American tank M26 PERSHING (T26E3) COBI 2564 - World War II

You know that:

• In 1942, the Detroit Arsenal factories developed a tank design that in many ways surpassed the best German Tiger and Panther machines.
• By cleverly shaping the tank's ballistic protection, the designers saved 15,000 kg of weight compared to the German Tiger, making the Pershing very fast and agile.
• The first deployment took place at the very end of the war in February 1945 at Elsdorf, Germany, during a nighttime battle between a Pershing named "Fireball" and a 57-ton Tiger. The duel did not go well for the Pershing. The German Tiger spotted the M26 at short distance about 90 meters between burning houses and with two shots severely damaged the Pershing. However, while retreating, Pershing dropped a house wall on the attacking Tiger, which disabled the German tank and its crew was captured.
  Another engagement on 7 March 1945 would be a disaster for the German tanks. The Pershing, equipped with a gun stabilizer, was able to fire accurately even while moving, while the German tanks had to stop before firing.
  The Pershing's technical superiority was undeniable. Of the 300 units deployed in Europe, the Germans managed to destroy only 3, and only one of them permanently.
  In all, 2,212 were produced in several versions.
• The T26E3 version had a few minor modifications based on experience gained from fighting on the Western Front. There were produced in this version the most units.
  The successor to the Pershing was the M46 Patton.

Technical parameters:

• dimensions: length 8.65 m (with gun), width 3.51 m, height 2.78 m
• weight 41 900 kg
• armour: 102 mm front, 76 mm side, 51 mm rear
• power unit Ford GAF 18.03 l petrol 8-cylinder engine with 373 kW
• maximum road speed 40 km/h
• range 160 km
• fuel tank capacity 704 l
• wading distance 1,22 m
• main weapon M3 cannon of 90 mm calibre
• secondary weapon 2x Browning M1919 machine gun 7.62 mm calibre + Browning M2 machine gun 12.7 mm calibre
• crew 5 persons

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