War Thunder previews M7 medium tank for US Rank II

The War Thunder M7 is the latest American ground vehicle previewed by Gaijin Entertainment. Planned for Rank II, the compact medium tank combines the familiar 75 mm M3 cannon with useful mobility, but the developer warns that its protection is only average and its characteristics can still change before release.

War Thunder preview: confirmed details

Gaijin describes the M7 as lighter and smaller than a Sherman while carrying the same general gun family and a selection of armor-piercing shells. Its rounded armor can create occasional ricochets, although the vehicle is not designed to absorb sustained fire. It will sit in the American heavy-tank branch between early light vehicles and the M6A1 group.

What changes for players

The preview suggests a mobile second-line role rather than a conventional breakthrough tank. Players should use the low profile, relocate after firing and avoid treating sloped surfaces as guaranteed protection. The 75 mm weapon should feel recognizable to crews already familiar with early American mediums, reducing the mechanical learning curve.

Timing and wider context

Historically, the project began as the T7 light tank and was standardized as the M7 in August 1942 after its weight increased. Production ended before the design became a major service vehicle. In War Thunder, the final battle rating, ammunition performance and economy will matter more than the preview alone.

The feature list and timing above reflect the developer’s announcement published on August 20, 2026. Future hotfixes can adjust balance or availability, so live values should be checked against the current client.

For War Thunder, the practical checkpoint is the live client: confirm the installed version, platform notes and regional rollout before relying on a scheduled feature. Store availability, maintenance windows and certification can create timing differences even when the developer announces one date for the wider release.

Source: official War Thunder development blog. All release dates, named features and numerical values in this report come from that primary source; the analysis is our own.

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