Witold J. Lawrynowicz
April 30, 1999
The Renault FT Tank - Conception, Construction and Combat
(A short summary of the entire work)
The Renault FT 17 at the Bovington Tank Museum
General Information
Work encompasses:
10 chapters
9 maps
Approximately 100 pages of text
39 sources and 8 periodicals used in bibliography
Part I: History
Development
The Renault FT tank was a brainchild of Gen. Jean-Baptiste Estienne who approached French industrialist, Louis Renault, in July 1916 with the idea of building a light, small, and inexpensive tank. Renault had not participated in the tank program previously, citing the overwhelming workload of his company, but the idea of building an entirely new tank captured his attention. The challenge was accepted and in October 1916 a wooden mock-up of the tank was presented to Gen. Estienne. It was the beginning of a long fight.
Gen. Estienne could not convince the Director of Motor Services, Gen. Mourret, to allocate funds and authorize a pilot program. Consequently, he appealed to the Commander-in-Chief, Gen. Joffre, for support. After a dispute with the Under-Secretary of State for War, Albert Thomas, the production of a single prototype was authorized. Louis Renault did not wait for formal permission, and started construction of a prototype immediately after completion of the work on an improved wooden mock-up. Char Mitrailleur, as the tank was named, was presented for the first time in January 1917. It successfully completed tests in the Billancourt factory in February, 1917 and in April, 1917 in the Centre Artillerie Speciale at Champlieu.
The first production order for 100 tanks was placed after approval of the Comite Consultatif de l'Artillerie Speciale in December 1916. The order was expanded from 150 tanks in February 1917, to 1000 in April 1917, and to 3500 in June 1917. By October 1918, total orders in French factories for all types of Renault tanks reached an unprecedented number of 7820. Production was extended to other factories, which by the end of the war, built 3530 tanks of which 3177 Renault FT was accepted by the Ministry of Armament. The breakdown of the factory production was as follows: Renault 1850, Berliet 800, SOMUA 600, and Delaunay-Belleville 280.
Production of the Renault FT created numerous technical challenges for the French industry. Armor plate was imported from England, and Renault was forced to reject 40% of it because many shipments did not adhere to specifications. There was a shortage of 37 mm Puteaux guns, tank engines, and skilled work force. Some problems, like breaking fan belts and poor quality fuel filters, were not corrected until the end of the war. Many front units were incapacitated by the scarcity of spare parts and poor workmanship. The number of mechanical breakdowns was in general higher than loses due to enemy activity.
Renault continued production after the war manufacturing an additional 570 tanks which became the backbone of the French armament export. Renault FT tanks were sold to Belgium, Brazil, Czechoslovakia, Estonia, Finland, Holland, Lithuania, Latvia, Poland, Switzerland, Sweden and Yugoslavia.
The Light Tank Renault FT Described
The Renault FT was the first tank with a full traverse 360o rotating turret. It had a modern, still used, configuration of main elements: driver in the front, engine in the rear and armament in a fully traversable turret in the center. The basic form was an armored box narrow in the front, wider in the center, and narrowing to the rear. The running gear was flexibly attached to the hull, unlike the earlier French and British tanks which had chassis. The running assembly was mounted on a heavy longitudinal girder carried on leaf springs. The rail carrying supporting rollers was attached on a pivot in the rear and tensioned on a coiled spring at the front. This construction allowed for more comfortable running over rough terrain. A big idler wheel in the front, projecting forward from the tank, permitted it to cross vertical obstacles and climb steep slopes. The adjustable idler also served to put tension on the tracks preventing them from slipping. The driving sprocket was placed at the rear of the vehicle.
Steering was performed through a simple declutching and breaking the transmission to the tracks on either side. A tail was fitted to the rear of the tank to increase its length and improve trench crossing capability.
The crew consisted of two soldiers, driver up front and gunner in the turret. The driver entered the tank through the double door in the front which formed the decking, while the gunner through the hatch at the rear of the turret. The driver would sit on a canvas seat on the floor in the front and his view of the battlefield was provided for by three slots and an opening shutter. The gunner had a canvas belt, serving as a seat, attached to the sides of the manually operated turret. The turret was surmounted by a mushroom shaped dome on a small rim with five observation slits.
