M4 Sherman - American Medium Tank

The most famous American tank of World War II is the M4 Sherman.

Produced in large quantities (over 49.000) the M4 Sherman tank formed the main tank force of US Army during World War II.

This tank development had started in 1940 as a replacement for the M3 Lee, the first M4 featured a cast hull and turret, housing a 75 mm M3 L/40 gun, two Browning M1919 .30 (7.62 mm) and one Browning M2HB .50 (12.7 mm) were used in the role of anti-personnel and anti-material. Late versions were upgraded to the 76 mm M1 high velocity gun.


Powered by a 400 hp Continental R975-C4 9 cylinders radial engine, with this engine the M4 could reach a top speed up to 48 kmh.  The crew consists of 5 men (driver, aux.driver, gunner, loader and commander), protection was provided by a 76 mm thick sloped armor at the front of the tank which late ineffective against the German 75 mm and 88 mm.


Despite the high losses in battle, the Sherman outnumbered any German, Italian of Japanese tank in the war and managed to be used long after the conflict by USA and its allies until the late 60s.

StuG - German Tank Destroyer

One of the most iconic German tank destroyers, the Sturmgeschütz III known as StuG III was a modified Panzer III with the specific role of infantry support. Development started in 1936 by Daimler Benz initially armed with a low velocity 75 mm StuK 37, powered by a 300 hp Maybach HL120TRM V12 engine with a top speed of 40 kmh, production model used a 50 mm armor plate in the front and a weight of 23.9 tons.

Late models adopted the long barreled 75 mm StuK 40 capable of penetrate almost any allied tank until the first half of World War II. The crew consists of 4 men, (driver, gunner, commander and loader).

In combat, the StuG was used in all fronts, from West to East Europe and North Africa facing the Blitzkrieg and ambush tactics in many operations. 

Walter Kniep unit claimed 129 kills being the most deadly StuG unit.

9400 StuG were built until the end of World War II making it the most produced German tracked AFV, 

Many other countries used the StuG, like Bulgaria, Romania, Hungary, Spain, Italy and Finland

T-50 - Soviet light tank

Soviet T-50 development started in 1939 in Leningrad as a demand to replace the old T-26 and BT series of tanks.

By the end of 1940 two prototypes were tested, and a many technical problems were fixed, production series as began only in 1941.

Weighting only 14 tons, the T-50 resembles the legendary T-34 in design, the frontal hull is composed of a sloped steel plate of 37 mm thick (50 mm of effectiveness), the main gun was a 45 mm Model 1938 cannon, a DT 7.62 mm machine gun is placed in coaxial.

The powerful 300 hp 6 cylinders V4 diesel engine provided a top speed of 60 kmh on road making the T-50 one of the fastest tanks of its era. The cramped interior houses a crew of 4 men (driver, gunner, loader and commander)


Despite its short production of only 69 units, the T-50 fought at the Leningrad front with a remarkable good armor for a light tank.

Char B1 - French heavy tank

Char B1 development had started in the late 20s and three prototypes being ready by 1930 which were used in extensive trials and some of its finals specs being defined like the 272 hp Renault 6 cylinders petrol engine capable to reach a top speed of 28 kmh.

The weaponry consists of a 75 mm ABS SA35 howitzer placed in the front hull, the turret accommodates the 47 mm SA 35 AT cannon and a Rebel 7.5 mm machine gun, the total weight reached 28 tons.

The Char B1 production started by 1935, France managed to build 369 of these tanks until 1940, crewed by 4 men (driver, commander, turret gunner, hull gunner).

Not long after the B1 production started many upgrades proposal regarding its anti-tank role were approved  and the tank received the tag "bis" as the Char B1 bis, the improvement consists of the frontal armor increased to 60 mm thick what late proved to be almost impenetrable by any German early tank, the engine was upgraded to a 309 hp Renault V12.

The Char B1 ter stands as the last modification for this tank, featuring a thicker 75 mm sloped side armor and a stronger 350 hp engine.

