(WiP) List of US Built Interwar through World War 2 (1919-1945) Ground Vehicles, Possible Additions

[Conraire]

Preface

Hello, I had originally made a list of US vehicles on the old forums. So, I’ve decided to redo said list on the new forums using a different format and style. Rather than just including all vehicles, even those that are already in game. This will only include those that could be added to the game. Also, it will be broken up into separate topics, Interwar-WW2(1919-1945), Cold War(1946-1979), and then Late Cold War - Modern (1980-Present). I’m also taking a bit of inspiration from @Stuhlfleisch 's posts on German vehicles.

The original List of US Ground vehicles on the old Forum

Related Topics

US Cold War Ground Vehicles List

US Late Cold War to Modern Ground Vehicles List

This list is a Work In Progress. If you think I’ve missed a specific vehicle, PM me or respond to the topic

Light Tanks

Light Tank M2 Series

Light Tank M2A1 : 1935, 19 Built

Light Tank M2A3 : 1938, 73 Built

Light Tank M3 Stuart Series

M3 Stuart II : June 1941, 1285 Built

M3 Stuart Hybrid : Late 1941-1942, N/A # Built

Light Tank M5 Stuart Series

M5 Stuart VI : April 1942, 2075 Built

Prototype Light Tanks

Light Tank T7 : January 1942, 1 Built

Light Tank T7E2 : January 1942, 1 Built

Light Tank T7E5 : August 1942, 7 Built

Armored Cars

Medium Tanks

Medium Tank M2 Series

Medium Tank M2A1 : December 1940, 94 Built

Medium Tank M3 Lee/Grant Series

Medium Tank M3A1 Lee II : January 1942, 300 Built (Cast Hull)

Medium Tank M3A2 Lee III : January 1942, 12 Built (Welded Hull)

Medium Tank M3A3 Lee V : March 1942, 322 Built (GM 6046 Twin Diesel, Welded Hull)

Medium Tank M3A4 Lee VI : June 1942, 109 Built (Chrysler A-57, Riveted Hull)

Medium Tank M3A5 Grant II : January 1942, 591 Built (GM 6046 Twin Diesel, Riveted Hull)

Note: Any version of the Medium Tank M3 series could be upgraded to 75mm Gun M3, as seen in the M3A4 picture.

Medium Tank M4 Sherman Series

Medium Tank M4 Sherman (Early-Mid Production) : July 1942, 4772 Built

Medium Tank M4 (105) : February 1944, 800 Built

Medium Tank M4 (105) HVSS : September 1944, 841 Built

Unable to find Verifiable picture at the moment, will upload as soon as I find one.

Medium Tank M4 Composite "Sherman Hybrid" 75 : August 1943, 1976 Built

Medium Tank M4A1 Large Hatch (75) Dry : December 1943, 100 Built

Unable to find decent period image at the moment, will add when able to

Medium Tank M4A1 (76)W HVSS : January 1945, 1255 Built

Prototype Medium Tanks

Heavy Tanks

Tank Destroyers

Self Propelled Gun/Howitzer Motor Carriages

Self Propelled Anti-Aircraft Guns

[EDDIEGT]

for self propelled add the M7 priest, there were three variants made based off the M3 Lee chassis. the M7 of which there were 3489 built, the M7B1 826 built and the M7B2 which were converted M7B1’s which had the smallest at 127 considering this machines involvement throughout WW2 and into the korean war im surprised it hasn’t been added yet

[Conraire]

It will definitely be added to this list thread. However, its likely when the suggestion section opens back up to new suggestions, those may need to be suggested again, unless they’d already been forwarded to the devs for consideration.

[EDDIEGT]

im bored out of my mind today expect me to be replying quite a bit so this is just the start, I really enjoy reading about WW2 especially the vehicles

[EDDIEGT]

just to to explain the M7B1 was based on the Sherman hull while the original M7’s were modified M3 hulls
theres also the T51 which are M7 priest modified to carry a 25pdr instead of the howitzer

[Conraire]

Thanks for the info, I can probably look up through Hunnicutt’s or other books I have for pictures. Having a challenge finding a pic for the M4A1 Large Hatch 75 model… There were apparently 100 built, that were converted to DD versions.

[EDDIEGT]

DD are the amphibious correct?

[EDDIEGT]

also for the M2 light tanks their was apparently an AT variant made which removed the turret and added a 47mm autocannon but i cant find a picture

[MiseryIndex556-psn]

Medium tank T23E3. I hope the torsion bar version is added, just to be different from the T20. The T23 turret was eventually added to the M4 hull for the 76mm gun.