In addition to the two main models of the Renault FT (37 mm gun and 8 mm machine gun) two other models were conceived and put in to production. Char Signal TSF was a radio tank version of the Renault FT equipped with an E 10 ter radio. This variant had no armament which was replaced by the long observation slit in the front of a box-like turret. The crew consisted of driver, radio operator and observer. The wire antenna was extended between the turret top and tail. The other model was the Char FT 75 BS, armed with the 75 mm Blockhouse Schneider "petoire" howitzer. The gun was placed in an extended turret with the gunners hatch moved to the left. Ammunition was reduced to 30 rounds due to the increased caliber of the gun.
Organization
Renault tanks were grouped into 9 regiments, numbered 501 - 509, which consisted of 3 battalions each. Every battalion contained 3 tank companies and numbered 75 tanks with mixed armament when at full strength. Each company had a headquarter with 1 tank (Renault FT 37 mm), three platoons with 5 tanks each, a reserve with 5 replacement tanks and a recovery platoon with 3 tanks. The remaining 3 tanks were kept in reserve at battalion's headquarters. Organization tables quickly became untenable during the combat due to high levels of attrition. Number of mechanical defects and ditching were by far the main causes of tank losses. Enemy action accounted for a relatively small number of tanks eliminated in combat.
The Renault in Combat
The 501st Tank Regiment was the first Renault FT unit committed to action. Renaults were used on the 31st of May 1918 in the support of Gen. Mangin's 10th Army, in order to slow German progress toward Paris. The engagement took place in the Foret de Retz, south-west of Soissons. Three battalions were used piecemeal in the support of Moroccan infantry, in a series of local counterattacks which were sometimes executed in the forest itself. Renault tanks proved their battle worthiness from the start, leading infantry in the attack and stiffening it's resolve in defense. Thanks to the small size of the tank they could enter forested areas, where larger British Mark V or French St. Chamond and Schneider were useless.
The main task of tank units was to eliminate machine gun nests and destroy barbed-wire obstacles, enabling infantry to cross no-man's-land. The principal advantages of the Renault tanks were their small size, agility on the battlefield, and large numbers. French troops praised their support by the light tanks and demanded it in every operation. Although tank - infantry cooperation was poor due to lack of training, nevertheless, infantry units always requested the support of the tanks in every offensive operation.
Renault FTs were used in combat from the 31st of May to the 11th of November, 1918, taking part in 4356 engagements, losing only 746 (17%), of them. Field guns were the main threat to the tanks, accounting for 356 totally destroyed Renaults, of 440 lost during the war. The other threats were: mines, tank traps, and the Mauser antitank rifles. Antitank trenches, shell holes and wide infantry trenches temporarily put more tanks out of action than direct engagement with the enemy.
Battle of Marna- July 18, 1918
Renault FT - List of Actions
31.V - 28.VI.18 Foret de Retz
18.VII - 20.VIII.18 Soissons
28.VIII - 14.IX Crecy-au-Mont
12.IX - 16.IX St. Mihiel
26.IX - 3.X Champagne
26.IX - 3.X Meuse - Argonne
4.X - 9.XI Meuse - Argonne
26.IX - 20.X Flandres
17.X - 20. X St. Quentin
At the end of the war the French army fielded 1991 Renault tanks in line units and another 386 in workshops.
Part II: Polish 1st Tank Regiment
Origins
An order of the Polish Army in France issued on March 15, 1919 formed the 1st Polish Tank Regiment (1er Regiment des Char Blindes Polonais) and this date is regarded as the beginning of the Polish Armored Forces. The 1st Tank Regiment was formed on the base of the French 505th Tank Regiment (505 Regiment des Char Blindes) with mixed Franco - Polish cadres. Major Joules Mare, commander of the 505th Regiment, also became a commander of the Polish unit. Formation of the 1st Regiment began in Martigny-les-Bains in department of Vosges on March 22nd, 1919. On March 28th the first volunteers started to arrive. The enlisted men originated from Polish nationals, POWs from German and Austro-Hungarian armies, and also from Polish American and French volunteers.
