If you’ve ever wanted to learn more about tanks — heavily armored combat vehicles — then you should head to the American Heritage Museum in Massachusetts. According to the Museum’s webpage, the American Heritage Museum’s mission is “to bring visitors an immersive experience in history to give a greater appreciation for those who lived it and an excitement to learn more.” From April to October, they do that by offering a more unique experience than you’ll find anywhere else. Have you guessed it? That’s right — the museum will gives you the opportunity to drive a World War II-era tank. Step into either the M4A3 Sherman Medium Tank, the M24 Chaffee Light Tank, or the M36 Jackson Tank Destroyer. Either way, you’ll be immersing yourself in history in a way that would probably never be possible unless you were a member of our armed forces. This experience offers you a deeper understanding of tanks, their capabilities, and how they are deployed in warfare. (If you don’t want to step back in history, check out the latest generation of modern-era tanks.)
Tanks have been used in U.S. warfare for over 100 years. As you might expect, these armored vehicles have evolved significantly since they were first created. The first tank was actually not developed in the U.S., however, but was 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, known as Big Willie, debuted during World War I in the Battle of the Somme. The U.S. officially began developing its own tanks during World War I and World War II. To identify U.S. military tanks that have been used throughout the years, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed a list of tanks used by the US military from Military Factory, an online database of vehicles, aircraft, arms, and more used by militaries across the world. Tanks are listed according to what year they entered the service. Data on the type of tank, country of origin, crew size, wars served, and the number produced also came from the Military Factory.
Why Is This Important?
Tanks play a crucial role in military operations because they add firepower and mobility and can be deployed anywhere in the world. In the ever-evolving world of technology, some tanks are even able to communicate with other vehicles. As of 2024, the United States has more tanks than any other NATO member, with approximately 4,657. These tanks strengthen ground forces and may deter potential enemies from attacking.
Here is every tank in U.S. military history:
Renault FT-17
- Year entered service: 1917
- Wars Served: World War I
- Country of origin: France
- Type: Light tank
- Crew size: 2
- Number produced: 3,694 – #12 most-produced
Tank Mk V
- Year entered service: 1918
- Wars Served: World War I
- Country of origin: United Kingdom
- Type: Heavy tank / armored fighting vehicle
- Crew size: 8
- Number produced: 1,004 – #17 most-produced
Ford Model 1918 3-ton (M1918)
- Year entered service: 1918
- Wars Served: World War I
- Country of origin: United States
- Type: Light tank combat vehicle
- Crew size: 2
- Number produced: 15 – #29 most-produced
M1917 6-ton
- Year entered service: 1918
- Wars Served: World War I
- Country of origin: United States
- Type: Light two-man combat tank
- Crew size: 2
- Number produced: 950 – #19 most-produced
Tank Mark VIII (International / Liberty
- Year entered service: 1919
- Wars Served: World War I
- Country of origin: United States
- Type: Armored fighting vehicle
- Crew size: 11
- Number produced: 125 – #26 most-produced
M1 (Light Tank, M1 / M1 Combat Car)
- Year entered service: 1933
- Wars Served: World War II
- Country of origin: United States
- Type: Light tank
- Crew size: 4
- Number produced: 113 – #27 most-produced
Marmon-Herrington CTLS (CTL)
- Year entered service: 1935
- Wars Served: World War II
- Country of origin: United States
- Type: Light tank/tankette
- Crew size: 2
- Number produced: 875 – #20 most-produced
M2 (Light tank, M2)
- Year entered service: 1935
- Wars Served: World War II
- Country of origin: United States
- Type: Light tank
- Crew size: 4
- Number produced: 696 – #22 most-produced
Medium Tank M2
- Year entered service: 1940
- Wars Served: World War II
- Country of origin: United States
- Type: Medium tank
- Crew size: 6
- Number produced: 112 – #28 most-produced
M3 Lee / M3 Grant (Medium Tank, M3)
- Year entered service: 1941
