This Is the US Army’s Most Mass-Produced Tank of All Time, and It’s Not Even Close

Author: Kellianne Matthews
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On June 25 the United States is expected to announce its intentions to give Ukraine another $150 million worth of munitions to defend against Russia. This additional aid follows previous shipments of U.S. military supplies, including several M1 Abrams tanks requested by Ukraine in early 2023.

The U.S. has used these third-generation main battle tanks since 1980. However, the country’s history with such heavy-duty land vehicles goes back to World War I, with the U.S. entering mass production of tanks in World War II. 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. (Here is every tank in the history of the U.S. military.)

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. (These are the most expensive land vehicles ever used by the U.S. military.)

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. In addition, it 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

M551+Sheridan | M551 Sheridan Light Tank

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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