US Military Armored Vehicles from Smallest to Largest

Special Report

Published: February 21, 2024 11:10 am

The United States military has more than 360,000 armored vehicles at its disposal. These include Armored Personnel carriers (APCs), Infantry Fighting Vehicles (IFVs), and combat tanks, of which, according to Global Firepower, the U.S. has over 4,600. These machines helped propel the U.S. into the top spot as the world’s most powerful military.

Considered one of the top main battle tanks around the globe, the M1 Abrams tank entered service in 1980 and is used not just by the U.S. military but by other nations as well – Australia, Egypt, Kuwait, Saudi Araba, and others all have an export version in their arsenals. Plans to send 31 M1 Abrams tanks, from refurbished hulls already in America’s inventory, to Ukraine to assist in its war against Russia were announced by President Biden in January 2023, and per the U.S. Military, as of that fall, all tanks were delivered.

The Abrams, which saw its first deployment during the Gulf War, remains relatively state-of-the-art, thanks to regular upgrades to armor, armament, and computer systems. Famously, no American-operated M1 Abrams tank has been lost on the battlefield as a result of enemy fire. The 70-ton tank, while relatively large, isn’t even the biggest American military vehicle.

24/7 Wall St. reviewed a list of active U.S. military vehicles from Military Factory, an online database of vehicles, aircraft, arms, and more used by militaries worldwide, both past and present to determine U.S. Military vehicles from smallest to largest. We ranked the vehicles according to their size in cubic feet. We have also included for each vehicle its horsepower, top speed, crew size, when the vehicle entered the service, and what role it plays within the military — all from Military Factory. (Also see, The US Military’s Oldest and Newest Tanks, Trucks, and Armored Vehicles.)

Tied for the most powerful vehicle on the list is the M1 Abrams, which has 1,500 horsepower (the M1150 Assault Breacher Vehicle also has the same horsepower.) At 3,643.4 cubic feet (length: 32.3 feet, width: 12.0 feet, height: 9.4 feet), the M1 is the fifth-largest military vehicle on our list.

Two of the four vehicles bigger than the M1 are the M60 Armored vehicle-launched bridge (AVLB) and the M109 (Paladin) self-propelled artillery vehicle – which came into service in the 1960s. Each is more than 3,885 cubic feet. Also larger than the M1 are the M1150 Assault Breacher Vehicle battlefield engineering vehicle and the M104 Wolverine. Both are tied with the M1 for the most horsepower.

Largest doesn’t always necessarily mean the most lethal and the largest vehicles in the Army’s inventory demonstrate this. The 10th-biggest vehicle is the M915A5 military tractor, and the seventh-largest vehicle is the M88 Hercules armored recovery vehicle. (The US Army’s Slowest and Fastest Tanks, Trucks, and Armored Personnel Carriers.)

Here are the US military’s armored vehicles from smallest to largest.

32. M1161 Growler

Size: 259.9 cubic feet (length: 13.6 feet, width: 4.9 feet, height: 3.9 feet)
Top speed: 85.1 mph — #3 fastest out of 32 vehicles
Horsepower: 132 — #32 most powerful out of 32 vehicles
Role: Fast attack vehicle
Crew size: 3
First entered service: 2009

31. M113 APC

Size: 445.5 cubic feet (length: 8.3 feet, width: 8.8 feet, height: 6.1 feet)
Top speed: 37.9 mph — #28 fastest out of 32 vehicles
Horsepower: 212 — #27 most powerful out of 32 vehicles
Role: Armored personnel carrier
Crew size: 2
First entered service: 1960

30. Flyer-72 ALSV (Advanced Light Strike Vehicle)

Size: 547.2 cubic feet (length: 15.2 feet, width: 6.0 feet, height: 6.0 feet)
Top speed: 99.4 mph — #1 fastest out of 32 vehicles
Horsepower: 195 — #29 most powerful out of 32 vehicles
Role: Special operations vehicle
Crew size: 3
First entered service: 2014

29. Scorpion DPV (Desert Patrol Vehicle)

Size: 610.2 cubic feet (length: 13.4 feet, width: 6.9 feet, height: 6.6 feet)
Top speed: 56.3 mph — #18 fastest out of 32 vehicles
Horsepower: 200 — #28 most powerful out of 32 vehicles
Role: Lightweight all-terrain
Crew size: 3
First entered service: 1987

28. HMMWV (Humvee)

Size: 639.0 cubic feet (length: 15.0 feet, width: 7.1 feet, height: 6.0 feet)
Top speed: 65.2 mph — #6 fastest out of 32 vehicles (tied)
Horsepower: 150 — #31 most powerful out of 32 vehicles
Role: Multi-purpose wheeled vehicle
Crew size: 1
First entered service: 1985

27. Infantry Squad Vehicle (ISV)

Size: 679.7 cubic feet (length: 17.7 feet, width: 6.4 feet, height: 6.0 feet)
Top speed: 90.1 mph — #2 fastest out of 32 vehicles
Horsepower: 186 — #30 most powerful out of 32 vehicles
Role: Light utility vehicle
Crew size: 2
First entered service: 2021

