M26A1

This page is about the Italian medium tank M26A1. For other versions, see M26 (Family).

M26A1

▄Sherman Vc

M47 (105/55)

M26A1

▄Sherman Vc

M47 (105/55)

Italy

IV Rank

Battle rating:

AB	RB	SB
6.7	6.7	6.7

Class:

Medium tank

Research:63 000

Purchase:200 000

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Description

The Carro Armato M26A1 is a rank IV Italian medium tank with a battle rating of 6.7 (AB/RB/SB). It was introduced in Update 1.85 "Supersonic".

General info

Survivability and armour

Armourfront / side / back

Hull101 / 76 / 51

Turret101 / 76 / 76

Crew5 people

Visibility105 %

Armour type:

• Cast homogeneous armour (Front, turret)
• Rolled homogeneous armour (Side, Rear, Roof)

Armour	Front (Slope angle)	Sides	Rear	Roof
Hull	101.6 mm (42-46°) Front Glacis 162.5 mm (25-60°) Upper front glacis 76.2 mm (28-53°) Lower Glacis	76.2 mm (0-1°) Front 50.8 mm (0-3°) Rear	50.8 mm (7°) Top 22.2 mm (71°) Bottom	22.2 mm
Turret	101.6 mm (1-55°) Turret front 114.3 mm (1-84°) Gun mantlet	76.2 mm (2-54°)	76.2 mm (0-79°)	25.4 mm
Cupola	76.2 mm	76.2 mm	76.2 mm	25.4 mm

Notes:

• Suspension wheels and tracks are 20 mm thick.
• Belly armour is 25.4 mm thick.

Mobility

Speedforward / back

AB54 / 18 km/h

RB and SB49 / 16 km/h

Number of gears6 forward

2 back

Weight42.0 t

Engine power

AB954 hp

RB and SB500 hp

Power-to-weight ratio

AB22.7 hp/t

RB and SB11.9 hp/t

Game Mode	Max Speed (km/h)		Weight (tons)	Engine power (horsepower)		Power-to-weight ratio (hp/ton)
	Forward	Reverse		Stock	Upgraded	Stock	Upgraded
Arcade	54	18	42	775	954	18.45	22.71
Realistic	49	16		442	500	10.52	11.9

Modifications and economy

Repair costBasic → Reference

AB3 325 → 4 279

RB3 870 → 4 980

SB4 954 → 6 375

Total cost of modifications52 800

90 900

Talisman cost1 700

Crew training57 000

Experts200 000

Aces800

Research Aces520 000

Reward for battleAB / RB / SB

120 / 180 / 210 %

172 / 172 / 172 %

Modifications

Mobility	Protection	Firepower
Tracks Research: 2 600 Cost: 4 500 155 Suspension Research: 2 400 Cost: 4 100 145 Brake System Research: 2 400 Cost: 4 100 145 Filters Research: 3 300 Cost: 5 700 200 Transmission Research: 4 300 Cost: 7 400 260 Engine Research: 4 300 Cost: 7 400 260	Improved Parts Research: 2 600 Cost: 4 500 155 Improved FPE Research: 2 400 Cost: 4 100 145 Crew Replenishment Research: 3 300 Cost: 5 700 200	Horizontal Drive Research: 2 600 Cost: 4 500 155 90mm_us_M82_APCBC_ammo_pack Research: 2 600 Cost: 4 500 155 Adjustment of Fire Research: 2 400 Cost: 4 100 145 90mm_us_M304_APCR_ammo_pack Research: 2 400 Cost: 4 100 145 Elevation Mechanism Research: 3 300 Cost: 5 700 200 90mm_us_M332_APCR_ammo_pack Research: 3 300 Cost: 5 700 200 Artillery Support Research: 4 300 Cost: 7 400 260 90mm_us_M313_Smoke_ammo_pack Research: 4 300 Cost: 7 400 260

It's recommended to unlock Parts and FPE first, then the M82 and APCR shots, and after that focus on mobility.

