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United States' M26 Pershing heavy tank
T26E Heavy Tank:  |
M26 Pershing Heavy Tank: |
M26 Pershing Heavy Tank: |
M26 Pershing Heavy Tank: |
M26 Pershing Heavy Tank: |
With the 3rd Army in April 1945. |
M26 Pershing Heavy Tank: |
M26 Pershing Heavy Tank: Aberdeen Tank Museum |
M26 Pershing Heavy Tank: Aberdeen Tank Museum |
M26 Pershing Heavy Tank at the Patton Museum in Ft Knox, Kentucky Chris Bobo |
M26 Pershing Heavy Tank at the Patton Museum in Ft Knox, Kentucky Chris Bobo |
 Aberdeen Tank Museum |
M26 Pershing Heavy Tank, from the M26 Manual: Mark Holloway |
M26 Pershing Heavy Tank, from the M26 Manual: Mark Holloway |
M26 Pershing Heavy Tank, from the M26 Manual: Mark Holloway |
M45 Pershing Heavy Tank, from the M26 Manual: Mark Holloway |
M45 Pershing Heavy Tank, from the M26 Manual: Mark Holloway |
M26 Pershing Heavy Tank, doing wading tests: Life Magazine (Mark Holloway) |
| 1/72 Armor | ||
|---|---|---|
| Easy Models | Hobby Master | |
36201: |
3201: |
3202: |
Design
Project started in 1942 and it was supposed to be an improvement on the M4 medium. Thirteen models of the T20, T22, and T23 were developed with a variety of weapons, transmissions, and suspensions.
In early 1943 the Armored Command had felt that the war would be concluded with the M4 medium. This resulted in the improvements in crew safety and reliability of the M4. Armored Command also didn't want a heavy tank because of its size and weight.1 However, after the Battle of the Bulge, they changed their minds.1 This also had to due with the fact that Army doctrine at the time called for tank destroyers to take care of enemy tanks.8
It was designated Limited Procurement in October 1944. Army Ground Forces wanted to delay the standardization until its battle worthiness was proven. The Secretary of War sent 20 vehicles to Europe in the Zebra Mission in January 1945. It was Standardized in May 1945.
The suspension has individually sprung torsion bars, with bumper springs and double acting shock absorbers. A center guided track is used. The drive sprocket is located at the rear.
The commander, gunner, and loader have seats in the rotating turret. There is a hatch over the commander and a smaller hatch over the loader. The driver and assistant driver each have a hatch over them. There are 2 emergency doors in the floor of the hull.
The commander's hatch has a vision cupola with 6 laminated glass vision blocks. Periscopes are provided to all the crew.
The turret is reversed and the main gun locked in a traveling lock when traveling in non-combat areas.
Prototype
Development of the T25 and T26 were heavy tanks. Both had the T7 90 mm gun and used the Ford GAF engine. The T26 was given priority and a T26E1 was developed with a hydraulic torque converter with planetary reduction gearing. Was known as "torquematic" transmission. Torsion bar suspension and a cast turret was installed.
Army Ground Forces wanted 1,000 of the T26 and 1,000 of the lighter T25. The T26 was to have a 76 mm and the T25 a 75 mm gun. The Armored Command didn't want either of these vehicles but did want the 90 mm gun.
A T26E2 (later known as the M45) had a 105 mm howitzer mounted that could be interchanged with the 90 mm. The T26E3 had the 90 mm and Ordnance thought that this was the best compromise. Two emergency doors in hull. When traveling in non-combat area turret is turned to rear and gun is put in a traveling lock.
