M26 Pershing

Patton Museum in Ft Knox, Kentucky

Chris Bobo

Patton Museum in Ft Knox, Kentucky

Chris Bobo

Aberdeen Tank Museum

With the 3rd Army in April 1945.

1/72 Armor
Easy Models	Hobby Master
36201:	3201: 3202:

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.

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.

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

Army Ground Forces however 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.

It was designated Limited Procurement in October 1944. Army Ground Forces wanted to delay the standardization until its battleworthiness 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.

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:

Aberdeen Tank Museum

Aberdeen Tank Museum

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

T26E2:

Was standardized as the M45.¹

T26E5:

Thicker armor, 279 mm in spots.¹ Only 24 built.¹

	M26 (T26E3)	T26E2	T26E5
Crew	Commander, driver, co-driver, gunner, loader.2 51,2,3,4,7	53	53
Physical Characteristics
Weight	92,000 lb2,3, 92,355 lb 41.1 tons6, 41.2 tons1, 41.73 tons4, 41.8 tons5, 46 tons7 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, 28' 5", 28' 3"1 8.65 m, 8.66 m1, 8.79 m4,5	20' 9"3	20' 9"3
Length w/o gun	21' 2"2,4 6.51 m4
Height	9' 1"1,2,4,6, 9' 1 3/8"3, 9.1'7 2.77 m4, 2.78 m1,5	9' 1"3	9' 1"3
Width	11.4'7, 11' 6"1,2,4,6, 11' 6.25"3 3.505 m4, 3.51 m1,5	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	90 mm3,4,6 90 mm M31,2,5 90 mm M3, L/537	105 mm howitzer 3	90 mm3
Secondary		3: MG3	3: MG3
MG	3: MG3 2: .30 cal Browning M1919A4, coaxial, hull7 .50 cal M2 MG, AA7 .50 cal Browning M2-HB AA 12.7 mm (.50 cal)1,4, 2: 7.62 mm (.30 cal)1,4 2: .30 cal Browning MG2, coaxial, hull6 .50 cal Browning MG, AA.2,6 2: .30 cal MG, coaxial, hull5 .50 cal MG, AA5
Side arms	5: .45 sub machine guns Grenades
Quantity
Main	701,2,7 (HE, APC, HVAP, Smoke)
Secondary
MG	.30: 5,0002,7 .50: 5502, 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, 1025 Side: 2"7, 765	2.5" - 5"3	2" - 6"3
Hull Front, Upper	102@46° 4" (6.9")
Hull Front, Lower	76@53° 3" (6.4")
Hull Sides, Upper	76@0° & 51@0° 2-3"@0°
Hull Sides, Lower
Hull Rear	50, 19@62° 2" (2")
Hull Top	22@90° 7/8"@90°
Hull Bottom	13 & 25@90° 0.5-1"@90°
Turret Front	4.3"7, 102@0° mantlet: 114@0° 4" (4.4")
Turret Sides	76@0-8° 3" (3")
Turret Rear	76@0-5° 3" (3")
Turret Top	12, 25@90° 1"@90°
Engine (Make / Model)	Ford GAF1,2,3,4 Ford7	Ford GAF3	Ford GAF3
Bore / stroke
Cooling	Water3,7	Water3	Water3
Cylinders
Capacity
Net HP	5005, 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
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 40 kph, 44 kph5, 48 kph1,4	20 mph3	22 mph3
Cross country speed	5-18 mph7, 5.2 mph2
Road radius	92 miles2,4,7, 100 miles1, 110 miles6 148 km4, 161 km1
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
Trench crossing	7.9'7, 8', 8' 6"2,4 2.44 m, 2.59 m4
Vertical obstacle	3' 10"2,4,7 1.17 m4
Climbing ability	31° (60%) slope7
Suspension (Type)	Torsion bar.2,6,7
Wheels each side	6 plus 1 compensating7, 12 6 pairs6
Return rollers each side	56,7
Tracks (Type)	Cast steel, rubber backed7
Length
Width	2'2,7
Diameter
Number of links	787
Pitch	6"7
Tire tread	Rubber6
Track centers/tread	9' 2"2, 9.2'7
Production	2,4321 Grand Blanc Arsenal Nov 1944 - June 1945: 1,190 Detroit Arsenal Mar-June 1945: 246 Detroit Tank Arsenal, Grand Blanc Tank Arsenal7

Sources:

1. 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
2. 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
3. Tanks of the World, 1915-1945, Peter Chamberlain, Chris Ellis, 1972
4. The Encyclopedia of Weapons of World War II, Chris Bishop, 1998
5. Jane's World War II Tanks and Fighting Vehicles The Complete Guide, Leland Ness, 2002
6. Tanks of World War II, Duncan Crow, 1979
7. Tank Data, Aberdeen Proving Grounds Series, 1968?

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