M26 Pershing

[David]

M26 Pershing

---

---

The M26 Pershing was the culmination of the T20 series of test vehicles. The T26 series was reclassed from medium to heavy tanks on June 29, 1944, but renamed as medium tanks in May 1946. Although not standardized until March 1945, Pershings had been sent to the European Theater of Operations as T26E3s with the Zebra Mission in January 1945 (along with equipment including pilot models of the 155mm GMC M40 and 8" HMC M43). M26 was armed with the same 90mm gun as the M36 tank destroyer, and the GAF engine in the M26 was essentially the GAA of the medium tank M4A3 redesigned to present a lower height, even though M26 weighed almost 26,000lbs (12,000kg) more than M4A3. This produced an underpowered and relatively unreliable tank. The drive sprocket of the M26 was mounted below the level of the track's upper run, and the engine exhaust escaped through an opening in the hull rear plate. A bulge in the hull glacis between the drivers housed an exhaust blower.

---

Country :	United States
Role :	Heavy Tank
In-Service Date :	November 1944
Manufacturer :	Fisher Tank Arsenal Detroit Tank Arsenal
Number Produced :	2222
Crew :	5
Rado :	SCR 508 / 528
Road Speed :	40 Kilometers per Hour
Rough Speed :	25 Kilometers per Hour
Road Range:	161 Kilometers
Off-Road Range:	Unknown Kilometers
Engine Name:	Ford GAF
Coolant :
Cylinders:
Capacity:	Liters
Horsepower :
Power / Weight Ratio :	hp per tonne
Transmission :	Torqmatic
Gears :	3 Forward / 1 Reverse
Suspenion :	Torsion Bar
Fuel Type :	Gasoline
Fuel Capacity:	832 Liters
Road Consumption:	5.17 Liters per Kilometer
Off-Road Consumption:	Unknown Liters per Kilometer
Length :	8.65 meters
Height :	2.78 meters
Width :	3.51 meters
Weight :	41900 kilograms
Ground Clearance :	44 centimeters
Ground Pressure :	0.878 kg/cm²
Track Links :	82 per track
Track Width :	61 centimeters
Track Ground Contact :	395 centimeters
Gradiant :	31°
Vertical Obsticle :	1.17 meters
Fording Depth :	1.22 meters
Trench Crossing :	2.44 meters
Turning Radius :	18.3 meters
Main Gun :	90mm M3 L / 52
Gunsight :	M.10 C
Traverse :	360°
Elevation :	+20° / -10°
Main Gun Ammo :	70
Secondary Weapons :	1x 7.7mm M1919A4 (Coaxial - 2500 each) 1x 7.7mm M1919A4 (Bow - 2500 rounds) 1x 12.7mm M2 HB (AA - 550 rounds)
Hull Front (Upper) :	102mm @ 44°
Hull Front (Lower) :	76mm @ 37°
Hull Sides (Upper) :	76mm @ 90° & 51mm @ 90°
Hull Sides (Lower) :	76mm @ 90° & 51mm @ 90°
Hull Rear :	51mm @ 80° & 19mm @ 28°
Hull Top :	22mm @ 0°
Hull Bottom :	25mm @ 0° & 13mm @ 0°
Turret Front :	102mm @ 90°
Turret Mantlet :	114mm @ 90°
Turret Sides :	76mm @ 82° - 90°
Turret Rear :	76mm @ 85° - 90°
Turret Top :	25mm @ 0°

Penetration Data for the 90mm M3 L / 52

(All data is displayed vs. RHA / FHA plate @ 30°)

---

AP M77 Shot ( Armor Piercing ) Weight Velocity 100 m 500 m 1000 m 1500 m 2000 m 10.91 kg 853 m/s 151 / 134 mm 130 / 115 mm 107 / 95 mm 88 / 78 mm 73 / 64 mm

APHECBC M82 Projectile ( Armor Piercing High Explosive Capped Ballistic Cap ) Weight Velocity 100 m 500 m 1000 m 1500 m 2000 m 10.94 kg 808 m/s 132 / 123 mm 121 / 115 mm 108 / 106 mm 97 / 97 mm 87 / 89 mm

APCR M304 Shot ( Armor Piercing Composite Rigid ) Weight Velocity 100 m 500 m 1000 m 1500 m 2000 m 7.62 kg 1021 m/s 243 / 243 mm 219 / 219 mm 192 / 192 mm 168 / 168 mm 147 / 147 mm