1918 Holt tank

again the pic loaded sideways....not sure why

More museum pics
Part 1 https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10210645238545856.1073741858.1194573776&type=1&l=2c008f5384
Part 2 https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10210645283306975.1073741859.1194573776&type=1&l=8af3277743
Part 3 https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10210645371829188.1073741860.1194573776&type=1&l=cb74cd55aa
Part 4 https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10210645397669834.1073741861.1194573776&type=1&l=5f9e60cc92

Erik,

It was built by Holt but not designed by Holt. That is a variant of the French Renault FT. Ford Motor Company built them too and called them Fords. The FT or FT17 and it's variants were the most produced tank during WWI and into the post war years. It was the first tank to have a fully functional turret. This tank is considered the to be the birth design of the modern day tanks. Rear engine, forward operator and center turret operator.

I always wanted to go to that Museum when I lived down there but never did. I spent many a weekends at Virginia International Raceway when we vintage raced but never found the time to get over there.

Thanks for sharing the photos!

Pat

I am surprised to see the what I would describe as a British style of tank in the US Army advertising

Did the US use the uk tanks in WW1 ???


Paul

Paul,

Yes we did. We used both French (Renault FT) and British (Mark V) tanks until we could build our own. The first of which would be Holt's version of the Renault FT but they would not be completed in time before the war ended. Ford also built a 2 man tank but again, not before the war had ended and only 15 examples were finished. Our first large tank was the MK VIII or Liberty tank. But it was not operational until 1919. It however was one of the first to completely compartmentalize the engine away from the crew.

Pat

Holy smokes looks like somebody's been shooting at that one. Go figure a tank with bullet holes in it.
I like it

Eric and I were talking about this thread at the show over the weekend, so I thought I would revive it with some added info.

I had no idea these tanks were so rare. I grew up seeing one every summer at the park where we have our family reunion. It looks like this one doesn't say Holt on the serial tag though. It might be one made by someone else.
http://www.pantagraph.com/news/local/veterans-spiffing-up-wwi-tank-at-miller-park/article_c7a8f0ee-ee7c-5088-ad25-71261c524a02.html

I also came across a photo of at least 3 of them sitting in storage at the Cat plant in East Peoria. The photo shows the aftermath of the flood of 1927.
[attachment=42581]tanks_01.jpg[/attachment]

And here is one more showing a British tank that was given to Holt after WWI and kept for a while at East Peoria.
[attachment=42582]tanks_02.jpg[/attachment]

Thanks,
Dave