Armaments

Main armament

90 mm Cannone da 90/50 M3A1 cannon

Ammunition70 rounds

First-order10 rounds

Reloadbasic crew → aces

9.7 → 7.5 s

Vertical guidance-10° / 20°

90 mm Cannone da 90/50 M3A1					Turret rotation speed (°/s)					Reloading rate (seconds)
Mode	Capacity	Vertical	Horizontal	Stabilizer	Stock	Upgraded	Full	Expert	Aced	Stock	Full	Expert	Aced
Arcade	70	-10°/+20°	±180°	N/A	20.0	27.7	33.6	37.2	39.5	9.75	8.63	7.95	7.50
Realistic					12.5	14.7	17.9	19.7	21.0

Ammunition

Penetration statistics
Ammunition	Type of warhead	Penetration @ 0° Angle of Attack (mm)
		10 m	100 m	500 m	1,000 m	1,500 m	2,000 m
M77 da 90/50	AP	162	160	148	135	123	112
M82 da 90/50	APCBC	185	182	169	155	142	130
M304 da 90/50	APCR	287	281	259	234	211	191
M332 da 90/50	APCR	291	286	264	240	217	197
M71 da 90/50	HE	20	20	18	17	16	16

Shell details
Ammunition	Type of warhead	Velocity (m/s)	Projectile mass (kg)	Fuse delay (m)	Fuse sensitivity (mm)	Explosive mass (TNT equivalent) (g)	Ricochet
							0%	50%	100%
M77 da 90/50	AP	822	10.61	-	-	-	47°	60°	65°
M82 da 90/50	APCBC	853	10.91	1.2	14	137.2	48°	63°	71°
M304 da 90/50	APCR	1,021	7.62	-	-	-	66°	70°	72°
M332 da 90/50	APCR	1,165	5.7	-	-	-	66°	70°	72°
M71 da 90/50	HE	823	10.55	0.2	0.1	1,210	79°	80°	81°

Smoke shell characteristics
Ammunition	Velocity (m/s)	Projectile mass (kg)	Screen radius (m)	Screen deploy time (s)	Screen hold time (s)	Explosive mass (TNT equivalent) (g)
M313 da 90/50	821	10.7	9	5	20	50

Ammo racks

Full ammo	1st rack empty	2nd rack empty	3rd rack empty	4th rack empty	5th rack empty	6th rack empty	7th rack empty	8th rack empty	9th rack empty	Visual discrepancy
70	64 (+6)	55 (+15)	47 (+23)	39 (+31)	31 (+39)	23 (+47)	16 (+54)	10 (+60)	0 (+70)	No

Ammo racks of the M26 (identical).

Notes:

• Shells are modeled individually and disappear after having been shot or loaded.
• 1 shell from rack 7 is fired after rack 1 is emptied. For the purpose of clarity, it is counted as belonging to rack 2 in the table above.
• Rack 9 is a first stage ammo rack. It totals 10 shells and gets filled first when loading up the tank.
• This rack is also emptied early: the rack depletion order at full capacity is: 9 - 1 - 2 - etc. until 8.
• If you pack 16 (+54) shells, it will keep most of the hull empty of ammo.
• Full reload speed will be realized as long as shells are available in the ready rack 9. If the ready rack is empty, a penalty to reload speed will occur.
• Simply not firing when the gun is loaded will move ammo from racks 1-8 into rack 9. Firing will interrupt the restocking of the ready rack.

Machine guns

12.7 mm M2HB machine gun

Ammunition600 rounds

Belt capacity200 rounds

Reloadbasic crew → aces

10.4 → 8.0 s

Fire rate575 shots/min

Vertical guidance-10° / 50°

Horizontal guidance-120° / 120°

7.62 mm M1919A4 machine gun (coaxial)

Ammunition5 000 rounds

Belt capacity250 rounds

Reloadbasic crew → aces

10.4 → 8.0 s

Fire rate500 shots/min

12.7 mm M2HB
Mount	Capacity (Belt)	Fire rate	Vertical	Horizontal
Pintle	600 (200)	577	-10°/+50°	±120°

The roof-mounted M2HB .50 cal heavy machine gun is very good at knocking out tracks, punching through lightly armoured vehicles and shooting down low-flying aircraft. Use it sparingly because of its low ammo count.

7.62 mm M1919A4
Mount	Capacity (Belt)	Fire rate	Vertical	Horizontal
Coaxial	5,000 (250)	500	N/A	N/A

The small calibre of the M1919A4 machine gun makes it largely ineffective against all armoured vehicles but the ones with an open compartment. It still can be used to ping targets as a rangefinding help or to mow down minor obstacles blocking your line of sight.

