The introduction of the armored tank revolutionized modern warfare. Before tanks, front-line ground combat was fought primarily by soldiers and often resulted in heavy casualties. World War I was the first major war that saw tank deployment. Allied forces successfully deployed tanks to tackle stalemates in trench warfare along the Western Front. (Here are 20 tank prototypes rejected by the U.S. military.)
Since then, tanks have evolved into highly mobile attack vehicles. Part of innovating the tank was adding bigger guns or stronger armor, but adding mobility and speed were equally important so as not to be a sitting duck on the battlefield. The much-discussed M1 Abrams that the U.S. sent to Ukraine to aide in its defense against the Russian invasion, has a top speed of 41.6 mph. (See countries with the most tanks in 2023.)
To determine the fastest tanks in U.S. military history, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed a list of tanks used by the U.S. military from Military Factory, an online database of military vehicles, aircraft, arms and more used by militaries across the world. All U.S. tanks are ranked here according to their top speed. Additional data on the type of tank, country of origin, crew size, wars served, and number produced also came from Military Factory.
Here is the top speed of every US Army tank in history, ranked:
29. Tank Mk V
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
The Tank Mk V was a cross between a heavy tank and an armored fighting vehicle made by the United Kingdom that boasted a maximum speed of 4.6 mph. It entered service in 1918 and was utilized in World War I.
28. Renault Ft-17
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
The Renault Ft-17 was a light tank made by France that had a top speed of 4.8 mph. It entered service in 1917 and was utilized in World War I. The tank could fit 2 and 3,694 units were produced.
27. M1917 6-ton
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
The M1917 6-ton was a light two-man combat tank made by the United States that had a maximum speed of 5.5 mph. It entered service in 1918 and was utilized in World War I. There were 950 of these tanks produced.
26. Tank Mark VIII (International / Liberty)
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
The Tank Mark VIII (also known as The International or Liberty) was an armored fighting vehicle made by the United States that boasted a maximum speed of 6.2 mph. It entered service in 1919 and was utilized in World War I. It could fit a crew of 11.
25. Ford Model 1918 3-ton (M1918)
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
The Ford Model 1918 3-ton (commonly referred to as an M1918) was a light tank combat vehicle made by the United States that had a maximum speed of 8.1 mph. It entered service in 1918 and served in World War I.
24. M103 (Tank, Combat, Full Tracked, 120-mm, M103)
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
The M103 (also known as various iterations of Tank, Combat, Full Tracked, 120-mm, M103) was a heavy tank made by the United States that had a maximum speed of 21.1 mph. It entered service in 1957 and could fit a crew of 5 comfortably.
23. Sherman Jumbo (Medium Tank, M4A3E2)
Source: Bill Abbott / Flickr
The Sherman Jumbo (or, Medium Tank, M4A3E2) was a mix between an up-armored medium tank and an assault tank made by the United States that could go as fast as 21.7 mph. It entered service in 1944 and served in World War II.
22. M4A3(76)W HVSS Sherman (Easy Eight / M4A3E8)
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
Another variant of the M4 Sherman was a M4A3(76)W HVSS Sherman (known commonly as Easy Eight or the M4A3E8) was made by the United States that had a maximum speed of 23.0 mph. It entered service in 1944 and served in World War II as well as the Korean War.
21. M4 Sherman (Medium Tank, M4)
Source: Joost J. Bakker / Wikimedia Commons
The original M4 Sherman (officially known as Medium Tank, M4) was made by the United States and had a maximum speed of 23.9 mph. It entered service in 1942 and was utilized in World War II and the Korean War. This was the top produced tank with 50,000 units made.
20. Sherman Firefly (Medium Tank, M4A4)
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
The Sherman Firefly (Medium Tank, M4A4), another variant of the M4 Sherman, was a hybrid of a tank destroyer and medium tank made by the United Kingdom that could go as fast as 24.9 mph. It entered service in 1944 and was utilized in World War II and the Korean War.
19. M26 Pershing
Source: Josh Hallett / Wikimedia Commons
The M26 Pershing was a cross between a heavy and medium tank made by the United States that had a maximum speed of 24.9 mph. It entered service in 1945 and served in World War II and the Korean War.
18. Medium Tank M2
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
The Medium Tank M2 was a medium sized tank made by the United States that had a maximum speed of 26.1 mph. It entered service in 1940 and fought in World War II. It could fit a crew of 6.
