This page details tank production by the United States of America during World War II.
Light Tanks
Stuart Series
The USA began 1940 with the M1 and M2 Combat Cars (later designated M1 Light Tank). These were never used in combat, but their design formed the basis of the later M2, M3 and M5 light tanks. The British referred to the M3 as the Stuart.
| Model | 1940 | 1941 | 1942 | 1943 | 1944 | 1945 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| M1 | 34 | |||||
| M2 | 325 | 40 | 10 | |||
| M3 | — | 2,551 | 7,839 | 3,469 | ||
| M5 | — | — | 2,825 | 4,063 | 1,963 |
Notes:
- M1 = Light Tank M1
- M2 = Light Tank M2
- M3 = Light Tank M3, 37 mm gun
- M5 = Light Tank M5, 37 mm gun
- M8 HMC = M8 Howitzer Motor Carriage, 75 mm M2 or M3 howitzer on M5 hull
Other Light Tanks
The M22 Locust was specially designed as an airmobile tank, to be delivered to the battlefield by glider.
The M24 Chaffee was intended as a replacement for the M3 and M5 series.
| Model | 1940 | 1941 | 1942 | 1943 | 1944 | 1945 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| M22 | — | — | — | 680 | 150 | |
| M24 | — | — | — | — | 1,930 | 2,801 |
| M18 MGC | — | — | — | 812 | 1,695 |
M22 = Light Tank M22 Locust, 37 mm M6 gun. M24 = Light Tank M24 Chaffee, 75 mm M6 gun. M18 MGC = M18 Motor Gun Carriage, also known as the Hellcat, a tank destroyer armed with a 76 mm M1 gun.
Medium Tanks
In 1939, the USA had manufactured 18 examples of the Medium M2 tank. This tank was never to see service, but its chassis and suspension were used as a basis for the Grant and Sherman tanks. Following the German invasion of France in 1940, a small number of Medium M2A1 tanks were manufactured for training, while a more modern tank (which was eventually to become the Medium M3 Grant) was designed.
The Grant was superseded by the Medium M4 Sherman. This originally carried a low-velocity 75 mm gun, suitable for use against infantry, but not very suitable as an anti-tank gun. Later versions of the Sherman were armed with a 76 mm (anti-tank) gun, or a 105 mm howitzer.
On the Sherman hull, the M10 and M36 tank destroyers (officially called Motor Gun Carriages) were produced.
The versatile Sherman hull was also used for a self-propelled artillery piece, the M7 Howitzer Motor Carriage.
| Model | 1940 | 1941 | 1942 | 1943 | 1944 | 1945 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| M2A1 | 6 | 88 | ||||
| M3 | — | 1,342 | 4,916 | |||
| M4 | — | — | 8,017 | 21,231 | 3,504 | 651 |
| M4 (76) | — | — | — | — | 7,135 | 3,748 |
| M4 (105) | — | — | — | — | 2,286 | 2,394 |
| M10 MGC | — | — | 639 | 6,067 | ||
| M36 MGC | — | — | — | — | 1,400 | 924 |
| M7 HMC | — | — | 2,028 | 786 | 1,164 | 338 |
| M12 GMC | — | — | 60 | 40 | ||
| M30 CC | — | — | 60 | 40 |
Notes:
- M2A1 = Medium M2A1
- M3 = Medium M3 Lee/Grant. The American version was the Lee; the slightly modified British version was the Grant.
- M4 = Medium M4 Sherman with 75 mm M3 (L/38) gun
- M4 (76) = Medium M4 Sherman with 76 mm M1 gun
- M4 (105) = Medium M4 Sherman with 105 mm howitzer
- M10 MGC = M10 Motor Gun Carriage with 3" M7 gun
- M36 MGC = M36 Motor Gun Carriage with 90 mm M1 gun
- M7 HMC = M7 Howitzer Motor Carriage, M3 (Grant) or M4 (Sherman) hull with 105 mm howitzer
- M12 GMC = M12 Gun Motor Carriage, M3 (Grant) hull with 155 mm M1918 gun
- M30 CC = M30 Cargo Carrier, ammunition carrier for M12 GMC
Heavy Tanks
The Pershing heavy tank (named after General Pershing) was the only heavy tank used by the US armed forces during World War II.
| Model | 1944 | 1945 |
|---|---|---|
| M26 | 40 | 2,162 |
M26 = Heavy M26 Pershing, 90 mm M3 gun
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