Trackstory 8: Renault D1

The Renault D1 tank can be regarded as the last direct descendant of the famous FT17. Designed in 1926, it was innovative in many respects — not only in its armament, a 47mm gun, but also, uniquely for a light tank, in its three-man crew and the radio equipment fitted to each vehicle. The 160 units built formed three battalions, which were quickly dispatched to Tunisia to counter the nascent Italian threat. One of these battalions, the 67e BCC, was urgently recalled to France in June 1940, where it took part in the last tank battle of the French Campaign, losing all of its tanks. The two remaining battalions in Tunisia joined the newly reconstituted French armoured arm in 1942 and valiantly resumed the fight alongside Allied troops against the Italo-German forces.

The Renault D1 tank can be seen as the last direct offspring of the famous FT17. Designed in 1926, it offered many innovative characteristics. Not only in its armament, a 47mm gun, but also – and this was unique in a light tank – its 3-man crew and its radio set. The 160 exemplars built outfitted 3 battalions that were quickly sent to Tunisia to face the growing Italian menace. One of these battalions, the 67e BCC, was urgently brought back to France in June 1940 in time to take part in the last tank encounter of the French Campaign – loosing all its tanks. The two remaining units in Tunisia formed the basis of the born again French armoured units in 1942. The brave little tanks went back into the fighting along the Allies, against the Italian and German troops there.