(WHAS11) - The first of four convoys to leave Fort Knox to transport armor pieces to Fort Benning, Georgia began Monday. It is the first visible sign of the Base Realignment and Closure Initiative - BRAC - taking shape.
About 230 artifacts dating back to World War I are slated to move from the Patton Museum at Fort Knox to become part of an expanded National Armor and Calvary Museum at Fort Benning.
"This is the bigger push because the armor center is going to Fort Benning. This is kind of getting the ball rolling," said Lt. Sean Chang, with the 233rd Transportation Company at Fort Knox.
Tanks, guns, army vehicles and other artifacts left Monday in a convoy of about 13 vehicles. The 233rd Transportation Company is transporting the first convoy as part of training. Some of the other convoys will happen with the help of outside contractors.
"I know a lot of people are upset to see it go, especially since Fort Knox is the armor center and has been the armor center for a long time."
But the Patton Museum will remain, with about 50 historic pieces. Lt. Chang says that the army plans to "bulk up" the Patton Museum, which has been the busiest Army museum in the country over the past five years.
The move must be complete by September 2011.