The 1st Regiment consisted of five tank companies, each of 24 Renault FT in three platoons. Each platoon received three tanks with 37 mm Puteaux guns and two with 8 mm Hotchkiss machine guns. Each company contained one headquarters tank, five replacement tanks, and three tanks in supply-and-recovery section. The regiment also had an organic workshop and transportation sections. The companies were numbered, in accordance with the numbers of Polish infantry divisions in gen. Haller's Polish Army in France ie.: 1, 2, 3, 6 and 7.
The 1st Regiment was transported by train to Lodz in Poland between June 1st and June 16th, 1919. On the day of departure from France, the 1st Regiment numbered 34 officers and 354 other ranks of French and 11 officers with 442 other ranks of Polish. The process of gradual taking over the unit by the Poles began in October 1919.
Battle of Dyneburg- August 30, 1919
The 2nd Company of the 1st Battalion was the first unit engaged in the fighting. The 2nd company, with 24 tanks, departed from Lodz on August 19th, 1919, and supported action of the 58th Infantry Regiment of the 14th Wielkopolska Division, against the Bolshevik forces defending Bobrujsk (Bobruysk). Unit was instrumental in breaching the Russian lines and opening way for the infantry attack. On August 28th, 1919 tanks accompanied by the infantry columns entered Bobrujsk to the enthusiastic welcome of the local population. The company was fighting under French Capt. J. Dufour and all officers in the unit were French. After successful action, the tanks were transferred by train north, where the 2nd Company aided the 1st Legion Infantry Division in the storm of the forts of Dyneburg (Dvinsk). Mjr. J. Mare has directed this action personally, sometimes leading his tanks on foot.
Most of the French personnel departed back to France after their subsequent return to Warsaw, though French officers remained as advisers. The 1st Tank Regiment did not take part in fighting until the spring of 1920.
The 2nd Tank Battalion
During the spring of 1920 the southern wing of the Polish Army advanced deep into Ukraine and captured Kiev. Operation was undertaken in the hope of establishing a friendly, independent Ukrainian state on the eastern border of Poland. The 1st Tank Regiment units were kept in reserve during this drive. In May of 1920, the 1st Tank Battalion (1st and 2nd Companies) was stationed in Wilno (Vilno) and 2nd Tank Battalion (3rd and 4th Companies) in Kiev. Stationed in Kiev 3rd Company was employed for reconnaissance and patrol duties on the eastern bank of the Dnieper river. Red Army launched their counter-offensive in the Ukraine in May breaking through Polish defenses after a bitter five day battle. Budienny's 1st Cavalry Army, operating behind Polish lines after penetration of the front, precipitated Polish retreat from Kiev and Ukraine. The 2nd Tank Battalion got a dangerous task of acting as a rear guard to cover retreating infantry units and civilians fleeing the Bolsheviks.
The 3rd Company was evacuated to the Koziatyn railway center where it joined local garrison.
The 4th Company was used to strengthen the defenses around the town of Rowno. The detached II platoon, lead by Lt. Bronislaw Rafalski, covered the retreat of the 3rd Infantry Division on the road Korzec - Rowno. Fighting for Rowno lasted all day on July 5th until dusk when the general retreat order was issued. Tanks again were ordered to cover the evacuation. Fighting in the surrounding fields continued into the night. The 4th Company retreated without orders to an already abandoned railway station and loaded their tanks on flatcars. Although most of the tanks of the 4th Company were damaged, only one was lost during the fighting in Rowno.
The 3rd Company returned to the southern front from Lodz with a full complement of tanks on August 1st, 1920. Its first task was to support the 12th Infantry Division in defense of the western bank of the Seret river. Later the tanks were transported to Lwow (Lvov) to help in the defence of the city against approaching Budienny's 1st Cavalry Army.
The 1st Tank Battalion
The 1st Tank Battalion, stationed in Wilno (Vilno) in the northern part of the front, was engulfed by July 4th, 1920 Tukhachevsky's offensive. It was moved by rail to Grodno where the 2nd Company entered the garrison of the city and the 1st Company remained on the flatcars. On July 19th, Grodno was attacked by the III Cavalry Corps led by Ghai-Khan and weak Polish forces were soon overwhelmed. Gen. Mokrzecki, commanding the defense of Grodno, gave the order to the 2nd Company to counterattack.
