Green, Michael United States Tanks and Tank Destroyers of the Second World War

Only after the Nazis invaded Poland and France did the United States Government authorize mass production of tanks. By the end of the War American industry had built nearly 90000 tanks, more than Germany and Great Britain combined.
The first big order in May 1940 was for 365 M2A4 light tanks, the initial iteration of the Stuart series, with almost 24000 constructed. The Stuart series was supplemented by almost 5000 units of the M24 Chaffee light tank. There was also the failed M22 Locust light tank intended for airborne operations.
The M4 series of medium tanks, best known as the Sherman, were the most numerous with some 50000 in service with not only the American military but British and other Allied armies. It was not until later in the war that the M26 Pershing heavy tank was built.
Initially the U.S. Army doctrine saw tanks as primarily for the exploitation role. Later the concept of tank destroyers evolved to counter large scale German armored offensives. These defensive AFVs included the half-track-based 75mm Gun Motor Carriage M3 and the full-tracked M10, M18 and M36.
This comprehensive and superbly illustrated book describes in authoritative detail the characteristics and contribution to victory of these formidable fighting vehicles.

These included half-track vehicles with a 75 mm anti-tank gun as well as the M10, M18 and M36 fully tracked vehicles. The entire development and deployment history of American main battle tanks and tank destroyers in the Second World War is presented here in words and pictures.