Combat vehicles / Main battle tanks / M26 Pershing
M26 Pershing
General Facts
- TYPE
Heavy tank - ORIGIN
United States - NICKNAMES
T26E2 (prototype accepted as M45)
T26E3 (prototype accepted as M26)
T40 (prototype accepted as M46) - DESIGNED
1942 - 1944 - DESIGNER
? - PRODUCTION
November 1944 - June 1945 - PRODUCERS USA - Detroit Tank Arsenal
USA - Grand Blanc Tank Arsenal - QUANTITY
Production:
2.000+ M26
185 M45
Conversions:
1.200 to M26A1
800 to M46
360 to M46A1 - UNIT COST
Unknown - CHARACTERISTICS
Powerful armament
Well armored
Mechanically unreliable
Limited power
Introduction
The M26 Pershing is a heavy tank produced in the USA during the later stages of World War 2. It was better armored and carried a more powerful gun than the M4 Sherman and was a much better match against the latest German tanks. The M26 was built and used in limited numbers but paved the way later US tanks such as the M47 and M60 Patton.
Layout
The M26 Pershing is a major design change compared to the M4 Sherman. The M26 has a layout similar to modern tank. The driver is seated in the front of the hull and is accompanied by a assistant driver/bow gunner. The large turret houses the commander, gunner and loader. The engine and drivetrain are mounted at the rear.
Firepower
The main armament of the M26 Pershing is the 90mm M3 gun. The M45 was fitted with a 105mm howitzer in a near similar turret. The 90mm gun was much more powerful than the 75mm and 76mm guns used on earlier US tanks. The gun could be used up to 1.5 km. The most powerful shell is a HVAP round with a muzzle velocity of 1 km/s and 200 mm of penetration at 1 km. A .30-06 M1919A4 was fitted as a coaxial machine gun and a second one as a bow machine gun. A 12.7mm M2HB heavy machine gun is mounted on the turret roof for use against aircraft.
Protection
The thick steel armor provides a much higher level of protection than the earlier M4 Sherman. During the Korean War it proved to provide a reasonable protection against the Soviet T-34/85. The M26 Pershing is not fitted with a NBC system, fire extinguishing system or smoke grenade dischargers.
Mobility
The M26 had a limited mobility as it was lacking power and had an unreliable transmission. The engine of the much lighter M4 Sherman was used and provided a limited power to weight ratio. Most subsequent upgrades focussed on these issues and the M46 Patton was much more mobile and reliable. The original Ford GAA gasonline engine provided 450 to 500 hp, the later Continental AVDS-1790 gasonline engine provided 810 hp.
Users
The M26 Pershing was used by US forces in Europe during World War 2 and during the Korean War. After World War 2 surplus tanks were given as aid to several European nations, with Belgium being the main recipient. The improved M46 Patton was used in the Korean war and replaced the earlier M26. The M46 Patton led to the design of the M47 Patton, which was produced is much larger quantities.
M26 Pershing
The M26 Pershing is the production version of the T26E3 prototype. It is was a major change in tank design compared to the ealier M3 Lee and M4 Sherman. The M26 is a heavy tank that is fitted with a 90mm M3 cannon in a large turret. It was better armored and had more firepower than other US tanks during World War 2, but suffered from a lack of power. The M26A1 is an upgraded M26 with an improved M3A1 gun in a new mount.
| Type | Heavy tank |
|---|---|
| Crew | 5 (commander, driver, bow gunner, gunner, loader) |
| Length | 6.45 m (hull), 8.65 m (gun forward) |
| Width | 3.51 m |
| Height | 2.77 m |
| Ground clearance | 0.44 m |
| Weight | 41.9 t |
| Ground pressure | 0.88 kg/cm2 |
| Wheelbase | Tracks, 6 roadwheels, idler front, sprocket rear, 3.78 m length, 0.61 m width, torsion bar suspension |
| Turn radius | 18 m |
| Engine | Ford GAF gasoline, 500 hp at 2.600 rpm |
| Power ratio | 11.9 hp/t |
|---|---|
| Transmission | Torqmatic, 3 forward, 1 reverse |
| Speed | 40 km/h on road, 8 km/h cross country |
| Fuel | 832 L |
| Range | 161 km on road, 100 km cross country |
| Wall | 1.2 m |
| Trench | 2.5 m |
| Gradient | 60% gradient, 31% slope |
| Fording | 1.2 m |
| Armor | Steel, 12 to 102 mm |
| NBC equipment | No |
| Night vision | No |
|---|---|
| Smoke | - |
| Remarks | - |
| Armament | 90mm M3 cannon .30 M1919A4 coaxial MG .30 M1919A4 bow MG 12.7mm M2HB roof MG |
| Weapon1 | 90mm M3 L/53 cannon in turret 70 rounds, 10 ready to fire -10, +20 degrees elevation 360 degrees traverse, 15°/s non-stabilized |
