M26 Medium Tank
| GENERAL DATA | |||
| Other Designation(s) | General Pershing
(British Army), T26E3 |
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| Type | Medium/Heavy Tank |
Radio Equipment | SCR508/528 |
| Manufacturer(s) | Fisher Tank Arsenal,
Detroit Tank Arsenal (Chrysler) |
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| Crew | 5 |
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| Production Quantity | 3071 |
Production Period | November 1944 - Late 1945 |
| Variants | |||
| M26 (T26E3) | M3 gun with double-baffle muzzle brake. Main production model. | ||
| M26A1 | M3A1 gun with bore evacuator and single-baffle muzzle brake. | ||
| T26E1-1 (T26E4-1 or M26A1E2) | Version armed with a T15E1 large exterior stabilizer springs single piece ammo (used in combat). | ||
| T26E4 | Experimental version armed with a long T15E2 gun two-part ammunition, improved mounting removed the need for springs. | ||
| M26E1 | Longer gun, single-part ammunition T54 gun. | ||
| M26E2 | New engine and transmission and M3A1 gun. Reclassified as the M46 Patton. (post war) | ||
| T26E2 | Eventually standardized for use as the Medium Tank M45 : a close support vehicle with a 105 mm howitzer (74 rounds). | ||
| T26E5 | Prototype with thicker armor—a maximum of 279 mm— based on the experience of the heavily armored assault tank M4A3E2. | ||
| DIMENSIONS | |||
| Combat weight | 41892 kg |
Ground pressure | 0.878 kg/cm² |
| Length without gun and with sandshields and pintle | 6.327 m |
Length w/Gun | 8.647 m |
| Barrel Overhang | 2.32 m |
Height over commander cupola | 2.779 m |
| Width with sandshields | 3.513 m |
Ground clearance | 0.437 m |
| Fire height | 2.00 m |
Turret ring diameter | 1.75 m |
| ARMAMENT | |||
| Primary Armament | 90 mm Gun M3 on M67 mount (1) |
Ammunition Carried | 70 (10 ready) |
| Traverse | 360° (manual or hydraulic) |
Elevation | +25° to -10° (manual with stabilizer) |
| Traverse speed (360°) | 24°/sec. |
Sight | M71C |
| Secondary Armament | 1 x .50 caliber MG HB M2 (12.7 mm) (2) |
Ammunition Carried | 550 |
2 x .30 caliber MG M1919A4 (7.62 mm) (3) |
5000 |
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5 x .45cal (9 mm) M1 sub-machine gun (4) |
900 |
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| Location | 1: turret - 2: turret roof - 3:
bow, coaxial - 4: turret inside |
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| ARMOR | ||||
| Assembly | Welding & Cast
|
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| Armor Detail | Front |
Side |
Rear |
Top/Bottom |
| Hull | 73 mm / 37° |
76 mm / 90° (front) 51 mm / 90° (rear) |
19 mm / 28° |
25 mm / 0°(front) 13 mm / 0°(rear) |
| Superstructure | 102 mm /
44° |
76 mm /
90° |
51 mm /
80° |
22 mm /
0° |
| Turret | 102 mm / 90° & round |
76 mm / 82°-90° & round |
76 mm / 82°-90° & round |
25 mm / 0° |
| Mantlet | 200 mm /
round |
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| AUTOMOTIVE | |||
| Engine | Ford GAF |
Type & Displacement | V8, 18.0 liters |
| Horsepower (maximum) | 450-500 hp at 2600 rpm |
Power/Weight Ratio | 11.9 hp / ton |
| Gearbox | Synchromesh: 5 forward, 1 reverse |
Steering | Controlled differential & Steering levers |
| Brakes | Mechanical, external contracting |
Fuel Capacity | 832 L Gasoline (Petrol) |
| SUSPENSION | |||
| Type | Torsion bars |
Road wheels | 6 independent dual road wheels |
| Track return rollers | 5 on each side |
Sprocket-Wheels | 13 tooth, rear |
| Idler Sprockets | Double, front |
Shock absorbers | On first 2 and last 2 road wheels |
| Track Type | T80E1, center guides, double pin, rubber & steel | ||
| Width | 580 mm |
Pitch | 150 mm |
| Links(shoes) | 82 |
Track ground contact | 3.845 m (left) & 3.950 m (right) |
| Track Type | T81, center guides, single pin, steel | ||
| Width | 580 mm |
Pitch | 150 mm |
| Links(shoes) | 82 |
Track ground contact | 3.845 m (left) & 3.950 m (right) |
| PERFORMANCES | |||
| Maximum Speed | 40-48 km/h on road 26 km/h off road |
Range | 161 km on road |
| Mileage | 517 L/100 km on road |
Maximum grade | 31° (from horizontal) |
| Trench crossing | 2.44 m |
Vertical obstacles | 1.17 m |
| Maximum fording depth | 1.22 m |
Minimum turning diameter | 18 m |
| Sources | |||
| AFV Database | Vehicles.com | - |
|
Drawings |
