The Most Feared American Tanks Were Unstoppable in World War II

When looking back at what shaped American military prowess in World War II, tanks are at the forefront of discussion. America saw incredible technological advancements during the era, from aircraft improvements like strategic bombers to aircraft carriers establishing our naval supremacy. But as the U.S. Department of Defense puts it so succinctly: “the star of the land campaign was the tank.” Tanks had been used in World War I, but those tanks had much fewer capabilities than World War II-era tanks, which boasted improved strength and maneuverability, more power, and significant weapons upgrades. This allowed tanks to be deployed during major battles, and strengthened the Allied powers in their mission. (In World War II, here’s how the Allies turned the tide.)

But which tanks played the biggest part in American defense and attack capabilities during the war? Here, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed a catalog of American tanks from Military Factory to determine World War II’s most armed American tanks. These were ranked based on their main gun and secondary armaments. We also included supplementary information from Military Factory regarding the type of tank, year introduced, manufacturer, number of tanks produced, and top speed. Additionally, we included some tanks that did not see combat and some prototypes to give the complete picture of what U.S. tanks were capable of in the World War II era.

Why Cover WWII American Tanks?

We are still feeling the effects of WWII today. The pressure on the U.S. to create new technology and better weapons led to technological advances that — not an exaggeration — changed the world. For example, even though the T30 Heavy Tank never saw one day of combat during the war, its development led to other advancements, like the M60 Patton. The M60 Patton battle tank used during the Cold War era uses the same form of engine from the T30 converted to diesel. By looking at the tanks that shaped World War II, you can gain a better understanding of how these technologies progressed over time. 

Take a look at World War II’s most armed American tanks:

26. Marmon-Herrington CTLS (CTL)

• Armament: .50 caliber Browning M2 heavy machine gun, .30 caliber Browning M1919 medium machine gun
• Type: Light tank/tankette
• Year introduced: 1935
• Manufacturer: Marmon Herrington
• Number of tanks produced: 875
• Top speed: 32.9 mph

25. M1 (Light Tank, M1 / M1 Combat Car)

• Armament: .50 caliber Browning M2 heavy machine gun with .30 M1919 Browning machine gun in turret
• Type: Light tank
• Year introduced: 1933
• Manufacturer: Rock Island Arsenal
• Number of tanks produced: 113
• Top speed: 44.7 mph

24. M22 Locust (Light tank, Airborne, M22)

• Armament: 37mm M6 main gun, 7.62mm Browning M1919 M4 coaxial machine gun
• Type: Airborne infantry light tank
• Year introduced: 1943
• Manufacturer: Marmon-Herrington Corporation
• Number of tanks produced: 830
• Top speed: 39.8 mph

23. Renault Ft-17

• Armament: 37mm main gun, 7.62mm machine guns
• Type: Light tank
• Year introduced: 1917
• Manufacturer: Renault
• Number of tanks produced: 3,694
• Top speed: 4.8 mph

22. M5 Stuart (Light tank, M5) (Stuart VI)

• Armament: 37mm M6 main gun, .30 caliber Browning M1919A4 coaxial machine gun
• Type: Light tank
• Year introduced: 1942
• Manufacturer: Cadillac / Massey Harris / American Car and Foundry
• Number of tanks produced: 8,884
• Top speed: 36 mph

21. M2 (Light tank, M2)

• Armament: 37mm M5 main gun, .30-06 Browning M1919 general purpose machine guns
• Type: Light tank
• Year introduced: 1935
• Manufacturer: Rock Island Arsenal
• Number of tanks produced: 696
• Top speed: 34.8 mph

20. M3 Stuart (Light Tank, M3)

• Armament: 37mm M5/M6 main gun, 5 x .30-06 Browning M1919A4 machine guns in various mounts
• Type: Light tank
• Year introduced: 1941
• Manufacturer: American Car & Foundry Company
• Number of tanks produced: 22,744
• Top speed: 36 mph

19. Medium Tank M2

• Armament: 37mm M3 main gun, 7 x .30-06 Browning M1919 machine guns in various mounts
• Type: Medium tank
• Year introduced: 1940
• Manufacturer: Rock Island Arsenal
• Number of tanks produced: 112
• Top speed: 26.1 mph

18. Sherman Crab

• Armament: 75mm main gun, .303 caliber coaxial machine gun
• Type: Special purpose mine flail tank tracked support vehicle
• Year introduced: 1942
• Manufacturer: State Factories
• Number of tanks produced: 1,000
• Top speed: 28.6 mph

17. Sherman DD (Duplex Drive)

• Armament: 75mm M3 main gun, .30 caliber Browning M1919 coaxial machine gun
• Type: Amphibious combat tank tracked combat vehicle
• Year introduced: 1944
• Manufacturer: State Factories
• Number of tanks produced: 200
• Top speed: 28.6 mph

16. T14 (Assault Tank T14)

• Armament: 75mm M3 main gun, .50 caliber Browning M2 heavy machine gun, .30 caliber coaxial M1919 Browning machine guns
• Type: Heavy tank/assault tank project
• Year introduced: 1944
• Manufacturer: American Locomotive Company
• Number of tanks produced: 2
• Top speed: 17.4 mph
• Note: This prototype did not see combat

15. M24 Chaffee (Light Tank, M24)

• Armament: 75mm main gun, 12.7mm machine gun, 7.62mm coaxial machine guns, 51mm smoke mortar
• Type: Reconnaissance light tank
• Year introduced: 1944
• Manufacturer: Cadillac / Massey Harris
• Number of tanks produced: 4,731
• Top speed: 34.8 mph

