Difference between revisions of "M26A1"

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Latest revision as of 00:50, 4 October 2023

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

M26A1

▄Sherman Vc

M47 (105/55)

M26A1

AB	RB	SB
6.7	6.7	6.7

Class:

Medium tank

Research:63 000

Purchase:200 000

Show in game

Description

The M26A1 is an American-made tank which was widely used by Italy during the early stages of the Cold War. The Italian Army would receive 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. They would be in service for many years and quickly became one of the strongest platforms at their disposal.

Introduced in Update 1.85 "Supersonic", the Italian M26A1 can be quite an effective machine at its battle rating; however, there are some notable weaknesses that players must be aware of when using this tank. The M26A1 is quite a big platform, therefore when in tight urban maps you can be easily taken care of by enemy players which fire at you from positions you aren't able to see. Without its mobility upgrades it is also very slow, so until you unlock them you'll need to play a more supportive role rather an offensive one. Armour-wise, the M26A1 can protect you from a lot of medium calibre shells that will come your way, hull down positions are recommended if you're not advancing. The firepower of the M26A1 is good enough for you to be able to take out the majority of enemies you'll face in 1-2 shots, granted you know their weakspots. You have access to a 90 mm Cannone da 90/50 M3A1 and machine guns which will come in handy against lightly armoured vehicles. Overall, it is a great tank to have for your lineup.

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)
Game Mode	Forward	Reverse	Weight (tons)	Stock	Upgraded	Stock	Upgraded
Arcade	54	18	42	775	954	18.45	22.71
Realistic	49	16	42	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°

Main article: Cannone da 90/50 M3A1 (90 mm)

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	70	-10°/+20°	±180°	N/A	12.5	14.7	17.9	19.7	21.0	9.75	8.63	7.95	7.50

Ammunition

Penetration statistics
Ammunition	Type of warhead	Penetration @ 0° Angle of Attack (mm)
Ammunition	Type of warhead	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
Ammunition	Type of warhead	Velocity (m/s)	Projectile mass (kg)	Fuse delay (m)	Fuse sensitivity (mm)	Explosive mass (TNT equivalent) (g)	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

Main articles: M2HB (12.7 mm), M1919A4 (7.62 mm)

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
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

Main article: History of the M26

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

External links

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.

Italy medium tanks
	Italy
M13/40	M13/40 (I) · M13/40 (II) · M13/40 (III)
M14/41	M14/41 · M14/41 (47/40)
M15/42	M15/42
M16/43	Celere Sahariano
P26/40	P40 · P40 "G.C. Leoncello"
OF-40	OF-40 · OF-40 Mk.2A · OF-40 (MTCA)
Ariete	Ariete (P) · Ariete · Ariete PSO · Ariete AMV
Germany	▄Pz.III N · ▄Pz.IV G · ▄Leopard 1A5
Allied powers	▄Sherman I Composito · Sherman Ic · ▄Sherman Vc · ▄Sherman V · M26 "D.C.Ariete" · M26A1 · M47 (105/55) · M60A1 "D.C.Ariete"
	Hungary
Turán	Turan I · Turan II · Turan III
Germany	◔Leopard 2A4 · Leopard 2A7HU
USSR	◔T-72M1

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Difference between revisions of "M26A1"