Production
- M26: 2,4321
Grand Blanc Arsenal November 1944 - June 1945: 1,190
Detroit Arsenal March - June 1945: 246- Manufacturer: Detroit Tank Arsenal, Grand Blanc Tank Arsenal7
- M45:
Variants
- T25: Prototype.8 Torsion bar suspension.8
- T26: Prototype.8 90 mm gun.8 Thicker armor.8
- T26E2: Prototype. Was standardized as the M45.1 Had 105 mm howitzer.8
- T26E3: Prototype.8 Became the M26.8
- T26E5: Thicker armor, 279 mm in spots.1 Only 24 built.1
- M26: The 90 mm gun could fire a 24.1 lb shell at a muzzle velocity of 2,800'/sec.7
- M26A1: Longer 90 mm T15 gun.1
- M26E1, T26E4: Longer gun, and single-part ammunition.1
- M26E4: More powerful 90 mm gun.8
Usage
First Shipments
The first 20 went into combat near Antwerp.6
The first combat occurred in February Was used by the 3rd6 and 9th6 Armored Divisions as part of the Zebra Mission. The next groups of Pershings were given to the 2nd, 5th, and 11th Armored Divisions.6
310 were used in Europe.1
Also saw action on Okinawa in May 1945.
First Battles
On February 26, 1945, the 3rd Armored Division attacked across the Roer River.6
On March 8, 1945, the 14th Tank Battalion (9th Armored Division), commanded by Lieutenant Grimball, took part in the capture of the Remagen Bridge with the 27th Armored Infantry commanded by Lieutenant Timmerman.6
The British
The British received some for evaluation before the end of the war and were prepared to order some, however, with the end of the war, the order was cancelled.1
| M26 (T26E3) | T26E2 | T26E5 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | Commander, driver, co-driver, gunner, loader.2 51,2,3,4,7,8 |
53 | 53 |
| Physical Characteristics | |||
| Weight | 92,000 lb2,3,8, 92,355 lb 41.1 tons6, 41.2 tons1, 41.73 tons4, 46 tons7 41,730 kg8, 41,900 kg, 41,891 kg1 |
93,000 lb3 | 98,750 lb3 |
| Length w/gun | 20.8'7, 20' 9"6, 20' 9 1/8"3, 28' 10"2,4,8, 28' 5", 28' 3"1 8.65 m, 8.66 m1, 8.788 m8, 8.79 m4 |
20' 9"3 | 20' 9"3 |
| Length w/o gun | 21' 2"2,4,8 6.452 m8, 6.51 m4 |
||
| Height | 9' 1"1,2,4,6,8, 9' 1 3/8"3, 9.1'7 2.769 m8, 2.77 m4, 2.78 m1 |
9' 1"3 | 9' 1"3 |
| Width | 11.4'7, 11' 6"1,2,4,6,8, 11' 6.25"3 3.505 m4,8, 3.51 m1 |
11' 6"3 | 11' 6"3 |
| Width over tracks | |||
| Ground clearance | 17 3/16", 17.7'7 0.44 m |
||
| Ground contact length | 12' 4-8", 148.4"7 | ||
| Ground pressure | 12.5 psi, 12.7 psi, 12.9 psi7, 13.1 psi | ||
| Turret ring diameter | 69" | ||
| Armament (mm) | |||
| Main | 1: 90 mm3,4,6,8 90 mm M31,2 90 mm M3, L/537 |
105 mm howitzer 3 | 90 mm3 |
| Secondary | 3: MG3 | 3: MG3 | |
| MG | 3: MG3 1: 12.7 mm (.50 cal)1,4,8 2: 7.62 mm (.30 cal)1,4,8 |
||
| MG - coaxial | 1: .30 cal Browning MG2 1: .30 cal Browning M1919A47 |
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| MG - bow | 1: .30 cal Browning MG2 1: .30 cal Browning M1919A47 |
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| MG - antiaircraft | 1: .50 cal Browning MG2,6 1: .50 cal Browning M2-HB 1: .50 cal M2 MG7 |
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| Side arms | 5: .45 sub machine guns Grenades |
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| Quantity | |||
| Main | 701,2,7,8 (HE, APC, HVAP, Smoke) | ||
| Secondary | |||
| MG | .30: 5,0002,7,8 .50: 5502,8, 6007 |
||
| Side arms | .45: 900 Grenades: 12 |
||
| Armor Thickness (mm) | 12 - 1024,
132, 1022 2" - 4"3 (Actual thickness to horizontal) Front: 4.3"7 Side: 2"7 |
2.5" - 5"3 | 2" - 6"3 |
| Hull Front, Upper | 101.68, 102@46° 4"8 (6.9") |
||
| Hull Front, Lower | 76@53° 3" (6.4") |
