Besides its firepower, the sheer size of a tank has made it the most intimidating weapon on the battlefield for more than 100 years. Few motion pictures have captured the terror in the eyes of soldiers when the cacophonous French St. Chamond tanks emerge from the smoke and swirling chaos in no-man’s land, clanking slowly toward the German lines in the Oscar-winning film “All Quiet on the Western Front.”
To determine the biggest tanks in U.S. military history, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed tanks used by the U.S. military as well as their attributes from Military Factory, an online database of military vehicles, aircraft, arms, and more. Tanks are ranked according to their total volume. Data on each tank’s type, crew size, wars served, weight, and number produced came from Military Factory.
Nine of the 10 biggest U.S. tanks were also among the heaviest in the U.S. arsenal. The largest tank based on total volume ever built and used by the U.S. military was constructed the year after the end of the First World War. It also boasted the largest crew size, 11. (This is every tank in the history of the U.S. military.)
Six of the most-produced tanks, and among the biggest in U.S. history, rumbled off the assembly lines of President Franklin Roosevelt’s “arsenal of democracy” during World War II. The largest mass-produced tank, though not the biggest, was the M4 Sherman, of which 50,000 were built. Besides World War II, the workhorse Sherman also saw action during the Korean War.
The heaviest tank in the U.S. arsenal remains the M1 Abrams. America’s main battle tank, weighing in at more than 139,000 pounds, has seen action in the Gulf War, Afghanistan War, and the Iraq War. The battle wagon is scheduled to buttress the Ukrainian army in its fight to throw back Russian invaders. More than 10,000 M1s have been built since the tank first entered service in 1980. (See how Ukraine’s newly bolstered tank army compares to Russia’s.)
Click here to see the biggest tanks in the history of the US military.
Source: Three Lions / Hulton Archive via Getty Images
29. Renault Ft-17
> Dimensions: Length: 11.5 ft, width: 5.6 ft, height: 7.0 ft
> Weight: 14,526 lbs — #26 heaviest
> Year entered service: 1917
> Wars served: World War I
> Type: Light tank
> Crew size: 2
> Number produced: 3,694 – #12 most produced
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Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
28. Ford Model 1918 3-ton (M1918)
> Dimensions: Length: 14.0 ft, width: 5.9 ft, height: 5.9 ft
> Weight: 6,614 lbs — #29 heaviest
> Year entered service: 1918
> Wars served: World War I
> Type: Light tank combat vehicle
> Crew size: 2
> Number produced: 15 – #29 most produced
27. M22 Locust (Light tank, Airborne, M22)
> Dimensions: Length: 12.9 ft, width: 7.3 ft, height: 5.7 ft
> Weight: 16,400 lbs — #25 heaviest
> Year entered service: 1943
> Wars served: World War II
> Type: Airborne infantry light tank
> Crew size: 3
> Number produced: 830 – #21 most produced
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
26. Marmon-Herrington CTLS (CTL)
> Dimensions: Length: 11.5 ft, width: 6.9 ft, height: 6.9 ft
> Weight: 9,480 lbs — #28 heaviest
> Year entered service: 1935
> Wars served: World War II
> Type: Light tank / tankette
> Crew size: 2
> Number produced: 875 – #20 most produced
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Source: 101561334@N08 / Flickr
25. M1917 6-ton
> Dimensions: Length: 16.4 ft, width: 5.8 ft, height: 7.5 ft
> Weight: 14,506 lbs — #27 heaviest
> Year entered service: 1918
> Wars served: World War I
> Type: Light two-man combat tank
> Crew size: 2
> Number produced: 950 – #19 most produced
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
24. M1 (Light Tank, M1 / M1 Combat Car)
> Dimensions: Length: 13.6 ft, width: 7.9 ft, height: 7.4 ft
> Weight: 18,794 lbs — #24 heaviest
> Year entered service: 1933