Latest revision as of 00:50, 4 October 2023

Contents

Description

General info

Survivability and armour

Mobility

Modifications and economy

Armaments

Main armament

Ammunition

Ammo racks

Machine guns

Usage in battles

Tactics

Arcade Battles

Realistic/Simulator Battles

Pros and cons

History

Procurement

Usage

Media

See also

External links

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-{{Specs-Card|code=it_m26a1_pershing}}
 {{About
-|about=medium tank '''{{PAGENAME}}'''
+|about= Italian medium tank '''{{PAGENAME}}'''
-|usage=other uses
+|usage= other versions
-|link=M26 (Family)
+|link= M26 (Family)
+}}
+{{Specs-Card
+|code=it_m26a1_pershing
+|images={{Specs-Card-Image|GarageImage_{{PAGENAME}}.jpg|ArtImage_{{PAGENAME}}.jpg}}
 }}
 == Description ==
-<!--In the description, the first part should be about the history of the creation and combat usage of the vehicle, as well as its key features. In the second part, tell the reader about the ground vehicle in the game. Insert a screenshot of the vehicle, so that if the novice player does not remember the vehicle by name, he will immediately understand what kind of vehicle the article is talking about.-->
+<!-- ''In the description, the first part should be about the history of the creation and combat usage of the vehicle, as well as its key features. In the second part, tell the reader about the ground vehicle in the game. Insert a screenshot of the vehicle, so that if the novice player does not remember the vehicle by name, he will immediately understand what kind of vehicle the article is talking about.'' -->
-[[File:GarageImage_{{PAGENAME}}.jpg|420px|thumb|left]]
+The M26A1 is an American-made tank which was widely used by Italy during the early stages of the Cold War. The Italian Army would receive 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. They would be in service for many years and quickly became one of the strongest platforms at their disposal.
-{{break}}
-The '''{{Specs|name}}''' is a rank {{Specs|rank}} Italian medium tank {{Battle-rating}}. It was introduced in [[Update 1.85 "Supersonic"]].
+Introduced in [[Update 1.85 "Supersonic"]], the Italian M26A1 can be quite an effective machine at its battle rating; however, there are some notable weaknesses that players must be aware of when using this tank. The M26A1 is quite a big platform, therefore when in tight urban maps you can be easily taken care of by enemy players which fire at you from positions you aren't able to see. Without its mobility upgrades it is also very slow, so until you unlock them you'll need to play a more supportive role rather an offensive one. Armour-wise, the M26A1 can protect you from a lot of medium calibre shells that will come your way, hull down positions are recommended if you're not advancing. The firepower of the M26A1 is good enough for you to be able to take out the majority of enemies you'll face in 1-2 shots, granted you know their weakspots. You have access to a [[Cannone da 90/50 M3A1 (90 mm)|90 mm Cannone da 90/50 M3A1]] and machine guns which will come in handy against lightly armoured vehicles. Overall, it is a great tank to have for your lineup.
 == General info ==
 === Survivability and armour ===
-'''''Armour type:'''''
+{{Specs-Tank-Armour}}
+<!-- ''Describe armour protection. Note the most well protected and key weak areas. Appreciate the layout of modules as well as the number and location of crew members. Is the level of armour protection sufficient, is the placement of modules helpful for survival in combat? If necessary use a visual template to indicate the most secure and weak zones of the armour.'' -->
+'''Armour type:'''
-*''Cast homogeneous armour (Front, turret)''
+* Cast homogeneous armour (Front, turret)
-*''Rolled homogeneous armour (Side, Rear, Roof)''
