File:Flickr_-_davehighbury_-_Bovington_Tank_Museum_246_M26.jpg · Wikimedia Commons · See Wikimedia Commons
M26 Pershing
Sign in to saveAlso known as Pershing tank, M26 heavy tank, M26 tank
American heavy battle tank at the end of World War Two
Key facts
- Type
- Heavy tank , then medium tank
- Place of origin
- United States
- In service
- late 1944–1951 (United States)
- Used by
- See Operators below
- Wars
- World War II Korean War
- Designer
- United States
- Designed
- 1942–1944
- Manufacturer
- Detroit Arsenal Tank Plant Fisher Tank Arsenal
- Developed into
- Super Pershing, M46 Patton
- Unit cost
- US$83,273.89 (1945), equivalent to $1,489,233 in 2025
- Produced
- November 1944 – October 1945
- Number span no built
- 2,202
- Mass
- 92,355 lb (41.9 t ) fighting weight
- Length
- 20 ft 9.5 in (6.337 m) turret facing aft 28 ft 4.5 in (8.649 m) turret forward
- Width
- 11 ft 6 in (3.51 m)
- Height
- 9 ft 1.5 in (2.781 m)
- Crew
- 5 (commander, gunner, loader, driver, co-driver)
- Armor
- Upper hull: 102 mm (4.0 in) Lower hull, turret sides: 76 mm (3.0 in) Hull sides: 50–75 mm (2.0–3.0 in)
via Wikipedia infobox
Wikidata facts
- Mass
- 41.7
- Image
- M26-Pershing-Korea-19500904.JPG
- Height
- 2.78
- Width
- 3.51
Show 4 more facts
- total produced
- 2212
- Commons gallery
- M26 Pershing
- Commons category
- M26 Pershing
- service entry
- 1945-01-01
via Wikidata · CC0
~39 min read
Article
The M26 Pershing is a heavy tank, later designated as a medium tank, formerly used by the United States Army during the early years of the Cold War. It was used in the last months of World War II during the Invasion of Germany and extensively during the Korean War. The tank was named after General of the Armies John J. Pershing, who led the American Expeditionary Force in Europe during World War I.
The M26 was intended as a replacement of the M4 Sherman, but a prolonged development period meant that only a small number saw combat in Europe. Based on the criteria of firepower, mobility, and protection, US historian R. P. Hunnicutt ranked the Pershing behind the German Tiger II heavy tank, but ahead of the Tiger I heavy and Panther medium tanks. It was withdrawn in 1951 in favor of its improved derivative, the M46 Patton, which had a more powerful and reliable engine and advanced suspension. The lineage of the M26 continued with the M47 Patton, and was reflected in the new designs of the later M48 Patton and M60 tank.