> Wars served: World War II
> Type: Light tank
> Crew size: 4
> Number produced: 113 – #27 most produced
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Source: Thomas_Brock / iStock via Getty Images
23. M3 Stuart (Light Tank, M3)
> Dimensions: Length: 14.9 ft, width: 7.3 ft, height: 7.5 ft
> Weight: 28,440 lbs — #22 heaviest
> Year entered service: 1941
> Wars served: World War II
> Type: Light tank
> Crew size: 4
> Number produced: 22,744 – #2 most produced
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
22. M5 Stuart (Light tank, M5) (Stuart VI)
> Dimensions: Length: 14.4 ft, width: 7.3 ft, height: 8.9 ft
> Weight: 33,069 lbs — #21 heaviest
> Year entered service: 1942
> Wars served: World War II
> Type: Light tank
> Crew size: 4
> Number produced: 8,884 – #6 most produced
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
21. M2 (Light tank, M2)
> Dimensions: Length: 14.5 ft, width: 8.1 ft, height: 8.7 ft
> Weight: 25,574 lbs — #23 heaviest
> Year entered service: 1935
> Wars served: World War II
> Type: Light tank
> Crew size: 4
> Number produced: 696 – #22 most produced
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20. M24 Chaffee (Light Tank, M24)
> Dimensions: Length: 18.0 ft, width: 9.7 ft, height: 8.0 ft
> Weight: 39,838 lbs — #19 heaviest
> Year entered service: 1944
> Wars served: World War II, Korean War, Vietnam War
> Type: Reconnaissance light tank
> Crew size: 5
> Number produced: 4,731 – #9 most produced
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
19. Medium Tank M2
> Dimensions: Length: 17.7 ft, width: 8.5 ft, height: 9.3 ft
> Weight: 41,226 lbs — #18 heaviest
> Year entered service: 1940
> Wars served: World War II
> Type: Medium tank
> Crew size: 6
> Number produced: 112 – #28 most produced
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Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
18. M4 Sherman (Medium Tank, M4)
> Dimensions: Length: 19.2 ft, width: 8.6 ft, height: 9.0 ft
> Weight: 62,611 lbs — #14 heaviest
> Year entered service: 1942
> Wars served: World War II, Korean War
> Type: Medium tank
> Crew size: 5
> Number produced: 50,000 – #1 most produced
24/7 Wall St.
17. Sherman Firefly (Medium Tank, M4A4)
> Dimensions: Length: 19.3 ft, width: 8.6 ft, height: 9.0 ft
> Weight: 66,500 lbs — #12 heaviest
> Year entered service: 1944
> Wars served: World War II, Korean War
> Type: Tank destroyer / medium tank
> Crew size: 5
> Number produced: 2,100 – #14 most produced
16. Sherman DD (Duplex Drive)
> Dimensions: Length: 19.7 ft, width: 9.0 ft, height: 9.0 ft
> Weight: 67,241 lbs — #11 heaviest
> Year entered service: 1944
> Wars served: World War II
> Type: Amphibious combat tank tracked combat vehicle
> Crew size: 5
> Number produced: 200 – #25 most produced
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Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
15. M3 Lee / M3 Grant (Medium Tank, M3)
> Dimensions: Length: 18.5 ft, width: 8.9 ft, height: 10.2 ft
> Weight: 60,001 lbs — #15 heaviest
> Year entered service: 1941
> Wars served: World War II
> Type: Medium tank
> Crew size: 6
> Number produced: 6,258 – #8 most produced
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
14. M4A3(76)W HVSS Sherman (Easy Eight / M4A3E8)
> Dimensions: Length: 24.6 ft, width: 9.5 ft, height: 9.0 ft
> Weight: 65,036 lbs — #13 heaviest
> Year entered service: 1944
> Wars served: World War II, Korean War
> Type: Upped-gunned medium tank
> Crew size: 5
> Number produced: 2,617 – #13 most produced
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Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
13. Sherman Jumbo (Medium Tank, M4A3E2)
> Dimensions: Length: 24.7 ft, width: 9.5 ft, height: 9.7 ft
> Weight: 83,776 lbs — #8 heaviest
> Year entered service: 1944
> Wars served: World War II
> Type: Up-armored medium tank / assault tank
> Crew size: 5
> Number produced: 254 – #24 most produced
24/7 Wall St.
