WWI tank installed at under-construction Museum of the U.S. Army

By Chris Isleib
Director of Public Affairs, U.S. World War One Centennial Commission

Tank "Five of Hearts" lifted into place at U.S. Army MuseumOn Tuesday August 15th the team at the U.S. Army Center for Military History placed a Renault FT-17 Tank at the construction site of the upcoming National Museum of the United States Army.

The tank followed a remarkable journey, and is a true artifact of World War I. Nicknamed the "Five of Hearts", this tank was given to the U.S. Tank Corps by France during WWI, and is the only known surviving Renault tank used in combat by the U.S. thought to be in existence.

This particular tank participated in the Meuse-Argonne offensive, and was used to make a critical break in German lines near Exermont, France. When it was taken out of action during the battle, it had over 100 holes in its armor. The fate of the tank's crew is unknown.

The tank would later be shipped back to America as a memorial to those soldiers who served in tanks during World War I.

A video about the "Five of Hearts" story in World War I can be found here
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FPxfA7SbdI0

This installation was the last of four macro-artifacts to be pre-positioned in the construction site of the National Museum of the United States Army. The macro-artifacts needed to be installed prior to the steel-work beginning.

The other marco-artifacts include a Bradley Fighting Vehicle used in Operation Desert Storm, as well as a Higgins boat LCVP and a Sherman tank used in World War II.

The museum is due to open to the public in 2019.

Video of the tank's installation can be found here: https://www.facebook.com/NatlArmyMuseum/

Up to date information on the Museum can be found here: https://www.facebook.com/NatlArmyMuseum/

"Five of Hearts" tank after the Meuse Argonne offensive in 1918.

Photo collage of the tank "Five of Hearts" being installed at the future National Museum of the U.S. Army.