| Weapon2 | .30-06 M1919A4 coaxial machine gun traverse and elevation as main armament 5.000 rounds in total non-stabilized |
| Weapon3 | .30-06 M1919A4 bow machine gun fires over forward arc 5.000 rounds in total non-stabilized |
| Weapon4 | 12.7mm M2HB heavy machine gun mounted at turret roof 550 round carried, 110 ready to fire manual travere and elevation non-stabilized |
| Weapon5 | - |
| Weapon6 | - |
| Type | Heavy tank |
|---|---|
| Crew | 5 (commander, driver, bow gunner, gunner, loader) |
| Length | 6.45 m (hull), 8.65 m (gun forward) |
| Width | 3.51 m |
| Height | 2.77 m |
| Ground clearance | 0.44 m |
| Weight | 41.9 t |
| Ground pressure | 0.88 kg/cm2 |
| Wheelbase | Tracks, 6 roadwheels, idler front, sprocket rear, 3.78 m length, 0.58 m width, torsion bar suspension |
| Turn radius | 18 m |
| Engine | Ford GAF gasoline, 500 hp at 2.600 rpm |
| Power ratio | 11.9 hp/t |
|---|---|
| Transmission | Torqmatic, 3 forward, 1 reverse |
| Speed | 40 km/h on road, 8 km/h cross country |
| Fuel | 832 L |
| Range | 161 km on road, 100 km cross country |
| Wall | 1.2 m |
| Trench | 2.5 m |
| Gradient | 60% gradient, 31% slope |
| Fording | 1.2 m |
| Armor | Steel, 12 to 102 mm |
| NBC equipment | No |
| Night vision | No |
|---|---|
| Smoke | - |
| Remarks | - |
| Armament | 90mm M3A1 cannon .30 M1919A4 coaxial MG .30 M1919A4 bow MG 12.7mm M2HB roof MG |
| Weapon1 | 90mm M3A1 cannon in turret 70 rounds, 10 ready to fire -10, +20 degrees elevation 360 degrees traverse, 15°/s non-stabilized |
| Weapon2 | .30-06 M1919A4 coaxial machine gun traverse and elevation as main armament 5.000 rounds in total non-stabilized |
| Weapon3 | .30-06 M1919A4 bow machine gun fires over forward arc 5.000 rounds in total non-stabilized |
| Weapon4 | 12.7mm M2HB heavy machine gun mounted at turret roof 550 round carried, 110 ready to fire manual travere and elevation non-stabilized |
| Weapon5 | - |
| Weapon6 | - |
M45 Howitzer Tank
Next to the T26 prototype the T26E2 prototype was developed. Instead of the 90mm gun a short barreled 105mm howitzer is fitted. It was designed for fire support. The 105mm M4 howitzer is used as a direct fire weapon and fires high explosive shells. The T26E2 was accepted for service as the M45 Howitzer Tank, but is also referred to as the M45 Pershing. Compared to the M26 relatively few M45 were produced.
- Specifications:
- M45
| Type | Howitzer tank |
|---|---|
| Crew | 5 (commander, driver, bow gunner, gunner, loader) |
| Length | 6.45 m (hull) |
| Width | 3.51 m |
| Height | 2.77 m |
| Ground clearance | 0.44 m |
| Weight | 42.2 t |
| Ground pressure | 0.88 kg/cm2 |
| Wheelbase | Tracks, 6 roadwheels, idler front, sprocket rear, 3.78 m length, 0.61 m width, torsion bar suspension |
| Turn radius | 18 m |
| Engine | Ford GAF gasoline, 500 hp at 2.600 rpm |
| Power ratio | 11.8 hp/t |
|---|---|
| Transmission | Torqmatic, 3 forward, 1 reverse |
| Speed | 40 km/h on road, 8 km/h cross country |
| Fuel | 832 L |
| Range | 161 km on road, 100 km cross country |
| Wall | 1.2 m |
| Trench | 2.5 m |
| Gradient | 60% gradient, 31% slope |
| Fording | 1.2 m |
| Armor | Steel, 12 to 102 mm |
| NBC equipment | No |
| Night vision | No |
|---|---|
| Smoke | - |
| Remarks | - |
| Armament | 105mm M4 howitzer .30 M1919A4 coaxial MG .30 M1919A4 bow MG 12.7mm M2HB roof MG |
| Weapon1 | 105mm M4 howitzer in turret, 360 degrees travers, 15/s non-stabilized |
| Weapon2 | .30-06 M1919A4 coaxial machine gun traverse and elevation as main armament 5.000 rounds in total non-stabilized |
| Weapon3 | .30-06 M1919A4 bow machine gun fires over forward arc 5.000 rounds in total non-stabilized |
| Weapon4 | 12.7mm M2HB heavy machine gun mounted at turret roof 550 round carried, 110 ready to fire manual travere and elevation non-stabilized |
| Weapon5 | - |
| Weapon6 | - |
M46 Patton
The major defect of the M26 Pershing was its limited power and unreliable drivetrain. In the T40 prototype this was remedied with a more powerful engine and new transmission and drivetrain. The T40 was not taken into production, but hundreds of M26 were rebuilt to this standard. The new tank was found to be so different from the original that a new designation would be appropriate. This became the M46 Patton, making it the first in the long lineage of Patton tanks. The latest batch to be upgraded to M46 standard was designated M46A1. It has a newer version of the same engine and transmission as used in the M46.
