A column of French Renault tanks moving to the front in a stereo card. The Renault tanks were used by both French and American forces. © By the Keystone View Company

How France aided her fighters—Renault tanks going to the front.

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The Renault FT Tank was a light tank, significantly smaller than contemporary British tanks such as the Mark IV which had a crew of eight. The FT had a crew of two, a driver who sat in front, low to the ground, with legs out straight, and a commander/gunner standing in a turret that could turn 360 degrees.

A tailpiece extended the tank length and improved its ability to cross trenches.

The tanks first saw action in May, 1918. Several hundred were engaged in the Second Battle of the Marne.

The First United States Light Tank Brigade consisted of Renault FT tanks. It was commanded by George Patton, and saw action in the St. Mihiel and Meuse-Argonne Offensives.

Over 3,700 Renault FT tanks were built during the war, nearly all of them delivered in 1918, and were used by the French, American, Belgian, and Italian armies.

Weight: 6.5 tons; Length: 5m/16ft 5 in (including tailpiece); Height: 2.14m/7ft; Width: 1.74m/5ft 9in

Engine: Renault 4-cylinder, 4.5 liter, water-cooled, 39hp

Speed: 7kph/4.3mph; Range: 60km/37mi

Step: m/2ft; Trench: m/6ft

Armament: (male) Puteaux AS19 37mm/1.45in gun with 237 rounds; (female) Hotchkiss 8mm/0.32in machine gun with 4,800 rounds

Armor: hull front: 16mm; hull sides and top: 8mm; belly: 6mm; turret: (round) 22mm, (octagonal) 16mm

Crew: 2: commander/gunner, driver

Renault FT Tank is a tank.