American armored fighting vehicle production during World War II

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This page details tank production by the United States of America during World War II.

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The USA began 1940 with the M2 Light Tanks and M1 Combat Cars (later re-designated M2 Light Tank). These were machinegun-armed light vehicles, the tanks belonging to the Infantry and the Combat Cars belonging to the Cavalry. In 1940, the M2A4 Light Tank introduced a cannon (37mm) armament. The machinegun-armed tanks were never used in combat, and only a handful of cannon-armed vehicles saw service in the Pacific; but their design formed the basis of the later M3/M5 Light Tanks (evolved from the M2A4). M2, M3 and M5 light tanks. The British officially called their M3s Stuarts, and often referred to them as "Honeys".

         1940  1941  1942  1943  1944  1945  Total
M1         34     -     -     -     -     -     34
M2        325    40    10     -     -     -    375
M3          -  2551  7839  3469     -     -  13859
M5          -     -  2825  4063  1963     -   8851
M8 HMC

Notes:

  • M1 = Combat Car M1, machine gun
  • M2 = Light Tank M2, 37 mm gun
  • 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

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;

         1940  1941  1942  1943  1944  1945  Total
M22        -     -     -    680   150    -     830
M24        -     -     -      -  1930  2801   4731
M18 GMC    -     -     -    812  1695    -    2507
  • 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

In 1939, the USA had manufactured 18 examples of the Medium M2 tank. This tank was never to see combat 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 improved model) 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The Lee was superseded by the Medium M4 Sherman.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 75 mm gun; later versions of the Sherman were armed with a 76 mm gun or a 105 mm howitzer.

On the Sherman hull, the M10 and M36 tank destroyers (officially called Gun Motor Carriages) were produced.

The M7 Howitzer Motor Carriage was originally built on the M-3 medium tank chassis, but later versions were built on the similar M-4 tank chassis.

         1940  1941  1942  1943  1944  1945  Total
M2A1        6    88     -     -     -     -     94
M3          -  1342  4916     -     -     -   5258
M4          -     -  8017 21231  3504   651  33403
M4 (76)     -     -     -     -  7135  3748  10883
M4 (105)    -     -     -     -  2286  2394   4680
M10 GMC     -     -   639  6067     -     -   6706
M36 GMC     -     -     -     -  1400   924   2324
M7 HMC      -     -  2028   786  1164   338   4316
M12 GMC     -     -    60    40     -     -    100
M30 CC      -     -    60    40     -     -    100

Notes:

  • M2A1 = Medium M2A1
  • M3 = Medium M3 Lee/Grant. The original US 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-series 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.

The Pershing heavy tank (named after General Pershing) was the only heavy tank used in combat by the US armed forces during World War II. An earlier design, the M-6 heavy tank, was not accepted for series production.

         1944  1945  Total
M26        40  2162   2202
  • M26 = Heavy M26 Pershing, 90 mm M3 gun
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