American armored fighting vehicle production during World War II

This page details tank production by the United States of America during World War II.

Light tanks

Stuart series

The USA began 1942 with the "M2 Light Tanks" and "M1 Combat Cars" (later re-designated "M2 Light Tank"). These were machinegun-armed light vehicles, the tanks belonging to the Infantry and the Combat Cars belonging to the Cavalry. In 1940, the M2A4 Light Tank introduced a cannon (37mm) armament. The machinegun-armed tanks were never used in combat, and only a handful of cannon-armed vehicles saw service in the Pacific; but their design formed the basis of the later M3/M5 Light Tanks (evolved from the M2A4). "M2", "M3" and "M5" light tanks. The British officially called their M3s Stuarts, and often referred to them as "Honeys".

Notes:
* M1 = "Combat Car M1", machine gun
* M2 = "Light Tank M2", 37 mm gun
* M3 = "Light Tank M3", 37 mm gun
* M5 = "Light Tank M5", 37 mm gun
* M8 HMC = "M8 Howitzer Motor Carriage", 75 mm M2 or M3 howitzer on M5 hull

Other light AVFs

The M22 Locust was specially designed as an airmobile tank, to be delivered to the battlefield by glider.

The M24 Chaffee was intended as a replacement for the M3 and M5 series;

1940 1941 1942 1943 1944 1945 Total M22 - - - 680 150 - 830 M24 - - - - 1,930 2,801 4,731 M18 GMC - - - 812 1,695 - 2,507

* M22 = "Light Tank M22 Locust", 37 mm M6 gun
* M24 = "Light Tank M24 Chaffee", 75 mm M6 gun
* M18 GMC = "M18 Gun Motor Carriage", also known as the "Hellcat", was a tank destroyer armed with a 76 mm M1 gun

Medium Tanks and AFVs

In 1939, the USA had manufactured 18 examples of the "Medium M2" tank. This tank was never to see combat service, but its chassis and suspension were used as a basis for the Lee and Sherman tanks. Following the German invasion of France in 1940, a small number of "Medium M2A1" tanks (an improved model) were manufactured for training, while a more modern tank (which was eventually to become the "Medium M3 Lee") was designed.

The Lee was superseded by the "Medium M4 Sherman". This originally carried a 75 mm gun; later versions of the Sherman were armed with a 76 mm gun or a 105 mm howitzer.

On the Sherman hull, the M10 and M36 tank destroyers (officially called "Gun Motor Carriages") were produced.

The "M7 Howitzer Motor Carriage" was originally built on the M-3 medium tank chassis, but later versions were built on the similar M-4 tank chassis.

1940 1941 1942 1943 1944 1945 Total M2A1 6 88 - - - - 94 M3 - 1,342 4,916 - - - 5,258 M4 - - 8,017 21,231 3,504 651 33,403 M4 (76) - - - - 7,135 3748 10,883 M4 (105) - - - - 2,286 2394 4,680 M10 GMC - - 639 6,067 - - 6,706 M36 GMC - - - - 1,400 924 2,324 M7 HMC - - 2,028 786 1,164 338 4,316 M12 GMC - - 60 40 - - 100 M30 CC - - 60 40 - - 100

Notes:
* M2A1 = "Medium M2A1"
* M3 = "Medium M3 Lee/Grant". The original US version was the "Lee" (named after General Lee); the slightly modified British version was the "Grant" (named after General Grant).
* M4 = "Medium M4 Sherman" with 75 mm M3 (L/38) gun
* M4 (76) = "Medium M4 Sherman" with 76 mm M1-series gun
* M4 (105) = "Medium M4 Sherman" with 105 mm howitzer
* M10 GMC = "M10 Gun Motor Carriage" with 3" M7 gun
* M36 GMC = "M36 Gun Motor Carriage" with 90 mm M1 gun
* M7 HMC = "M7 Howitzer Motor Carriage", M3 (Grant) or M4 (Sherman) hull with 105 mm howitzer in forward-facing mount. Given the nickname "Priest" by British gunners.
* M12 GMC = "M12 Gun Motor Carriage", M3 (Grant) hull with 155 mm M1918 gun in forward-facing mount
* M30 CC = "M30 Cargo Carrier", ammunition carrier for M12 GMC.

Heavy tanks

The Pershing heavy tank (named after General Pershing) was the only heavy tank used in combat by the US armed forces during World War II. An earlier design, the M-6 heavy tank, was not accepted for series production.

1944 1945 Total M26 40 2,162 2,202

* M26 = "Heavy M26 Pershing", 90 mm M3 gun

ee also

* Other countries' production figures
** flagicon|France France
** flagicon|Germany|Nazi Germany
** flagicon|Soviet Union Soviet Union
** flagicon|United Kingdom United Kingdom