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Renault FT-17 Light Tank
FT-17, BS, FT-17 DP, BS DP, Pzkpfw 18R 730(f), Pzkpfw 18R 775(f)
The FT-17 was one of the most successful tanks of World War I. It featured many innovations that were later used in modern tank designs such as a fully rotating turret fitted with armament. Close to 4,000 if these were built before production ceased in the 1920's, and hundreds were sold to Belgium, Brazil, Canada, China, Czechoslovakia, Finland, Holland, Japan, Poland, Spain, and the United States. Overall it was an adequate vehicle for its time, but became hopelessly outclassed by late 1920's, and the arrival of the R-35 signaled its end. In total, France had ~2,000 MG armed FT-17's, and another 1,000 of 37mm equipped FT-17's and Renault BS assault guns based on the chaciss. All were distributed amongst infantry formations. When a call was made for a rapid refitting of existing infantry units into mechanized Dragon Portes regiments, the tanks were rapidly modified into tank infantry carriers, with the addition of a simple tracked, armored open-topped infantry trailer. Eight infantrymen were carried in this trailer while the vehicle provided mobile fire support. This simple modification caused nearly all 4,000 models to be converted into simple infantry fighting vehicles, but due to poor training, situational awareness and striking power of the German Panzer forces, more than 3,000 were captured. The Germans liked the idea of an IFV to support the infantry, and modernized these captured models with the addition of new more effective weapons, engine, radio and enlarged fuel tanks, and handed them out piecemeal to various infantry divisions, as they were still too slow to keep up with any modern armor. The infantrymen, starved for any additional firepower, welcomed the new additions, and used these as ammunition, heavy weapons and infantry carriers, though lack of spares, and replacement equipment caused these to become an extremely rare sight amongst their TOE by 1943.
| Year: 1917 | Maneuver: -3 | Armor: 6/12/18 |
| Threat Value: 10 | Fire Control: -2 | Movement: 1/2 |
| Size: 6 | Sensors: None | Deployement Range: 35km |
| Crew: 2 | Communications: None |
Perks/Flaws: Buttoned Up, Inefficient Controls, Large Sensor Profile (R1)
| Name | Arc | S | M | L | Ex | Acc | DM | # | Ammo | Spec |
| 37 mm Sa18 L/21 | T | 2 | 4 | 8 | 16 | 0 | x5 | 1 | 240 | - |
Variants:
| FT-17 MG | Threat Value: 5 | Year: 1917 |
Remove: 37mm Sa18 L/21
Add: 7.5mm MG
| Name | Arc | S | M | L | Ex | Acc | DM | # | Ammo | Spec |
| 7.5mm MG | T | 1 | 2 | 4 | 8 | 0 | x2 | 1 | 4800 | Rof2, AI |
| Renault BS | Threat Value: 15 | Year: 1917 |
Remove: 37mm Sa18 L/21
Change: Crew to 3
Add: 75mm L/17 Cannon, Exposed Crew, Exposed FC
| Name | Arc | S | M | L | Ex | Acc | DM | # | Ammo | Spec |
| 75 mm L/17 | FF | 4 | 8 | 16 | 32 | 0 | x8 | 1 | 38 | - |
| Renault FT-17/BS DP | Threat Value: +10 | Year: 1938 |
Change: Size to 7
Add: Partially Exposed Crew (8 Infantry), Passanger Seating (8), Weak Point (R1,Rear)
| Pzkpfw 18R 730(f) | Threat Value: 25 | Year: 1941 |
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As FT-17 but:
Remove: 37mm Sa18 L/21
Change: Deployement Range to 60km, Size to 7
Add: Radio -1/3km, 3.7cm Pak36, Partially Exposed Crew (8 Infantry), Passanger Seating (8), Weak Point (R1,Rear), Reinforced Armor (R2, Front)
| Name | Arc | S | M | L | Ex | Acc | DM | # | Ammo | Spec |
| 3.7cm Pak36 | T | 3 | 6 | 12 | 24 | 0 | x7 | 1 | 102 | - |
| Pzkpfw 18R 775(f) | Threat Value: 25 | Year: 1941 |
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As Renault BS but:
Remove: 75mm L/17
Change: Deployement Range to 60km, Size to 7
Add: Radio -1/3km, 7.5cm L/24, Partially Exposed Crew (8 Infantry), Passanger Seating (8), Weak Point (R1,Rear), Reinforced Armor (R2, Front)
| Name | Arc | S | M | L | Ex | Acc | DM | # | Ammo | Spec |
| 7.5cm L/24 | FF | 5 | 10 | 20 | 40 | 0 | x7 | 1 | 36 | - |