[FlipAllTheTables]

I’d love a T23 but I honestly don’t want one of the later suspension versions. They are heavier and it would just lead to similar mobility to the T25. Besides, the basic T23 has VVSS while the T20 has early HVSS, so you don’t even need to go into the T23E series to find a different suspension from the T20.

That aside… there’s also the whole issue where the T25 has a god awful garbage transmission, and if I’ve learnt anything, it’s that Gaijin will copy paste as much as possible even when they shouldn’t (the M6A2E1 and T1E1 both have modified M6A1 transmissions in-game).

[FlipAllTheTables]

On a side note, Hunnicut’s book on US WW2 medium tanks mentions an M4 with a reversible transmission.

From what I’ve managed to scrape together, it is one of the M4E6s, specifically serial number 30253, registration number 3038783, which alongside SN 30263 (another M4E6) was sent to Fort Knox and modified with early HVSS suspension and equipped with this new transmission, among other changes including increasing its final drive gear ratio to that of the M4A3E2.

A problem noted early in the career of the Sherman was its low speed in reverse. The gear ratio required for adequate hill climbing in reverse produced an agonizingly slow speed if the tank had to withdraw while under fire. In April 1943, the Ordnance Committee recommended the construction of six tanks with a reduced reverse gear ratio. However, the engineering tests revealed that although the reverse speed was increased, the climbing ability in that direction was unsatisfactory. The best solution was the installation of a planetary gear box which could reverse the entire transmission permitting operation at all five gear ratios. This gear box transmitted the power without any speed change in the forward direction. In reverse, the gear ratio was slightly increased. For example, if the maximum forward speed was 24 miles/hour, the reverse speed in the same gear was 21 miles/hour.
The high speed reverse transmission also included a new low level oiling system which reduced the oil capacity from 43 to 20 gallons. The operating temperature was greatly decreased and an additional 25 horsepower was transmitted to the sprockets. The new transmission used most of the parts from the standard unit and was completely interchangeable. Installation required the moving of the generator and electrical wiring. Also, the propeller shaft had to be shortened by 5 inches. The latter was an improvement since it reduced the shaft deflection and hence, bearing loads.
On 30 April 1944, OCM 23548 recommended the use of the high speed reverse and low level oil system but tests at Fort Knox were not complete until about a year later. In late 1944, the Armored Board received a 76mm gun M4 equipped with the new transmission. This vehicle, registration number 3038783, was one of the seven pilot tanks built at Detroit to serve as prototypes for the “Ultimate” Sherman. After tests, the Armored Board concluded that the high speed reverse transmission was far superior to the standard unit and recommended its adoption without delay for all tanks of the M4 series. Unfortunately, time had run out and the war was over before it could be introduced.
The M4 tested with the high speed reverse at Fort Knox also was fitted with final drives having a higher gear ratio of 3.36:1 compared to the standard 2.84:1. These were the final drives gears from the heavier assault tank M4A3E2. The Armored Board tests showed that although the speed on a level surface was reduced, the cross-country performance was greatly improved. Their report recommended this final drive ratio to be adopted for all production M4s, M4A1s and M32 tank recovery vehicles. The change was not recommended for the M4A3 because of its normal higher performance. Like the high speed reverse, hostilities ended before this feature was available.

(Image from Pullman M4A2(75)s and M4(75)s, arrows are pointing to the early HVSS bogies)

My hands hurt from having to manually type all of that.

[SpardaSon21]

This is a neat site that has more info on the “Ultimate Sherman” tests that were conducted.

Two-plane stabilizers, anti-HEAT composite side armor, concentric recoil system for the 76mm gun that allowed a coaxial .50 to be included in addition to the existing .30, some big-ass engines, and an infrared lamp/sight system for the driver.

[TWB_Maniac]

Ups…

[MiseryIndex556-psn]

I think you posted in the wrong thread.

[Apollo_1641]

I’d like to see a researchable M8 Greyhound for the US tech tree, it makes no sense that such a ubiquitous vehicle should be a rare event reward.

I propose the M8 Greyhound (late), it differs from the earlier model M8 currently in-game because it has a turret ring for the M2 .50 cal.