14. M3 Lee / M3 Grant (Medium Tank, M3)

• Armament: 75mm M2/M3 main gun, 37mm M5/M6 cannon, .30-06 caliber Browning M1919A4 machine guns
• Type: Medium tank
• Year introduced: 1941
• Manufacturer: Chrysler Corporation
• Number of tanks produced: 6,258
• Top speed: 26.1 mph

13. M18 Gun Motor Carriage (Hellcat)

• Armament: 76mm main gun, 12.7mm Browning M2HB anti-aircraft heavy machine gun
• Type: Tank destroyer
• Year introduced: 1943
• Manufacturer: General Motors / Buick
• Number of tanks produced: 2,507
• Top speed: 55 mph

12. Medium Tank T20

• Armament: 76mm main gun, .50 caliber Browning anti-aircraft machine gun, .30 caliber coaxial machine gun, .30 caliber bow-mounted machine gun
• Type: Prototype medium tank
• Year introduced: 1944
• Manufacturer: U.S. Ordnance Department
• Number of tanks produced: 4
• Top speed: 24.9 mph
• Note: This prototype did not see combat

11. Sherman Jumbo (Medium Tank, M4A3E2)

• Armament: 76mm main gun, .50 caliber anti-aircraft heavy machine gun, .30 caliber coaxial machine gun, .30 caliber bow-mounted machine gun, smoke mortar
• Type: Up-armored medium tank/assault tank
• Year introduced: 1944
• Manufacturer: Fisher Tank Arsenal
• Number of tanks produced: 254
• Top speed: 21.7 mph

10. M4A3(76)W HVSS Sherman (Easy Eight / M4A3E8)

• Armament: 76mm high-velocity main gun, .50 caliber Browning M2 anti-aircraft machine gun, .30-06 caliber coaxial machine gun, .30-06 caliber bow-mounted machine gun
• Type: Upped-gunned medium tank
• Year introduced: 1944
• Manufacturer: Detroit Tank Arsenal / Fisher Tank Arsenal
• Number of tanks produced: 2,617
• Top speed: 23 mph

9. M6 (Heavy tank M6)

• Armament: 76mm M7 main gun, 37mm M6 coaxial cannon, .50 caliber Browning M2HB, .50 caliber Browning M2, .30 caliber Browning M1919A4
• Type: Heavy tank project
• Year introduced: 1940
• Manufacturer: Baldwin Locomotive Works
• Number of tanks produced: 40
• Top speed: 21.7 mph
• Note: This prototype did not see combat

8. M10 Gun Motor Carriage (Wolverine / Achilles)

• Armament: 76.2mm M1 main gun, .50 caliber Browning M2HB anti-aircraft heavy machine gun
• Type: Tank destroyer/gun motor carriage
• Year introduced: 1942
• Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company / Fisher Tank Arsenal
• Number of tanks produced: 6,700
• Top speed: 25 mph

7. Sherman Firefly (Medium Tank, M4A4)

• Armament: 76.2mm Mk IV L/55 main gun, .50 caliber M2 Browning heavy machine gun, .30 caliber Browning M1919A4
• Type: Tank destroyer / medium tank
• Year introduced: 1944
• Manufacturer: State Factories
• Number of tanks produced: 2,100
• Top speed: 24.9 mph

6. M36 Gun Motor Carriage (Jackson / Slugger)

• Armament: 90mm M3 main gun, 12.7mm M2HB Browning heavy machine gun
• Type: Tank destroyer/gun motor carriage tracked combat vehicle
• Year introduced: 1944
• Manufacturer: Chevrolet / General Motors
• Number of tanks produced: 1,772
• Top speed: 30 mph

5. M26 Pershing

• Armament: 90mm main gun, 12.7mm anti-aircraft machine gun, 7.62mm coaxial machine gun, 7.62mm bow-mounted machine gun
• Type: Heavy tank / medium tank
• Year introduced: 1945
• Manufacturer: Fisher Tank Arsenal / Detroit Tank Arsenal
• Number of tanks produced: 4,550
• Top speed: 24.9 mph

4. T28 Super Heavy Tank (Gun Motor Carriage T95)

• Armament: 105mm T5E1 main gun, .50 caliber heavy machine gun
• Type: Self-propelled gun / heavy tank prototype
• Year introduced: 1945
• Manufacturer: Pacific Car and Foundry
• Number of tanks produced: 2
• Top speed: 12 mph
• Note: This prototype did not see combat

3. M4 Sherman (Medium Tank, M4)

• Armament: 105mm main gun, .50 caliber Browning M2 anti-aircraft machine gun, .30-06 caliber coaxial machine gun, .30-06 bow-mounted machine gun
• Type: Medium tank
• Year introduced: 1942
• Manufacturer: American Locomotive / Detroit Tank Arsenal / Lima Locomotive
• Number of tanks produced: 50,000
• Top speed: 23.9 mph

2. T29 (Heavy Tank T29)

• Armament: 105mm T5E2 main gun, 3 x .50 caliber Browning M2HB in various mounts, .30 caliber Browning M1919 machine gun
• Type: Heavy tank prototype vehicle
• Year introduced: 1944
• Manufacturer: State Factories
• Number of tanks produced: 6
• Top speed: 19.9 mph
• Note: This prototype did not see combat

1. T30 (Heavy Tank T30)

• Armament: 155mm T7 L/40 main gun, .50 caliber coaxial heavy machine gun, .30 caliber machine gun
• Type: Heavy tank prototype
• Year introduced: 1945
• Manufacturer: State Factories
• Number of tanks produced: 8
• Top speed: 16.5 mph
• Note: This prototype did not see combat

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