A Brief History of the M26

 

The US M26 Pershing Tank was an American Heavy tank was used at the end of the second world war also the Kprean war. It was named after the famous Gen. John Pershing who led the US expeditionary force of World War 1.

 

Much like armies of the time, the US envisioned two main roles for the tank; infantry support and breakthrough exploitation. From 1942 until the end of World War 2, both were covered in the main by the M4 Sherman, which was better suited for the latter ''Cavalry' role.

 

The infantry would have prefered a better protected and better armed vehicle, even at the price of less modility. In late 1942 the US army Ordnance started to work on an 'infantry orientated' design which was supposed to be more versatile than the British infantry tanks.

 

During the next few years various prototypes were built under the designations T20, T22, T23, T25 and T26. These covered a variety of combinations of weapons, transmissions and suspension variants. However the initial success of the M4 led the Army Ground Forces command to believe that there was no urgent need for a brand new design. Even with the appearance of the HeavyTiger I and Panther tanks, the AGF did not alter its position believing that both German tanks would only be manufactured in small quantities, the AGF was correct about the Tiger a specialised heavy tank that  was not encounted in large numbers.

 

The Panther was however seen in very small numbers also at first at Anzio however later was build in very large numbers and formed half the German tank strength in Normandy.

 

Also according to the army doctorine at the time tanks were not supposed to engage other tanks.. this was the remit of tank destroyers, more mobile armoured vehicles with powerful gunss such as the M10 Wolverine.

 

As a result developement of the new tank was very slow, when the allies invaded Western Europe under operation Overlord in June 1944. The M4 still formed the bulk of US tank units. It quickly became clear that the tank destryer doctrine failed in battle and the up gunned Sherman was unable to engage the Panther on an equal terms.

 

Efforts were made to speed up developement of the new tank now called the T26 and dubbed 'Pershing', reaching the battle field in February 1945 and saw very little action in WW2.

 

In may 1946 due to the cahnging conceptions of the US Army's tank needs the M26 was re classified as a Medium Tank. Designed as a Heavt Tank the Pershing was a considerable upgrade from the ageing M4 Sherman in terms of fire power and armoured protection.

 

On the other hand it's mobility was unsatisfactory  for a medium tank (it used the same engine that powered the M4-A3 which was some 10 tons lighter) and it's transmission was some what unreliable.

 

In 1948 the M26-E2 was deeloped with its new powerpack, eventually the new version was re designated the M46 Gen, Patton and 1,160 of these were built to the new standard thus the M26 became the basis of the new Patton tank series which ws replaced in 1950's.

 

The M47 Patton was an M46 Patton with a new turret. The later M48 Patton and M60 Patton whick later saw service in later Vietnam and Middle East conflicts, an still serves in active duty in many nations today, where evolutionary redesigns of the origional layout set down by the Pershing model of 1945.