and serial production began in 1917 and lasted until 1919, ending with the release of about 3,700-4,000 cars. The tank was equipped with one Renault 18CV carburetor engine with a capacity of 35 hp. Its primary armament was either one 37mm Puteau L/21 gun or one 7.92mm Hotchkiss machine gun. Armament was installed in a round cast Renault tower or a conical riveted Berliet tower. The Renault FT-17 was one of the most revolutionary tank designs of the First World War, as it was the first vehicle in history to have a classic tank design: the driver's seat was located at the front, the combat compartment with a rotating turret in the middle, and the engine compartment at the rear. Such a layout has been preserved in tanks to this day, due to its high functionality. The Renault FT-17 was also small in size and had a crew of just two, which was unheard of compared to other tanks of the period! Renault FT-17 also received a special "tail" in the rear part of the fuselage, which made it easier for him to overcome trenches on the battlefield. The machine, which debuted on the battlefield on May 31, 1918, served until the end of the war, proving itself as the most effective and reliable tank of the French army. After 1918, it was widely exported (for example to Poland or the USA), often becoming the first tank in the history of the armed forces of a certain country. The Italian tank FIAT 3000 and the Soviet MC-1 were also created on its basis. The Renault FT-17 remained in service with the French and Polish armies until the beginning of World War II, but at that time it was perceived as a completely obsolete design.
