This Heavily Armed American Tank Made for WWII Never Saw Combat in the War

The heavily armed T30 was designed for the American Army towards the end of World War II. It was fitted with one of the largest guns to ever don an American tank, the 155mm T7 L/40 main gun. However, by the time the tank was completed, the war had ended, and the tank never saw combat. Today, the T30 Heavy Tank is on display outside of Marshall Hall at Fort Knox in Kentucky.

24/7 Wall St. reviewed a catalog of American tanks from Military Factory to determine World War II’s most armed American tanks. These were ranked based on their main gun and their secondary armaments, and we included supplementary information from the Military Factory regarding the type of tank, year introduced, manufacturer, number of tanks produced, and top speed. We also included some tanks that did not see combat and some prototypes to give the full picture of what U.S. tanks were capable of in the World War II era.

Although at the beginning of WWII, the US lagged behind other nations in tank design and technology, the war propelled advancements in progress. Early armed vehicles paved the way for a new generation of fighting vehicles, leading other nations to develop their own versions. During WWII, the US used a light tank series, the Mark II. This early model would go on to develop into the more advanced, M4 Sherman. The M4 is a medium tank that was a staple of the Allied Forces.

The M4 Sherman was a formidable force on the battlefield. While most of the tanks of that era had smaller main guns ranging from 30mm to 90mm, the M4 was outfitted with a 105mm main gun, a .50 caliber Browning M2 anti-aircraft machine gun, and additional machine guns. However, all of WWII’s tanks would play a pivotal role in deciding the conflict, whether in the fields of Europe or the deserts of North Africa, including the medium tank, the Soviet T-34, which is said to have revolutionized tank design. (These are the 23 countries with the most tanks.)

In addition to the main gun, all American tanks were outfitted with a secondary armament of machine guns. Most of these armed vehicles had an American-made Browning machine gun standard — some were Browning M2s and others Browning M1919s, which served in an anti-aircraft, anti-armor, or anti-infantry capacity depending on the caliber. (This is the most powerful U.S. Army vehicle engine.)

Why Are We Writing About WWII American Tanks?

We are still feeling the effects of WWII today. The pressure of the US to create new technology and better weapons led to technological advances that changed the world. For example, even though the T30 Heavy Tank never saw one day of combat during the war, its development led to other advancements. The M60 Patton battle tank used during the Cold War era uses the same form of engine from the T30 converted to diesel.

Here are World War II’s most armed American tanks:

26. Marmon-Herrington CTLS (CTL)

• Armament: .50 caliber Browning M2 heavy machine gun, .30 caliber Browning M1919 medium machine gun
• Type: Light tank / tankette
• Year introduced: 1935
• Manufacturer: Marmon Herrington
• Number of tanks produced: 875
• Top speed: 32.9 mph

25. M1 (Light Tank, M1 / M1 Combat Car)

• Armament: .50 caliber Browning M2 heavy machine gun with .30 M1919 Browning machine gun in turret
• Type: Light tank
• Year introduced: 1933
• Manufacturer: Rock Island Arsenal
• Number of tanks produced: 113
• Top speed: 44.7 mph

24. M22 Locust (Light tank, Airborne, M22)

• Armament: 37mm M6 main gun, 7.62mm Browning M1919 M4 coaxial machine gun
• Type: Airborne infantry light tank
• Year introduced: 1943
• Manufacturer: Marmon-Herrington Corporation
• Number of tanks produced: 830
• Top speed: 39.8 mph

23. Renault Ft-17

• Armament: 37mm main gun, 7.62mm machine guns
• Type: Light tank
• Year introduced: 1917
• Manufacturer: Renault
• Number of tanks produced: 3,694
• Top speed: 4.8 mph

22. M5 Stuart (Light tank, M5) (Stuart VI)

• Armament: 37mm M6 main gun, .30 caliber Browning M1919A4 coaxial machine gun
• Type: Light tank
• Year introduced: 1942
• Manufacturer: Cadillac / Massey Harris / American Car and Foundry
• Number of tanks produced: 8,884
• Top speed: 36 mph

