M26 Pershing

The M26 Pershing is an American medium tank developed to counter heavier German armor late in World War II. It paired a 90 mm M3 gun with coaxial and bow .30-06 M1919A4 machine guns and a roof-mounted .50-caliber M2HB, then remained relevant into the Korean War as a transition design between the Sherman family and postwar Patton tanks.

M26 Pershing, Medium tank, Tanks

Image source: M26 Pershing at Bovington Tank Museum

Profile

Origin: United States
Built by: Fisher Tank Arsenal; Detroit Tank Arsenal
Type: Medium tank
Service note: Late World War II and Korean War-era U.S. medium tank
Designed: 1942-1944
Produced: November 1944-October 1945
Number built: 2,212
Variants: T26E3, M26A1, T26E4 Super Pershing
Developed from: T20 series
Developed into: M46 Patton

tracked anti-tank protected mobility

Specifications

Crew: 5
Armament: 90 mm M3 gun; coaxial and bow .30-06 M1919A4 machine guns; roof-mounted .50-caliber M2HB
Combat weight: About 46 tons
Engine: Ford GAF V8 gasoline engine, about 500 hp
Maximum road speed: About 30 mph
Range: About 100 miles
Armor: Up to about 102 mm on the glacis and 76 mm on the turret sides
Suspension: Torsion bar

Service And Conflict Use

Service History

In service: Entered production in November 1944 and saw combat in Europe in 1945 before later service in Korea
Used by: United States Army, United States Marine Corps
Wars: World War II, Korean War

Carried Weapons

Weaponsystems.net identifies the Pershing as mounting paired .30-06 M1919A4 machine guns alongside its 90 mm main gun.

Carried item

Item type

Carriage evidence

.30-Caliber Machine Gun

Crew-served medium machine gun

Weaponsystems.net states that the M26 Pershing carried a .30-06 M1919A4 as both coaxial and bow armament.

Sources: M26 Pershing | Weaponsystems.net

M26 Pershing Videos

Tank Chats #90 | M26 Pershing | The Tank Museum

M26 Pershing Images

M26 Pershing, Medium tank, Tanks - view 1 — Source: M26 Pershing at Bovington Tank Museum

M26 Pershing, Medium tank, Tanks - view 2 — Source: M26 Pershing at Naktong, 1950-09-03

M26 Pershing, Medium tank, Tanks - view 3 — Source: M26 Pershing Hull Image

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Sources

M26 Pershing | Weaponsystems.netPublisher: Weaponsystems.net | Note: Supports the Pershing's 90 mm main armament and paired .30-06 M1919A4 coaxial and bow machine guns, plus general background. | Accessed: 2026-06-23 The M26 Pershing TankPublisher: The Army Historical Foundation | Note: Supports M26 Pershing development, late-1944 production, and World War II and Korean War service context. | Accessed: 2026-06-23 M26 Pershing/M46 Heavy TankPublisher: World War II Database | Note: Supports manufacturer, production period, number built, crew, weight, engine, range, and speed specifications. | Accessed: 2026-06-23 M26 Pershing at Bovington Tank MuseumPublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Supports image provenance and reusable Commons licensing for the Bovington M26 Pershing image. | Accessed: 2026-06-23 M26 Pershing at Naktong, 1950-09-03Publisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Supports image provenance and public-domain status for the Korean War M26 Pershing image. | Accessed: 2026-06-23 M26 Pershing Hull ImagePublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Supports image provenance and reusable Commons licensing for the salvaged M26 Pershing hull image. | Accessed: 2026-06-23