M1918 Ford 3-ton tank

Ford 3-ton
TypeTankette / Light tank
Place of originUnited States
Service history
In service1918-1919
Production history
DesignerUS Ordnance Department
No. built15
Specifications
Mass3 tons
Length13 ft 8 in (4.17 m)
Width5 ft 6 in (1.68 m)
Height5 ft 3 in (1.60 m)
Crew2 (Driver and gunner)

Armor14 to 12 inches
Main
armament
M1917 Marlin machine gun or M1919 Browning machine gun
EngineTwo Ford Model T engines[1]
45 hp (34 kW)
Power/weight10.4 hp/t (7.8 kW/t)
Operational
range
55 km (34 mi)
Maximum speed 12.8 km/h (8 mph)

The Ford 3-ton tank, also known as the Ford Model 1918 (M1918) was one of the first tank designs by the U.S. It was a small two-man, one-gun tank. Essentially the first tankette, it was armed with an M1917 Marlin machine gun, later an M1919 Browning machine gun, and could reach a maximum speed of 8 mph (13 km/h). The 3-ton had a 17-US-gallon (64 L) tank that gave it a maximum range of 34 miles (55 km).

  1. ^ Ford M1918 3-ton tank, Historical Firearms, February 24, 2018, retrieved February 26, 2018