War Thunder’s M7 Will Bring Sherman Firepower to a Rank II Middle Ground
Gaijin Entertainment will place the M7 in the US tree's Rank II heavy tank line between the M22 Locust and the M6A1/T1E1 group.
War Thunder’s M7 is ready for its place in the US research tree, but Gaijin Entertainment is keeping the vehicle in an unusual spot. Although the tank began life as a light tank, its final design ended up closer to the M4 Sherman in combat capability, leading to its classification as a medium tank.
Gaijin detailed the finished vehicle in its Steam announcement, confirming that the M7 will sit at Rank II in the US armored vehicle tree’s heavy tank line. It will be placed between the M22 Locust and the M6A1/T1E1 group. The announcement did not include an arrival date, and the M7’s characteristics may still change before it is added to the game.
The vehicle follows the earlier work-in-progress M7 reveal, with Gaijin saying that the model has since received additional detailing and finished textures.
A lighter tank with a familiar gun
The M7 carries the classic 75 mm M3 gun, giving it access to effective armor-piercing shells. Its protection is lighter than the Sherman’s, but the reduced weight and compact dimensions make the M7 quicker and more maneuverable.
That tradeoff gives the tank a clear frontline role without making it a natural choice for defensive play. The M7 can push with other medium tanks, use its mobility to reach contested areas, and pressure capture points before heavier vehicles can reposition. Its rounded armor can also cause some incoming armor-piercing rounds to ricochet, though the tank is still less survivable than the M4 Sherman.
Gaijin has designed the M7 to remain useful throughout a match. An early spawn can support a coordinated attack, while a mid-match appearance gives it a chance to retake capture points. Late in a battle, its speed and gun should make it useful against remaining SPAAGs and light vehicles trying to recover lost ground.
How the M7 moved from light tank to medium tank
The project started in 1941 under the name T7, with the goal of replacing the M3 Stuart. The original design was meant to weigh 13 tons, carry a 37 mm gun, and use armor up to 38 mm thick. Its first structural-steel prototype was built in January 1942, followed by three more prototypes.
Development then moved toward a version armed with the British 6-pounder Mark III gun. Testing at the Aberdeen Proving Ground led to changes to both the weapon and transmission, and the tank’s weight eventually doubled from the initial design. The vehicle was standardized as the M7 medium tank in August and entered limited production.
Only seven production vehicles were completed: three by December 1942, three more by January 1943, and one in February. Production models weighed between 28 and 29 tons. Since the M7 offered no clear advantage over the M4 Sherman, which was already in established production, the program was canceled on January 20, 1944.
The in-game version will fill a Battle Rating gap in the early US ranks while keeping its own identity outside the M4 medium tank lineup. Tell us what you think about the M7 in the comments, and follow us on X, Bluesky, YouTube, Instagram, Steam, and Telegram.
War Thunder
Developed by Gaijin Entertainment
War Thunder is a free-to-play vehicular combat MMO featuring aircraft, ground vehicles, and naval craft spanning from the early 20th century to the modern era. Players progress through technology trees across multiple nations, unlocking increasingly advanced military vehicles. The game offers three realism tiers for each vehicle type: arcade, realistic, and simulator modes. Originally developed as a flight simulator under the name "World of Planes," the game expanded to include tanks in 2014 and naval forces later, becoming a combined-arms experience. A mobile version was released in 2023.
- Genre Shooter, Simulator, Tactical
- Platforms Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 4, Linux, PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 5, Mac, Xbox One
- Perspective First person, Third person, Virtual Reality
- Modes Single player, Multiplayer, Co-operative, Massively Multiplayer Online (MMO)
- Release January 28, 2013
- Publisher Gaijin Entertainment
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