What is the best main battle tank of World War 2?

Answer 1

Well, the phrase "Main Battle Tank" wasn't used until the 1960's. MBTs were generally pretty new and began around 1943, during these times MBTs generally weren't as popular as modern times. MBTs may not even have been used during World War II. During World War II there were mostly medium tanks. Some tanks such as Super Heavy Tanks, known for their large power, slow speed, and of course heavy weight, were mounted with extremely powerful weapons; the heaviest was the German Panzer VIII Maus. It weighed 200 metric tons, had a primary and secondary machine gun. This tank was never used due to the testing area of the tank being captured by Soviet forces.

During World War II the T-34 and M4 Sherman, were the most mass produced tanks.

T-34s, made by the Soviet Union, were the best tanks on average. They had about 50,000 produced during World War II. Although some could argue the M4 Sherman, made by the US, were better. They are comparable and could destroy each other in one hit. The Sherman had slightly better optics though. Around 1942-1943 Germany created Panther tanks and Tiger tanks, which were intended to counter the Soviet T-34s. Near the end of the war, Tiger II was also made, although Tiger tanks were generally a feared tank, they were also unreliable and prone to problems, as such few were built. Germany's best tank would've been the Panzer tanks. The KV (Kliment Voroshilov) tanks were also Soviet tanks were more or less like T-34s, except more expensive. They were the Soviet heavy tanks known for their thick armour. The Iosif Stalin tank was used during the last stages of the war by the Soviet Union and was generally used in breakthroughs.

In the end, many tanks were made to defeat other specific tanks, making each tank have their own weaknesses and strengths. The T-34s made by the Soviet Union and the M4 Sherman made by the US, are considered by many to be the best all-around tanks. Though which is better, it's more of a situation variable.

Answer 2

The term "MBT" (Main Battle Tank) for the US didn't come into service until the fielding of the M60 Combat Tank in 1960. The US Army was going to actually title the M60 tank as the MBT, but the paper work was already processed for it's name, the "Combat Tank, M60, Full Tracked." So that name stuck. But in 1960, the M60 actually became the US Army's FIRST Main Battle Tank.

Prior to 1960, US tank's were classified as Heavy Gun Tanks (120mm), Medium Gun Tanks (90mm), and Light Gun Tanks (76mm). Prior to 1950, US tank's were classified as Heavy, Medium, and Light tanks (by weight).

This now puts you into WWII, and the answer to your question. The primary battle tank for the US in WWII was the medium Sherman M4 tank which had a 76mm gun.

The Korean War was the M46 Patton medium tank (a modified M26 Pershing tank).

The M47 Patton medium gun tank NEVER saw action with US forces.

The Vietnam War was the M48 Patton medium gun tank. This was the LAST of the Patton series tanks.