MTFCA Forum

The Ford 3-Ton M1918 was one of the first tank designs by the U.S. and only a few were built by the Ford Motor Company.

It was a small two-man, two Model T engine, one-gun tank.

One engine ran each tank tread ad if one engine died, the treads could be coupled together and allow the tank to creep away in Low gear for a short distance.

It was armed with a M1919 Browning machine gun and could reach a maximum speed of 8 mph.

The 3-Ton had a 17-gallon gas tank that gave it a maximum range of 34 miles.

There are two known survivors; one is at the U.S. Army Armor & Cavalry Collection at Fort Benning, Georgia; the second is with the Ordnance Collection at Fort Lee, Virginia.

The second one was first restored by Oakley Arnold Sumpter about 40 years ago and restored once since then.

It was transferred to a Fort Lee, VA Museum about 15 years ago with about 60 other vehicles.

I have driven 140 miles twice to see it again, first it was in storage and then they were building a new museum and it was not displayed.

Has anyone visited the new museum and knows if it is on display now?

I saw it before it was ‘displayed’. In the first year of my 25 year army career back in 1973 I heard rumors of a WW I Ford tank at the previous army ordnance school in Aberdeen Proving Grounds MD. After much coordinating, I found it in the back of a large warehouse sitting forlornly amid dust and rust. I’m glad some attention was finally given to it.

Here is a video of one on the move.

https://youtu.be/p-C_a4HpQr8

Link to assembly info

https://tanks-encyclopedia.com/ford-3-t ... ord-3-ton/

I saw one at Fort Knox, the “home of armor” back in the 80’s:

http://justacarguy.blogspot.com/2018/02 ... l.html?m=1

You may be able to look online for the museum you wish to visit and inquire if they are currently displaying the tanks.

I've posted these before in another thread.

I watched the YouTube video. It made me wonder about the fuel tank arrangement. Would the tank stall out on some of those maneuvers? Was there a fuel pump? I suppose in 1918 those engines were hand crank. That would make things interesting if you were under fire, wouldn't it?

When I watched the video about the tanks, I felt sorry for the guys inside getting tossed all around and beating up their kidneys on the seat and knees on the controls as they bounced in and out of the ditches and across the railroad tracks. I bet that was like a steam bath inside and full of exhaust fumes.

I watched the video too. It is impressive. A stock Model T can transverse nearly all of that terrain given the proper momentum. Perhaps not the trenches. And no protection from bullets. A word of caution, cross railroad tracks at an angle. I tore out a drain plug by crossing it perpendicularly. There is enough oil in the bearings to drive a quarter mile after the oil leaks out.
Rich

Herb Iffrig wrote: ↑

Wed Apr 27, 2022 11:33 am

I watched the YouTube video. It made me wonder about the fuel tank arrangement. Would the tank stall out on some of those maneuvers? Was there a fuel pump? I suppose in 1918 those engines were hand crank. That would make things interesting if you were under fire, wouldn't it?

The assembly info link says they had electric start.

I assume there is no argument regarding the necessity of a waterpump?

ThreePedalTapDancer wrote: ↑

Wed Apr 27, 2022 2:57 pm

I assume there is no argument regarding the necessity of a waterpump?

A3E23EF8-9DCC-42E3-AF6B-9520C578DEAF.jpeg

Well, If it was designed with a decent radiator, it wouldnt be necessary.

One of the photos posted above by Perry Kete was taken by me in 2010 when I visited the Patton Museum at Fort Knox Kentucky.

Click on this link to see a couple more photos I took of the tank as well as the display placard:

http://www.mtfca.com/discus/messages/11 ... 1293740795

I have seen one either at Ft Knox or Ft Lee. Did not get to see under the lids. It must have been interesting sure enough starting, even with elec start with that single carb. intake manifold serving two engines. Guess that solved the sync. problem.

Erik, that is interesting, as one photo has black treads.

Are there really two of those tanks left or was that one moved from Fort Lee?

The one was at Fort Knox before Covid. I guess it would still be there. There were some drawings associated with the display. Very interesting display. I don’t know what the rules are now for the Patton Museum at Knox, where the display was/is!

Thanks for the lead!

Go to https://generalpatton.org/plan-your-visit/ for more of the story.

NEWSFLASH: The gate on 31W is now open! Visitors should now enter our parking lot from the 31W entrance.

We are happy to announce that masking is no longer required inside the Patton Museum. We ask that all visitors continue to be respectful of those who choose to mask and socially distance while inside.

HOURS:

9:00am – 4:30pm — Tuesday thru Saturday

ADMISSION:

Admission to the museum is always free and open to the public. If you’d like to contribute, donations can be dropped in our donation box in the lobby. You can also donate online by clicking here.

As I have posted before several years ago regarding M1918 tanks, there was one of those in the City of Downey back in the mid seventies on display outside The Supply Sargeant Military Surplus Store on Firestone Boulevard near Brookshire Avenue across from Simpson Buick.
It had taken a hit in the right rear exposing the engines and mechanical components. The armaments were pretty thin for a tank.
I worked with a gentleman at Mattel Toys in El Segundo several years ago that was a vintage military buff, and he told me that that tank had been completely restored and was operational.
I have no idea where that tank is located now.