21. M2 (Light tank, M2)

• Armament: 37mm M5 main gun, .30-06 Browning M1919 general purpose machine guns
• Type: Light tank
• Year introduced: 1935
• Manufacturer: Rock Island Arsenal
• Number of tanks produced: 696
• Top speed: 34.8 mph

20. M3 Stuart (Light Tank, M3)

• Armament: 37mm M5/M6 main gun, 5 x .30-06 Browning M1919A4 machine guns in various mounts
• Type: Light tank
• Year introduced: 1941
• Manufacturer: American Car & Foundry Company
• Number of tanks produced: 22,744
• Top speed: 36 mph

19. Medium Tank M2

• Armament: 37mm M3 main gun, 7 x .30-06 Browning M1919 machine guns in various mounts
• Type: Medium tank
• Year introduced: 1940
• Manufacturer: Rock Island Arsenal
• Number of tanks produced: 112
• Top speed: 26.1 mph

18. Sherman Crab

• Armament: 75mm main gun, .303 caliber coaxial machine gun
• Type: Special purpose mine flail tank tracked support vehicle
• Year introduced: 1942
• Manufacturer: State Factories
• Number of tanks produced: 1,000
• Top speed: 28.6 mph

17. Sherman DD (Duplex Drive)

• Armament: 75mm M3 main gun, .30 caliber Browning M1919 coaxial machine gun
• Type: Amphibious combat tank tracked combat vehicle
• Year introduced: 1944
• Manufacturer: State Factories
• Number of tanks produced: 200
• Top speed: 28.6 mph

16. T14 (Assault Tank T14)

• Armament: 75mm M3 main gun, .50 caliber Browning M2 heavy machine gun, .30 caliber coaxial M1919 Browning machine guns
• Type: Heavy tank / assault tank project
• Year introduced: 1944
• Manufacturer: American Locomotive Company
• Number of tanks produced: 2
• Top speed: 17.4 mph
• Note: This prototype did not see combat

15. M24 Chaffee (Light Tank, M24)

• Armament: 75mm main gun, 12.7mm machine gun, 7.62mm coaxial machine guns, 51mm smoke mortar
• Type: Reconnaissance light tank
• Year introduced: 1944
• Manufacturer: Cadillac / Massey Harris
• Number of tanks produced: 4,731
• Top speed: 34.8 mph

14. M3 Lee / M3 Grant (Medium Tank, M3)

• Armament: 75mm M2/M3 main gun, 37mm M5/M6 cannon, .30-06 caliber Browning M1919A4 machine guns
• Type: Medium tank
• Year introduced: 1941
• Manufacturer: Chrysler Corporation
• Number of tanks produced: 6,258
• Top speed: 26.1 mph

13. M18 Gun Motor Carriage (Hellcat)

• Armament: 76mm main gun, 12.7mm Browning M2HB anti-aircraft heavy machine gun
• Type: Tank destroyer
• Year introduced: 1943
• Manufacturer: General Motors / Buick
• Number of tanks produced: 2,507
• Top speed: 55 mph

12. Medium Tank T20

• Armament: 76mm main gun, .50 caliber Browning anti-aircraft machine gun, .30 caliber coaxial machine gun, .30 caliber bow-mounted machine gun
• Type: Prototype medium tank
• Year introduced: 1944
• Manufacturer: U.S. Ordnance Department
• Number of tanks produced: 4
• Top speed: 24.9 mph
• Note: This prototype did not see combat

11. Sherman Jumbo (Medium Tank, M4A3E2)

• Armament: 76mm main gun, .50 caliber anti-aircraft heavy machine gun, .30 caliber coaxial machine gun, .30 caliber bow-mounted machine gun, smoke mortar
• Type: Up-armored medium tank / assault tank
• Year introduced: 1944
• Manufacturer: Fisher Tank Arsenal
• Number of tanks produced: 254
• Top speed: 21.7 mph

