The Tiger Tamer

Historical Background

In 1942, US Army Ordnance began an upgrade program for the M4 Medium Tank. The prototype, known as the T20, shared the same features of the M4 although with a lower silhouette and a more compact design. It was armed with a 76mm gun, has a 3-inch thick frontal armour and used an early version of the HVSS suspension system. The T20 was equipped with a Torqmatic transmission system which proved troublesome and the follow-on T22 prototype reverted to the Sherman's transmission. The T22E1 tested an autoloader system and eliminated the loader's position by reducing the size of the turret. With no apparent need to replace the M4, the Ordnance Department decided to test an electrical transmission system, similar with the one used for the Porsche Tiger (later completed as Ferdinand/Elefant tank destroyers), in the T23 prototype. The Ordnance Department championed the electrical transmission at it has performance advantages in difficult terrain. Additional 250 T23s, armed with a M1A1 76mm gun was built, but since it would need a separate training, maintenance and logistical facilities, it was rejected for combat operations. The larger cast turret, designed to be interchangeable with the M4 turret ring, was however used in 76mm gun-armed M4s as the original turret was too small to accommodate the 76mm gun.

Following the invasion of Normandy, after encounters with improved Panzer IVs and the formidable Panther and Tiger tanks, the M4 was shown to be not up to the job. The T25 prototype was built, with a larger turret able to accommodate  a 90mm gun. The T26 prototypes added a thicker (4-in) armour and overall weight increased to 36 tonnes. Mobility and reliability issues arose because the power train  and the engine were not improved to cope with the added weight. The T25 used VVSS while the T26 used the torsion bar suspension. The T26E1 was the design upon which the production T26E3 version was based on. Production was however slow, with only 10 built at the Fischer Tank Arsenal in the first month of production in November 1944. The figure raised to 30 in December, 70 in January 1945 and 132 in February. In March 1945, Detroit Tank Arsenal joined the effort, with a combined total of around 200 per month, with over 2,000 produced by the end of 1945. The main cause of the delay was resistance by the Army Ground Forces, headed by General Lesley McNair. Historians generally agree that the factors delaying the American heavy tank were:

- The tank destroyer doctrine. Under this doctrine, tanks were primarily for infantry support and exploiting breakthroughs. Enemy tanks were to be engaged by fast, but lightly armoured vehicles armed with powerful anti-tank guns;

- The need for a streamlined and simple logistics. The M4 was the main US combat tank and many other vehicles were based on its chassis, sharing many components. The introduction of a new tank would impose a new set of problems;

- State of complacency. The M4 was seen as superior to German tanks of 1942 and was considered an even match for Panzer IVs armed with the long 75mm gun. The more powerful Panthers and Tigers, with their smaller numbers, were not seen as major threats. Many field commanders, including Patton were satisfied with the M4, especially after it was upgunned.

Eventually, General George C. Marshall, the US Army Chief Of Staff overruled Mc Nair, authorizing the production of the T26E3.

The T26E3 was a radical departure from previous American tank designs. The Wright engine gave it a lower profile than the Sherman. The individually sprung torsion bars gave a smoother ride while the wider tracks lowered the ground pressure and gave better traction on soft terrains. The tank was made up of cast sections with the frontal armour the thickest yet on an American tank up to that time. Crew was five with the assistant driver acting as the bow machinegunner. He was also provided with a complete set of driving controls, should the driver be incapacitated. The main armament was a 90mm M3 tank gun, developed from an anti-aircraft weapon. However the muzzle velocity of the M3 gun and the standard M82 APC-T tungsten-cored shot (2,650fps) was inferior to the comparable German KwK 43 88mm gun. To counter this problem, a limited quantity of 90mm HVAP rounds were sent to Europe. The HVAP rounds have a muzzle velocity of 3,350fps. Combat experience however showed that the basic M3 gun was not powerful enough to tackle the monstrous King Tiger tanks. It was therefore modified into the T15E1 variant with a longer chamber to fit a more powerful ammunition and the barrel was lengthened to 73 calibres. A single vehicle armed with this gun was sent to Europe as the Super Pershing.