In combat the Char B1 was slow and almost obsolete but its thick armor has given the German army a really hard time making it the most feared French tank of its time. Most of Char B1 losses were to indirect artillery fire or to airstrike.

Pz.Kpfw I - German light tank

This iconic German tank history began in 1933.

Developed by Krupp and initially named Sd.Kfz.101 this light tank faced extensive trials until 1936 when the Wehrmacht has put it in service as the Panzerkampfwagen I Ausf. A.

This first version used a thin armor of only 13 mm, armed with a pair of 7.62 mm machine guns and plagued with engine and suspension problems this tank served most of the time as a training machine with only a few that have fought in panzer divisions until 1941.

The Pz.Kpfw I Ausf. B was developed in 1936 and built until 1938, this improved version had a longer chassis with a extra wheel with enough space to house the new 90 hp Maybach NL 38 TR engine, also featured a improved suspension but the armament and armor has not changed. Both versions Ausf. A and Ausf. B were used as basis for some variants like the Flankpanzer I armed with a 20 mm Flak 38, the Panzerjager I armed with a 47 mm KPUZ Skoda cannon and the Bison I armed with the huge 150 mm sIG 33 howitzer.

The Ausf. C and Ausf. F were both late variants of the Pz.Kpfw I, some may call it "Mini Tigers" since they received many improvements including thicker armor (30 mm for Ausf. C and 80 mm for Ausf. F), torsion-bar suspension and a more powerful 150 hp Maybach HL45 Otto engine.

Its first battle was recorded by 1936 during the Spanish Civil War but the Pz.Kpfw I served the Germany during the World War II and after it by the Spanish army until 1954.

M2 & M3 - American light tank

The first American tank known as T2 was born in Rock Island Arsenal in 1934, not long after its trials this prototype has evolved into the M2.

M2A1 light tank production was started in 1935, the initial version was armed with a .50 cal (12.7 mm) MG and a coaxial 7.62 mm MG. This tank could reach a top speed of 56 kmh (36 mph) what gives it an excellent scouting capacity.

During the Spanish Civil War the need for bigger gun become clear and the choice was the M5 AT 37 mm cannon so the US Army in 1938 ordered the M2A4 to be built with increased armor of 25 mm thick, using this 37 mm gun instead of machine guns and a new 250 hp
Continental 7 cylinders radial engine.


World War II has started and Europe is now facing a conflict a lot different from World War I, with the quick fall of France the US Army soon realized the need for a better tank and new doctrines.


The production of the M3 Stuart started in 1941, basically it was an upgraded version of the M2A4 with better suspension, a new and more powerful engine and a new M6 gun with better recoil system.



From the deserts of North Africa to dense jungles of Pacific islands the M3 proved its combat value due to its lightweight (14.7 tons) and good mobility. Many US allies have used the M3 during and after World War II, the list of former operators of this tank is huge (more than 30 countries).

Renault FT - French light tank

Tank warfare has proven its valor in the battlefield of World War I, but these machines were very hard to build, to maintain and deploy. By 1917 the French have visioned another way to use it, with a lighter and faster tank simple enough to be built in large numbers.

The Renault FT was a true revolution in tank design, crewed by only 2 men this small tank weighted 6.7 tons and used a simple 4 cylinders 39 hp engine, the FT could reach up to 7,5 kmh (4.66 mph) of top speed and the protection was provided by steel plates with 22 mm of thickness, the armament was a single Puteaux SA 18 37 mm cannon.

The first operational unit equipped with FT was the 1st BCL (Batallion de Chars Légers), and its baptism of fire was recorded by May, 1918 when a group of tanks managed to reach enemy lines and break through German defenses, despite its small size the FT proved to be capable to cross trenches and deal with incoming fire while the rotating turret could aim 360º around the tank.


An impressive number of 4500 Renault FT were built and used by French army and 20 more countries until late 40s.