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M26 Pershing

M26 Pershing

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For the premium vehicle, see T26E4 Super Pershing.





Pershing (Stock)

AnnoPershing.png
Totals
2403000 Price
1350 Hit Points
40.48 / 42.35 kgWeight
Crew
  1. Commander
Armor
101.6/76.2/50.8Hull Armor(front/sides/rear, mm)
101.6/76.2/76.2Turret Armor(front/sides/rear, mm)
Maneuver
560 h.p.Engine Power
48 km/hSpeed Limit
36 deg/secTraverse Speed
Firepower
115 Standard Shell Damage
128 mmStandard Shell Penetration
3.3 Time for Complete Loading
36 deg/secTurret Traverse Speed
Communication
390 mView Range
395 mSignal Range
M26 Pershing
VIII
M26 Pershing
2403000
The Pershing was developed to fight heavy tanks, and was itself initially classified as heavy. After World War II it was re-classified as medium. A few saw combat in the closing phase of World War II.

Compared to other tier 8 medium tanks, Pershing armor is excellent and capable of bouncing low-tier guns. However, like all other medium tanks, it does not fare well on its own and will easily get destroyed if caught in the open by tank destroyers or heavy tanks. Therefore, it acts better as a mobile mid-range sniper or as support for heavier tanks. After you get the upgraded engine, the Pershing becomes much faster and can plug holes in whichever areas are needed. Its top gun is effective in the supporting role, but will find itself outclassed when fighting most heavies from the front.

M26 Pershing

Stock

Level Turret Weight (t) Turret Armor (front/sides/rear, mm) Gun Traverse Speed (deg/s) View Range (m)
turret VII M26M67 8000 101.6/76.2/76.2 36 390
Level Gun Weight (t) Average Penetration (mm) Rate of Fire Dispersion at 100 m Aiming Time
gun VI 76 mm Gun M1A2 1590 128/177/38 115/115/185 18.18 0.4 2.3
Level Engine Weight (t) Engine Power (h.p.) Chance of Fire on Impact
engine VII Ford GAN 569 560 20
Level Suspension Weight (t) Load Limit Traverse Speed (deg/s)
chassis VII M26T80E1 10000 42.35 36
Level Radio Weight (t) Signal Range (m)
radio VI SCR 508 0 395

T40(90) Medium

Attack

Level Turret Weight (t) Turret Armor (front/sides/rear, mm) Gun Traverse Speed (deg/s) View Range (m)
turret VII M26M67 8000 101.6/76.2/76.2 36 390
Level Gun Weight (t) Average Penetration (mm) Rate of Fire Dispersion at 100 m Aiming Time
gun VII 90 mm Gun M3 2050 160/243/45 240/240/320 7.32 0.38 2.3
Level Engine Weight (t) Engine Power (h.p.) Chance of Fire on Impact
engine VIII Continental AV-1790-1 569 704 20
Level Suspension Weight (t) Load Limit Traverse Speed (deg/s)
chassis VIII M26T81 10000 45.05 38
Level Radio Weight (t) Signal Range (m)
radio X SCR 528 0 745

T26E2(105)

Attack

Level Turret Weight (t) Turret Armor (front/sides/rear, mm) Gun Traverse Speed (deg/s) View Range (m)
turret VIII M26M71 9700 127/76.2/63.5 38 400
Level Gun Weight (t) Average Penetration (mm) Rate of Fire Dispersion at 100 m Aiming Time
gun V 105 mm SPH M4 L/23 2600 53/101.6/38 410/350/185 7.5 0.55 2.3
Level Engine Weight (t) Engine Power (h.p.) Chance of Fire on Impact
engine VIII Continental AV-1790-1 569 704 20
Level Suspension Weight (t) Load Limit Traverse Speed (deg/s)
chassis VIII M26T81 10000 45.05 38
Level Radio Weight (t) Signal Range (m)
radio X SCR 528 0 745

T40 Medium

Defense

Level Turret Weight (t) Turret Armor (front/sides/rear, mm) Gun Traverse Speed (deg/s) View Range (m)
turret VIII M26M71 9700 127/76.2/63.5 38 400
Level Gun Weight (t) Average Penetration (mm) Rate of Fire Dispersion at 100 m Aiming Time
gun VII 90 mm Gun M3 2050 160/243/45 240/240/320 7.32 0.38 2.3
Level Engine Weight (t) Engine Power (h.p.) Chance of Fire on Impact
engine VIII Continental AV-1790-1 569 704 20
Level Suspension Weight (t) Load Limit Traverse Speed (deg/s)
chassis VIII M26T81 10000 45.05 38
Level Radio Weight (t) Signal Range (m)
radio X SCR 528 0 745

