French Tanks of World War I (NVG-173)

French Tanks of World War I (NVG-173)

Published by Osprey Publishing 2010 - author: Steven J Zaloga - soft cover - 48 pages - condition: VERY GOOD

This title examines the emergence of the first modern tank, the Renault FT. It is a little known fact that France fielded more tanks in World War I than any other army. However, France's early tanks suffered from poor mobility and armour compared to their contemporaries. Indeed, their initial use on the Chemin des Dames in 1917 was a bloody fiasco. In spite of initial set-backs, the French army redeemed its reputation with the Renault FT. The Renault FT pioneered the modern tank design, with armament in a revolutionary central turret and the engine in the rear. More importantly, the Renault was designed to be cheap and easy to manufacture. Discover the history of the early French armour developments and their triumphant new design, the Renault FT, that helped to turn the tide of war in the favour of the Allies.