Tanks have evolved significantly since the creation of the first armored vehicle, developed by the British in 1915. Known as Little Willie, it had a multitude of issues but laid the groundwork for the more successful tanks that followed, starting with Mark I. This tank was known as Big Willie and debuted during World War I in the Battle of the Somme.
As they had no tanks of their own, the United States military first used the two-man light tank, the French-made Renault FT-17 until it began developing its own tanks during the First World War. Three models were developed – the M1917 Light Tank based on the French Renault FT-17, the Model 1917 Holt that was ultimately a failure, and the Ford Model 1918 3-ton Light Tank Combat Vehicle (M1918).
The military has certainly come a long way from these earlier models and tanks have only continued to evolve. Entering service in 1980, the M1 Abrams is still the main tank in the U.S. military’s arsenal. The White House called it “the most capable tank in the world,” and others still believe it to be the best tank ever used. The M1 Abrams is vastly different from the first tanks used by the U.S. military in World War I. With three main versions – the M1, the M1A1, and the M1A2 – each reproduction sees improvements in all areas. (Check out The Newest Tanks of the Modern Era.)
To identify the U.S. military tanks throughout the years, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed a list of tanks used by the U.S. military from Military Factory, an online database of vehicles, aircraft, arms, and more used by militaries across the world. Tanks are listed according to when they entered the service. Data on the type of tank, country of origin, crew size, wars served, and number produced also came from Military Factory.
World War II saw the United States develop different tanks with many differing qualities, including the Pershing with its unreliable transmission, but it was the British-made M4 Sherman “that would become a legend on the battlefield,” according to Popular Mechanics. The Sherman, an all-round medium tank, came with a 75mm gun as standard and had a five-man crew. (This is the largest tank battle in history.)
The Sherman was still used in Korea, and in the Vietnam War, but it was the M48 Patton and later the M551 Sheridan light tank that became the workhorses of these conflicts. Meanwhile, the concept of the Main Battle Tank – to combine the firepower and protection of a heavy tank with the mobility of a medium tank by using composite armor and improvements in engine, suspension, and more – continued to develop. The M60 Patton, which entered service in 1960, packed a 105mm gun, had armor up to 10 inches thick, and could travel up to 30 mph with a crew of four.
What was once the best is still always in need of improvement and the Patton was no different. By the 1970s, the development of the M1 Abrams began. Named after U.S. Army General Creighton Williams Abrams, Jr., the Abrams weighs about ten times more than tanks used in WWI and is still being constantly upgraded.
Incorporating new electronics and GPS systems, a new type of armor that is up to a foot thick in some places, and packing a 120mm M256A1 smoothbore gun that can pour armor-piercing rounds with depleted uranium penetrators and M830 high-explosive anti-tank rounds, it proved itself in the Gulf War, destroying multitudes of Iraqi tanks.
Here is every tank in the history of the US military.
Renault FT-17
Source: Paul Hermans, CC BY-SA 3.0 , via Wikimedia Commons
- Country of origin: France
The Renault FT-17 entered service in 1917 and served in World War I. This light tank has a two-person crew. There were 3,694 produced, making it the 12th most-produced tank.
Tank Mk V
Source: Ian Dunster/Public Domain/via wikipedia commons
- Country of origin: United Kingdom
The Tank MK V (Mark V) is a heavy tank/armored fighting vehicle with an eight-person crew that entered service in 1918. It served in World War I. There were 1,004 produced, making it the 17th most-produced tank.
Ford Model 1918 3-ton (M1918)
Source: Schierbecker, CC BY-SA 4.0 , via Wikimedia Commons
- Country of origin: United States
The Ford Model 1918 3-ton (M1918) entered service in 1918 and served in the First World War. It is a light tank combat vehicle with a two-person crew. There were 15 produced, making it the 29th most-produced tank.
M1917 6-ton
Source: JustSomePics, CC BY-SA 3.0 , via Wikimedia Commons
- Country of origin: United States
The M1917 6-ton entered service in 1918 and served in World War I. This is a light two-man combat tank with a two-person crew. There were 950 produced, making it the 19th most-produced tank.