| Type | Main battle tank |
|---|---|
| Crew | 5 (commander, driver, bow gunner, gunner, loader) |
| Length | 6.45 m (hull), 8.65 m (gun forward) |
| Width | 3.51 m |
| Height | 2.77 m |
| Ground clearance | 0.44 m |
| Weight | 44 t |
| Ground pressure | 0.99 kg/cm2 |
| Wheelbase | Tracks, 6 roadwheels, idler front, sprocket rear, 3.78 m length, 0.58 m width, torsion bar suspension |
| Turn radius | 18 m |
| Engine | Continental AV-1790-3 gasoline, 810 hp at 2.800 rpm |
| Power ratio | 18.4 hp/t |
|---|---|
| Transmission | Allison CD-850-1 cross-drive, 2 forward, 1 reverse |
| Speed | 48 km/h on road |
| Fuel | 878 L |
| Range | 130 km on road |
| Wall | 1.2 m |
| Trench | 2.5 m |
| Gradient | 60% gradient, 31% slope |
| Fording | 1.2 m |
| Armor | Steel, 12 to 102 mm |
| NBC equipment | No |
| Night vision | No |
|---|---|
| Smoke | - |
| Remarks | - |
| Armament | 90mm M3A1 cannon .30 M1919A4 coaxial MG .30 M1919A4 bow MG 12.7mm M2HB roof MG |
| Weapon1 | 90mm M3A1 cannon in turret 70 rounds, 10 ready to fire -10, +20 degrees elevation 360 degrees traverse, 24°/s non-stabilized |
| Weapon2 | .30-06 M1919A4 coaxial machine gun traverse and elevation as main armament 5.500 rounds in total non-stabilized |
| Weapon3 | .30-06 M1919A4 bow machine gun fires over forward arc 5.500 rounds in total non-stabilized |
| Weapon4 | 12.7mm M2HB heavy machine gun mounted at turret roof 550 round carried, 110 ready to fire manual travere and elevation non-stabilized |
| Weapon5 | - |
| Weapon6 | - |
| Type | Main battle tank |
|---|---|
| Crew | 5 (commander, driver, bow gunner, gunner, loader) |
| Length | 6.45 m (hull), 8.65 m (gun forward) |
| Width | 3.51 m |
| Height | 2.77 m |
| Ground clearance | 0.44 m |
| Weight | 44 t |
| Ground pressure | 0.99 kg/cm2 |
| Wheelbase | Tracks, 6 roadwheels, idler front, sprocket rear, 3.78 m length, 0.58 m width, torsion bar suspension |
| Turn radius | 18 m |
| Engine | Continental AV-1790-5B gasoline, 810 hp at 2.800 rpm |
| Power ratio | 18.4 hp/t |
|---|---|
| Transmission | Allison CD-850-1 cross-drive, 2 forward, 1 reverse |
| Speed | 48 km/h on road |
| Fuel | 878 L |
| Range | 130 km on road |
| Wall | 1.2 m |
| Trench | 2.5 m |
| Gradient | 60% gradient, 31% slope |
| Fording | 1.2 m |
| Armor | Steel, 12 to 102 mm |
| NBC equipment | No |
| Night vision | No |
|---|---|
| Smoke | - |
| Remarks | - |
| Armament | 90mm M3A1 cannon .30 M1919A4 coaxial MG .30 M1919A4 bow MG 12.7mm M2HB roof MG |
| Weapon1 | 90mm M3A1 cannon in turret 70 rounds, 10 ready to fire -10, +20 degrees elevation 360 degrees traverse, 24°/s non-stabilized |
| Weapon2 | .30-06 M1919A4 coaxial machine gun traverse and elevation as main armament 5.500 rounds in total non-stabilized |
| Weapon3 | .30-06 M1919A4 bow machine gun fires over forward arc 5.500 rounds in total non-stabilized |
| Weapon4 | 12.7mm M2HB heavy machine gun mounted at turret roof 550 round carried, 110 ready to fire manual travere and elevation non-stabilized |
| Weapon5 | - |
| Weapon6 | - |