| After World War One the French were searching for a better and quieter track system for light tanks and adopted a track and suspension system developed by Kegresse-Hinstin
in the mid 1920's. The continuous rubber band track itself was reinforced rubber strengthened with metal pads and driven by two-piece sprockets which worked on a cam action
to squeeze the track more tightly when slippage occurred - assuring traction. The system was adapted to the Renault Light Tank which were then officially known as Char de
Combat Muni du Propulseur Kegresse-Hinstin.
Two companies of FT17 were converted. One was deployed to Morocco during the Rif War where the terrain played havoc with the rubber band tracks repeatedly breaking on
the rocky mountain terrain. As a result the conversion was deemed not worth the effort and no further FT17 were converted. Development on the track system continued
however and it was later widely used by the French Army on semi-track vehicles.
Some were exported including 5 to Poland and 1 to the USA but these were mainly for evaluation purposes and no real quantity orders followed.
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VARIANTS OF THE SERIES
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GENERAL RECOGNITION POINTS
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- Idler and sprocket are approximately the same size.
- Rubber band type track.
- Four bogies with two roadwheels each suspended from a beam.
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WEBSITES
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HELP IDENTIFY |
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DOCUMENTS
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DISCUSSION FORUM
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