[Wiggly_Armed_Man]

Here’s a, at least almost, complete list of all of the vehicles built from 1919 to 1940, plus some others. It does include vehicle that were otherwise unarmed in some fashion, though still had mounts for the weaponry. It doesn’t include any production variations that might’ve happened during the course their productions aside from major ones:

Scout Cars (Car, Scout); subdivision of armored cars specialized in reconnaissance, first introduced in 1929~

Spoiler

• T7: 1934, 3 prototypes built
  • M1: Standardized 1935, 76 built plus 3 T7 prototypes
• M2A1/M3: 1939, 60~ built
  • M3A1: 1939-1944, 17,000~ built
    • 1940: trialed with 103 hp DJXD diesel engine
    • 1940: trialed with 81 hp 6DT-317 diesel engine, later produced as the exported M3A1E1
    • M3A1 Command: 1940s, unknown numbers converted
    • M3A1E3: 1940s, 1 prototype built

Armored Cars (Car, Armored); armored and wheel vehicles meant to serve in a multitude of roles, ranging from direct combat support to reconnaissance

Spoiler

• T7: 1929, 6 prototypes built
• T4: 1931, 2 prototypes built
  • M1: Standardized 1931, 10 built plus 2 T4 prototypes
• T11: 1932, 1 prototype built was unarmed
  • T11E1: 1934, 5 prototypes built was unarmed
    • T11E2: 1936, 1 prototype built was unarmed
• TH-310: 1934, export for Iran but trialed (and rejected) by the United States
  • TK-5: 1934, TH-310 export to Iran, locally modified
• TK-6: 1933, export to Iran but trialed (and rejected) by the United States
• Tucker Tiger: 1938, 1 prototype built had mockup weaponry

Convertible Combat Cars (Car, Combat, Convertible): tanks for the cavalry branch that utilized the Christie suspension

Spoiler

• T1: 1932, 4 prototypes built
  • 1933: radio installed
  • T1E1: 1932, 1 converted T1E1
  • T1E3: 1932, 1 converted T1E1
• T2: 1931, 1 prototype built
  • T2E1: 1932, 1 prototype built
• T4: 1933, 1 prototype built was unarmed
  • T4E1: 1934, 1 converted T4
    • T4E2: 1935, 1 converted T4E1
• T7: 1 prototype built

Combat Cars (Car, Combat): tanks for the cavalry branch, redesignated light tanks in 1940

Spoiler

• T5E1: 1935, 1 prototype built
• T5E2: 1935, 1 prototype built
  • M1: Standardized 1936-1937, 89 built plus 1 T5E2 prototype
    • 1936: D-shaped turret replaced by irregular octagonal turret
    • 1940: redesignated to the Tank, Light, M1A1
    • M1E2: 1937, 1 converted M1, later reverted was unarmed
      • M1A1: 1938, 17 built
        • 1940: redesignated to the Tank, Light, M1A1
        • M1E3: 1938, 1 prototype built was unarmed
        • M2: 1940, 34 built
          • 1940: redesignated to the Tank, Light, M1A2
  • M1E1: 1936, 3 built
    • 1940: redesignated to the Tank, Light, M1A1
      • M1A1E1: 1938, 7 built
        • 1940: redesignated to the Tank, Light, M1A1
        • M2 Diesel: 1940, portion of the 34 M2 built
          • 1940: redesignated to the Tank, Light, M1A2

Light Tanks (Tank, Light); tanks for the infantry branch within the “light” (13> t) weight range, combat cars redesignated light tanks in 1940

Spoiler

• M1917A1: 1929-1930, 8 converted M1917
• T1: 1927, 1 prototype built
  • T1E1: 1928, 4 prototypes built
    • Later 1928: briefly standardized as the Tank, Light, M1, reverted the same year
    • T1E2: 1929, 1 prototype built
      • 1930: rearmed with a 37-mm M1916
    • T1E3: 1930, 1 converted T1E1
    • T1E4: 1932, 1 converted T1E1
      • Later 1932: reengined with a 140 hp Cunningham V8
      • T1E6, 1932, 1 converted T1E4
    • T1E5: 1932, 1 converted T1E1
• T2: 1934, 1 prototype built
  • T2E1: 1934, 1 converted T2
    • M2A1: Standardized 1935, 9 built
      • 1939: synchromesh transmission installed
    • T2E2: 1935, 1 prototype built
      • M2A2: Standardized 1935-1937, 238 built plus 1 T2E2 prototype already in-game
        • 1936: curved turrets replaced by angled-face turrets
        • 1939: synchromesh transmission installed
        • M2A2E2: 1937, 1 converted M2A2 was unarmed
          • M2A2E3: 1938, 1 converted M2A2E3 was unarmed
        • M2A3: 1938, 73 built
          • 1939: synchromesh transmission installed
          • M2A3E2: 1940~, 1 converted M2A3 was unarmed(?)
          • M2A3E3: 1941, 1 converted M2A3 was unarmed
          • M2A4 prototype: 1939, 1 converted M2A3
            • Later 1939: cupola and additional sponson machine gun installed, 37-mm M3 shortened to a 37-mm M5
            • M2A4: 1939-1942, 374 built plus 1 prototype already in-game
      • M2A2E1: 1937, 3 built
        • 1939: synchromesh transmission installed
        • M2A3E1: 1938, 8 built
          • 1939: synchromesh transmission installed
          • M2A4 Diesel: portion of the 374 M2A4 built
• CTL-3 prototype: 1936, 1 prototype built
  • CTM-3B: 1943, 5 built
  • CTMS-1TB1: 1943, export to the Netherlands but trialed (and rejected) by the United States
  • MTLS-1G14: 1943, export to the Netherlands but trialed (and rejected) by the United States

