The tank first entered the battlefield in World War I as an armored all-terrain vehicle and ultimately a response to trench warfare at the time. By the end of the Great War, there was a surplus of tanks and further innovations began. Tanks would play a big role in wars to come. (See countries with the most tanks in 2023.)
Part of innovating the tank was adding bigger guns or stronger armor, but adding mobility and speed were equally important so as not to be a sitting duck on the battlefield. Highly mobile tanks were meant to play the role that had been reserved for horse cavalry in generations prior, while slower and more heavily armored tanks provided infantry support. (Here are 20 tank prototypes rejected by the U.S. military.)
Prior to these roles being crystallized into mobile and slow tanks, several different designs were tried. During this interwar era, a series of prototypes emerged that would not actually see service, but their designs were later used to build future generations of tanks, including fast, mobile tanks.
To determine the fastest tanks in U.S. military history, 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 used by militaries across the world. All U.S. tanks are ranked here according to their top speed. Additional data on the type of tank, country of origin, crew size, wars served, and number produced also came from Military Factory.
The tanks on the list range from WWI-era tanks to those used in the modern era, though more modern tanks are not necessarily faster. The slowest tank, the Mk V, had a top speed of 4.6 miles per hour. The top speed of the fastest tank is about 10 times that, at 45 mph. The much-discussed M1 Abrams that the U.S. is sending to Ukraine to aide in its defense against the Russian invasion, has a top speed of 41.6 mph.
Here’s a look at the fastest tanks in the U.S. military:
29. Tank Mk V
> Top speed: 4.6 mph
> Year entered service: 1918
> Wars served: World War I
> Country of origin: United Kingdom
> Type: Heavy tank / armored fighting vehicle
> Crew size: 8
> Number produced: 1,004 — #17 most produced
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28. Renault Ft-17
> Top speed: 4.8 mph
> Year entered service: 1917
> Wars served: World War I
> Country of origin: France
> Type: Light tank
> Crew size: 2
> Number produced: 3,694 — #12 most produced
27. M1917 6-ton
> Top speed: 5.5 mph
> Year entered service: 1918
> Wars served: World War I
> Country of origin: United States
> Type: Light two-man combat tank
> Crew size: 2
> Number produced: 950 — #19 most produced
26. Tank Mark VIII (International / Liberty
> Top speed: 6.2 mph
> Year entered service: 1919
> Wars served: World War I
> Country of origin: United States
> Type: Armored fighting vehicle
> Crew size: 11
> Number produced: 125 — #26 most produced
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25. Ford Model 1918 3-ton (M1918)
> Top speed: 8.1 mph
> Year entered service: 1918
> Wars served: World War I
> Country of origin: United States
> Type: Light tank combat vehicle
> Crew size: 2
> Number produced: 15 — #29 most produced
24. M103 (Tank, Combat, Full Tracked, 120-mm, M103)
> Top speed: 21.1 mph
> Year entered service: 1957
> Wars served: N/A
> Country of origin: United States
> Type: Heavy tank
> Crew size: 5
> Number produced: 300 — #23 most produced
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23. Sherman Jumbo (Medium Tank, M4A3E2)
> Top speed: 21.7 mph
> Year entered service: 1944
> Wars served: World War II
> Country of origin: United States
> Type: Up-armored medium tank / assault tank
> Crew size: 5
> Number produced: 254 — #24 most produced
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22. M4A3(76)W HVSS Sherman (Easy Eight / M4A3E8)
> Top speed: 23.0 mph
> Year entered service: 1944
> Wars served: World War II, Korean War
> Country of origin: United States
> Type: Upped-gunned medium tank
> Crew size: 5
> Number produced: 2,617 — #13 most produced
21. M4 Sherman (Medium Tank, M4)
> Top speed: 23.9 mph
> Year entered service: 1942
> Wars served: World War II, Korean War
> Country of origin: United States
> Type: Medium tank
> Crew size: 5
> Number produced: 50,000 — #1 most produced
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20. Sherman Firefly (Medium Tank, M4A4)
> Top speed: 24.9 mph
> Year entered service: 1944
> Wars served: World War II, Korean War
> Country of origin: United Kingdom
> Type: Tank destroyer / medium tank
> Crew size: 5
> Number produced: 2,100 — #14 most produced
19. M26 Pershing
> Top speed: 24.9 mph
> Year entered service: 1945
