M26 Pershing

The M26 Pershing was a heavy tank introduced by the United States near the end of World War II to counter more heavily armored German tanks. Entering combat in early 1945, it was armed with a powerful 90 mm main gun and several machine guns, and it had a crew of five. Compared to earlier American tanks like the M4 Sherman, the Pershing had thicker armor and greater firepower, allowing it to better engage tanks such as the Panther and Tiger. Although only a limited number saw combat in Europe before the war ended, the M26 proved to be a capable and more modern design. After the war it was reclassified as a medium tank and continued to serve with U.S. forces during the early years of the Korean War.