Tank Mark VIII (International / Liberty)
Source: Public Domain/Wikipedia
- Country of origin: United States
The Tank Mark VIII (International/Liberty) entered service in 1919. This armored fighting vehicle with an 11-person crew served in the First World War. There were 125 produced, making it the 26th most-produced tank.
M1 (Light Tank, M1 / M1 Combat Car)
Source: New York World's Fair (Federal Government), Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
- Country of origin: United States
The M1 (Light Tank, M1/M1 Combat Car) entered service in 1933. This light tank with a four-person crew served in the Second World War. There were 113 produced, making it the 27th most-produced tank.
Marmon-Herrington CTLS (CTL)
Source: United States Army / Public Domain/via Wikipedia
- Country of origin: United States
The Marmon-Herrington CTLS entered service in 1935. This light tank/tankette with a two-person crew served in World War II. There were 875 produced, making it the 20th most-produced tank.
M2 (Light tank, M2)
Source: Harris & Ewing, photographer., Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
- Country of origin: United States
The M2 Light Tank entered service in 1935. This light tank with a four-person crew served in World War I. There were 696 produced, making it the 22nd most-produced tank.
Medium Tank M2
Source: User:Fat yankey, CC BY-SA 2.5 , via Wikimedia Commons
- Country of origin: United States
The Medium Tank M2 is a medium tank with a six-person crew that entered service in 1940 and served in World War II. There were 112 produced, making it the 28th most-produced tank.
M3 Lee / M3 Grant (Medium Tank, M3)
Source: No 1 Army Film & Photographic Unit, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
- Country of origin: United States
The M3 Lee/M3 Grant (Medium Tank, M3) entered service in 1941. This medium tank with a six-person crew served in World War II. There were 6,258 produced, making it the 8th most-produced tank.
M3 Stuart (Light Tank, M3)
Source: Alfred T. Palmer, photographer, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
- Country of origin: United States
The M3 Stuart/Light Tank M3 entered service in 1941. This light tank with a four-person crew served in World War II. There were 22,744 produced, making it the 2nd most-produced tank.
M5 Stuart (Light tank, M5) (Stuart VI)
Source: US Army, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
- Country of origin: United States
The M5 Stuart (Light tank, M5) (Stuart VI) entered service in 1942, serving in the Second World War. This light tank has a four-person crew. There were 8,884 produced, making it the 6th most-produced tank.
Sherman Crab
Source: Balcer/CC BY-SA 3.0 DEED/wikimedia commons
- Country of origin: United Kingdom
The Sherman Crab is a special-purpose mine flail tank tracked support vehicle with a five-person crew that entered service in 1942. This support vehicle served in World War II. There were 1,000 produced, making it the 18th most-produced tank.
M4 Sherman (Medium Tank, M4)
Source: Joost J. Bakker, CC BY 2.0 , via Wikimedia Commons
- Country of origin: United States
The M4 Sherman (Medium Tank, M4) entered service in 1942 and is a medium tank with a five-person crew. The M4 served in World War II and the Korean War. There were 50,000 produced, making it the number one most-produced tank.
M22 Locust (Light tank, Airborne, M22)
Source: Max Smith, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
- Country of origin: United States
The M22 Locust (Light tank, Airborne, M22) is an airborne infantry light tank that entered service in 1943. This light tank had a three-person crew and served in World War II. There were 830 produced, making it the 21st most-produced tank.
Sherman Firefly (Medium Tank, M4A4)
Source: U.S. ARMY CENTER OF MILITARY HISTORY, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
- Country of origin: United Kingdom
The Sherman Firefly (Medium Tank, M4A4) is a tank destroyer/medium tank that had a five-person crew. The Firefly entered service in 1944 and served in World War II and the Korean War. There were 2,100 produced, making it the 14th most-produced tank.