T40E4 Medium

Recon

Level Turret Weight (t) Turret Armor (front/sides/rear, mm) Gun Traverse Speed (deg/s) View Range (m)
turret VIII M26M71 9700 127/76.2/63.5 38 400
Level Gun Weight (t) Average Penetration (mm) Rate of Fire Dispersion at 100 m Aiming Time
gun VIII 90 mm Gun T15E2M2 2250 190/268/45 240/240/320 7.32 0.37 2.3
Level Engine Weight (t) Engine Power (h.p.) Chance of Fire on Impact
engine VIII Continental AV-1790-1 569 704 20
Level Suspension Weight (t) Load Limit Traverse Speed (deg/s)
chassis VIII M26T81 10000 45.05 38
Level Radio Weight (t) Signal Range (m)
radio X SCR 528 0 745

Compatible Equipment

Vertical Stabilizer Mk 1
Medium Spall Liner
Camouflage Net
Fill Tanks with CO2
Coated Optics
Enhanced Gun Laying Drive
Enhanced Torsion Bars 3 t Class
Improved Ventilation Class 2
Medium-Caliber Tank Gun Rammer
Binocular Telescope
Toolbox
"Wet" Ammo Rack Class 1

Compatible Consumables

Automatic Fire Extinguisher
Case of Cola
100-octane Gasoline
105-octane Gasoline
Manual Fire Extinguisher
Large First Aid Kit
Large Repair Kit
Small First Aid Kit
Small Repair Kit

Player Opinion

Pros and Cons

Pros:


  • High view range
  • Very good gun handling both on the move and while turning the turret
  • Extremely high APCR penetration, proportionally, compared to gains most tanks see
  • Thick mantlet
  • Very good gun depression


Cons:


  • Typically low AP pen of most older tier VIII mediums
  • Somewhat large size leads to lower camouflage values than other mediums
  • Relatively low firerate and DPM


Performance

A very solid tier 8 tank, the Pershing can excel as a support, flanker, sniper and is hard to dislodge in a hull down position. Just remember to use your brain when playing this tank - use superior mobility to outflank heavy tanks and TDs and superior terrain abuse to outplay your medium peers.

Another note is the Pershing's extremely durable gun mantlet. Using hull down against most enemies is extremely effective due to the great gun depression, said turret durability and front placement of the turret, which allows most or all of the hull to be hidden under terrain in most situations.

Just like the majority of American mediums, the M26 can passive scout quite well. With 400m of view range, this tank is very adept at the job, especially when compared to other tier 8s. Use this to gain sight lines on key areas of the map.


Early Research

  • The 90mm M3 carries over from them T20
  • The stock suspension can hold both the top engine and gun, so go for both
  • Top engine is shared with T25 AT and T25/2.
  • Get the suspension
  • Get the turret
  • Get the radio, which is also the top radio of the T29, Chaffee, and T21


Historical Info

M-26 Pershing.jpg

The M-26 was developed near the end of World War II and named after World War One General John J Pershing of the American Expeditionary Force. The M26 Pershing had a slow and arduous beginning, when the need for a heavy tank was not in the priorities of the US Army. Instead, efforts were relegated to production of M3 Stuart Light Tanks and M4 Sherman Medium Tanks. It was not until the debut of the German Panther and Tiger series of tanks on the battlefields of Europe that the need for a heavily-armed, and armored, weapons system came to bear.

Considerable effort was then made to develop a gun system capable of competing with the German counterparts. The result was the M26 Pershing armed with a 90mm main gun (nearly on par with the German '88') and heavily armored overall. It was the closest weapon that the Allies would field that was akin to the German Panther, in terms of firepower and crew survivability. The M26 Pershing arrived too late to be of any effective use (overall) in the European Theater, but a few (roughly 200) saw service with the 3rd and 9th Armored Divisions. At least 100 were kept in reserve as well.

The mammoth M26 Pershings would be part of the armored column that would cross the Remagen Bridge over the Rhine River and into Germany with the 9th Armored. About 20 M26s were reported to have seen any action at all. Ten M26s were also shipped out to the Pacific Theater for action in Okinawa, though arriving too late to be of any effective tactical use.

This was not the end of the line for the M26, however, as a total of 309 M26 Pershings were rushed to Korea in 1950 to provide extra firepower to counter the T-34/85s. A 1954 survey concluded that there were in all 119 tank vs. tank actions involving U.S. Army and Marine units during the Korean War, with 97 T-34-85 tanks knocked out and another 18 probable.
9th AD M-26 Pershing Heavy Tank photographed near Vettweiss, Germany in March 1945
The M4A3E8 was involved in 50% of the tank actions, the M26 in 32%, and the M46 in 10%. The M26/M46 proved to be an overmatch for the T-34-85 as its 90 mm HVAP round could punch all the way through the T-34 from the front glacis armor to the back, whereas the T-34-85 had difficulty penetrating the armor of the M26/46. The M4A3E8, firing 76 mm HVAP rounds which were widely available during the Korean War (unlike World War II), was equal to the T-34-85 as both tanks could destroy each other at normal combat ranges.