26. M1117 Guardian ASV

Size: 1,423.3 cubic feet (length: 19.7 feet, width: 8.5 feet, height: 8.5 feet)
Top speed: 62.1 mph — #12 fastest out of 32 vehicles (tied)
Horsepower: 260 — #25 most powerful out of 32 vehicles
Role: Armored security vehicle
Crew size: 3
First entered service: 1999

25. M-ATV

Size: 1,462.5 cubic feet (length: 20.5 feet, width: 8.2 feet, height: 8.7 feet)
Top speed: 65.2 mph — #6 fastest out of 32 vehicles (tied)
Horsepower: 370 — #15 most powerful out of 32 vehicles
Role: Mine-resistant, ambush-protected (MRAP)
Crew size: 5
First entered service: 2009

24. RG-31 Nyala

Size: 1,462.9 cubic feet (length: 21.0 feet, width: 8.1 feet, height: 8.6 feet)
Top speed: 62.1 mph — #12 fastest out of 32 vehicles (tied)
Horsepower: 275 — #23 most powerful out of 32 vehicles (tied)
Role: Infantry mobility vehicle (IMV)
Crew size: 8
First entered service: 2006

23. Amphibious Combat Vehicle (ACV)

Size: 1,626.0 cubic feet (length: 21.0 feet, width: 8.7 feet, height: 8.9 feet)
Top speed: 65.2 mph — #6 fastest out of 32 vehicles (tied)
Horsepower: 690 — #6 most powerful out of 32 vehicles
Role: Amphibious assault vehicle (AAV)
Crew size: 3
First entered service: 2019

22. LAV-25

Size: 1,626.2 cubic feet (length: 21.0 feet, width: 8.8 feet, height: 8.8 feet)
Top speed: 62.1 mph — #12 fastest out of 32 vehicles (tied)
Horsepower: 275 — #23 most powerful out of 32 vehicles (tied)
Role: Light armored vehicle (LAV)
Crew size: 3
First entered service: 1983

21. RG-33

Size: 1,651.1 cubic feet (length: 22.0 feet, width: 7.9 feet, height: 9.5 feet)
Top speed: 67.7 mph — #5 fastest out of 32 vehicles
Horsepower: 400 — #12 most powerful out of 32 vehicles (tied)
Role: Infantry mobility vehicle (IMV)
Crew size: 2
First entered service: 2007

20. M939 Truck

Size: 1,677.7 cubic feet (length: 22.0 feet, width: 8.2 feet, height: 9.3 feet)
Top speed: 62.1 mph — #12 fastest out of 32 vehicles (tied)
Horsepower: 240 — #26 most powerful out of 32 vehicles
Role: Military truck
Crew size: 1
First entered service: 1982

19. MaxxPro

Size: 1,711.7 cubic feet (length: 21.3 feet, width: 8.2 feet, height: 9.8 feet)
Top speed: 69.2 mph — #4 fastest out of 32 vehicles
Horsepower: 375 — #14 most powerful out of 32 vehicles
Role: Mine-resistant, ambush-protected (MRAP)
Crew size: 2
First entered service: 2007

18. M93 Fox

Size: 1,762.2 cubic feet (length: 22.2 feet, width: 9.8 feet, height: 8.1 feet)
Top speed: 64.6 mph — #10 fastest out of 32 vehicles
Horsepower: 320 — #20 most powerful out of 32 vehicles
Role: Reconnaissance vehicle
Crew size: 3
First entered service: 1990

17. Stryker

Size: 1,765.4 cubic feet (length: 22.8 feet, width: 8.9 feet, height: 8.7 feet)
Top speed: 62.1 mph — #12 fastest out of 32 vehicles (tied)
Horsepower: 350 — #17 most powerful out of 32 vehicles
Role: Armored fighting vehicle (AFV)
Crew size: 3
First entered service: 2002

16. FMTV (Family of Medium Tactical Vehicles)

Size: 1,778.2 cubic feet (length: 23.9 feet, width: 8.0 feet, height: 9.3 feet)
Top speed: 59.0 mph — #17 fastest out of 32 vehicles
Horsepower: 330 — #18 most powerful out of 32 vehicles (tied)
Role: Military truck
Crew size: 1
First entered service: 1996

15. Cougar

Size: 1,832.7 cubic feet (length: 20.8 feet, width: 8.9 feet, height: 9.9 feet)
Top speed: 54.7 mph — #19 fastest out of 32 vehicles
Horsepower: 330 — #18 most powerful out of 32 vehicles (tied)
Role: Troop transport
Crew size: 2
First entered service: 2002

14. M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS)

Size: 1,907.9 cubic feet (length: 23.0 feet, width: 7.9 feet, height: 10.5 feet)
Top speed: 52.8 mph — #20 fastest out of 32 vehicles
Horsepower: 290 — #22 most powerful out of 32 vehicles
Role: Multiple launch rocket system (MLRS)
Crew size: 3
First entered service: 2005

