The Pershing was the first operational heavy tank of the US Army; originally the T26, the tank was eventually re-designated the M26 Pershing medium tank. Named after General John J. Pershing who led the American Expeditionary Force in Europe in World War I, it was briefly used both in World War II and in the Korean War. Intended as an improvement of the M4 Sherman, the prolonged time of development meant only a small number saw combat in the European Theater, most notably the 9th Armored Division's dramatic dash to take the Bridge at Remagen. Due to the Army's rapidly changing needs, the M26 was reclassified as a medium tank in May of 1946. Nevertheless, the Pershing represented a significant upgrade from the M4 Sherman in terms of firepower and protection. However, its mobility was unsatisfactory for a medium tank and its transmission was somewhat unreliable. In 1948, the M26E2 version was developed with a new powerpack. Eventually, this was re-designated the M46 General Patton and over 1,000 M26's were rebuilt to this new standard. The Patton series would replace the M26 by the early 1950s. Created in 1949, this field manual reveals a great deal about the M26's design and capabilities. Intended as a commander's manual for training crew members, it details many methods of attaining efficient teamwork while operating the tank. Drills are described in detail, with the ultimate goal being the successful operation of the M26 on the battlefield. Originally labeled restricted, this manual was declassified long ago and is here reprinted in book form. Care has been taken to preserve the integrity of the text.

This high quality reproduction was taken from the 1943 original and is faithful in all details. It is made to look old and contains over 45 pages of full color print covering everything on the use of the M4 Sherman tank. This includes basic servicing, driving, basic maintenance, crew positioning, controls, hatches, ammunition and more. You will not be disappointed in this piece and is an absolute must for any collector, historian or even general aficionado. Please visit our website: https: //www.history-delivered.com/

Developed as a replacement for the M3 Lee and Grant medium tanks, the M4 Sherman was the first American tank to carry a 75mm main gun mounted on a fully traversing turret. Equipped with a gyro-stabilizer that enabled it to fire with reasonable accuracy while on the move, the Sherman proved a fair match against the Nazi Panzer III and IV and far superior than its Japanese adversaries. While the German Tiger and Panther tanks proved to be superior weapons, the mobility and reliability of the Sherman and the sheer number of them placed in the field -- over 50,000 were built during the war -- helped even the odds. The Sherman remained a mainstay after WWII, and saw service in Korea, during the Arab-Israeli Wars, and in conflicts between India and Pakistan. Intended as a general purpose manual for the platoon leader, tank commander and crew, this FM 17-76 field manual shows how to achieve efficient execution of mounted and dismounted action, and precision and speed in service of the weapon. Originally restricted, this manual was declassified long ago and is here reprinted in book form. Care has been taken to preserve the integrity of the text.