Although the M26 proved effective against the armour of the T-34/85s, the automotive deficiencies of the M26 in the mountainous Korean terrain became more of a liability, and so all M26s were withdrawn from Korea during 1951 and replaced with older up-gunned M4A3 Shermans and the newer M46 Pattons.

Post-war use saw a great number stationed throughout Europe with NATO through the Cold War, however, many were quickly replaced when the more reliable M46 Patton became available. Many alternative variants were devised, though some, like the self-propelled gun platform, not used by the US Army.

The M26 Pershing would later be reclassified as a Medium Tank and become the blueprint for tanks such as the M46, M47, M48 Patton, and M60 Main Battle Tanks. In 1948, the M26E2 version with a new more powerful and reliable engine and transmission became the M46 General Patton, which in turn was up-gunned and modified resulting in the M47 and eventually the M60 patton.


Historical Gallery

Sources and External Links

USA
Light Tanks IT1 Cunningham IIM2 Light Tank IIT1E6-X IIT1E6-X1 IIT2 Light Tank IIT7 Combat Car IIIM22 Locust IIIM3 Stuart IIIMTLS-1G14 IVM5 Stuart VM24 Chaffee VIT21 VIT37 VIIM41 Walker Bulldog VIIT71 VIIIM41B Brazilian Bulldog VIIIT49
Medium Tanks IIT2 Medium Tank IIIM2 Medium Tank IVM3 Lee VM4A2E4 Sherman VM4A2E4 Ripper VM4 Sherman VM7 VRam II VIM4A3E8 Sherman VISherman Fury VIM4A3E2 Sherman Jumbo VIIT20 VIIT23E3 VIIIM26 Pershing VIIIT26E4 Super Pershing VIIIT26E4 Freedom VIIIT69 VIIIT95E2 IXM46 Patton IXT54E1 XM48A1 Patton
Heavy Tanks VT14 VT1 Heavy Tank VIM6 VIIT29 VIIIM6A2E1 VIIIT32 VIIIT34 IXM103 XT110E5 XT57 Heavy Tank
Tank Destroyers IIT18 IIIT82 IVM8A1 IVT40 VM10 Wolverine VT67 VIM18 Hellcat VIM36 Jackson VIIT25/2 VIIT25 AT VIIIT28 VIIIT28 Prototype IXT30 IXT95 XT110E3 XT110E4
Self-Propelled Artillery IIT57 IIIM7 Priest IIISexton I IVM37 VM41 VIM44 VIIM12 VIIIM40/M43 IXM53/M55 XT92
Medium Tanks
USA IIT2 Medium Tank IIIM2 Medium Tank IVM3 Lee VM4A2E4 Sherman VM4A2E4 Ripper VM4 Sherman VM7 VRam II VIM4A3E8 Sherman VISherman Fury VIM4A3E2 Sherman Jumbo VIIT20 VIIT23E3 VIIIM26 Pershing VIIIT26E4 Super Pershing VIIIT26E4 Freedom VIIIT69 VIIIT95E2 IXM46 Patton IXT54E1 XM48A1 Patton
UK IVickers Medium Mk. I IIVickers Medium Mk. II IIIVickers Medium Mk. III IVMatilda VMatilda Black Prince VICromwell VICromwell Knight VIIComet VIIICenturion Mk. I IXCenturion Mk. 7/1 XFV4202
Germany IIIPz.Kpfw. IV Ausf. A IIIPz.Kpfw. S35 739 (f) IVPz.Kpfw. III IVPz.Kpfw. IV Ausf. D IVVK 20.01 (D) VPz.Kpfw. III/IV VPz.Kpfw. IV VPz.Kpfw. IV Hydrostat VPz.Kpfw. V/IV VPz.Kpfw. IV Ausf. H VT-25 VIPz.Kpfw. IV Schmalturm VIVK 30.01 (P) VIVK 30.01 (D) VIVK 30.02 (M) VIIPanther/M10 VIIPz.Kpfw. V Panther VIIVK 30.02 (D) VIIIPanther mit 8,8 cm L/71 VIIIIndien-Panzer VIIIPanther II IXE-50 IXLeopard prototyp A XE-50 Ausf. M XLeopard 1
France IIID2 IXLorraine 40 t XBat.-Châtillon 25 t
USSR IVT-28 VMatilda IV VT-34 VIA-43 VIT-34-85 VISpectre VIT-34-88 VIIA-44 VIIKV-13 VIIT-43 VIIT-44-122 VIIIObject 416 VIIIT-44 IXObject 430 Version II IXT-54 XObject 140 XObject 430 XT-62A
China VType T-34 VIType 58 VIIT-34-1 VIIIT-34-2 VIIIT-34-3 IXWZ-120 X121
Japan IIChi-Ni IIIType 97 Chi-Ha IVType 1 Chi-He VType 3 Chi-Nu VType 3 Chi-Nu Kai VIType 4 Chi-To VIIType 5 Chi-Ri VIIISTA-1 IXType 61 XSTB-1
Czechoslovakia
Sweden
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