Information about the actual M26 Pershing | |
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![]() The Pershing was first deployed to the European front on February 1945 as part of the effort to invade the German homeland. The M26 Pershing engaged Tiger I and Pz.kpfw. IV tanks during the fight to cross Hohenzollern Bridge over the Rhine. The battle in which the M26 Pershing showed particularly critical influence, was that of the Ludendorf Bridge in Remagen. In this offensive, five supporting M26 Pershing tanks rained shells onto the opposite side of the river bank, paving the way for ground troops who moved in to seize the bridge. The Pershing, of which 200 were used against Germany until its surrender, was also deployed to the front of the war in the Pacific. M26 Pershing Tanks were immediately deployed when the Korean War began in June 1950. Until July 1953, the M26 fought successfully alongside the M4A3E8 Easy Eight and the M46 Patton with the main forces of United Nations against the rival T34/85 Soviet built tanks of the North Korean and Chinese volunteer armies. | |
From November 1944 until June 1945, a total of 1190 units were produced. The Pershing was well balanced for defense with its 127mm thick armor and for assault with the sheer firepower of its M3 90mm gun. Equipped with a Ford GAF liquid cooled gasoline engine and torsion bar suspension, this tank exhibited incredible mobility. As such, the M26 served as a model for the designs of the M46, M48, and M60 tanks. It can even be said that the engineering of the M26 served as a foundation for current U.S. tank designs, such as that of the dominant M1 Abrams Tank. |
![]() ![]() Ford GAF 6002B liquid cooled V8 gasoline engine and transmission composed the heart of the power pack. |
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*The illustrations are of 1/35 Military Miniature Series U.S. tanks, on sale now! |