- Wars Served: World War II
- Country of origin: United States
- Type: Medium tank
- Crew size: 6
- Number produced: 6,258 – #8 most-produced
M3 Stuart (Light Tank, M3)
- Year entered service: 1941
- Wars Served: World War II
- Country of origin: United States
- Type: Light tank
- Crew size: 4
- Number produced: 22,744 – #2 most-produced
M5 Stuart (Light tank, M5) (Stuart VI)
- Year entered service: 1942
- Wars Served: World War II
- Country of origin: United States
- Type: Light tank
- Crew size: 4
- Number produced: 8,884 – #6 most-produced
Sherman Crab
- Year entered service: 1942
- Wars Served: World War II
- Country of origin: United Kingdom
- Type: Special purpose mine flail tank tracked support vehicle
- Crew size: 5
- Number produced: 1,000 – #18 most-produced
M4 Sherman (Medium Tank, M4)
- Year entered service: 1942
- Wars Served: World War II, Korean War
- Country of origin: United States
- Type: Medium tank
- Crew size: 5
- Number produced: 50,000 – #1 most-produced
M22 Locust (Light tank, Airborne, M22)
- Year entered service: 1943
- Wars Served: World War II
- Country of origin: United States
- Type: Airborne infantry light tank
- Crew size: 3
- Number produced: 830 – #21 most-produced
Sherman Firefly (Medium Tank, M4A4)
- Year entered service: 1944
- Wars Served: World War II, Korean War
- Country of origin: United Kingdom
- Type: Tank destroyer / medium tank
- Crew size: 5
- Number produced: 2,100 – #14 most-produced
M4A3(76)W HVSS Sherman (Easy Eight / M4A3E8)
- Year entered service: 1944
- Wars Served: World War II, Korean War
- Country of origin: United States
- Type: Upped-gunned medium tank
- Crew size: 5
- Number produced: 2,617 – #13 most-produced
Sherman DD (Duplex Drive)
- Year entered service: 1944
- Wars Served: World War II
- Country of origin: United Kingdom
- Type: Amphibious combat tank tracked combat vehicle
- Crew size: 5
- Number produced: 200 – #25 most-produced
Sherman Jumbo (Medium Tank, M4A3E2)
- Year entered service: 1944
- Wars Served: World War II
- Country of origin: United States
- Type: Up-armored medium tank/assault tank
- Crew size: 5
- Number produced: 254 – #24 most-produced
M24 Chaffee (Light Tank, M24)
- Year entered service: 1944
- Wars Served: World War II, Korean War, Vietnam War
- Country of origin: United States
- Type: Reconnaissance light tank
- Crew size: 5
- Number produced: 4,731 – #9 most-produced
M26 Pershing
- Year entered service: 1945
- Wars Served: World War II, Korean War
- Country of origin: United States
- Type: Heavy tank / medium tank
- Crew size: 5
- Number produced: 4,550 – #10 most-produced
M46 Patton (General Patton)
- Year entered service: 1950
- Wars Served: Korean War
- Country of origin: United States
- Type: Medium tank tracked combat vehicle
- Crew size: 5
- Number produced: 1,160 – #16 most-produced
M47 (Patton II)
- Year entered service: 1951
- Wars Served: N/A
- Country of origin: United States
- Type: Medium tank tracked combat vehicle
- Crew size: 5
- Number produced: 8,676 – #7 most-produced
M41 Walker Bulldog
- Year entered service: 1951
- Wars Served: Korean War, Vietnam War
- Country of origin: United States
- Type: Light tank-tracked combat vehicle
- Crew size: 4
- Number produced: 3,728 – #11 most-produced
M48 Patton
- Year entered service: 1952
- Wars Served: Vietnam War
- Country of origin: United States
- Type: Medium tank
- Crew size: 4
- Number produced: 12,000 – #4 most-produced
M103 (Tank, Combat, Full Tracked, 120-mm, M103)
- Year entered service: 1957
- Wars Served: N/A
- Country of origin: United States
- Type: Heavy tank
- Crew size: 5
- Number produced: 300 – #23 most-produced
M60 (Patton)
- Year entered service: 1960
- Wars Served: Vietnam War, Gulf War
- Country of origin: United States
- Type: Main battle tank
- Crew size: 4
- Number produced: 15,000 – #3 most-produced
M551 Sheridan
- Year entered service: 1968
- Wars Served: Vietnam War, Gulf War
- Country of origin: United States
- Type: Armored reconnaissance airborne assault vehicle
- Crew size: 4
- Number produced: 1,562 – #15 most-produced
M1 Abrams
- Year entered service: 1980
- Wars Served: Gulf War, War in Afghanistan, Iraq War
- Country of origin: United States
- Type: Main battle tank
- Crew size: 4
- Number produced: 10,000 – #5 most-produced
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