The sudden and heavy German attack, spearheaded by Panther and King Tiger tanks during the Battle Of The Bulge settled once and for all whether the T26E3 heavy tanks were needed. Twenty of the T26E3s were shipped to Europe, arriving at Antwerp in January 1945. By VE Day, 310 T26E3s were in Europe but only these first 20 would see combat. To test and evaluate the T26E3s and other new weapons, a technical committee called Zebra Mission was sent to Europe, headed by General Gladeon Barnes, arriving on 9 February 1945. A decision was made to take the T26E3s into action and they were assigned to the First Army and divided between the 3rd and the 9th Armored Division. After a short period of training, the T26E3s faced their first combat on 25 February 1945 during the fight for the Roer River. On the next day a T26E3 nicknamed 'Fireball' from the 3rd AD was knocked out by a Tiger I, but was made operational again by 7 March. On 6 March 1945, a T26E3, also from the 3rd AD duelled with a Panther outside the Cologne Cathedral, resulting in the destruction of the Panther. Four of the 9th AD T26E3s took part in the dash to the Ludendorff Bridge at Remagen, providing fire support to the attacking infantry. They were however unable to cross the damaged bridge because of their weight and had to be ferried across in barges. The Super Pershing was assigned to the 3rd AD, where it was given additional armour to the gun mantlet and hull front. The Super Pershing saw some action in April 1945. In March 1945, the T26E3 was accepted for standardisation and was designated M26. It was nicknamed Pershing after General John J. Pershing. In May 1945, as fighting raged, and M4 losses mounting on Okinawa, plans were made to send the M26 to that island. A shipment of 12 M26 was sent on 31 May 1945 but only arrived at Okinawa on 4 August, long after the island was declared secure. The M26 continued to be used in the Korean War, where it proved to be superior to the T-34/85s of the North Korean army.

While too late for World War 2 and not really suitable for the Korean terrain, the M26 left a lasting legacy by starting a new generation of US tanks, from the M46 to the M60 and were commonly known as 'Pattons' during the Cold War.

The Kit

In 2002, after the release of the 1/16 M26 Pershing, Tamiya came up with the 1/35 version. I personally very much welcomed this kit as the Dragon M26/T26E3 was getting harder to find. Anyway, the kit comprised of parts spread over seven olive drab-coloured sprues, one one-piece hull bottom, 22 poly caps, a few screws and bolts, springs, a pair of T81 vinyl tracks and a decal sheet. While the breakdown of parts are fairly conventional, Tamiya provide articulation for the suspension by having the axles separate and held by poly caps. The front idler and rearmost suspension arm have notches at the end of the axle into which the steel springs are inserted and were then screwed onto the hull. The arrangement allowed the completed model to conform to a diorama surface features. In addition, a nut-and-screw can be placed on at the bottom of the hull in order to secure the model in a diorama. Surface features are nice with cast numbers moulded in. Decals provide markings for four tanks:

1. Yellow B41, B Company, 1st Tank Battalion, US Marines, September 1950, Inchon, Korea.

2. #9 'Alles Kaput/Bugs', A Company, 18th Tank Battalion, 8th Armored Division, 1945 Czechoslovakia.

3. #10, E Company, 67th Armored Regiment, 2nd Armored Division, Germany April 1945.

4. #5 'Fireball', 2nd Platoon, F Company, 33rd Armored Regiment, 3rd Armored Division, February 1945, Elsdorf, Germany.  

Construction

As usual construction started with the suspension. The difference is that Tamiya made them workable. I did not drill the holes in the hull bottom as I'm not a diorama builder anyway. The springs were screwed into place using tweezers as they are tiny. Luckily I have a small Phillips head screwdriver in my home (not for modelling!) tool kit. The suspension parts were then fitted to the model, with the first and the last suspension arms being secured by screws (and poly caps) while the rest of the suspension arms were secured by poly caps. When completed, the suspension system allows the model to follow the terrain it is placed in a diorama (although superfluous in my case, and just about any other standalone Tamiya M26s). All the wheels were assembled but I left them off at this time. The rear panel and its associated parts were then cemented to the lower hull.

