The M26 Pershing was designed to counter late war Soviet armour, particularly the T-44, and break through some of the most formidable anti-tank defences ever built, even in Russia's freezing cold.
The M26 Pershing is an American medium tank introduced during the final stages of World War II, marking a shift in U.S. armoured warfare in response to Soviet developments in tank technology. Powered by a Ford GAA gasoline engine, the M26 can reach a top speed of around 49 km/h. Its primary armament is the powerful 90mm Gun M1, capable of penetrating the armour of late-war Soviet heavy tanks like the IS-2. The Pershing's armour was considerably thicker than that of the earlier M4 Sherman, with frontal armour up to 102mm of RHA steel, providing improved protection against enemy fire. It laid the groundwork for post-war American tank design, and eventually the main battle tank classifications.