Tanks emerged as a crucial element of ground-based attacks during the tumultuous years of World War II. While the American military had utilized tanks by the end of World War I, early models were clunky and often posed a more significant threat to their own crews than to the enemy. However, advancements in tank technology during the interwar period led to increased speed, agility, and firepower. Below is a comprehensive list of every tank used by the U.S. Army throughout its history.
During the period of 1939-1945, the U.S. Army accumulated a formidable set of tanks. One of the most significant designs of that era was the M3 Stuart light tank, which was used early in the war but proved to be ineffective against German armored vehicles and was quickly replaced by newer models.
In contrast, the M4 Sherman medium tank became a crucial player in the Allied offensive, with a staggering 50,000 units produced between 1942 and 1945. Not only were these tanks easy to transport, but they were also comparatively affordable to manufacture, which made them the most abundant tanks ever used by the U.S. Army.
CEOWORLD magazine conducted a comprehensive review of a list of tanks used by the U.S. Army to determine the top tanks in the history of mass production. The list was obtained from Military Factory, an online database that provides information on various military vehicles. The tanks were ranked based on the total number produced. The additional data on tank type, country of origin, unit size, and wars served were also sourced from the Military Factory.
After World War II, M4 Sherman tanks played a significant role in the Korean War, alongside a new line of tanks named after General Patton. By the time the Vietnam War began, the Patton tank family had expanded to include two of the most produced tanks after the Shermans and Stuarts: the M48 Pattons and the M60s. The M48 Pattons were the primary workhorses during the war, while the M60s were the first tanks designated as “main battle tanks.”
- M4 Sherman
Number produced: 50,000
Year entered service: 1942
Wars served: World War II, Korean War
Country of origin: United States
Type: Medium tank
Crew size: 5 - M3 Stuart
Number produced: 22,744
Year entered service: 1941
Wars served: World War II
Country of origin: United States
Type: Light tank
Crew size: 4 - M60 (Patton)
Number produced: 15,000
Year entered service: 1960
Wars served: Vietnam War, Gulf War
Country of origin: United States
Type: Main battle tank
Crew size: 4 - M48 Patton
Number produced: 12,000
Year entered service: 1952
Wars served: Vietnam War
Country of origin: United States
Type: Medium tank
Crew size: 4 - M1 Abrams
Number produced: 10,000
Year entered service: 1980
Wars served: Gulf War, War in Afghanistan, Iraq War
Country of origin: United States
Type: Main battle tank
Crew size: 4 - M5 Stuart
Number produced: 8,884
Year entered service: 1942
Wars served: World War II
Country of origin: United States
Type: Light tank
Crew size: 4 - M47 (Patton II)
Number produced: 8,676
Year entered service: 1951
Wars served: N/A
Country of origin: United States
Type: Medium tank tracked combat vehicle
Crew size: 5 - M3 Lee / M3 Grant
Number produced: 6,258
Year entered service: 1941
Wars served: World War II
Country of origin: United States
Type: Medium tank
Crew size: 6 - M24 Chaffee
Number produced: 4,731
Year entered service: 1944
Wars served: World War II, Korean War, Vietnam War
Country of origin: United States
Type: Reconnaissance light tank
Crew size: 5 - M26 Pershing
Number produced: 4,550
Year entered service: 1945
Wars served: World War II, Korean War
Country of origin: United States
Type: Heavy tank / medium tank
Crew size: 5 - M41 Walker Bulldog
Number produced: 3,728
Year entered service: 1951
Wars served: Korean War, Vietnam War
Country of origin: United States
Type: Light tank tracked combat vehicle
Crew size: 4 - M4A3(76)W HVSS Sherman (Easy Eight)
Number produced: 2,617
Year entered service: 1944
Wars served: World War II, Korean War
Country of origin: United States
Type: Upped-gunned medium tank
Crew size: 5 - M4A4 Sherman Firefly
Number produced: 2,100
Year entered service: 1944
Wars served: World War II, Korean War
Country of origin: United Kingdom
Type: Tank destroyer / medium tank
Crew size: 5 - M551 Sheridan
Number produced: 1,562
Year entered service: 1968
Wars served: Vietnam War, Gulf War
Country of origin: United States
Type: Armored reconnaissance airborne assault vehicle
Crew size: 4 - M46 Patton (General Patton)
Number produced: 1,160
Year entered service: 1950
Wars served: Korean War
Country of origin: United States
Type: Medium tank tracked combat vehicle
Crew size: 5 - Tank Mk V
Number produced: 1,004
Year entered service: 1918
Wars served: World War I
Country of origin: United Kingdom
Type: Heavy tank / armored fighting vehicle
Crew size: 8 - Sherman Crab
Number produced: 1,000
Year entered service: 1942
Wars served: World War II
Country of origin: United Kingdom
Type: Special purpose mine flail tank tracked support vehicle
Crew size: 5 - M1917 6-ton
Number produced: 950
Year entered service: 1918
Wars served: World War I
Country of origin: United States
Type: Light two-man combat tank
Crew size: 2 - Marmon-Herrington CTLS
Number produced: 875
Year entered service: 1935
Wars served: World War II
Country of origin: United States
Type: Light tank / tankette
Crew size: 2 - M22 Locust
Number produced: 830
Year entered service: 1943
Wars served: World War II
Country of origin: United States
Type: Airborne infantry light tank
Crew size: 3 - M2 Light Tank
Number produced: 696
Year entered service: 1935
Wars served: World War II
Country of origin: United States
Type: Light tank
Crew size: 4 - M103
Number produced: 300
Year entered service: 1957
Wars served: N/A
Country of origin: United States
Type: Heavy tank
Crew size: 5 - Sherman Jumbo (M4A3E2)
Number produced: 254
Year entered service: 1944
Wars served: World War II
Country of origin: United States
Type: Up-armored medium tank / assault tank
Crew size: 5 - Sherman DD (Duplex Drive)
Number produced: 200
Year entered service: 1944
Wars served: World War II
Country of origin: United Kingdom
Type: Amphibious combat tank tracked combat vehicle
Crew size: 5 - Tank Mark VIII (International / Liberty)
Number produced: 125
Year entered service: 1919
Wars served: World War I
Country of origin: United States
Type: Armored fighting vehicle
Crew size: 11 - M1 Combat Car
Number produced: 113
Year entered service: 1933
Wars served: World War II
Country of origin: United States
Type: Light tank
Crew size: 4 - M2 Medium Tank
Number produced: 112
Year entered service: 1940
Wars served: World War II
Country of origin: United States
Type: Medium tank
Crew size: 6 - Ford Model 1918 3-ton (M1918)
Number produced: 15
Year entered service: 1918
Wars served: World War I
Country of origin: United States
Type: Light tank combat vehicle
Crew size: 2
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