M26 pershing heavy tank medium tank military factory. Sep 15, 2015 a number of pershing tanks played a dramatic role in the 9th armored divisions struggle to take the ludendorff bridge at the battle of remagen. Pershing american vehicles official forum world of tanks. As zaloga discovered later in armored thunderbolt, the chief culprit was army ground forces and its head, gen. It was used in the last months of world war ii during the invasion of germany and extensively during the korean war the m26 was intended as a replacement of the m4 sherman, citation needed. He authored many books on american military vehicles. M26 pershing tanks of the 2nd armored division on the streets of magdeburg, germany, mid apr 1945 see more. A history of the american light tank, volume 1 by r.
But only a small number of pershing tanks participated in combat in europe, as the pershing only entered service in 1944. The m26 pershing was a heavy tank medium tank of the united states army. Pershing, who led the american expeditionary force in europe in world war i, this was the first usproduced heavy tank. Pershing, who led the american expeditionary force in europe in world war i. Pershing a history of the medium tank t20 series by r. Hunnicutt s 10volume compendium of american tank history details the development of the t20 series of american tank prototypes ending with the standardized m26 pershing. Starting in february 1945 these vehicles took part in world war ii. These tanks would be the only pershings to see combat in world war two, spread between the 3rd and 9th armored divisions, part of the first army. During world war ii, combat experience proved that the american sherman tank was no match for the best of germanys tanks like the panther or tiger. For sure its by far the best book about pershings its the pershing bible.
Spearhead in the west published by the 3rd armored division, 1945 m26m46 pershing tank 19431953 by zaloga this info is from the official website of the third armored division. With the reprinting of abrams and pershing, echo point has now reprinted six of. Getting serious here, the m26 pershing was designed during world war ii to specifically deal with the heavy german tanks, like the king tiger. Used items may not include supplementary materials such as cds or access codes. Discover delightful childrens books with prime book box, a subscription that delivers. It is analagous to the m4a3e2 sherman jumbo in that it is the uparmored variant of a mobile medium. A number of pershing tanks played a dramatic role in the 9th armored divisions struggle to take the ludendorff bridge at the battle of remagen. The tier 8 american premium tank t26e4 super pershing is a very unique tank to drive and also to face. It was used in the last months of world war ii during the invasion of germany and extensively during the korean war.
Hunnicutt, however, does not mention patton in his take on how the m26 got delayed. Hunnicutt provides the comprehensive history of the technological evolution that led to the production of sherman m4 in 1942 and. American medium tank, named in honor of general john pershing, who led the american expeditionary force during world war i. The m103 was americas tiger tank by michael peck by 1945, the u. How would the m26 pershing have faired against the tiger i. Army, the m26 was temporarily classified as heavy tank. Similarly, the british army introduced the prototypes of the centurion tank with a 76mm gun comparable to that of the german panther. This one is more narrow in its focus than most, but is no less worth. Sep 18, 2015 with the reprinting of abrams and pershing, echo point has now reprinted six of the ten books that hunnicutt wrote documenting the history of us armor. Unlike most medium tanks the super pershing isnt very mobile and relies on the unique armor set up it has. Oct 06, 2015 the m26 pershing is the tank that is firing its main gun. A history of the medium tank t20 series by hunnicut.
As i started writing and revising and adding to this article, i got more books to fill out my research, eventually finding a bootleg copy of hunnicutts pershing tank book i thought it was a legit reprint i bought it on amazon for a great price. The t26e1, redesignated the m26 general pershing heavy tank in january 1945, was thought to be a match for anything that germany could throw against it, including the panzerkampfwagen vi tiger i. Getting serious here, the m26 pershing was designed during world war ii to specifically. May show signs of minor shelf wear and contain limited notes and highlighting. While it doesnt excel in any specific area it makes up for it by being proficient in several different categories. A shame it did not cover more on the pershings successors, the patton series m46 and m47 mostly as the pattons take a lot of components from the pershing and improved it though hunnicutt may have added it to the next book about the m60. New vanguard 73, m4 76mm sherman medium tanks 194365 by steven j. Twenty new t26e3 pershing heavy tanks were sent to the eto to take on the german tiger and panther tanks. Richard pearce hunnicutt june 15, 1926 april 29, 2011 was an american historian, known. Unknown to its crew, a king tiger had apparently been waiting in ambush at a distance of two blocks or roughly 600 yards away, and in the same direction that the americans were turning into. Hunnicutts 10volume compendium of american tank history details the development of the heavy tanks from its.
