M26 Pershing

The M26 Pershing was developed between 1942 and 1944 as a successor to the M4 Sherman. Produced at the Detroit Arsenal and Fisher Tank Arsenals, the vehicle evolved from the T20 prototype series. Development was delayed by factors including the U.S. Army's tank destroyer doctrine and logistics concerns, with production starting in late 1944. Initially classified as a heavy tank, the U.S. Army redesignated it as a medium tank in 1946.

The design utilized a rear-mounted engine and rear sprocket drive, which allowed for a lower silhouette than previous U.S. medium tanks. It featured a torsion bar suspension and a crew of five. Armor thickness was 102 mm on the upper hull and 76 mm on the lower hull and turret sides. The primary armament consisted of a 90 mm M3 gun, supplemented by two .30-06 M1919 Browning and one .50 caliber M2 Browning machine guns. The vehicle was powered by a Ford GAF 8-cylinder gasoline engine.

The M26 entered combat during the invasion of Germany in early 1945. The first units arrived in Antwerp in January 1945 as part of the Zebra Mission and were assigned to the 3rd and 9th Armored Divisions. In March 1945, the vehicle supported the capture of the Ludendorff Bridge at Remagen. In Cologne, an M26 destroyed a Panther tank in an engagement near the cathedral. One variant, the T26E4 Super Pershing, was equipped with a T15E1 high-velocity gun and additional armor plating scavenged from German vehicles.

The tank was deployed during the Korean War starting in July 1950. While the 90 mm gun proved effective against T-34-85 armor, the engine was prone to overheating in mountainous terrain. The M26 was operated by U.S. Army and Marine units, including the 73rd Heavy Tank Battalion at the Battle of the Bowling Alley. The vehicle was gradually replaced by the M46 Patton, which featured an improved engine and transmission. Internationally, the M26 was operated by several countries, including Belgium, France, Italy, and South Korea. Italy maintained the vehicle in service through 1963.