Battle of Grodno- July 19, 1920
For the rest of the campaign both companies of the 1st Tank Battalion took part in a series of rear guard actions designed to cover withdrawal of infantry units.
Battle of Warsaw
Following the July, 1920 successful offensive in the Byelorussia the Soviet forces marched through Poland with the intention of expanding the Bolshevik revolution to countries of the Western Europe. By early August, 1920, the Red Army was rapidly approaching Warsaw and J. Pilsudski, head of State and Commander-in-Chief, planned a bold offensive action with the aim of splitting two Soviet fronts in the center and encircling their northern flank. This plan was based upon assumption that Warsaw could tie down a significant portion of the Soviet forces and while doing so, survive an onslaught. The Commander-in-Chief issued an order concentrating all tanks for the defence of the capital, but only 38 vehicles were gathered. The remainder were scattered around defending Poland in the south or temporarily out of action undergoing repairs in Lodz. Sixteen of the available 38 came from the 2nd Company, 10 from the recently established 5th Company and 12 from the 4th Company.
The most important developments in which the Renault FT tanks participated during the battle of Warsaw took place around Radzymin, east of the capital. The II platoon 5th company, from the reestablished 3rd Tank Battalion, assisted in a counterattack of 1st Litewsko-Bialoruska Infantry Division at Radzymin. Fighting at Radzymin was prominent in stopping main Soviet thrust to capture Warsaw.
The Polish Army turned to the offensive on the morning of August 16th, 1920. Divisions of gen. E. Rydz - Smigly Operation Group sliced through the weak defenses of the Mozyrska Group and turned north - east in order to encircle the Soviet forces storming Warsaw. By that time three companies with six tank platoons were gathered in Mjr. Nowicki's Armored Group. The task of this new unit was to open communications between capital and Minsk Mazowiecki to the south-east of Warsaw. The advance from Milosna toward Minsk Mazowiecki started on August 17th, with two tank companies attacking, one on either side of the railway tracks. Tanks were assisted by infantry and three armored trains. The enemy was quickly defeated and thrown back.
Armored Group was next assigned to the 18th Infantry Division with the task of cutting off retreating III Cavalry Corps which attempted to avoid encirclement by slipping east along the East Prussian border. Mjr. Nowicki, established a cordon defence between Ciechanow and Mlawa using three armored trains, two tank companies on flat cars as improvised armored trains and one tank company patrolling on the ground. Polish forces were surprised, when the III Cavalry Corps attacked on the foggy morning of August 22nd. Mjr. Nowicki was killed by artillery fire in the armored train "Danuta" and Bolshevik cavalry broke through. Although successful this time, Ghai-Khan was finally pressed against East Prussia and forced to cross the border.
The 2nd Battalion, which did not participate in the Battle of Warsaw, defended Lvov and joined the offensive of the 6th Army in Ukraine. Tanks aided in capturing Zadworze and Sknilow. After completing this task tanks returned to Lvov and did not take part in subsequent fighting. The 1st Tank Regiment was placed in reserve, where it stayed until cessation of hostilities.
During the fighting in Poland, Renault FT tanks were subjected to prolonged mobile operations unlike in the Western Front. The Renault FT 17 tanks were very slow, and best suited for the attacks on prepared positions. Nevertheless, on many occasions, they helped infantry to gain their objectives and ensure successful outcome of the operations during the war of movement in Poland. Placing tanks on flatcars and employing as improvised armored trains was the uniquely Polish innovation. Armored trains were sometimes improvised of tanks with mechanical defects as a fast and simple means of reintroducing them into action. On other occasions it was the only way to combine the firepower with the necessary mobility in pursuit or retreat.
Only 8 tanks of the total number of 120 were permanently lost in combat, mainly because they could not be recovered from the battlefield. This speaks highly of the tank's durability and skills of mechanics who, in primitive conditions, repaired and refitted tanks keeping them operational. However, the short life span of the tank engines necessitated frequent returns to the base in Lodz. These repairs eliminated tanks from the front lines for extended periods of time. Soldiers of the 1st Regiment were awarded 34 Crosses Virtuti Militari, the highest Polish award for bravery on the battle field.
The 1st Tank Regiment was dissolved on August 11th, 1921 and three independent tank battalions were created in its place.
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c 2000 Witold J. Lawrynowicz