Convertible Medium Tanks (Tank, Medium, Convertible): tanks for the infantry branch within the “medium” weight range that utilized the Christie suspension, though all tanks were within the “light” (13> t) weight range

Spoiler

• M1919 Convertible: 1921, 1 prototype built had mockup weaponry(?)
• M1921 Convertible: 1922, 1 prototype built had mockup weaponry(?)
• M1931 Convertible: 1931, 1 prototype built
  • T3: 1932, 2 prototypes built
    • Later 1932: driver’s windshield installed
    • 1933: driver’s windshield removed, radio installed
  • T3E1: 1932, 1 prototype built
    • Later 1932: floor reinforced
    • Even later 1932: driver’s windshield installed
    • 1933: driver’s windshield removed, radio installed
• T3E2: 1933, 5 prototypes built
  • T3E3: 1934, 5 converted T3E2
• T4: 1935-1936, 16 prototypes built
  • 1940: standardized as the Tank, Medium, Convertible M1
• T4E1: 1935, 3 prototypes built

Medium Tanks (Tank, Medium): tanks for the infantry branch within the “medium” (13< t) weight range

Spoiler

• M1921: 1921, 1 prototype built
  • 1922: reengined with a 338 hp Liberty L-12
  • 1925: reengined with a 200 hp Packard
  • M1922: 1922, 1 prototype built
    • Later 1922: cables replaced by chains in suspension
  • T1: 1927, 1 prototype built
    • 1928: briefly standardized as the Tank, Medium, M1, reverted the same year
    • 1931: rearmed with a 75-mm M1920
    • T1E1: 1932, 1 converted T1
• T2: 1930, 1 prototype built
  • 1931: hull rearmed with a T1 gun system
  • 1932: hull rearmed with a cal. .30 M1919, anti-aircraft machine gun mount added was unarmed aside from the hull cal. .30 M1919
• T5 Phase I: 1938, 1 prototype built
  • T5E1: 1938, 1 converted T5 Phase I
  • T5 Phase III: 1939, 1 prototype built
    • M2: Standardized 1939, 18 built
      • Later 1939: M19 gun mount installed already in-game
      • M2A1: 1940-1941, 94 vehicles
        • 1941: M21 gun mount installed
        • 1940s: 3-inch (76.2 mm) applique developed
  • T5E2: 1939, 1 prototype built

Heavy Tanks (Tank, Heavy): tanks for the infantry branch within the “heavy” (30+ t) weight range

Spoiler

• Mark VIII pilot: 1919, 1 prototype
  • Mark VIII: 1920, 99 built plus 1 Mark VIII prototype
    • 1925: strobe cupola installed on one Mark VIII, removed the same year
    • 1932: air-cooled engine installed on one Mark VIII

Howitzer/Gun Motor Carriages (Carriage, Motor, [DIAMETER]-mm Howitzer/Gun): self-propelled and self-contained guns, utilized as indirect or direct, or both, firepower

Spoiler

• T1: 1930, 1 prototype built
• M2A1 AT: 1937, 1 converted M2A1
• T3: 1940, 1 prototype built

It should be noted that possible additions should be taken very liberally in this list. As already stated, some were unarmed albeit still had the turrets and mounts for the guns. This was done to some prototypes, such as the T11 armored cars and the 1932 version of the T2 medium, since it wasn’t considered to be necessary, whereas others never had them installed, albeit the holes for their installation were still there, because they were focused on testing mobility, such as the T2 light tanks and the experimental M1 combat cars and M2 light tanks.

In other cases, the performance of the gun is in question. I am not certain that the 37-mm M1916, utilized by a bulk of Christie’s tanks, would be usable in-game since it only has a base-fuzed high-explosive shell available to it for armor-piercing purposes. This was considered suitable during the 1920s and I guessed estimated that it would have somewhere between 20 mm to 25 mm of penetration based on the performance of the M63 in-game. However, if it’s lower, then it could very well be unusable. The only saving possibility is that they’re given the mle 1927 and 1936 APCR that the French developed for their S.A. mle 18 guns.

