FT17 Tank - Fort Belvoir, Virginia
Posted by: 
flyingmoose
N 38° 43.349 W 077° 10.170
18S E 311397 N 4288214
Located within the "Nation Overseas" section of the National Museum of the United States Army.
Waymark Code: WM14XVA
Location: Virginia, United States
Date Posted: 09/08/2021
Views: 0
This French FT17 tank is displayed in the World War I Immersion section of the Nation Overseas portion of the Museum. It is fully restored.
Sign text:
The Renault FT17 light tank was developed by the French Army to provide better mobility and road speed than heavier tanks. The tank mounted either a 37mm gun or a 7.62mm machine gun in an armor plate or cast steel rotating turret. The armor was installed on an angle to deflect enemy projectiles. The driver sat in the hull with the engine directly behind him, while the gunner stood in the turret. The FT17 proved to be a capable vehicle in combat, and the U.S. Army adopted the design as the basis for America's first tank, the M1917.
Crew: Driver, Gunner
Weight: 7.3 tons
Engine: 4 cylinders, 35 horsepower
Speed: 5 miles per hour
Range: 22 miles
Additional sign:
The French FT17 tank number 1516, dubbed "Five of Hearts" from its tactical sign, saw action with Company C, 344th Tank Battalion, supporting the 1st Division at Saint-Mihiel and in the Meuse-Argonne Offensive. It is the only surviving FT17 tank known to have been used by the American Expeditionary Forces. In October 1918, the tank, commanded by Sgt. Arthur Snyder, opened the way for the 16th Infantry to break through the German lines near Exermont, France. "Five of Hearts" was knocked out of action, struck by more than 1,300 German machine gun and armor piercing projectiles. One crewman was killed and two others injured in the action.
Location restrictions:
Only accessible when Museum is open.
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