The first heavy lank buill in production quantities For the U.S. Army resulted from a cooperative Allied effort during World War I. Although often referred to as the Liberty Tank, the International Tank, or the Anglo-American Tank, it was officially designated as the heavy tank Mark VIII and was developed from the earlier British designs first introduced into battle during 1916. Several experimental heavy tanks, such as the Holt gas-electric vehicle and the steam powered lank developed by the Corps of Engineers, were evaluated in the United Slates, but the Mark VIII design, based on the British experience with the large trench crossing tank, was selected for production. The original plan called for ihe United States to manufacture the engines and other power train components and Britain would supply the armament, armor plate, and other structural parts. To minimize shipping space requirements, the various components were to be assembled in a new factory constructed in France...

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