Usage in battles

The M26A1 is played in a very similar way to the normal M26, but it has more firepower and a slightly better APCR shell. One of the biggest differences is that it often faces Allied tanks instead of Axis tanks. It's as versatile as the original Pershing but with a better gun. It can be used for supporting a teammate whose tank has a long reload time such as IS-2 or T32. Participate in flanking manoeuvres — your speed and agility are not brilliant, but enough for that. Use the lower profile of Pershing compared to the Sherman's to navigate through the map more stealthily. Your vertical guidance (-10°/20°) allows you to shoot from higher positions without exposing too much of yourself.

The 90 mm gun offers a wide selection of ammunition to be used. The M82 APCBC shot with 140 g of explosive filler is extremely deadly — usually, a successful penetration with this shell will lead to a one hit kill. It lacks a bit of penetration for the rank this vehicle sits at, but it's great for attacking enemies from the side or behind. The M304 and M332 APCR shots give the vehicle the ability to penetrate thicker armour, but they perform poorly against angled armour and have terrible post penetration effects. This means you need to aim for flat surfaces and know the position of ammo or crew members in the enemy tank. Against a Tiger II (H) for example, this means aiming for the turret if he is looking directly at you on the gunner side. At that position, you can reliably penetrate the turret front from distances up to 1,800 m.

Although you are moderately armoured for your class, most enemies can easily kill you at this rank. A safe playstyle is a must. To reduce direct impacts in frontal engagements angle the M26A1, as the V-shaped frontal armour can deflect some shots and the tank has 76 mm of side armour. Your lower glacis is a big weak spot, try to keep it hidden from the enemy.

One downside to the Pershing is its engine — the power to weight ratio is poor and does not allow for very quick manoeuvring. It uses the same Ford GAF that can be found in the late series M4 Medium tanks, but the Pershing is 8 tons heavier. Being slightly underpowered, the Pershing has a hard time climbing hills. You will need to know the maps and areas you are operating in and use them wisely.

Tactics

Urban maps (Poland, Eastern Europe, Hürtgen Forest, Cologne, etc.) are perfect for ambushing, use your moderate speed to catch heavier enemy tanks off-guard. Drop artillery in front of suspected enemy positions if you need to cross a street or relocate, the smoke screen will cover you.

If you have successfully flanked an enemy, your first shot is decisive. If you know that you are not able to knock out the tank in one shot, you should always shoot the breech or the barrel to knock out the gun. The best ammo to do this is the M304 or M332 APCR shots, or the M82 APCBC shot. The APCR will guarantee a 100% successful shot, while the APCBC can also work very good and might destroy everything inside the turret. However, some German tanks have tracks on the turret's sides and if the enemy saw you and is turning their turret, the M82 could bounce. Make sure you don't miss. If you flank a SPG like a Jagdpanther, Jagdtiger or a Ferdinand just aim for the engine to immobilize it and you will have all the time needed to knock it out.

Arcade Battles

In arcade battles, it is much harder to flank and ambush enemy tanks because of the player-name system. However, the tank is still very playable and you can make use of different tactics depending on the situation. For urban environments, it's best to move with the team and only poke your head out when you have a good shot and the enemy tank isn't aimed at you. In open terrain, you will still be able to use the hills to your advantage and side-shot / pot-shot enemy tanks. It is worth mentioning, that the Pershing could face slightly heavier enemies due to its higher BR in Arcade Battles. The main rule here is don't show your sides and stay low.

Realistic/Simulator Battles

In realistic and simulator battles, The M26A1 shouldn't be in the toughest part of the match facing very heavily armoured enemies. It's better to stay behind front lines supporting teammates or to try a flank manoeuvre, as you can't be spotted on the minimap. The battle rating can up-tier you to some top tank battles in simulator mode. The compression and matchmaking can put you into situations where you have to fight Cold War era tanks, which are especially hard to penetrate, even from the sides.

Pros and cons

Pros:

• Uses the same gun as the M46 Patton; slightly better penetration compared to the original M26 Pershing
• M82 shot has great post-penetration damage; can easily knock out enemy tanks with a single shot
• Decent frontal armour
• Respectable mobility
• Great reverse speed
• Good accuracy on the move thanks to its stable suspension
• Good gun depression enables it to use hull-down tactics
• Fast turret rotation speed
• 76 mm of side armour allows the M26A1 some degree of angling

Cons:

• Armour can still be penetrated by most guns encountered at its rank
• Stock ammunition will have some difficulty destroying other tanks effectively
• Mediocre acceleration
• Turret ring can get damaged easily

History

Procurement

The Italian Army received Pershing tanks from the USA as part of the Mutual Defense Assistance Act at the beginning of the 1950s. The previously supplied M4 Sherman had become obsolete and needed replacement. The US Army armoured units stationed in West Germany transitioned from the M26 to the M47 Patton from 1952 through 1953. The M26 tanks, including the M26A1 version, were no longer needed by the US Army and thus given to Italy and France. Italy used their M26 Pershings operationally until 1963, after which they were gradually replaced by more recent M47, M60 and Leopard 1 tanks.

