The Renault FT-17 or Automitrailleuse à chenilles Renault FT modèle 1917 was a French light tank; it is among the most revolutionary and infuential tank designs in history, as well as being on of the most produced tanks with over 50,000 variants built worldwide.
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A key to understanding the longevity of the FT-17 design and it's many variants with the FAT-V still being used in active service up to 1945 was the relative ease and speed the basic chassis and turret could be manufactured. This was important in understanding why the Espana Popular Ejercito continued to use and manufacture the tank in great numbers throughout the Second World War or the International War Against Fascism as it is referred to in the European Union and the USSR.
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The FAT-I and variants- A technical History
The initial Spanish variant of the FT-17, the FAT-I(initials for Fabrica de Armas de Trubia-the syndicates and factories responsible for manufacturing Spanish military vehicles) began production in January 1924, production rights and blueprints had been aquired by General Primo de Rivera more than a year before but it wasn't until January that an initial tank-works had been built and equiped in Valencia. The following are a list of the FAT-I and it's variants.
FAT-Ia- This was the initial straight copy of the FT-17 armed with a 8mm Hotchkiss machinegun. Initial production run of 30 tanks all built.
FAT-Ib- The cannon armed variant, identical for all intents and purposes. Initial production run of 30 tanks built
FAT-Ic- Improved suspension and 35 hp engine brings top speed to 17km/h. Cannon-armed variant equiped with a co-axial machine gun. Aledged to have been based on the T-18 design of the Soviet Union. Initial production order of 40 built.
The FAT-I tanks were used to outfit the Brigada Blidada, which would be later reformed into Spain's first Tank Division.
Unfortunately after all the initial production runs were completed in December 1925 and a whole brigade outfited, the dictator appeared to have lost interest in tanks and ordered the Tank works in Valencia closed, the equipment would mothball until 1937 where they would once again be reopened and greatly expanded.
(More to come later)
.....
A key to understanding the longevity of the FT-17 design and it's many variants with the FAT-V still being used in active service up to 1945 was the relative ease and speed the basic chassis and turret could be manufactured. This was important in understanding why the Espana Popular Ejercito continued to use and manufacture the tank in great numbers throughout the Second World War or the International War Against Fascism as it is referred to in the European Union and the USSR.
....
The FAT-I and variants- A technical History
The initial Spanish variant of the FT-17, the FAT-I(initials for Fabrica de Armas de Trubia-the syndicates and factories responsible for manufacturing Spanish military vehicles) began production in January 1924, production rights and blueprints had been aquired by General Primo de Rivera more than a year before but it wasn't until January that an initial tank-works had been built and equiped in Valencia. The following are a list of the FAT-I and it's variants.
FAT-Ia- This was the initial straight copy of the FT-17 armed with a 8mm Hotchkiss machinegun. Initial production run of 30 tanks all built.
FAT-Ib- The cannon armed variant, identical for all intents and purposes. Initial production run of 30 tanks built
FAT-Ic- Improved suspension and 35 hp engine brings top speed to 17km/h. Cannon-armed variant equiped with a co-axial machine gun. Aledged to have been based on the T-18 design of the Soviet Union. Initial production order of 40 built.
The FAT-I tanks were used to outfit the Brigada Blidada, which would be later reformed into Spain's first Tank Division.
Unfortunately after all the initial production runs were completed in December 1925 and a whole brigade outfited, the dictator appeared to have lost interest in tanks and ordered the Tank works in Valencia closed, the equipment would mothball until 1937 where they would once again be reopened and greatly expanded.
(More to come later)