Another one of these cases are those of the T2 and T3 Brownings utilized by part of the T1 lights and as a hull gun on the T2 medium. I have no idea what their performance is and no one else seems to know either. They were considered suitable for anti-tank purposes – but, given that was in comparison to the 37-mm M1916, that isn’t very reassuring. The only hint to their performance is that the T2 fired a 37x123B cartridge at 2,000 fps and that the T3 fired a 37x120R cartridge at 1,350 fps.

Lastly – the 75-mm guns from this era had no armor-piercing capability. This was considered to be okay, since the concussive force alone was enough to crack the 0.6-inch armor of the M1917 light tank when the T1 medium tank tested its 75-mm M1920 against it. This, of course, wouldn’t be possible in-game since concussive force and armor degradation isn’t modeled. This was the same case for the 75-mm guns utilized by the T1 and the T3, though they had no intention to serve as anti-tank guns in those cases. They could be given the high-explosive anti-tank projectiles that were later introduced into their cartridges, but, at least in the case of the T1 medium, it would be quite weird to see.

Edit: Added the Mark VIII since it is, by a technicality, an interwar tank. The United States didn’t receive their first Mark VIII pilot vehicle until 1919, which was then refined into the American version of the Mark VIII which went into production the following year. It also had two modifications during its service, though they wouldn’t have a real difference between one another (aside from the pilot vehicle) if they were all added to the game.

[Wiggly_Armed_Man]

I forgot, but Christie also developed several amphibious self-propelled guns during the early 1920s. This includes the:

• Christie Amphibious M1921 or Amphibious Self-Propelled Gun, First Model; 1921, 1 prototype built; 1 x - 75-mm M1897 (12 mm penetration), 6.35/6.35/6.35 (H) mm armor @ 29.0 km/h (tracks) 29.0 km/h (wheels) 12.1 km/h (water) w/ 11.2 kW/t
• Land and Water Motor Gun Carriage (Christie) for 75-mm Gun (LWMGC (Christie) 75-mm) (Christie Amphibious M1922) (Amphibious Self-Propelled Gun, Second Model); 1922, 1 prototype built; 1 x - 75-mm M1897 (12 mm penetration), 6.35/6.35/6.35 (0.25") (H) (T) mm armor @ 29.0 km/h (tracks) 29.0 km/h (wheels) 12.1 km/h (water) w/ 10.4 kW/t
• Christie Amphibious M1923 or Amphibious Self-Propelled Gun, Third Model; 1923, 1 prototype built; 1 x - 75-mm M1897 (12 mm penetration), ??? (H) (T) mm armor @ ??? km/h w/ ??? kW/t
  • 1924; floatation devices and upper armor removed, sometimes referred to as the Christie Amphibious M1924
• United States Marine Corps Tank, Gun Carrier 2 (U.S. Marine Corps Tank, G.C.2) (Christie Amphibious M1923); 1923, 1 prototype built; 1 x - 75-mm M1897 (12 mm penetration), 6.35/6.35/6.35 (H) (T) mm armor @ 29.0 km/h (tracks) 48.3 km/h (wheels) 12.1 km/h (water) w/ 9.5 kW/t
  • 1924; 75-mm M1897 replaced by a 37-mm M1916 (25(?) mm penetration)

However, the issue with them is the same as all of the other 75-mm gunned vehicles during this period: the United States did not have 75-mm armor-piercing projectiles. The first one wouldn’t be developed until 1939/40 when the M72 AP was introduced as a stopgap until the M61 APC, standardized in 1940, could begin production in 1942. Those are both well after these amphibious vehicles – and other tanks, like the T1E1 with the 75-mm and the T1 HMC, were scrapped.

I don’t know if the United States had any stock of French projectiles that they may have acquired during the First World War, where I imagine that there was at least some exchange, if not just the outright usage, of French stocks. If so, they may have acquired one of the numerous French armor-piercing projectiles that had been developed for the 75 x 350 mm R cartridge shared by the French mle 1897 and the American M1897. This would give the vehicles a penetration of anywhere between 68 mm (OP AL mle 1918) to 84 mm (OO mle 1898), depending on what projectile they receive.

That same solution doesn’t extend to the other vehicles, though. The 75-mm M1920 (T1 Medium), M1 (T1 HMC, T3 HMC), and M1A1 (T5E2 Medium) use the 75 x 272 mm R cartridge. The only armor-piercing projectile every developed for them was the M66 HEAT which wouldn’t be introduced until the middle part of the Second World War.