The United States has developed and utilized some of the most powerful and devastating tanks in the world throughout its military history. From the legendary Shermans of World War II to the cutting-edge Abrams of today, American tanks have consistently provided US forces with a crucial advantage on the battlefield. When it comes to determining the strongest US tank ever made, there are several models that stand out as contenders for the title.
The M1 Abrams
The most obvious candidate for the strongest US tank is the M1 Abrams, which remains the US Army and Marine Corps’ main battle tank to this day. First entering service in 1980, the M1 Abrams featured significant improvements over previous American tanks such as composite armor for increased protection and a more powerful turbocharged diesel engine. The Abrams has seen continuous upgrades over its service life, including improved fire control systems and armor packages.
The current M1A2 SEP v3 Abrams entered service in 2020 and represents the pinnacle of US tank technology and design. It weighs over 70 tons, has a 120mm smoothbore main gun, can achieve speeds of over 40 mph, and uses advanced Chobham composite armor augmented with reactive armor tiles. This armor allows the Abrams to shrug off most enemy anti-tank rounds and missiles, while its firepower can destroy any opposing tank at ranges over 2500m.
Crew survivability in the Abrams is also unmatched – no Abrams crewmember has been lost to enemy fire in combat operations due to the tank’s heavy armor and design focused on protecting the crew compartment. The M1A2 SEP v3 integrates new active protection systems to detect and intercept incoming missiles and rockets as well, providing an extra layer of defense.
Armament
The main armament of the M1A2 SEP v3 is the 120mm M256 smoothbore cannon. This gun can fire a variety of ammunition including armor-piercing sabot rounds capable of destroying enemy tanks at ranges of 3000m or more. The Abrams’ fire control system uses advanced ballistics computers, laser rangefinders, and thermal sights to engage targets with a high first-shot hit probability, day or night.
Secondary weapons include a .50 caliber M2 machine gun and two 7.62mm M240 machine guns to engage infantry, helicopters, and soft targets. Some Abrams variants also mount a 40mm grenade launcher for additional firepower.
Protection
The M1A2 SEP v3 has some of the best all-around protection of any modern main battle tank. Its Chobham composite armor provides excellent defense against kinetic energy penetrators while the additional reactive armor tiles can defeat shaped charge warheads and shoulder-fired anti-tank weapons. The tank also has an automatic fire suppression system and crew escape hatches for added survivability.
Newer active protection systems like the Israeli Trophy can now detect and shoot down incoming missiles and rockets, providing an active defense against these threats. Advanced countermeasures and smoke grenade launchers help obscure and confuse enemy targeting and guidance systems as well.
Mobility
Despite its formidable size and weight, the M1A2 SEP v3 retains good mobility thanks to its 1500 horsepower Honeywell turbine engine and torsion bar suspension. It can attain speeds of over 40 mph on roads and has a maximum cruising range of 265 miles. The Abrams can traverse difficult terrain and overcome obstacles like trenches thanks to its jet propulsion system and solid drivetrain. Its wide tracks distribute weight efficiently as well.
The M60 Patton
While the Abrams is the clear leader in modern US tank technology, historically the M60 Patton was long considered America’s mightiest tank during the Cold War era after it replaced the aging M48 Patton in 1960. The M60 introduced a 105mm rifled main gun and a wide range of technological improvements over the M48, including a more powerful diesel engine, better fire control, and stabilization systems.
The M60 underwent several upgrades during its lengthy service life leading to variants like the M60A1, M60A2, and M60A3. These tanks featured improved “shaped” Chobham armor for increased protection as well as better optics and fire control systems. The final M60A3 variant had a laser rangefinder, ballistic computer, and thermal sights for its main gun – giving it lethality out to 3000m+ ranges.
Over 15,000 M60 Pattons were produced and they served as America’s primary battle tank for nearly 30 years, seeing action in Vietnam, the Middle East, and Europe. Mounting the 105mm gun gave the M60 a balance of firepower, mobility, and protection that made it an effective main battle tank for its time. Only the introduction of the Abrams in the 1980s relegated the M60 to secondary roles before it was finally retired from US service in the 1990s.
The M4 Sherman
Traveling further back in history, the M4 Sherman was the United States’ most widely used tank of World War II and gave US forces a crucial edge against often superior German tanks like the Panther and Tiger. The Sherman entered service in 1942 and over 49,000 were produced by the war’s end – more than any other American tank ever made.
The M4 Sherman was not necessarily the most powerful tank fielded in WWII, weighing in at “only” 33 tons with armor up to 76mm thick and a 75mm or 76mm main gun. However, it was reliable, cost-effective to produce, and had good mobility – all factors that contributed to it being built and deployed in such large numbers. The Sherman’s mechanical reliability allowed it to operate well in diverse environments from Europe to the Pacific.
While individually the Sherman was outclassed by heavier German tanks, in combat the M4’s advantages in numbers, mobility, and sustainment meant US armored units could outmaneuver their opposition. Superior US tactics and technology like radios in every Sherman also gave them an edge. Upgunned Sherman variants with 76mm guns could destroy Panzers, while sheer numbers allowed them to overrun German tank formations.