The upper hull assembly started at the back with the engine covers and I gradually moved forward, adding fender support, crew hatches, lights, lifting and towing hooks and the hull machinegun. This was followed by the fender-mounted boxes, brush guards and infantry phone box. The latter should not be attached really as it was a postwar addition. Having realised this fact, I carefully cut the box off the rear hull panel and smoothed the contact surface. The side skirts were left off as the wheels and tracks have not yet been mounted onto the model.

The turret is a simple affair, construction-wise. The main turret shell was made up of two parts, split lengthwise. The front of the turret is simple, with just the trunnion (secured via poly caps) and the opening for the gun. No breech was included, not even a basic shape. The gun barrel and muzzle brake are two-piece affairs and need a bit of care when cementing them to avoid visible seams. The turret shell halves however has very visible seam which needs to be eliminated (I didn't do a good job on this). The turret face was cemented first onto the turret shell and was followed by the barrel/mantlet assembly. This was followed by the various turret fittings although the stowage rack and spare track hangers were left off to ease decal application process. The commander's cupola is solid plastic so painting would be needed to simulate the glass of the commander's vision blocks. Although Tamiya provided two crew half-figures, I decided not to use them and glued the turret hatches shut.

Painting and Decaling

From December 1941 to August 1945 (and beyond), you can paint US Army vehicles in any colour, as long as it's Olive Drab. For the Pershing, I used Gunze H53 Olive Drab (1). The tyres were painted XF-63 German Grey and the tracks a mixture of XF-69 NATO Black and XF-64 Red Brown. The commander's vision blocks were painted XF-8 Flat Blue. Once the paints have dried, it was time for the decals. Already narrowing down my choices at the start of the build to 'Fireball' and 'Alles Kaput/Bugs', I eventually chose 'Fireball'. The decals were applied as usual. However I screw up the star on the front plate and a replacement was sought from the spares box. I found a similarly-sized one from the ancient Tamiya M4A3 kit (35122). It was so old that part of the decal broke - I should have applied liquid decal film or at least sprayed clear paint onto it (the latter worked during my build of Tamiya's P-47 Thunderbolt). To compound that, I placed the star slightly off-centre and I didn't dare to move it back to its place. Argghhh!!! After I have applied the turret markings, I placed the spare track hangers and stowage bracket and retouched the contact areas. The model then received the usual black-brown wash.

Finishing

First the tracks given the AK Interactive track wash treatment and once dry were placed on the model. The fit is loose for the upper run but since the Pershing is fitted with sand shields, I left the tracks as they were. The shields were then cemented to the model. Fit was a bit off, I'm not sure why although I'm pretty sure it wasn't Tamiya's mistake. The spare tracks were hanged onto their places on the left side of the turret. For stowage, Tamiya provided 7.62mm and 12.7mm ammo boxes (four for each type), an M1919A4 machinegun tripod and two K-Ration boxes. I only use two of the 12.7mm ammo boxes with the rest went into the spares box. I added bags from Tamiya Allied Vehicle Accessory Set and hanged them on the right-hand side of the turret. Two sleeping bags of unrecalled origin were placed in the stowage rack. at the rear deck I placed a duffel bag, canvas and jerricans (from the same Tamiya set), two ration boxes (also from Tamiya) and the aforementioned ammo boxes. Another ration box was placed on the right rear mudguard. 

The machineguns were painted flat black. Once dry I applied graphite powder on them to get that metal look. The weathering was done using Tamiya Weathering Set 'Mud' and also Mig Productions' Euro Dust pigment was sprinkled on the lower half of the model and the tracks and set with Mig Productions' Pigment Fixer. I decided not to heavily weather the model and just add AK Interactive Earth Effects wash after the pigment has properly set. Finally, a length of copper wire was cut, painted flat black and set in the aerial base with superglue. 

Conclusion

Another winner from Tamiya without doubt. The parts fit nicely while generally having good detail. While most of us would display our models in a display cabinet without diorama setting, the moveable suspension certainly helped those who do dioramas by allowing the model to easily conform to the modeled terrain. While separately moulded axles can do the same job, modelers do not need to position and glued them beforehand. The decals provide markings for vehicles from both World War 2 and Korea, catering for modelers with specific tastes; however Tamiya should have indicated which parts were applicable for the respective eras. Anyway, overall it is a good kit that is recommended to all.