M26
Pershing Medium Tank
Photo U.S. Army
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Weighing
nearly 45 tons with a 90mm gun, the Pershing received its indoctrination
into warfare on March 7, 1945 in Remagen, Germany. Although the tank saw
limited service during WWII it was well matched against German tanks. At
the close of World War II Pershing production stopped at the Detroit
Arsenal and slowed at other government arsenals, but at the outbreak of
the Korean War full production began. During the war the fast and
well-armed M26 performed well against Soviet tanks used by the North
Koreans. There were more than 2,400 M26s built, but more importantly other
U.S. Army tanks were molded after the Pershing's design. The 1945 M45 with
a larger 105mm gun and the 1948 M46 with a more powerful engine were both
variations of the original M26.
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