+* Rolled homogeneous armour (Side, Rear, Roof)
 {| class="wikitable"
 |-
-!''Armour''!!''Front (Slope angle)''!!''Sides''!!''Rear''!!''Roof''
+! Armour !! Front (Slope angle) !! Sides !! Rear !! Roof
 |-
-|''Hull''||''101.6 mm (42-46°) Front Glacis''
+| Hull || 101.6 mm (42-46°) ''Front Glacis'' <br> 162.5 mm (25-60°) ''Upper front glacis'' <br> 76.2 mm (28-53°) ''Lower Glacis'' || 76.2 mm (0-1°) ''Front'' <br> 50.8 mm (0-3°) ''Rear'' || 50.8 mm (7°) ''Top'' <br> 22.2 mm (71°) ''Bottom'' || 22.2 mm
-''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''
+| Turret || 101.6 mm (1-55°) ''Turret front'' <br> 114.3 mm (1-84°) ''Gun mantlet'' || 76.2 mm (2-54°) || 76.2 mm (0-79°) || 25.4 mm
-''114.3 mm (1-84°) Gun mantlet''
-|''76.2 mm (2-54°)''||''76.2 mm (0-79°)''||''25.4 mm''
 |-
-!''Armour''!!''Sides''!!''Roof''
+| Cupola || 76.2 mm || 76.2 mm || 76.2 mm || 25.4 mm
 |-
-|''Cupola''||''76.2 mm''||''25.4 mm''
+|}
-|-
+'''Notes:'''
-|}'''''Notes:'''''
-*''Suspension wheels and tracks are 20 mm thick.''
+* Suspension wheels and tracks are 20 mm thick.
-*''Belly armour is 25.4 mm thick.''
+* Belly armour is 25.4 mm thick.
 === Mobility ===
+{{Specs-Tank-Mobility}}
 <!-- ''Write about the mobility of the ground vehicle. Estimate the specific power and manoeuvrability, as well as the maximum speed forwards and backwards.'' -->
 {{tankMobility|abMinHp= 775|rbMinHp= 442}}
+=== Modifications and economy ===
+{{Specs-Economy}}
+It's recommended to unlock Parts and FPE first, then the M82 and APCR shots, and after that focus on mobility.
 == Armaments ==
+{{Specs-Tank-Armaments}}
 === Main armament ===
-<!--''Give the reader information about the characteristics of the main gun. Assess its effectiveness in a battle based on the reloading speed, ballistics and the power of shells. Do not forget about the flexibility of the fire, that is how quickly the cannon can be aimed at the target, open fire on it and aim at another enemy. Add a link to the main article on the gun: <code><nowiki>{{main|Name of the weapon}}</nowiki></code>. Describe in general terms the ammunition available for the main gun. Give advice on how to use them and how to fill the ammunition storage.''-->
+{{Specs-Tank-Weapon|1}}
-''Main article'': '''''[[M3A1 (90 mm)]]'''''
+<!-- ''Give the reader information about the characteristics of the main gun. Assess its effectiveness in a battle based on the reloading speed, ballistics and the power of shells. Do not forget about the flexibility of the fire, that is how quickly the cannon can be aimed at the target, open fire on it and aim at another enemy. Add a link to the main article on the gun: <code><nowiki>{{main|Name of the weapon}}</nowiki></code>. Describe in general terms the ammunition available for the main gun. Give advice on how to use them and how to fill the ammunition storage.'' -->
-{| class="wikitable"
+{{main|Cannone da 90/50 M3A1 (90 mm)}}
-! colspan="6" |Cannone da 90/50 [[M3A1 (90 mm)|M3A1]]
-|-
+{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"
-! colspan="3" |Capacity
-!Vertical
-guidance
-!Horizontal
-guidance
-!Stabilizer
-|-
-| colspan="3" |70
-| -10°/+20°
-|±180°
-|No
-|-
-! colspan="6" |Turret rotation speed (°/s)
-|-
-!Mode
-!Stock
-!Upgraded
-!Prior +
-Full crew
-!Prior +
-Expert qualif.
-!Prior +
-Ace qualif.
 |-
-|''Arcade''
+! colspan="5" | [[Cannone da 90/50 M3A1 (90 mm)|90 mm Cannone da 90/50 M3A1]] || colspan="5" | Turret rotation speed (°/s) || colspan="4" | Reloading rate (seconds)
-|14.28
-|19.80
-|24.0
-|26.60
-|28.20
 |-
-|Realistic
+! Mode !! Capacity !! Vertical !! Horizontal !! Stabilizer
-|14.28
+! Stock !! Upgraded !! Full !! Expert !! Aced
-|16.80
+! Stock !! Full !! Expert !! Aced
-|20.40
-|22.60
-|24.00
 |-
-! colspan="4" |Reload rate (seconds)
+! ''Arcade''
-|