Great book detailing the development of the m26 pershing and its combat actions. The t26e4 does not however have access to the upgraded engine or the long 90mm of the m26 although as. These books are aimed armor modelers, who want close in detail shots with unit info so they can hunnucutt the subjects. The m26 pershing was deployed rather late onto the battlefields of wwii, with the first 20 landing in the belgian port of antwerp in january 1945. A history of the medium tank t20 series sep 15, 2015. Richard pearce hunnicutt june 15, 1926 april 29, 2011 was an american historian, known for his research in armored fighting vehicles.
So anyway, with the hunnicut book on the m26 i am going to see how i can model an accurate wwii t26e3 and t26e4 version. Spearhead in the west published by the 3rd armored division, 1945. From its introduction in 1942 until the production line closed in the second half of 1945, tens of thousands of these versatile armored fighting vehicles were produced. Almost three years of development produced the t26e3 pershing, which entered battle in. Hunnicutt ranked the pershing second, behind the german panther medium tank, but ahead of the tiger i heavy tank. A conclusion i agree with, and that is backed by data in the book. A history of the american medium tank t20 series by. As anybody who is remotely interested in us tanks knows, j. Hunnicut compares the firepower, mobility and protection values between the pershing, panther and tiger 1 tanks.
T3485 vs m26 pershing duel please view the photos and ask any questions before you bid or buy please look at my other items i will be happy to combine postage on multiple items my post and packaging is always close or near to costthanks for looking good. Hunnicutts ambitious 10volume series on the history of american tanks covers the development of the american main battle tank from its conception in the 1950s through the production and standardization of the m1. Navato on page 201 suggest that the speed is 25 mph medium tank m26 pershing. He altered his birth certificate to enlist in the u. He fought at leyte and in april 1945 at okinawa where he was promoted to. Hunnicutt is the definite book on the us pershing tank. Browse the amazon editors picks for the best books of 2019, featuring our favorite. Richard pearce hunnicutt june 15, 1926 april 29, 2011 was an american historian, known for his research in armored fighting vehicles hunnicutt was born in asheville, north carolina, to james ballard hunnicutt and ida belle black. This world of tanks m26 pershing guide goes over the tanks strengths, weaknesses, and tactics to best play it.
This book is pretty short but gets a decent amount of the 76mm sherman story into it. Hunnicutts ambitious 10volume series on the history of american tanks covers the development of the american main battle tank from its conception in the 1950s through the production and standardization of the m1 abrams main battle tank. But seeing xs im having games where i dont even get a shot off before im dead, or if i do im doing 200 damage because its bouncing shots or just inaccurate. A history of the american medium tank by hunnicutt, r. One of the latewar tanks that tasted first blood on the battlefields of western europe was the m26 pershing. The m26 pershing had a slow and arduous beginning during a time when the need for such a heavy tank was not part of us army priority. This became the m26 pershing using the superior 90 mm m3a1 gun. After this baptism by fire, the pershing was standardized as the m26 in late march, 1945. Although m4 medium tank sherman proved itself by contributing mightily to u. Here is an excerpt from the new edition written by world of tanks researcher nicholas moran. Hunnicutt was born in asheville, north carolina, to james ballard hunnicutt and ida belle black. This page book covers the tanks used on iwo jima and i have to say, it is a pretty awesome book.
Apr 01, 2017 the m103 was americas tiger tank by michael peck by 1945, the u. First off it has a new cover with no dust jacket unlike earlier printings. The only remaining documented pershing tank that cross the ludendorff bridge at remagen resides at the wright museum in wolfeboro, new hampshire. The pershing was the first operational heavy tank of the us army. Army had cause to regret one of its most fateful choices of world war ii. Army introduce a few m26 pershing heavy tanks with a 90mm gun comparable to that of the original german tiger. The tank was named after general of the armies john j.