Usage

In terms of usage for the Italian M26A1 in its armed forces, the Italian Army received Pershing tanks from the USA as part of the Mutual Defense Assistance Act during the late 1950s. The previously supplied M4 Sherman had become obsolete and needed replacement, and Italy was very afraid that Yugoslavia would invade Italy to try take land they claimed to be the rightful owners of. The US Army armoured units stationed in West Germany transitioned from the M26 to the M47 Patton from 1952 through 1953. The M26 tanks, including the M26A1 version, were no longer needed by the US Army and thus given to Italy and France at a very favourable price. Italy used their M26 Pershings operationally until 1963, after which they were gradually replaced by more recent M47 Patton, M60 and Leopard 1 tanks. Some Italian M26's would be reconfigured for troop transport, but overall the M26A1 would be stationed at Eastern border in Italy with Yugoslavia but never saw combat action.

Media

Skins

• Skins and camouflages for the M26A1 from live.warthunder.com.

Videos

Best medium tanks discusses the M26A1 at 1:25 - War Thunder Official Channel

A Hidden "Italian" Gem - M26A1 Pershing - Virus

See also

Vehicles equipped with the same chassis

• M26 (Family)

External links

• [Wikipedia] M26 Pershing
• [Tanks Encyclopedia] Medium/Heavy Tank M26 Pershing
• [Military Factory] M26 Pershing

U.S. Army Ordnance Department/Corps*
Light tanks	T18E2 · M24 (Designed in collaboration with Cadillac)
M3 Stuart	M3 · M3A1 Stuart · M3A1 (USMC)
M5 Stuart	M5A1
Medium tanks	M3 Lee
M4 Sherman	M4 · M4A1 · M4A2 · M4A3 (105) · Calliope
	M4A1 (76) W · M4A2 (76) W · M4A3 (76) W
M26 Pershing	T20 · T25 · M26 · M26E1 · M26 T99
Patton Series	M46 · M46 "Tiger" · M47
Prototypes	T54E1 · T95E1
Heavy tanks	M103
M4 Jumbo	M4A3E2 · Cobra King · M4A3E2 (76) W
M6 Heavy	M6A1 · M6A2E1 · T1E1
M26 Pershing	T26E1-1 · T26E5
Prototypes	T14
T29	T29 · T30 · T34
T-32	T32 · T32E1
Tank destroyers	M3 GMC · M10 GMC · M56
M8 GMC	M8 HMC · M8A1 GMC
M36 GMC	M36 GMC · M36B2
Prototypes	T28 · T95
SPAAGs
Production	M19 MGMC · M42
Export/Captured	␗M8 HMC · SU-57
Stuart	Stuart I · Stuart III · ␗M3A3 Stuart · ␗M3A3 (1st PTG) · ▄M3A3 · ▄M3A3 Stuart · ▃Stuart VI (5th CAD) · ␗M5A1
Lee/Grant	▂M3 Medium · ▃Grant I · Grant I
M4 Sherman	Sherman II · ▄M4A1 · ␗M4A1 (75) W · ▀M4 748 (a) · ▂M4A2 · ▄M4A3 (105) · ▅M4A3 (76) W · ▄M4A3E2
	␗M4A4 · ␗M4A4 (1st PTG) · ▄Sherman V · ▄M4A4 · ▄Sherman I Composito
M26 Pershing	M26 "D.C.Ariete" · M26A1
M47 Patton	mKPz M47 G · ▅M47
M10 GMC	␗M10 GMC · ▄M10 GMC
M36 GMC	␗M36 GMC · M36B1 · ▅M36 · ▄M36B2
M19 MGMC	▅M19A1
M42 MGMC	▅M42 · ␗M42
	*The Ordnance Department was renamed to the Ordnance Corps after the Army Reorganization Act of 1950.