The M4 Sherman was America’s workhorse tank of WWII and its advantages in mechanical reliability, crew comfort, and mass production were key factors that helped the Allies win the armored battles of the European and Pacific theaters. No other US tank model has seen such widespread deployment.
The M26 Pershing
Towards the end of WWII, the US deployed a new heavy tank known as the M26 Pershing that was a closer match to Germany’s Panther and Tiger tanks that had dominated the earlier years of the war. The M26 weighed in at 46 tons and was armed with a 90mm main gun that could penetrate and destroy any German tank fielded in the war.
The M26 was rushed to the European theater in early 1945 to counter the German heavy tanks and tank destroyers still posing a threat. Though it saw limited combat in the closing months of WWII, its 90mm gun and heavy frontal armor up to 200mm thick made it superior to both the Panther and Tiger I tanks it would face. Only the heavier Tiger II was better protected.
After WWII, the M26 saw service in the Korean War. Its 90mm gun proved effective against Soviet-supplied T-34/85 tanks used by North Korean forces. The M26 foreshadowed the development of America’s postwar heavy tanks leading to the M48 Patton and eventually the M1 Abrams.
Comparison Table
Here is a comparison table summarizing some of the key characteristics and combat capabilities of America’s strongest tank models:
| Tank | M1A2 SEP v3 | M60A3 | M4 Sherman | M26 Pershing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Type | Modern MBT | Cold War MBT | WWII Medium Tank | WWII Heavy Tank |
| Weight | 70 tons | 54 tons | 33 tons | 46 tons |
| Main Gun | 120mm smoothbore | 105mm rifled | 75mm or 76mm | 90mm |
| Max Armor | 900+ mm RHAe | ~400mm RHAe | 76mm | 200mm |
| Powerplant | 1500 hp turbine | 750 hp diesel | 400 hp radial | 810 hp radial |
| Speed (road) | 42 mph | 30 mph | 25 mph | 30 mph |
| Crew | 4 | 4 | 5 | 5 |
The Abrams – America’s Strongest Overall Tank
When all factors are considered – firepower, protection, mobility – the M1A2 SEP v3 Abrams emerges as the strongest US tank ever fielded. Its 120mm smoothbore gun delivers lethal firepower at extended ranges, while its composite and reactive armor protection provides all-around defense against modern anti-tank weapons and ammunition.
The Abrams’ turbine engine provides great speed and agility for a vehicle of its size. And continual upgrades to its sensors and fire control systems give Abrams crews unmatched situational awareness and shooting capabilities. No other American tank comes close to matching the M1A2 SEP v3’s optimal balance of armor, armament, and mobility.
US tanks like the M60 Patton were revolutionary in their time and the Shermans and Pershings proved decisive in World War II. But the Abrams represents the pinnacle of American tank engineering today and is arguably the world’s most technologically advanced and deadly main battle tank on any battlefield.
For these reasons, the M1A2 SEP v3 Abrams stands out above the rest as the strongest US tank ever developed. It provides US ground forces with a decisive edge in armor capabilities over any adversaries they are likely to face today or in the foreseeable future.
The Future of US Tank Technology
While the Abrams is unmatched today, work continues to develop the next generation of US tank technology to maintain battlefield dominance in the decades ahead. The Tank Automotive Research, Development and Engineering Center (TARDEC) and defense contractors like General Dynamics are collaborating on designs for the M1A3 Abrams and a Block IV Abrams variant.
These future Abrams tanks may incorporate even more protective reactive and composite nano-ceramic armors to defeat ever more sophisticated anti-tank weapons. Active protection systems will also be enhanced using next-gen sensors and countermeasures to detect and intercept incoming threats. More powerful diesel engines using hybrid electric drive are another possibility to maintain mobility. Artificial intelligence and advanced networked systems may help future tanks locate targets, optimize firing solutions, and coordinate with drones or robots on the battlefield.
Beyond the Abrams, the US Army also has its “Next Generation Combat Vehicle” program to totally replace the Abrams starting in 2035. This future tank may incorporate radical new technologies like laser or railgun weapons, fully networked systems, drone and robot integration, and even some degree of autonomous functions.
While the Abrams will continue to dominate as America’s strongest tank for the foreseeable future, US researchers and engineers are already innovating and testing the cutting-edge armor, weapons, engines, and systems that will defend and attack the battlefields of tomorrow.
Conclusion
From World War II to today, American tanks have consistently given US ground forces a tactical edge through superior firepower, protection, and mobility. The M1A2 SEP v3 Abrams stands as the pinnacle of US tank engineering so far, with its balance of armament, armor, and speed unmatched by any prior American tank design.
Upgrades will continue to refine the Abrams’ capabilities in the coming years. And in the more distant future, the “Next Generation Combat Vehicle” program may field revolutionary tanks integrating sensor, weapons, and propulsion technologies still being imagined. But for now, the Abrams tank remains the strongest overall combination of lethality, survivability, and mobility in the US arsenal – making it America’s mightiest and most technologically lethal tank.