M26m46 pershing tank 194345 is a fairly threadbare book that seems to be mainly a summary of whats in hunnicutt s pershing book. Modern sloped armour, one of the best guns in the business, by design a very capable vehicle. Which was a better heavy tank, the king tiger, the pershing. Excellent work, all of hunnicutts books on american armoured vehicles are worth reading. The t26e4 super pershing is a m26 pershing with upgraded protection in the form of spaced armor scrapped off from one of the panther tanks. Hunnicutt s ambitious 10volume series on the history of american tanks covers the development of the american main battle tank from its conception in the 1950s through the production and standardization of the m1 abrams main battle tank. If push comes to shove, i will 3d model and 3d print the parts that are either missing or incorrect which is where the importance of proper technical information comes in. The m26 arrived in the final months of the conflict and proved effective against the latest german tanks. The title of this book is abrams and it was written by r. A history of the medium tank t20 series hunnicut download bok. Great book, every thing you need if your a tank nut or just a person who like, loves and build modle tanks. The m26 pershing is a very versatile tier 8 medium tank. This book is part of ospreys new vanguard series, volume 73 in fact. The m4 sherman medium tank was the mainstay of the american and british armored forces in world war ii.
The m103 was americas tiger tank the national interest. A history of the medium tank t20 series, first published in 1971 by feist publications. Photographs of this knocked out tiger i in hunnicutts book showed a penetration through. Armored divisions in wwii, it was eventually outclassed by. Design isnt everything, though, so due to a shortage of required raw materials the quality of steel used for. With 3ad tanks fanning out, and 36th infantry riflemen following, the super pershing reached an intersection and began to round a corner to its right. The m26 pershing is the tank that is firing its main gun. See the next page to follow m26 general pershing heavy tank production. How would the m26 pershing have faired against the tiger i in. The hunnicutt sherman book is the gold standard book for information on the sherman medium tank and its history and development. Pershing tanks advance though some streets in germany some of the photos can be harsh or unpleasant.
Hunnicutts abrams and pershing books reprinted tank and. The m26 pershing was a heavy tankmedium tank of the united states army. Which was a better heavy tank, the king tiger, the. These books are really aimed at modelers, and people into less detailed history. Featuring fullcolour artwork, carefully chosen photographs and specially commissioned maps, this is the story of the first us heavy tanks in combat with the fearsome.
So the tank was cannibalized for parts and became the only total pershing loss in wwii of the original shipment of 20 tanks. Pershing tanks of the panzer division on the streets of magdeburg, germany, april britisheevee. Conceived as a replacement for the iconic m4 sherman, the m26 suffered from an extended design and development process as well as political infighting among the u. In may 1946, all t26m26 series tanks were reclassified as medium tanks. At the beginning of 1944 development had begun of the 155 mm gmc t83 on the m4a3 chassis, the tank later on standardized as the m40 gmc. It was published by presidio pr and has a total of 320 pages in the book. Jan 08, 2012 the only remaining documented pershing tank that cross the ludendorff bridge at remagen resides at the wright museum in wolfeboro, new hampshire. We are aware of 8 similar reference publications related to m26 pershing. Almost three years of development produced the t26e3 pershing, which entered battle in the final months of the war in europe. This book examines the dramatic tigerpershing duel at elsdorf in germany, and also assesses the clashes between german armour and the sole super pershing deployed to europe. A shame it did not cover more on the pershing s successors, the patton series m46 and m47 mostly as the pattons take a lot of components from the pershing and improved it though hunnicutt may have added it to the next book about the m60. Instead, efforts were primarily focused on production of m3 leegrant and m4 sherman medium tanks, the latter which went on to form a large part of british and american armored forces by wars end. In terms of firepower, the panthers 75 mm cannon achieved a muzzle velocity 400 ms greater either of the pershing or tiger 1 tank guns.
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