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Brief History of Military Vehicles

Rebecca Alwine
by Rebecca Alwine
June 26, 2018
Historical  representation,  150  historic  military  vehicles  dating  back  to  World  War  II,  called  Freedom  Column,  depict  the  American  Soldiers  that  liberated  Italy  from  German  oppression.  This  event  is  organized  by  Gotica  Toscana,  an  Italian  military  historical  association  their  goal  is  to  record  the  History  and  the  Memory  of  events  during  WWII.  Cascina,  Pisa  Italy  April  27.  Photos  by  VI  Specialist  Elena  Baladelli.

Historical representation, 150 historic military vehicles dating back to World War II, called Freedom Column, depict the American Soldiers that liberated Italy from German oppression. This event is organized by Gotica Toscana, an Italian military historical association their goal is to record the History and the Memory of events during WWII. Cascina, Pisa Italy April 27. Photos by VI Specialist Elena Baladelli.

A  hundred  years  ago,  the  first  Army  tanks  rolled  into  history,  and  from  what  we’ve  seen  in  movies  and  heard  from  those  who’ve  driven  them,  Brad  Pitt  was  right:  “Best  job  I  ever  had,”  is  the  resounding  theme.

When  the  United  States  decided  it  needed  to  join  the  tank  community  in  1917,  it  commissioned  the  building  of  the  M1917.  Of  course,  just  like  any  other  great  idea  in  the  military,  it  took  time.  It  took  so  long  it  missed  World  War  I.  The  Marines  took  the  M1917  to  China  in  1927  and  then  came  back  to  the  US  and  wasn’t  used  again.

But  the  M1918,  a  Ford  3-Ton  was  the  first  of  the  light  tanks  designed  by  the  United  States.  It  was  small,  had  one  gun,  could  fit  two  men  in  it,  and  traveled  at  max  speed  of  8  mph.  It  was  built  from  two  Model-T  engines  that  were  both  controlled  by  the  driver,  who  sat  in  the  front.

Not  everyone  who  serves  in  the  military  gets  to  drive  a  tank,  or  any  vehicle  for  that  matter,  but  everyone  can  certainly  appreciate  them.  So,  what  makes  serving  in  tank  company,  or  driving  an  armored  vehicle  so  cool?  It  probably  has  a  bit to  do  with  the  history  behind  it,  the  tradition  surrounding  it,  and  the  future  laid  out  in  front  of  it.

Today,  the  U.S.  military  has so  many  different  vehicles  that  are  used  in  everyday  training  and  combat.  Some  of  them  are  tracked,  some  of  them  have  wheels.  Of  course,  we  can’t  leave  out  those  that  fly  and  float  either.  The  history  of  military  vehicles  is  lengthy,  but  even  just  the  glimpse  into  can  see  why  so  many  say,  “Best  job  I  ever  had.”

5 interesting facts about military vehicles: 

The first  tank  was  used  by  the  British  in 1915.   Since  1945,  all  British  tanks  are  capable  of  boiling  water  to  make  tea.

Tanks were  referred  to  as  male  if  they  had  cannons  and  female  if  they  had  machine guns.

Buick designed  the  fastest  tank  ever,  the  American  Hellcat  (M-18),  which  could  reach  60 mph.

While Ford  built  the  M1918,  he  was  a  vehement  pacifist,  who  strongly  opposed  making  money  off  of war.

The first  military  airplane  was  sold  to  the  Army  Signal  Corps  in  1909  by  the  Wright Brothers.

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Tags: Army Tanks
Rebecca Alwine

Rebecca Alwine

Rebecca Alwine is a freelance writer, Army wife, and mother of three. Over the past 15 years, she's discovered she enjoys of coffee, lifting weights, and most of the menial tasks of motherhood. When she's not writing, she can usually be found hiding behind the sewing machine or with her nose in a book. Her motto: work smarter, not harder.

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