The Mark VIII, or “Liberty Tank,” an American armored pioneer, has returned to its birthplace at Rock Island Arsenal, Illinois, over a century after its initial production.

As military vehicle historian John Adams-Graf says, “It represents the U.S. Army’s full commitment to fielding and supplying a heavy tank component of its fledgling armored branch of service.”

Adams-Graf conveyed, “It symbolizes an initial collaborative endeavor among allies to introduce ‘universal’ armaments.” He elaborated to The National Interest, stating, “Great Britain and the U.S. established a cooperative arrangement wherein Great Britain would supply the hulls, guns, and ammunition, while the U.S. would contribute the powerplants and drivetrain components.”

This strategic cooperation aimed to enhance efficiency in the supply and maintenance of tanks during the European conflict, as both nations recognized that jointly developing heavy tanks would be more effective than pursuing individual efforts.

Despite being rendered obsolete by the late 1920s, the tank’s significance lies beyond its combat application.

Although it missed the opportunity for combat deployment during World War I and quickly became outdated by the late 1920s, the Mk VIII is regarded as a precursor to subsequent American tank developments.

These tanks were utilized for training purposes, stationed at military installations in Maryland and Pennsylvania, and eventually phased out of service by 1932.

Out of the 124 tanks produced at Rock Island Arsenal between 1919 and 1920, only three survive today.

One of the American Liberty Tanks currently resides in the “Tankodrome” at Fort Moore, Georgia, as part of the collection at the Armor Center Training Support Facility (TSF).

Meanwhile, a British-made Mk VIII is on display at the renowned Bovington Tank Museum.

Another American Liberty Tank was previously showcased at the U.S. military’s Aberdeen Proving Ground in Maryland as part of the facility’s “Mile of Tanks” exhibition until 2014. The years of exposure to the elements had a detrimental effect on the Mk VIII.

Following a period of storage at Fort Benning, the tank was transported back to Rock Island Arsenal in 2021 for restoration.

Restoration was a complex task involving the replacement of missing components, some of which were fabricated using 3D printing technology, and dealing with high levels of lead paint. The effort to restore the Mark VIII was communal, involving engineers, machinists, apprentices, welders, and fabricators.

Jamie Medinger, division chief at the Joint Manufacturing and Technology Center, described the challenges: “We weren’t sure we could get it back together once we took it apart because everything was hot riveted.”

Despite these challenges, the team successfully sealed the old paint and fabricated missing parts, rejuvenating the Mk VIII.

Relevant articles:
– Mark VIII: The Original U.S. Army Tank Has Come Home, The National Interest
– Mark VII Tank, fandom.com
– Mark VIII Tank comes back to RIA a century later, Army.mil