The Renault FT, also known as the FT-17, was a formidable tank in World War 1. It was powered by a 4.5 liter 4-cylinder Renault engine and weighed over seven tons. With a height of seven feet and a width of approximately six feet, the tank was relatively compact. Despite its size, it could reach speeds of up to 4.6 miles per hour with 39 horsepower, which was considered fast for an armored vehicle in the 1910s. The tank had a 25-gallon fuel tank and could travel over 30 miles on a single tank.

The primary turret of the Renault FT-17 could be armed with a Hotchkiss 7.92-millimeter machine gun or a Puteaux SA18 37-millimeter short-barreled gun. It had the capacity to carry only two crew members.

When the Renault FT-17 Light Tank was first deployed in May of 1918, it displayed superior performance compared to other tanks of the time such as the Schneider CA1 and Saint-Chamond. These tanks often encountered problems like getting stuck in the mud and catching fire, rendering them less effective in combat situations.