It had a completely redesigned hull with sloped armour and a modified turret. The most progressive upgrade became known as the M5 Stuart. The M3, known as the Stuart, was basically an upgraded M2 light tank, with superior armour and firepower. The old designs were unable to compete with contemporary tanks, so the M2 light tank was replaced by the M3 light tank. When World War II broke out in Europe, the tanks in the US arsenal were outdated and had been surpassed by German designs. The M2 light tank was developed into the M2A4 in 1939, which had increased armament and armour. Only a few tanks, the M1 and M2 light tanks and the M2 medium tank, entered production between the World Wars. InterwarĪfter World War 1 ended, the Tank Corps was shrunk to only 300 men. By the end of 1918, the Tank Corps had built its ranks up to 20,000 men. The M1917 was finally ready by the end of 1918, but it was too late to take part in the war. The first mass-produced tank in America was the M1917, which was basically a copy of the Renault FT. The first tank to see service with the United States was the Renault FT, a French light tank.

Pershing, commander of the American Expeditionary Force, saw the potential of the tank and wanted the creation of an American tank corps. They first achieved success at the Battle of Cambrai in 1917, again under British service.

At this point in time, the tank had only just been developed by Britain and was first used in the battle of the Somme in 1916. In 1917, the United States joined World War I.

Us main battle tanks over the years