{"product_id":"m26-pershing-m45-t26e2","title":"M26 Pershing \/ M45 (T26E2)","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eM26 Pershing \/ M45 (T26E2)\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHeavy \/ Medium Tank\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003eThe\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eM26 Pershing\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003ewas a heavy tank \/ medium tank of the United States Army.\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eThe tank was named after\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eGeneral John J Pershing\u003c\/strong\u003e, who led the American Expeditionary Force in Europe in World War I.\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eIt was used in the last months of\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWorld War II\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eduring the Invasion of Germany and extensively during the\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eKorean War\u003c\/strong\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eM26\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003ewas intended as a replacement of the\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eM4 Sherman\u003c\/strong\u003e, but a prolonged development period meant that only a small number saw combat in Europe.\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eBased on the criteria of firepower, mobility, and protection, US historian\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eR P Hunnicutt\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eranked the Pershing behind the German\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTiger II\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eheavy tank, but ahead of the\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTiger I\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eheavy and\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePanther\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003emedium tanks.\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eIt was withdrawn in 1951 in favor of its improved derivative, the\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eM46 Patton\u003c\/strong\u003e, which had a more powerful and reliable engine and advanced suspension.\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eThe lineage of the M26 continued with the M47 Patton, and was reflected in the new designs of the later M48 Patton and M60 Patton.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe M26 was the culmination of a series of medium tank prototypes that began with the T20 in 1942, and it was a significant design departure from the previous line of US Army tanks that had ended with the M4 Sherman.\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eSeveral design features were tested in the prototypes.\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eSome of these were experimental dead-ends, but many become permanent characteristics of subsequent US Army tanks.\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eThe prototype series began as a medium tank upgrade of the M4 Sherman and ended as the US Army’s first operational “heavy” tank.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe first combat experience showed that the M26 still fell short on firepower and protection when facing the formidable German Tiger II.\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eBecause of this, experiments were carried out with the longer and more powerful 90mm T15 gun.\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eThe first vehicle, based on the first\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eT26E1-1\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003evehicle, was shipped to Europe, where it was up-armoured and saw limited combat, being now commonly known as the “\u003cstrong\u003eSuper Pershing\u003c\/strong\u003e”.\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eAnother\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eT26E4\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eprototype and 25 “serial” vehicles followed, with slight differences.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eM26A1\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003ecame into production after the war and most Pershing in service were upgraded to this standard.\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eIt replaced the 90mm M3 with the new M3A1 gun, characterized by a more efficient bore evacuator and single-baffle muzzle brake.\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eA total of\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e1,190\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eM26A1s were produced and modified and saw action in Korea.\u003cspan\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eT26E2\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003ewas a close support variant of the M26 with a 105mm howitzer (74 rounds), and eventually standardized for use as the\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMedium Tank M45,\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e 185 units were build. \u003c\/span\u003eA total of\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e2,212 units\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eof all M26 variants were produced between November 1944 and October 1945.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eProduct Highlights:\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e- Choice to build as an\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eM26\u003c\/strong\u003e,\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eM26A1\u003c\/strong\u003e, or\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eT26E4\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003ewith 90mm gun\u003cbr\u003e- Also can be built as an\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eM45\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e105mm howitzer medium tank\u003cbr\u003e- Choice of either\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eT81\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eor\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eT80E1\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003etrack links\u003cbr\u003e- Gun mantlet with or without canvas cover\u003cbr\u003e- All hatches can be open or closed\u003cbr\u003e- Tank commander for both\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWW2\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eand\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eKorean War\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eincluded\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eProduct Code:\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e280116\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNumber of Parts:\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e122 pieces\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\/\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e4 sprues\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan lang=\"EN-US\"\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003ePlastic Kit - ABS Cement Required\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eMiniatures supplied unassembled and unpainted.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"T O W R ","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":45134848393295,"sku":null,"price":58.5,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0700\/1263\/3167\/files\/280116_M26Pershing_M45.webp?v=1776936593","url":"https:\/\/towrgames.com.au\/products\/m26-pershing-m45-t26e2","provider":"T O W R Games","version":"1.0","type":"link"}