17. M3 Lee / M3 Grant (Medium Tank, M3)
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
The M3 Lee or M3 Grant was a medium tank made by the United States that topped out at 26.1 mph. It entered service in 1941 and was utilized in World War II.
16. Sherman Crab
Source: Balcer / Wikimedia Commons
The Sherman Crab was a special purpose mine flail tank tracked support vehicle (used to make a safe trail through a minefield) made by the United Kingdom that had a maximum speed of 28.6 mph. It entered service in 1942 and was utilized in World War II.
15. Sherman DD (Duplex Drive)
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
The Sherman DD (short for Duplex Drive) was an amphibious combat tank tracked combat vehicle made by the United Kingdom that had a maximum speed of 28.6 mph (like the Sherman Crab). It entered service in 1944 and served in World War II. It could fit a crew of 5.
14. M46 Patton (General Patton)
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
The M46 Patton (also known as General Patton) was a medium tank tracked combat vehicle made by the United States that topped out at 29.8 mph. It entered service in 1950 and was used in the Korean War.
13. M47 (Patton II)
Source: Austin Ring / Wikimedia Commons
The M47 (also designated as Patton II) was a medium tank tracked combat vehicle made by the United States that had a maximum speed of 29.8 mph. It entered service in 1951 and could fit a crew of 5.
12. M48 Patton
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
Another Patton variant, the M48 Patton was a medium tank made by the United States that could go as fast as 29.8 mph. It entered service in 1952 and was used in the Vietnam War. It could fit 4 soldiers and 12,000 units were produced — putting it as the 4th most produced tank on this list.
11. M60 (Patton)
Source: Articseahorse / Wikimedia Commons
The M60 (also known as Patton) was a main battle tank made by the United States that had a top speed of 30.0 mph. It entered service in 1960 and fought in the Vietnam War as well as the Gulf War.
10. Marmon-Herrington CTLS (CTL)
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
The Marmon-Herrington CTLS (also known as CTL) was a light tank or a tankette made by the United States that could go as fast as 32.9 mph. It entered service in 1935 and was utilized in World War II. This tank was designed to fit 2 crew members.
9. M2 (Light tank, M2)
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
The M2 (commonly referred as Light tank or M2) was a light tank made by the United States that had a maximum speed of 34.8 mph. It entered service in 1935 and served in World War II.
8. M24 Chaffee (Light Tank, M24)
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
The M24 Chaffee (referred to as Light Tank or M24) was a reconnaissance light tank (used in missions to survey enemy territory) made by the United States that had a maximum speed of 34.8 mph. It entered service in 1944 and served in several wars — World War II, Korean War, and the Vietnam War.
7. M3 Stuart (Light Tank, M3)
Source: Bundesarchiv, Bild 101I-783-0107-14A / Dorsen / CC-BY-SA 3.0 / Wikimedia Commons
The M3 Stuart (Light Tank, M3) was a light tank made by the United States that could go as fast as 36.0 mph. It entered service in 1941 and was utilized in World War II. This tank is the 2nd most produced tank on this list with 22,744 units made.
6. M5 Stuart (Light tank, M5) (Stuart VI)
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
Another Stuart variant, the M5 Stuart (known as Light tank, M5, or Stuart VI) was a light tank made by the United States that had a maximum speed of 36.0 mph. It entered service in 1942 and served in World War II.
5. M22 Locust (Light tank, Airborne, M22)
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
The M22 Locust was an airborne infantry light tank made by the United States that had a maximum speed of 39.8 mph. It entered service in 1943 and was utilized in World War II.
4. M1 Abrams
Source: oregonmildep / Flickr
The M1 Abrams was a main battle tank made by the United States that could go as fast as 41.6 mph. It entered service in 1980 and served in the Gulf War, the War in Afghanistan and the Iraq War.
3. M551 Sheridan
Source: 101561334@N08 / Flickr
The M551 Sheridan was an armored reconnaissance airborne assault vehicle made by the United States that had a maximum speed of 43.5 mph. It entered service in 1968 and has fought in the Vietnam War and the Gulf War.
2. M1 (Light Tank, M1 / M1 Combat Car)
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
The M1 (also known as the M1 Combat Car) was a light tank made by the United States that had a top speed of 44.7 mph. It entered service in 1933 and served in World War II.
1. M41 Walker Bulldog
The M41 Walker Bulldog was a light tank tracked combat vehicle made by the United States that boasted a top speed of 45.0 mph — the fastest tank on this list. It entered service in 1951 and served in the Korean War and the Vietnam War. It could fit a crew of 4 and 3,728 units were produced.
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