10. M4A3(76)W HVSS Sherman (Easy Eight / M4A3E8)

• Armament: 76mm high-velocity main gun, .50 caliber Browning M2 anti-aircraft machine gun, .30-06 caliber coaxial machine gun, .30-06 caliber bow-mounted machine gun
• Type: Upped-gunned medium tank
• Year introduced: 1944
• Manufacturer: Detroit Tank Arsenal / Fisher Tank Arsenal
• Number of tanks produced: 2,617
• Top speed: 23 mph

9. M6 (Heavy tank M6)

• Armament: 76mm M7 main gun, 37mm M6 coaxial cannon, .50 caliber Browning M2HB, .50 caliber Browning M2, .30 caliber Browning M1919A4
• Type: Heavy tank project
• Year introduced: 1940
• Manufacturer: Baldwin Locomotive Works
• Number of tanks produced: 40
• Top speed: 21.7 mph
• Note: This prototype did not see combat

8. M10 Gun Motor Carriage (Wolverine / Achilles)

• Armament: 76.2mm M1 main gun, .50 caliber Browning M2HB anti-aircraft heavy machine gun
• Type: Tank destroyer / gun motor carriage
• Year introduced: 1942
• Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company / Fisher Tank Arsenal
• Number of tanks produced: 6,700
• Top speed: 25 mph

7. Sherman Firefly (Medium Tank, M4A4)

• Armament: 76.2mm Mk IV L/55 main gun, .50 caliber M2 Browning heavy machine gun, .30 caliber Browning M1919A4
• Type: Tank destroyer / medium tank
• Year introduced: 1944
• Manufacturer: State Factories
• Number of tanks produced: 2,100
• Top speed: 24.9 mph

6. M36 Gun Motor Carriage (Jackson / Slugger)

• Armament: 90mm M3 main gun, 12.7mm M2HB Browning heavy machine gun
• Type: Tank destroyer / gun motor carriage tracked combat vehicle
• Year introduced: 1944
• Manufacturer: Chevrolet / General Motors
• Number of tanks produced: 1,772
• Top speed: 30 mph

5. M26 Pershing

• Armament: 90mm main gun, 12.7mm anti-aircraft machine gun, 7.62mm coaxial machine gun, 7.62mm bow-mounted machine gun
• Type: Heavy tank / medium tank
• Year introduced: 1945
• Manufacturer: Fisher Tank Arsenal / Detroit Tank Arsenal
• Number of tanks produced: 4,550
• Top speed: 24.9 mph

4. T28 Super Heavy Tank (Gun Motor Carriage T95)

• Armament: 105mm T5E1 main gun, .50 caliber heavy machine gun
• Type: Self-propelled gun / heavy tank prototype
• Year introduced: 1945
• Manufacturer: Pacific Car and Foundry
• Number of tanks produced: 2
• Top speed: 12 mph
• Note: This prototype did not see combat

3. M4 Sherman (Medium Tank, M4)

• Armament: 105mm main gun, .50 caliber Browning M2 anti-aircraft machine gun, .30-06 caliber coaxial machine gun, .30-06 bow-mounted machine gun
• Type: Medium tank
• Year introduced: 1942
• Manufacturer: American Locomotive / Detroit Tank Arsenal / Lima Locomotive
• Number of tanks produced: 50,000
• Top speed: 23.9 mph

2. T29 (Heavy Tank T29)

• Armament: 105mm T5E2 main gun, 3 x .50 caliber Browning M2HB in various mounts, .30 caliber Browning M1919 machine gun
• Type: Heavy tank prototype vehicle
• Year introduced: 1944
• Manufacturer: State Factories
• Number of tanks produced: 6
• Top speed: 19.9 mph
• Note: This prototype did not see combat

1. T30 (Heavy Tank T30)

• Armament: 155mm T7 L/40 main gun, .50 caliber coaxial heavy machine gun, .30 caliber machine gun
• Type: Heavy tank prototype
• Year introduced: 1945
• Manufacturer: State Factories
• Number of tanks produced: 8
• Top speed: 16.5 mph
• Note: This prototype did not see combat

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