"The American tank building school began with building tanks based on foreign designs. For example, the first real success of American builders was based on the Renault FT. The reworked version of the tank, M1916 6-t Light Tank, became the main vehicle for American tank units for fifteen years. A foreign design was also the base of the first American medium tank accepted for service: the Medium Tank T1E1.
From British Mistakes
American cooperation with Britain was even closer than with the French, resulting in the Mark VIII International heavy tank: a tank that was designed in Britain, equipped with an American engine, and built in the United States. Of course, analogous tanks were also designed in the US, but it was the designs with foreign roots that became the catalyst for the development of American heavyweight tanks.
The situation with medium tanks developed in a similar fashion. While there were more or less successful attempts to create light and heavy tanks during WWI, the medium class was practically absent. An attempt to create a medium tank named "Tracklayer Best 75" was a design based on the Holt 75 tractor. While this tractor served as a base for tracked vehicles in Britain, Germany, and France, the American attempt failed. A prototype was built in 1917, but it was only suitable for propaganda purposes, which it excelled at…"
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