Hobby Master HG3201 | M26 Pershing B Co. 1st Tnk Batt. US Marines Sept., 1950, Inchon, Korea

The M26 Pershing was developed at the end of WWII as the successor of the M4
Sherman. Weighing in at 46 tons with 127mm of armor, excellent agility and a 90mm M3
gun for its punch, the Pershing was a tank capable of standing up to the Panthers and
Tiger I’s. At the start of the Korean War the M26 was sent to combat the Soviet built T-
34/85s. The M26 became the model for designing the M46, M48 and M60 tanks.

The Tank:
Marine Pershings were delivered in normal Army colors and share the standard olive drab
finish. Delivered in normal Army colors of standard olive drab this M26 carries Marine
Tactical markings in yellow to indicate the company, platoon and individual vehicle. The
TK<2> marking is the temporary divisional insignia with embarkation number painted on it
preceded by TK, for 1st Tank Battalion. The USMC painted over the Army registration
number with the last digits – 118039 showing. White markings chalked on the front skirt
probably are shipping markings. In Korea Marine tanks did not regularly carry the US
Army’s white star insignia but they did at Inchon. The nine 1st Tank Battalion M26s
landed at Green Beach as part of the first wave. The following day 6 columns of T-34s
were sent to repel the attack but half were destroyed by aircraft and half by M26’s.

Crew: 5 (3 in turret – 2 in hull)

Weight: 41.23 tons

Length: 28 ft. 4 in.
Width:  11ft. 6 in.
Height: 9 ft 1 in.

Armament
1 x 90 mm M3 gun
2 X .30 MG (1 co-ax, 1 bow)
1 X  .50 AA

Armor: 12.5 mm – 112.5 mm (on gun shield)

Powerplant: V8 500 hp Ford GAN petrol
Maximum speed: 30 mph
Range: 100 miles