+| rowspan="2" | 70 || rowspan="2" | -10°/+20° || rowspan="2" | ±180° || rowspan="2" | N/A || 20.0 || 27.7 || 33.6 || 37.2 || 39.5 || rowspan="2" | 9.75 || rowspan="2" | 8.63 || rowspan="2" | 7.95 || rowspan="2" | 7.50
-|
 |-
-! colspan="1" |Stock
+! ''Realistic''
-! colspan="1" |Prior +
+| 12.5 || 14.7 || 17.9 || 19.7 || 21.0
-Full crew
-! colspan="1" |Prior +
-Expert qualif.
-! colspan="1" |Prior +
-Ace qualif.
-|
-|
 |-
-|9.75
-|8.63
-|7.95
-|7.50
-|
-|
 |}
-===== Ammunition =====
+==== Ammunition ====
-{| class="wikitable sortable"
+{{:Cannone da 90/50 M3A1 (90 mm)/Ammunition|M77 da 90/50, M82 da 90/50, M304 da 90/50, M332 da 90/50, M71 da 90/50, M313 da 90/50}}
-! colspan="8" |Penetration statistics
-|-
+==== [[Ammo racks]] ====
-! rowspan="2" |Ammunition
+<!-- '''Last updated: 2.13.0.44''' -->
-! rowspan="2" |Type of
+{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
-warhead
-! colspan="6" |'''Penetration''' '''''in mm''''' '''@ 90°'''
 |-
-!10m
+! Full<br>ammo
-!100m
+! 1st<br>rack empty
-!500m
+! 2nd<br>rack empty
-!1000m
+! 3rd<br>rack empty
-!1500m
+! 4th<br>rack empty
-!2000m
+! 5th<br>rack empty
+! 6th<br>rack empty
+! 7th<br>rack empty
+! 8th<br>rack empty
+! 9th<br>rack empty
+! Visual<br>discrepancy
 |-
-|M77 da 90/50
+| '''70''' || 64&nbsp;''(+6)'' || 55&nbsp;''(+15)'' || 47&nbsp;''(+23)'' || 39&nbsp;''(+31)'' || 31&nbsp;''(+39)'' || 23&nbsp;''(+47)'' || 16&nbsp;''(+54)'' || 10&nbsp;''(+60)'' || 0&nbsp;''(+70)'' || No
-|AP
-|162
-|160
-|148
-|135
-|123
-|113
 |-
-|M71 da 90/50
-|HE
-|13
-|13
-|13
-|13
-|13
-|13
-|-
-|M82 da 90/50
-|APCBC
-|185
-|182
-|170
-|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
 |}
+[[File:Ammoracks_M26.png|right|thumb|x250px|[[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&nbsp;''(+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 ===
+{{Specs-Tank-Weapon|2}}
+{{Specs-Tank-Weapon|3}}
+<!-- ''Offensive and anti-aircraft machine guns not only allow you to fight some aircraft but also are effective against lightly armoured vehicles. Evaluate machine guns and give recommendations on its use.'' -->
+{{main|M2HB (12.7 mm)|M1919A4 (7.62 mm)}}
-{| class="wikitable sortable"
+{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="50%"
-! colspan="10" |Shell details
-|-
-! rowspan="2" |Ammunition
-! rowspan="2" |Velocity
-in m/s
-! rowspan="2" |Projectile
-Mass in kg
-! rowspan="2" |Fuse delay
-in m
-! rowspan="2" |Fuse sensitivity
-in mm
-! rowspan="2" |Explosive Mass in g
-(TNT equivalent)
-! rowspan="2" |Normalization at 30°
-from horizontal
-! colspan="3" |Ricochet
 |-
-!0%
+! colspan="5" | [[M2HB (12.7 mm)|12.7 mm M2HB]]
-!50%
-!100%
 |-
-|M77 da 90/50
+! Mount !! Capacity (Belt) !! Fire rate !! Vertical !! Horizontal
-|822
-|10.61
-|''n/a''
-|''n/a''
-|''n/a''
-| -1°
-|47°
-|60°
-|65°
 |-
-|M71 da 90/50
+| Pintle || 600 (200) || 577 || -10°/+50° || ±120°
-|823
-|10.55
-|0.0001
-|0.5
-|925
-| +0°
-|79°
-|80°
-|81°
 |-
-|M82 da 90/50
-|853
-|10.94
-|1.2
-|14
-|137.2
-| +4°
-|48°
-|63°
-|71°
-|-
-|M304 da 90/50
-|1021
-|7.62
-|''n/a''
-|''n/a''
-|''n/a''
-| +1.5°
-|66°
-|70°
-|72°
-|-
-|M332 da 90/50
-|1165
-|5.7
-|''n/a''
-|''n/a''
-|''n/a''
-| +1.5
-|66°
-|70°
-|72°
-|}
-{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center"
-! colspan="7" |Smoke characteristic
-|-
-!Ammunition
-!Velocity
-in m/s
-!Projectile
-Mass in kg
-!Screen radius
-in m
-!Screen time
-in s
-!Screen hold time
-in s:
-!Explosive Mass in g (TNT equivalent):
-|-
-|M313||821||11||13||5||20||50
 |}
+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.
-=== Machine guns ===
+{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="50%"
-''Main articles: '''[[Browning M2HB (12.7 mm)]]''', '''[[M1919A4 (7.62 mm)]]'''''
-{| class="wikitable"
-! colspan="7" |[[Browning M2HB (12.7 mm)|12.7 mm M2HB]]
 |-
-! colspan="7" |Pintle mount
+! colspan="5" | [[M1919A4 (7.62 mm)|7.62 mm M1919A4]]
-|-
-! colspan="4" rowspan="1" |Capacity (Belt capacity)