M4A3(76)W HVSS Sherman (Easy Eight / M4A3E8)
Source: Yellowute at English Wikipedia, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
- Country of origin: United States
The M4A3 (76) W HVSS Sherman is an upped-gunned medium tank with a five-person crew. the M4A3 entered service in 1944 and served in World War II and the Korean War. There were 2,617 produced, making it the 13th most-produced tank.
Sherman DD (Duplex Drive)
Source: Photographer not identified. "Official photograph".Post-Work: User:W.wolny, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
- Country of origin: United Kingdom
The Sherman DD is an amphibious combat tank tracked combat vehicle that had a five-person crew. There were 200 produced, making it the 25th most-produced tank.
Sherman Jumbo (Medium Tank, M4A3E2)
Source: Megapixie/Public Domain/via Wikimedia commons
- Country of origin: United States
The Sherman Jumbo is an up-armored medium tank/assault tank with a five-person crew. There were 254 produced, making it the 24th most-produced tank.
M24 Chaffee (Light Tank, M24)
Source: ajw1970 / Flickr
- Country of origin: United States
The M24 Chaffee is a reconnaissance light tank with a five-person crew. It entered service in 1944 and served in World War II, the Korean and Vietnam Wars. There were 4,731 produced, making it the 9th most-produced tank.
M26 Pershing
Source: Josh Hallett, CC BY-SA 2.0 , via Wikimedia Commons
- Country of origin: United States
The M26 Pershing is a heavy tank/medium tank with a five-person crew. There were 4,550 produced, making it the 10th most-produced tank. The M26 entered service in 1945 and served in World War II and the Korean War.
M46 Patton (General Patton)
Source: MSGT. J.W. HAYES, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
- Country of origin: United States
The M46 Patton is a medium tank-tracked combat vehicle with a five-person crew. There were 1,160 produced, making it the 16th most-produced tank. The General Patton tank entered service in 1950 and served in the Korean War.
M47 (Patton II)
Source: Austin Ring, CC BY-SA 4.0 , via Wikimedia Commons
- Country of origin: United States
The M47 (Patton II) is a medium tank-tracked combat vehicle with a five-person crew. There were 8,676 produced, making it the 7th most-produced tank. The Patton II entered service in 1951 and is the only Patton series tank that never saw combat while in US service.
M41 Walker Bulldog
Source: Wilson44691, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Country of origin: United States
The M41 Walker Bulldog is a light tank-tracked combat vehicle with a four-person crew. There were 3,728 produced, making it the 11th most-produced tank. The M41 entered service in 1951 and served in the Korean and Vietnam Wars.
M48 Patton
Source: svarshik / iStock Editorial via Getty Images
- Country of origin: United States
The M48 Patton is a medium tank with a four-person crew. There were 12,000 produced, making it the 4th most-produced tank. The Patton entered service in 1952 and served in the Vietnam War.
M103 (Tank, Combat, Full Tracked, 120-mm, M103)
Source: Anefo, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Country of origin: United States
The M103 is a heavy tank with a five-person crew. This tank entered service in 1957 and although it was in use during the Cold War, it did not see battle. There were 300 produced, making it the 23rd most-produced tank.
M60 (Patton)
Source: hisgett / Flickr
- Country of origin: United States
The M60 (Patton) is a main battle tank with a four-person crew. There were 15,000 produced, making it the 3rd most-produced tank. The Patton entered service in 1960 and served in the Vietnam War and the Gulf War.
M551 Sheridan
Source: Mark Holloway from Anaconda, Montana, CC BY 2.0 , via Wikimedia Commons
- Country of origin: United States
The M551 Sheridan is an armored reconnaissance airborne assault vehicle with a four-person crew. There were 1,562 produced, making it the 15th most-produced tank. The Sheridan entered service in 1968 and served in the Vietnam War and the Gulf War.
M1 Abrams
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
- Country of origin: United States
The M1 Abrams is a main battle tank with a four-person crew that entered service in 1980. The Abrams served in the Gulf War, the War in Afghanistan, and the Iraq War. There were 10,000 produced, making it the 5th most-produced tank.
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