> Wars served: World War II, Korean War
> Country of origin: United States
> Type: Heavy tank / medium tank
> Crew size: 5
> Number produced: 4,550 — #10 most produced
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18. Medium Tank M2
> Top speed: 26.1 mph
> Year entered service: 1940
> Wars served: World War II
> Country of origin: United States
> Type: Medium tank
> Crew size: 6
> Number produced: 112 — #28 most produced
17. M3 Lee / M3 Grant (Medium Tank, M3)
> Top speed: 26.1 mph
> Year entered service: 1941
> Wars served: World War II
> Country of origin: United States
> Type: Medium tank
> Crew size: 6
> Number produced: 6,258 — #8 most produced
16. Sherman Crab
> Top speed: 28.6 mph
> 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
> Number produced: 1,000 — #18 most produced
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15. Sherman DD (Duplex Drive)
> Top speed: 28.6 mph
> Year entered service: 1944
> Wars served: World War II
> Country of origin: United Kingdom
> Type: Amphibious combat tank tracked combat vehicle
> Crew size: 5
> Number produced: 200 — #25 most produced
14. M46 Patton (General Patton)
> Top speed: 29.8 mph
> Year entered service: 1950
> Wars served: Korean War
> Country of origin: United States
> Type: Medium tank tracked combat vehicle
> Crew size: 5
> Number produced: 1,160 — #16 most produced
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13. M47 (Patton II)
> Top speed: 29.8 mph
> Year entered service: 1951
> Wars served: N/A
> Country of origin: United States
> Type: Medium tank tracked combat vehicle
> Crew size: 5
> Number produced: 8,676 — #7 most produced
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12. M48 Patton
> Top speed: 29.8 mph
> Year entered service: 1952
> Wars served: Vietnam War
> Country of origin: United States
> Type: Medium tank
> Crew size: 4
> Number produced: 12,000 — #4 most produced
11. M60 (Patton)
> Top speed: 30.0 mph
> Year entered service: 1960
> Wars served: Vietnam War, Gulf War
> Country of origin: United States
> Type: Main battle tank
> Crew size: 4
> Number produced: 15,000 — #3 most produced
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10. Marmon-Herrington CTLS (CTL)
> Top speed: 32.9 mph
> Year entered service: 1935
> Wars served: World War II
> Country of origin: United States
> Type: Light tank / tankette
> Crew size: 2
> Number produced: 875 — #20 most produced
9. M2 (Light tank, M2)
> Top speed: 34.8 mph
> Year entered service: 1935
> Wars served: World War II
> Country of origin: United States
> Type: Light tank
> Crew size: 4
> Number produced: 696 — #22 most produced
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8. M24 Chaffee (Light Tank, M24)
> Top speed: 34.8 mph
> 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
> Number produced: 4,731 — #9 most produced
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7. M3 Stuart (Light Tank, M3)
> Top speed: 36.0 mph
> Year entered service: 1941
> Wars served: World War II
> Country of origin: United States
> Type: Light tank
> Crew size: 4
> Number produced: 22,744 — #2 most produced
6. M5 Stuart (Light tank, M5) (Stuart VI)
> Top speed: 36.0 mph
> Year entered service: 1942
> Wars served: World War II
> Country of origin: United States
> Type: Light tank
> Crew size: 4
> Number produced: 8,884 — #6 most produced
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5. M22 Locust (Light tank, Airborne, M22)
> Top speed: 39.8 mph
> Year entered service: 1943
> Wars served: World War II
> Country of origin: United States
> Type: Airborne infantry light tank
> Crew size: 3
> Number produced: 830 — #21 most produced
4. M1 Abrams
> Top speed: 41.6 mph
> 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
> Number produced: 10,000 — #5 most produced
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3. M551 Sheridan
> Top speed: 43.5 mph
> Year entered service: 1968
> Wars served: Vietnam War, Gulf War
> Country of origin: United States
> Type: Armored reconnaissance airborne assault vehicle
> Crew size: 4
> Number produced: 1,562 — #15 most produced
2. M1 (Light Tank, M1 / M1 Combat Car)
> Top speed: 44.7 mph
> Year entered service: 1933
> Wars served: World War II
> Country of origin: United States
> Type: Light tank
> Crew size: 4
> Number produced: 113 — #27 most produced
1. M41 Walker Bulldog
> Top speed: 45.0 mph
> Year entered service: 1951
> Wars served: Korean War, Vietnam War
> Country of origin: United States
> Type: Light tank tracked combat vehicle
> Crew size: 4
> Number produced: 3,728 — #11 most produced
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