American armored fighting vehicle production during World War II

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.

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;

• M22 = Light Tank M22 Locust, 37 mm M6 gun
• M24 = Light Tank M24 Chaffee, 75 mm M6 gun
• M18 GMC = M18 Gun Motor Carriage, also known as the Hellcat, was 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 Lee and Sherman tanks. Following the German invasion of France in 1940, a small number of Medium M2A1 tanks (an improvement of the M2) were manufactured for training, while a more modern tank (which was eventually to become the Medium M3 Lee) was designed.

The Lee was superseded by the Medium M4 Sherman.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.

Notes:

• M2A1 = Medium M2A1
• M3 = Medium M3 Lee/Grant. The American version was the Lee (named after General Lee); the slightly modified British version was the Grant (named after General 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 GMC = M10 Gun Motor Carriage with 3" M7 gun
• M36 GMC = M36 Gun Motor Carriage with 90 mm M1 gun
• M7 HMC = M7 Howitzer Motor Carriage, M3 (Grant) or M4 (Sherman) hull with 105 mm howitzer in forward-facing mount. Given the nickname Priest by British gunners.
• M12 GMC = M12 Gun Motor Carriage, M3 (Grant) hull with 155 mm M1918 gun in forward-facing mount
• 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.

• M26 = Heavy M26 Pershing, 90 mm M3 gun