-! rowspan="1" |Fire rate
-(shots/minute)
-! rowspan="1" |Vertical
-guidance
-! rowspan="1" |Horizontal
-guidance
-|-
-| colspan="4" |1,000 (200)
-|577
-| -10°/+50°
-|±120°
-|}
-{| class="wikitable"
-! colspan="7" |[[M1919A4 (7.62 mm)|7.62 mm M1919A4]]
 |-
-! colspan="7" |Coaxial mount
+! Mount !! Capacity (Belt) !! Fire rate !! Vertical !! Horizontal
 |-
-! colspan="4" rowspan="1" |Capacity (Belt capacity)
+| Coaxial || 5,000 (250) || 500 || N/A || N/A
-! rowspan="1" |Fire rate
-(shots/minute)
-! rowspan="1" |Vertical
-guidance
-! rowspan="1" |Horizontal
-guidance
 |-
-| colspan="4" |5,250 (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 better APCR. One of the biggest differences is that you will be facing Allied forces instead of Axis forces.
+<!-- ''Describe the tactics of playing in the vehicle, the features of using vehicles in the team and advice on tactics. Refrain from creating a "guide" - do not impose a single point of view but instead give the reader food for thought. Describe the most dangerous enemies and give recommendations on fighting them. If necessary, note the specifics of the game in different modes (AB, RB, SB).'' -->
+The {{PAGENAME}} 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 {{PAGENAME}}, 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.
-It's as versatile as the original Pershing but with a better gun, maybe not for a support role, but  for sniping or doing flank manoeuvres if you are brave enough
+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.
-If you decide to snipe, use to your favor the good depression of your gun (-10°) and your relative smaller shape (in comparison to the Shermans)
+===Tactics===
+<!--Specific methods of play in different situations, label the methods with pros and cons (if possible) based on vehicle's performances (i.e. Using the M22 Locust and getting close to the target so gun depression cannot reach it.)-->
+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.
-To flank, take advantage of your decent mobility to take out unaware enemies
+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.
-=== Modules ===
+====Arcade Battles====
-{| class="wikitable"
+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.
-!Tier
-! colspan="2" |Mobility
-!Protection
-! colspan="2" |Firepower
-|-
-|''I''
-|Tracks
-|
-|Parts
-|M82 da 90/50
-|Horizontal Drive
-|-
-|''II''
-|Suspension
-|Brake System
-|FPE
-|M304 da 90/50
-|Adjustment of Fire
-|-
-|''III''
-|Filters
-|
-|Crew Replenishment
-|M332 da 90/50
-|Elevation Mechanism
-|-
-|''IV''
-|Transmission
-|Engine
-|
-|Artillery
-|M313 da 90/50
-|}
-'''Notes:'''
-* ''To unlock the M332 shot first you need to recsearch the M304 shot''
+====Realistic/Simulator Battles====
-* ''It's recommendable unlocking Parts and FPE first, then the M82 and APCR shots, and after that focus on mobility.'' ''Like the normal M26''
+In realistic and simulator battles, The {{PAGENAME}} 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 ===
-<!--Summarise and briefly evaluate the vehicle in terms of its characteristics and combat effectiveness. Mark its pros and cons in a bulleted list. Try not to use more than 6 points for each of the characteristics. Avoid using categorical definitions such as "bad", "good" and the like - use substitutions with softer forms such as "inadequate" and "effective".-->
+<!-- ''Summarise and briefly evaluate the vehicle in terms of its characteristics and combat effectiveness. Mark its pros and cons in a bulleted list. Try not to use more than 6 points for each of the characteristics. Avoid using categorical definitions such as "bad", "good" and the like - use substitutions with softer forms such as "inadequate" and "effective".'' -->
 '''Pros:'''
-* Uses the same gun as the M46 Patton = slightly better penetration compared to the original M26 Pershing
