GWF-08H      Renault Ft,  “Berlet” Turret,  Hotchkiss 8mm Machine Gun, 
3rd Company, 2nd Platoon   (2pcs)      US$162

The Renault FT,
was a French light tank that was among the most revolutionary
and influential tank designs in history.
The FT was the first production tank to have
its armament within a fully rotating turret.
The Renault FT's configuration –
crew compartment at the front,
engine compartment at the back,
and main armament in a revolving turret – became and remains the standard tank layout.
Over 3,000 Renault FT tanks were manufactured by French industry,
most of them during the year 1918.

Armoured warfare historian Steven Zaloga has called the Renault FT "the world's first modern tank."

The original one piece cast turret,
had many problems,
mainly in that it only permitted a Hotchkiss machine gun to be mounted.
Research led to a second design of what was to be known as the “Omnibus”.
This turret allowed for mounting either the Puteaux cannon or the Hotchkiss machine gun.
This turret was assembled of flat steel plates screwed to a frame and was shaped
like an octagonal prism that narrowed towards the top.

The third type of turret designed for the Renault FT,
was produced by the Berliet factories,
hence it became known as the “Berliet Turret”.

This turret was produced in 1918
and its objective was to improve the resistance of the armour.
The turret was manufactured in 2 elements.
A cast roof of 16mm thickness,
and a forged turret ring in the shape of a flattened cone.
The “Berliet Turret” had thicker armour
and consequently was heavier than previous turrets.
It was still moved manually by the commander/gunner of the tank.

The Mle 1914 Hotchkiss machine gun chambered for the 8mm Lebel cartridge
became the standard machine gun of the French Army during World War I.
The Hotchkiss machine gun,
a sturdy and reliable weapon,
remained in active service with the French army until the early 1940s.
By the end of 1918,
47,000 Hotchkiss machine guns had already been delivered to the French army alone.
If one adds the international sales,
the total number of Hotchkiss machine guns
that were manufactured in various calibers is close to 100.000.

**PLEASE NOTE THE DOORS ON THE TURRET DO NOT OPEN**








We now accept PAYPAL,
to purchase your figures please send your order by e-mail to
inquiry@johnjenkinsdesigns.com
after checking that everything is available,
you will be billed via PAYPAL.
your order will be shipped on confirmation of payment.
worldwide airmail 12%
(minimum postage us$10)


JOHN JENKINS DESIGNS
UNIT 6E, TOWER 2,
KING LEY INDUSTRIAL BUILDING,
33-35 YIP KAN STREET,
WONG CHUK HANG,
HONG KONG
Tel: 852 9041 9065