Heavy Tank T26E5

Based on the M26 Pershing heavy tank, the T26E5 was designed as an assault tank to break through enemy defences. Its design is reminiscent of the idea behind the another success and popular tank, M4A3E2 "Jumbo" assault tank, which also had the goal of reinforcing armour to overcome enemy defences, which was very important at the time of 1945, when the T26E5 was produced. The T26E5 received significantly reinforced front armour and equipped with the 90 mm Tank Gun M3 L/53, same as in M26.

Mobility

Thanks to the use of the M26 Pershing chassis, T26E5 has good mobility both forward and backward. The 500 hp engine delivers a forward speed of 40 km/h and reverse speed of 13 km/h (48 km/h and 16 km/h for the M26) in RB/SB.

While this speed is quite decent for a heavy tank, it does not allow for lightning fast maneuvers typical of light or medium tanks. But, when a quick regrouping or retreat from enemy fire is required, the T26E5 proves to be quite flexible and reliable, compared to the IS-2 and Tiger 2 tanks.

Survivability and armor

The main advantage of the T26E5 is its armor (152 mm of frontal armor in the hull and 177 mm frontal armor in the turret), which allows it to withstand powerful shells such as Soviet 122 mm and German 88 mm, making it ideal for medium and close-range combat. The armor effectively protects against hits from the front, but the tank leaves vulnerable areas, such as the radio operator's machine gun or sides, which can be used by the enemy to destroy it.

Due to its thick armor protection, the T26E5 can actively use its mass and maneuverability to control positions, taking fire without significant losses. However, its armor may not be as effective against anti-tank self-propelled guns or tanks with higher BR, like the IS-3, with high penetration shells, leaving the tank vulnerable even at the long ranges.

Armament

The main armament is a 90-mm M3 gun and an additional 12.7 mm M2HB and 7.62 mm M1919A4.

The 90 mm gun is weaker than the German or Soviet ones. But it reloads much faster, and thanks to the tank's armor and its ability to perform well in close-range combat, the T26E5 should be able to penetrate enemy weak points with M82 (APCBC) shells.

Good optics (zoom 4.0x-8.0x) allow you to take the fight at a distance, although this is not recommended due to the weakness of the gun. For long-range combat, it is better to use T26E1-1.

However, it is always worth carrying a few M304 (APCR) rounds to face enemies with higher BR such as IS-3 and Maus.

Use in combat

The T26E5, is well suited for head-on combat due to its robust 152 mm front armor. However, its relative lack of mobility and the average penetration of its 90 mm M3 gun can make fighting a heavily armored enemy a difficult task, requiring APCR, hitting the side armor or avoiding this kind of enemies all together.

The T26E5 works best when used in a support role, taking advantage of its strength to hold positions or advance with allied tanks. But if necessary, the player can play at the spearhead. With sufficient skills, a player on a T26E5 can easily break through the enemy defense line, especially if he can use the tank's strengths, such as armor and fast reloading, to his advantage, even when outnumbered.

The main enemies the T26E5 will face are IS-2, T-44, Tiger 2 (P/H), T-34-85 and Panther tanks. The T26E5 has an advantage over most of these tanks, and they will not be a difficult opponents. However, there is a formidable enemy to consider - Tiger 2 H and, under some conditions, the T-44 and IS-2.

Against the T-44, it's best to aim for the vulnerable areas on the turret cheeks as much as possible.

Against the Tiger 2 (H), an ambush aiming to hit the side armor would be an optimal approach. In case of a frontal encounter, the only feasible option is using the M304 APCR round into the turret cheeks. Machine gunner port can be penetrated with both: M82 and T33 shells, but it has a very high risk of deflecting the shell.

Against the IS-2, player on T26E5 should aim for the turret. Fire into the hull is recommended only in the side armor, in the areas of the ammunition.

History

The main U.S. M4 Sherman tank was forced to protect mobilizing forces after the enemy’s highly effective anti-tank firepower rapidly increased on the battlefield during World War II. Its current design could not be modified to prioritize armor without sacrificing other tank characteristics, such as mobility. To combat this threat, a new role was created: the assault tank, a vehicle designed to penetrate heavily fortified enemy defenses and withstand enemy fire.

After the successful deployment of the M4A3E2 in late 1944, the US Army became interested in developing another type of assault tank. Although the M4A3E2 was considered adequate for its purpose, it did not offer the same protection as its counterparts, such as the German Tiger II. Fortunately, the bulky configuration of the M4A3E2's frontal armor raised the prospect of armor upgrades for the T26E3 Pershing, the newest heavy tank currently in production.

Combat use

The tank never saw action during the Second World War due to technical problems and production delays. Twenty-seven prototypes were built. But they were too late to contribute to the war effort.

After the war, the U.S. Army's strategic focus shifted from heavy tanks to more versatile, manoeuvrable vehicles that could perform multiple battlefield roles. As a result, the 27 prototypes were deemed obsolete and were eventually used as targets in range tests, where they were all destroyed.