American Tanks of World War II explores the tanks, self-propelled guns, halftracks, and armored cars deployed by American forces, from the Torch landings in Algeria to the hard fighting in Normandy and the bitter Ardennes offensive. With the United States producing almost 90,000 AFVs during World War II, American tanks made up the bulk of those deployed by the western Allies and were even supplied through the lend-lease scheme to the Soviet army on the Eastern Front. Organized chronologically by type, the entries in this book include the M3 Stuart, the first American-crewed tank to engage the enemy in tank combat in the war; the ubiquitous M4 Sherman, which proved cheap and reliable and was built in great numbers and in many variants; the M22 Locust light tank, designed to be air-dropped in support of airborne units; and the M26 Pershing, a heavy tank that arrived late in the war and was capable of beating the best tanks Germany had to offer. There are also chapters on the many motor gun carriages used by US forces, including the M8 HMC and T12 halftrack, both designed to provide close support for infantry.
