Named after John J. Pershing, General of the Armies and mentor to many of the Generals that led America to victory during the Second World War, the M26 Pershing was the U.S. Army’s first heavy tank to see frontline service during the conflict. Although its service was limited, the Pershing proved to be one of the most important vehicles in U.S. military history for other reasons than its combat performance.

Throughout the vast majority of the Second World War, the M4 Sherman served as the backbone of the United States Army. However, just as the Sherman was entering mass production, there were already plans to design a successor vehicle. Named after the legendary General of the Armies John J. Pershing, the M26 was built to counter the increasing number of Axis heavy tanks that were entering service.

Among the many armored vehicles that saw service during World War II, few have attained the mythic status of the Panzerkampfwagen VI, also known as the Tiger I. This 57-ton beast marks the beginning of the German heavy tank line and is a textbook example of a tank of its class, capable of inflicting and taking heavy damage due to its powerful armament and thick armor protection.