This Tank Dominated U.S. Army Production During World War II

24/7 Wall St. Insights

• Over 25,000 more of the top tank on this list were produced than any other tank.
• The Abrams tank, which ranks in the top 5 on our list, can cost almost $10 million per unit.
• The Renault Ft-17 was the first tank to enter service in 1917, serving in World War I.
• Also: 2 Dividend Legends to Hold Forever

Times are changing — and nobody is immune, not even the U.S. military. While the military has produced and used tanks in warfare since World War I, the U.S. is currently planning to revamp the M1 Abrams main battle tank. In May 2024, the Army announced that Abrams would be working on a lighter weight, high-tech version of the M1E3 tank. The Army hopes that having this tank will provide better ease of use and more versatility, and survivability, in battle. (Here are the weights of modern tanks from lightest to heaviest, ranked.)

Post-World War I, tank production across the United States significantly increased, peaking during World War II. The sheer volume of tank production during World War II represents a massive increase in production capacity from when there was peace. Between 1939 and 1945, the country produced 90,000 tanks. These included famous models like the M3 Stuart, the M3 Lee, and the M4 Sherman. The M4 Sherman was also utilized during the Korean War.

In addition, a series of Patton tanks debuted at that time and were mass-produced during the Vietnam War. Then came the first “Main Battle Tanks”, the M60s, with over 15,000 produced. However, these impressive tanks were retired after the Gulf War, and replaced by the M1 Abrams battle tank. (Check out every vehicle that fought in the Vietnam War.)

To find out which of these was the U.S. Army’s most mass-produced tank of all time, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed a list of tanks used by the U.S. military from Military Factory, an online database of military vehicles, aircraft, arms, and more. Information regarding where the tank was made, its type, the size of its crew, and the wars it served in also came from Military Factory. We then ranked the tanks based on the total number produced. 

Why We’re Covering This

Tanks are expensive weapons to manufacture. The Abrams tank, for example, can cost around $10 million per unit. This information is important for those who are interested not only in national security but also in the United States’ relationships with its allies and the cost of maintaining those relationships. This list also provides insights into where U.S. tax dollars are used and which companies profit.

Here are the most-produced tanks in US history:

29. Ford Model 1918 3-ton (M1918)

• Number produced: 15
• Year entered service: 1918
• Wars served: World War I
• Country of origin: United States
• Type: Light tank combat vehicle
• Crew size: 2

28. M2 Medium Tank

• Number produced: 112
• Year entered service: 1940
• Wars served: World War II
• Country of origin: United States
• Type: Medium tank
• Crew size: 6

27. M1 Combat Car

• Number produced: 113
• Year entered service: 1933
• Wars served: World War II
• Country of origin: United States
• Type: Light tank
• Crew size: 4

26. Tank Mark VIII (International / Liberty)

• Number produced: 125
• Year entered service: 1919
• Wars served: World War I
• Country of origin: United States
• Type: Armored fighting vehicle
• Crew size: 11

25. Sherman DD (Duplex Drive)

• Number produced: 200
• Year entered service: 1944
• Wars served: World War II
• Country of origin: United Kingdom
• Type: Amphibious combat tank tracked combat vehicle
• Crew size: 5

24. Sherman Jumbo (M4A3E2)

• Number produced: 254
• Year entered service: 1944
• Wars served: World War II
• Country of origin: United States
• Type: Up-armored medium tank / assault tank
• Crew size: 5

23. M103

• Number produced: 300
• Year entered service: 1957
• Wars served: N/A
• Country of origin: United States
• Type: Heavy tank
• Crew size: 5

22. M2 Light Tank

• Number produced: 696
• Year entered service: 1935
• Wars served: World War II
• Country of origin: United States
• Type: Light tank
• Crew size: 4

21. M22 Locust

• Number produced: 830
• Year entered service: 1943
• Wars served: World War II
• Country of origin: United States
• Type: Airborne infantry light tank
• Crew size: 3

20. Marmon-Herrington CTLS

• Number produced: 875
• Year entered service: 1935
• Wars served: World War II
• Country of origin: United States
• Type: Light tank / tankette
• Crew size: 2

19. M1917 6-ton

• Number produced: 950
• Year entered service: 1918
• Wars served: World War I
• Country of origin: United States
• Type: Light two-man combat tank
• Crew size: 2

18. Sherman Crab

• Number produced: 1,000
• 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

17. Tank Mk V

• Number produced: 1,004
• Year entered service: 1918
• Wars served: World War I
• Country of origin: United Kingdom
• Type: Heavy tank / armored fighting vehicle
• Crew size: 8

16. M46 Patton (General Patton)

• Number produced: 1,160
• Year entered service: 1950
• Wars served: Korean War
• Country of origin: United States
• Type: Medium tank tracked combat vehicle
• Crew size: 5

15. M551 Sheridan

• Number produced: 1,562
• Year entered service: 1968
• Wars served: Vietnam War, Gulf War
• Country of origin: United States
• Type: Armored reconnaissance airborne assault vehicle
• Crew size: 4

14. M4A4 Sherman Firefly

• Number produced: 2,100
• Year entered service: 1944
• Wars served: World War II, Korean War
• Country of origin: United Kingdom
• Type: Tank destroyer / medium tank
• Crew size: 5

13. M4A3(76)W HVSS Sherman (Easy Eight)

• Number produced: 2,617
• Year entered service: 1944
• Wars served: World War II, Korean War
• Country of origin: United States
• Type: Upped-gunned medium tank
• Crew size: 5

12. Renault Ft-17

• Number produced: 3,694
• Year entered service: 1917
• Wars served: World War I
• Country of origin: France
• Type: Light tank
• Crew size: 2

11. M41 Walker Bulldog

• Number produced: 3,728
• Year entered service: 1951
• Wars served: Korean War, Vietnam War
• Country of origin: United States
• Type: Light tank tracked combat vehicle
• Crew size: 4

10. M26 Pershing

• Number produced: 4,550
• Year entered service: 1945
• Wars served: World War II, Korean War
• Country of origin: United States
• Type: Heavy tank / medium tank
• Crew size: 5

9. M24 Chaffee

• Number produced: 4,731
• 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

8. M3 Lee / M3 Grant

• Number produced: 6,258
• Year entered service: 1941
• Wars served: World War II
• Country of origin: United States
• Type: Medium tank
• Crew size: 6

7. M47 (Patton II)

• Number produced: 8,676
• Year entered service: 1951
• Wars served: N/A
• Country of origin: United States
• Type: Medium tank tracked combat vehicle
• Crew size: 5

6. M5 Stuart

• Number produced: 8,884
• Year entered service: 1942
• Wars served: World War II
• Country of origin: United States
• Type: Light tank
• Crew size: 4

5. M1 Abrams

• Number produced: 10,000
• 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

4. M48 Patton

• Number produced: 12,000
• Year entered service: 1952
• Wars served: Vietnam War
• Country of origin: United States
• Type: Medium tank
• Crew size: 4

3. M60 (Patton)

• Number produced: 15,000
• Year entered service: 1960
• Wars served: Vietnam War, Gulf War
• Country of origin: United States
• Type: Main battle tank
• Crew size: 4

2. M3 Stuart

• Number produced: 22,744
• Year entered service: 1941
• Wars served: World War II
• Country of origin: United States
• Type: Light tank
• Crew size: 4

1. M4 Sherman

• Number produced: 50,000
• Year entered service: 1942
• Wars served: World War II, Korean War
• Country of origin: United States
• Type: Medium tank
• Crew size: 5

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