The Army in France was expecting the first 300 M1917s by April of 1918, but by June, production had yet to begin, which forced the US to acquire 144 Renault FTs from the French. Production of the M1917 did not begin until the autumn, and the first completed vehicles emerged in October. Two arrived in France on November 20, nine days after the armistice with Germany, and a further eight in December.