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| Hull Sides, Upper | 50.88, 76@0° & 51@0° 2"8, 2-3"@0° |
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| Hull Sides, Lower | |||
| Hull Rear | 50, 19@62° 2" (2") |
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| Hull Top | 22@90° 7/8"@90° |
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| Hull Bottom | 13 & 25@90° 0.5-1"@90° |
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| Turret Front | 4"8 (4.4"), 4.3"7 101.68, 102@0° mantlet: 114@0° |
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| Turret Sides | 76@0-8° 3" (3") |
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| Turret Rear | 76@0-5° 3" (3") |
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| Turret Top | 12, 25@90° 1"@90° |
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| Engine (Make / Model) | Ford GAF1,2,3,4 Ford7 |
Ford GAF3 | Ford GAF3 |
| Bore / stroke | |||
| Cooling | Water3,7 | Water3 | Water3 |
| Cylinders | |||
| Capacity | |||
| Net HP | 5008, 500@2,600 rpm7 | ||
| Power to weight ratio | |||
| Compression ratio | 7.5:17 | ||
| Transmission (Type) | Torquematic1, Torqmatic7 3 forward, 1 reverse7 |
||
| Steering | Controlled differential7 | ||
| Steering ratio | |||
| Starter | Electric7 | ||
| Electrical system | 24-volt7 | ||
| Ignition | Magneto7 | ||
| Fuel (Type) | Gasoline7 | ||
| Octane | |||
| Quantity | 186 gallons, 191 gallons7 832 liters |
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| Road consumption | 0.5 mpg7 | ||
| Cross country consumption | |||
| Performance | |||
| Traverse | 360°2, 15°/sec Power and hand7 |
||
| Max speed | 20 mph2,3, 30 mph1,4,6,7,8 40 kph, 48 kph1,4,8 |
20 mph3 | 22 mph3 |
| Cross country speed | 5-18 mph7, 5.2 mph2,8 8.4 kph8 |
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| Road radius | 92 miles2,4,7,8, 100 miles1, 110 miles6 148 km4,8, 161 km1 |
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| Cross country radius | 62 miles7 | ||
| Turning radius | 18.3 m | ||
| Elevation limits | +20° to -10°2 | ||
| Fording depth | 4'2,4,7 1.22 m4 |
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| Trench crossing | 7.9'7, 8', 8' 6"2,4 2.44 m, 2.59 m4 |
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| Vertical obstacle | 3' 10"2,4,7 1.17 m4 |
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| Climbing ability | 31° (60%) slope7 | ||
| Suspension (Type) | Torsion bar.2,6,7 | ||
| Wheels each side | 6 plus 1 compensating7, 12 6 pairs6 |
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| Return rollers each side | 56,7 | ||
| Tracks (Type) | Cast steel, rubber backed7 | ||
| Length | |||
| Width | 2'2,7,8 0.6096 m8 |
||
| Diameter | |||
| Number of links | 787 | ||
| Pitch | 6"7 | ||
| Tire tread | Rubber6 | ||
| Track centers/tread | 9' 2"2,8, 9.2'7 2.794 m8 |
Sources:
- The Encyclopedia of Tanks and Armored Fighting Vehicles - The Comprehensive Guide to Over 900 Armored Fighting Vehicles From 1915 to the Present Day, General Editor: Christopher F. Foss, 2002
- British and American Tanks of World War Two, The Complete Illustrated History of British, American, and Commonwealth Tanks 1933-1945, Peter Chamberlain and Chris Ellis, 1969
- Tanks of the World, 1915-1945, Peter Chamberlain, Chris Ellis, 1972
- The Encyclopedia of Weapons of World War II, Chris Bishop, 1998
- -
- Tanks of World War II, Duncan Crow, 1979
- Tank Data, Aberdeen Proving Grounds Series, 1968?
- Airfix Magazine Guide #26 American Tanks of World War 2, Terry Gander and Peter Chamberlain, 1977