+* 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 one-shot enemy tanks
+* M82 shot has great post-penetration damage; can easily knock out enemy tanks with a single shot
-* Decent frontal armour overall
 * Respectable mobility
 * Great reverse speed
@@ Line 387: / Line 181: @@
 == History ==
-''Describe the history of the creation and combat usage of the ground vehicle in more detail than in the introduction. If the historical reference turns out to be too long, take it to a separate article, taking a link to the article about the vehicle and adding a block "/ History" (example: <nowiki>https://wiki.warthunder.com/(Vehicle-name)/History</nowiki>) and add a link to it here using the <code>main</code> template. Be sure to reference text and sources by using <code><nowiki><ref></nowiki></code>, as well as adding them at the end of the article. This section may also include the vehicle's dev blog entry (if applicable) and the in-game encyclopedia description (under <code><nowiki>=== In-game description ===</nowiki></code>, also if applicable).''
+<!-- ''Describe the history of the creation and combat usage of the vehicle in more detail than in the introduction. If the historical reference turns out to be too long, take it to a separate article, taking a link to the article about the vehicle and adding a block "/History" (example: <nowiki>https://wiki.warthunder.com/(Vehicle-name)/History</nowiki>) and add a link to it here using the <code>main</code> template. Be sure to reference text and sources by using <code><nowiki><ref></ref></nowiki></code>, as well as adding them at the end of the article with <code><nowiki><references /></nowiki></code>. This section may also include the vehicle's dev blog entry (if applicable) and the in-game encyclopedia description (under <code><nowiki>=== In-game description ===</nowiki></code>, also if applicable).'' -->
+{{main|M26#History|l1=History of the M26}}
+===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 ==
-''Excellent additions to the article would be video guides, screenshots from the game, and photos.''
+<!-- ''Excellent additions to the article would be video guides, screenshots from the game, and photos.'' -->
+;Skins
+* [https://live.warthunder.com/feed/camouflages/?vehicle=it_m26a1_pershing Skins and camouflages for the {{PAGENAME}} from live.warthunder.com.]
+;Videos
+{{Youtube-gallery|oa26g25qqP4|'''Best medium tanks''' discusses the {{PAGENAME}} at 1:25 - ''War Thunder Official Channel''|M4GYnx1g5VU|'''A Hidden "Italian" Gem - {{PAGENAME}} Pershing''' - ''Virus''}}
 == See also ==
-''Links to the articles on the War Thunder Wiki that you think will be useful for the reader, for example:''
+<!-- ''Links to the articles on the War Thunder Wiki that you think will be useful for the reader, for example:''
+* ''reference to the series of the vehicles;''
+* ''links to approximate analogues of other nations and research trees.'' -->
+;Vehicles equipped with the same chassis
-* ''reference to the series of the vehicles;''
+* [[M26 (Family)]]
-* ''links to approximate analogues of other nations and research trees.''
 == External links ==
-''Paste links to sources and external resources, such as:''
+<!-- ''Paste links to sources and external resources, such as:''
+* ''topic on the official game forum;''
+* ''other literature.'' -->
-* ''topic on the official game forum;''
+* [[wikipedia:M26_Pershing|[Wikipedia] M26 Pershing]]
-* ''encyclopedia page on the tank;''
+* [https://tanks-encyclopedia.com/ww2/US/M26_Pershing.php <nowiki>[Tanks Encyclopedia]</nowiki> Medium/Heavy Tank M26 Pershing]
-* ''other literature.''
+* [https://www.militaryfactory.com/armor/detail.asp?armor_id=64 <nowiki>[Military Factory]</nowiki> M26 Pershing]
+{{TankManufacturer Ordnance Department}}
 {{Italy medium tanks}}