Source: 101561334@N08 / Flickr
12. M551 Sheridan
> Dimensions: Length: 20.7 ft, width: 9.2 ft, height: 12.5 ft
> Weight: 33,510 lbs — #20 heaviest
> Year entered service: 1968
> Wars served: Vietnam War, Gulf War
> Type: Armored reconnaissance airborne assault vehicle
> Crew size: 4
> Number produced: 1,562 – #15 most produced
11. M41 Walker Bulldog
> Dimensions: Length: 26.9 ft, width: 10.4 ft, height: 9.4 ft
> Weight: 51,798 lbs — #17 heaviest
> Year entered service: 1951
> Wars served: Korean War, Vietnam War
> Type: Light tank tracked combat vehicle
> Crew size: 4
> Number produced: 3,728 – #11 most produced
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10. Sherman Crab
> Dimensions: Length: 27.0 ft, width: 11.5 ft, height: 8.9 ft
> Weight: 70,151 lbs — #10 heaviest
> Year entered service: 1942
> Wars served: World War II
> Type: Special purpose mine flail tank tracked support vehicle
> Crew size: 5
> Number produced: 1,000 – #18 most produced
Source: wsmahar / E+ via Getty Images
9. M26 Pershing
> Dimensions: Length: 28.4 ft, width: 11.5 ft, height: 9.1 ft
> Weight: 92,594 lbs — #7 heaviest
> Year entered service: 1945
> Wars served: World War II, Korean War
> Type: Heavy tank / medium tank
> Crew size: 5
> Number produced: 4,550 – #10 most produced
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Source: Ryzhkov_Sergey / iStock via Getty Images
8. Tank Mk V
> Dimensions: Length: 26.4 ft, width: 13.5 ft, height: 8.7 ft
> Weight: 57,999 lbs — #16 heaviest
> Year entered service: 1918
> Wars served: World War I
> Type: Heavy tank / armored fighting vehicle
> Crew size: 8
> Number produced: 1,004 – #17 most produced
24/7 Wall St.
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
7. M47 (Patton II)
> Dimensions: Length: 27.9 ft, width: 11.5 ft, height: 11.0 ft
> Weight: 101,787 lbs — #5 heaviest
> Year entered service: 1951
> Wars served: N/A
> Type: Medium tank tracked combat vehicle
> Crew size: 5
> Number produced: 8,676 – #7 most produced
Source: Rockfinder / iStock via Getty Images
6. M1 Abrams
> Dimensions: Length: 32.3 ft, width: 12.0 ft, height: 9.4 ft
> Weight: 139,081 lbs — #1 heaviest
> Year entered service: 1980
> Wars served: Gulf War, War in Afghanistan, Iraq War
> Type: Main battle tank
> Crew size: 4
> Number produced: 10,000 – #5 most produced
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Source: signalcorpsarchive / Flickr
5. M46 Patton (General Patton)
> Dimensions: Length: 31.2 ft, width: 11.5 ft, height: 10.4 ft
> Weight: 97,003 lbs — #6 heaviest
> Year entered service: 1950
> Wars served: Korean War
> Type: Medium tank tracked combat vehicle
> Crew size: 5
> Number produced: 1,160 – #16 most produced
Source: 101561334@N08 / Flickr
4. M48 Patton
> Dimensions: Length: 30.5 ft, width: 11.9 ft, height: 10.7 ft
> Weight: 107,998 lbs — #3 heaviest
> Year entered service: 1952
> Wars served: Vietnam War
> Type: Medium tank
> Crew size: 4
> Number produced: 12,000 – #4 most produced
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Source: FuzzMartin / iStock via Getty Images
3. M60 (Patton)
> Dimensions: Length: 30.9 ft, width: 11.9 ft, height: 10.7 ft
> Weight: 107,330 lbs — #4 heaviest
> Year entered service: 1960
> Wars served: Vietnam War, Gulf War
> Type: Main battle tank
> Crew size: 4
> Number produced: 15,000 – #3 most produced
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
2. M103 (Tank, Combat, Full Tracked, 120-mm, M103)
> Dimensions: Length: 37.1 ft, width: 12.3 ft, height: 9.4 ft
> Weight: 125,000 lbs — #2 heaviest
> Year entered service: 1957
> Wars served: N/A
> Type: Heavy tank
> Crew size: 5
> Number produced: 300 – #23 most produced
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
1. Tank Mark VIII (International / Liberty)
> Dimensions: Length: 34.1 ft, width: 12.5 ft, height: 10.2 ft
> Weight: 82,876 lbs — #9 heaviest
> Year entered service: 1919
> Wars served: World War I
> Type: Armored fighting vehicle
> Crew size: 11
> Number produced: 125 – #26 most produced
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