M1917 Light Tank

he M1917 was the United States' first mass-produced tank, entering production shortly before the end of World War I. It was a license-built near-copy of the French Renault FT,] and was intended to arm the American Expeditionary Forces in France, but American manufacturers failed to produce any in time to take part in the War. Of the 4,440 ordered, about 950 were eventually completed. They remained in service throughout the 1920s but did not take part in any combat, and were phased out during the 1930s.

M1917 Light Tank in "Liberating Alaska"
Two M1917 Light Tank (Liberating Alaska)|M1917s were provided support to the U.S. Marines during liberation of Siknazuak, Alaska in June, 1929. The two tanks initially provided heavy artillery fire, which leveled buildings and sent many of the occupying pro-Soviet forces into retreat. Nonetheless, one brave Red climbed onto one of the tanks with a whiskey bottle full of a flammable liquid. He dropped the bottle on decking, the liquid spread flame to the engine, the tank began to burn and the crew had to evacuate. The other tank held back, although it kept firing. However, from then on, the surviving tank supported the marines, rather than leading attacks.