#m26 pershing

[captain-price-returns]

M26 Pershing and Sherman tanks under construction at Fisher Body's Grand Blanc Plant in Michigan, 1945

[warruins]

[karagin22]

[theworldatwar]

American M26 Pershing tanks on the production line at GM Grand Blanc Metal Centre (Fisher Body Tank Plant) - Michigan 1945

[carbone14]

Le caporal Luther E. Boger de la 82e Division aéroportée américaine (All American) lit un avertissement devant la cathédrale de Cologne – Cette rue mène au Rhin et est sous le feu d'artillerie de l'ennemi – Campagne d’Allemagne – Allemagne – 4 avril 1945

La carcasse calcinée du char Panther en arrière-plan est un témoignage du duel qui a eu lieu le 6 mars avec le char expérimental M26 Pershing spécialement conçu pour affronter directement les chars et chasseurs de chars allemands. Canon de 90 mm et surtout blindage frontal de 115 mm lui procurèrent un avantage frontal que les alliés n'avaient pas lors de la bataille de Normandie avec les M4 Sherman plus mobiles mais faiblement blindés. Les Pershing furent déployés en janvier 1945 depuis le port d'Anvers.

Après avoir détruit un Sherman, le char allemand resta à l'affût. La colonne de Sherman stoppa et un M26 Pershing évoluant dans une rue parallèle progressa vers le Panther. Les allemands, habitués à l'allure haute et massive du Sherman, eurent des doutes en voyant arriver au coin de la rue un char au châssis surbaissé. Un des leurs ? Hausse du canon réglée pour un Sherman ? Trop tard, le Panther sera touché à 3 reprises.

Le sergent Jim Bates du First Army Signal Corps a immortalisé cet affrontement dans un film.

[dragon-snoots-a-boopin]

Finished: Tamiya 1/35 scale M26 Pershning. My 2nd time doing rust. It's not the best but it is better than the first time. Not looking for advice, just got to practice more.

[lekodeath]

#20 Panzer III Ausf L

#21 M26 Pershing

[spookston]

Assault Tank T26E5

Based off of the M26 medium tank, the T26E5 had much thicker armor, and was intended almost entirely to support infantry units. US medium tanks usually had two roles, exploitation and infantry support. The T26E5 sought to trade effectiveness in exploitation (speed) for effectiveness in infantry support (armor).

Several changes were made to account for the extra weight. Equilibrator capacity was increased, and a 60 pound weight added to the recoil guard to balance the gun. The tracks were extended to keep ground pressure at acceptable levels, and the final drive gear ratio was changed.

Production started at Detroit Arsenal in June of 1945, with the first production vehicle being delivered to Aberdeen Proving Ground in July. Test results were satisfactory. 27 T26E5s would be produced before the end of the war made them obsolete. 

Armament

Primary: 90mm M3 Cannon

Secondary: Roof mounted 12.7mm M2HB, coaxial 7.62mm M1919A4, hull mounted 7.62mm M1919A4

Armor

Upper glacis plate: 152.4mm @ 46° ( ~220mm effective)

Lower glacis plate: 101.6mm @ 54° ( ~170mm effective)

Side front: 76.2mm

Side back: 50.8mm

Gun shield: 279.4mm

Turret front: 190.5mm

Turret sides: 88.9mm

Performance

Engine: Ford GAF (500hp)

Transmission: Torqmatic

Suspension: Torsion bar

Power to weight: 8.8hp/ton

Ground pressure: 11.8psi

Top speed: 32km/h

Turret rotation speed: 18° per second

Gun elevation: +20° to -10°