13. M270

Size: 1,915.9 cubic feet (length: 23.0 feet, width: 9.8 feet, height: 8.5 feet)
Top speed: 39.8 mph — #26 fastest out of 32 vehicles
Horsepower: 600 — #7 most powerful out of 32 vehicles (tied)
Role: Multiple launch rocket system (MLRS)
Crew size: 3
First entered service: 1983

12. M9 ACE (Armored Combat Earthmover)

Size: 2,088.9 cubic feet (length: 20.3 feet, width: 10.5 feet, height: 9.8 feet)
Top speed: 30.0 mph — #30 fastest out of 32 vehicles
Horsepower: 295 — #21 most powerful out of 32 vehicles
Role: Military bulldozer
Crew size: 1
First entered service: 1986

11. M2 Bradley

Size: 2,553.4 cubic feet (length: 21.3 feet, width: 10.8 feet, height: 11.1 feet)
Top speed: 37.9 mph — #28 fastest out of 32 vehicles
Horsepower: 600 — #7 most powerful out of 32 vehicles (tied)
Role: Infantry fighting vehicle (IFV)
Crew size: 3
First entered service: 1981

10. M915A5

Size: 2,730.7 cubic feet (length: 25.8 feet, width: 10.8 feet, height: 9.8 feet)
Top speed: 64.6 mph — #10 fastest out of 32 vehicles
Horsepower: 500 — #9 most powerful out of 32 vehicles
Role: Military tractor
Crew size: 2
First entered service: 2000

9. Buffalo H

Size: 2,972.5 cubic feet (length: 26.9 feet, width: 8.5 feet, height: 13.0 feet)
Top speed: 65.2 mph — #6 fastest out of 32 vehicles (tied)
Horsepower: 450 — #10 most powerful out of 32 vehicles (tied)
Role: Mine-resistant, ambush-protected (MRAP)
Crew size: 2
First entered service: 2004

8. AAV-7 (LVTP-7)

Size: 2,976.7 cubic feet (length: 26.0 feet, width: 10.7 feet, height: 10.7 feet)
Top speed: 39.8 mph — #26 fastest out of 32 vehicles
Horsepower: 400 — #12 most powerful out of 32 vehicles (tied)
Role: Amphibious assault vehicle (AAV)
Crew size: 3
First entered service: 1972

7. M88 Hercules

Size: 3,198.7 cubic feet (length: 27.2 feet, width: 11.2 feet, height: 10.5 feet)
Top speed: 24.9 mph — #32 fastest out of 32 vehicles
Horsepower: 1,050 — #4 most powerful out of 32 vehicles
Role: Armored recovery vehicle (ARV)
Crew size: 3
First entered service: 1961

6. MIM-104 Patriot

Size: 3,635.1 cubic feet (length: 34.1 feet, width: 8.2 feet, height: 13.0 feet)
Top speed: 49.7 mph — #21 fastest out of 32 vehicles
Horsepower: 355 — #16 most powerful out of 32 vehicles
Role: Surface-to-air missile (SAM)
Crew size: 12
First entered service: 1981

5. M1 Abrams

Size: 3,643.4 cubic feet (length: 32.3 feet, width: 12.0 feet, height: 9.4 feet)
Top speed: 41.6 mph — #24 fastest out of 32 vehicles
Horsepower: 1,500 — #1 most powerful out of 32 vehicles (tied)
Role: Main battle tank
Crew size: 4
First entered service: 1980

4. M1150 Assault Breacher Vehicle

Size: 3,672.9 cubic feet (length: 39.4 feet, width: 11.8 feet, height: 7.9 feet)
Top speed: 43.5 mph — #23 fastest out of 32 vehicles
Horsepower: 1,500 — #1 most powerful out of 32 vehicles (tied)
Role: Battlefield engineering vehicle
Crew size: 2
First entered service: 2008

3. M104 Wolverine

Size: 3,882.8 cubic feet (length: 26.2 feet, width: 11.4 feet, height: 13.0 feet)
Top speed: 44.7 mph — #22 fastest out of 32 vehicles
Horsepower: 1,500 — #1 most powerful out of 32 vehicles (tied)
Role: Armored vehicle-launched bridge (AVLB)
Crew size: 2
First entered service: 2003

2. M109 (Paladin)

Size: 3,885.5 cubic feet (length: 31.7 feet, width: 10.3 feet, height: 11.9 feet)
Top speed: 40.0 mph — #25 fastest out of 32 vehicles
Horsepower: 450 — #10 most powerful out of 32 vehicles (tied)
Role: Self-propelled artillery
Crew size: 4
First entered service: 1963

1. M60 AVLB

Size: 3,934.5 cubic feet (length: 30.9 feet, width: 11.9 feet, height: 10.7 feet)
Top speed: 30.0 mph — #30 fastest out of 32 vehicles
Horsepower: 750 — #5 most powerful out of 32 vehicles
Role: Armored vehicle-launched bridge (AVLB)
Crew size: 2
First entered service: 1967