T26E4 SuperPershing: the crooked American dream. Heavy tank T26E1 Super Pershing What perks to download on t26e4

Review video guide super tank Pershing World of Tanks

With update 0.7.5, a new premium medium tank the eighth level Super Pershing in World of Tanks. It arouses genuine interest in the community and it is not surprising, because it is not only a curious technique for playing, but also pharmaceutical machines that can fill the owner's pockets with ringing silver coins. And with this, everything is in order with the new one: it receives a lot due to increased profitability, the shells are cheap for it, and it is spent on repairs in moderation, you will almost always remain in the black, even if you lose in a not very successful battle. And if you act correctly, get a lot of damage, and even win, silver will pour into your car deep river. The convenient level of battles also contributes a lot to this, you will see the ninth levels on Super Pershing World of Tanks not too often and not very much.

But enough about premium features. The first thing to understand when buying this tank is that in fact it is not an ST. It is more likely to be compared with than with noisy CTs. Its dynamics are, well, very dreary, judge for yourself: the heaviest of the medium tanks of the eighth level is also the owner of the crappiest engine. Super Pershing drives slowly, sadly accelerates, and as soon as we press the gas button, he instantly forgets that he was driving somewhere and starts playing bunker with a cannon. As a legacy from classmates, Super Pershing inherited only a gun, his gun is similar to the one that is in service with Pershing ordinary. Average damage 220, armor penetration 170 units. The figures are not too impressive, but since we hit the net as often as Kirzhakov, they are more than enough. The accuracy and speed of information, of course, is not ideal, but it is enough to target the enemy's pain points. And we break through every little thing of the seventh level and below without any problems at all. However, the most significant advantage of this tank, both in terms of value and mass, is the frontal armor. 114 mm steel on the lower armor plate, 140 on the upper one, plus 38 mm screens both there and there. On the mask of the gun 114 mm steel and 88 - the screen. Characteristics of Super Pershing, He has so much Armor that he can donate it to beggars and throw himself at passers-by. Taking into account a good slope, even with a properly screwed body, it can be left in the cold. On the other hand, only those who have run out of shells and have more than enough vulnerable spots on their foreheads do not pierce us with karma. The ability to pump the crew on and smooth movement can also be added to the treasury of advantages; on the move, this tank shoots with very decent accuracy. The combination of a medium-powered cannon and very, very strong armor makes it possible to use two completely different tactics in style and skill requirements.

Guide Super Pershing farm and profitability

Tactician 1: Super Pershing WOT - support tank. We still ride slowly and tragically, so why should we climb forward, move in the second rows, hide from artillery and do not climb forward. Standing at a medium distance or behind the broad backs of our comrades, we methodically make our not very large, but very valuable contribution to the damage box. Well, or we simply harm the enemies, for example, by knocking down caterpillars. The tactic is quite safe, because to a certain extent it insures you against getting into karma and board, and targeting vulnerable points on the forehead outside of melee is very not an easy task. The result is a kind of harmful, annoying turret: they don’t let you get into close combat, it hurts, but at an average distance, hit, try. Recommended for those who have not yet had time to roll a thousand - another fights and feel on high levels not too confident. For this tactic, we recommend the following set of equipment: a rammer, to increase dpm, coated optics, in order to better notice enemies at a distance, and reinforced aiming drives. We load the equipment in the classical way: a repair kit and a first aid kit, and in the last slot a fire extinguisher, preferably an automatic one. If you believe in the incombustibility of your engine and want better dynamics, then fill the tank with hundred-octane gasoline, but at your own peril and risk, a fire extinguisher is generally still preferable.

Overview of video guide Super Pershing t26e4 World of Tanks

Tactic 2: Super Pershing t26e4 - . And why not, and that what is written in the middle, we, in the end, know better. You remember that our main opponents, most often, will be tanks of level 7-8, and they need nothing to break through our super-strong, super-pershed forehead, they still won’t break through. Therefore, we play the classic heavyweight - we do not stand behind, we climb into close combat, attack with the forehead, cover our skinny, lightly armored comrades. Again, our picking stick breaks through from a short distance somewhat more cheerfully, and to target weak points enemy tanks close, it's easier. The main thing in this tactic is to remember that the sides and karma of the tank are paper, which means we don’t need to fly to the front line. It is necessary to move, though in the first line, but slowly and measuredly. The function will not allow us to quickly roll out and resolutely retreat - the power fled, and the enemy behind the karma - sure sign soon transition to observers. However, even with the forehead, not everything is so simple, vulnerabilities it also has, there are a lot of them, therefore, without competent dances, turning and attentiveness, you will never pave the way to a brighter future with your armored facade. For clarity, a few tips on behavior in close combat. First: rotate the body so that the machine gun on the front end is harder to aim, for example, like this or like this.

Video guide super pershing World of Tanks

Second: turn the turret to the right, it is more difficult to aim the turret with pipes on the roof, besides, many people aim not at the ledge itself, but at the pipes, which, when fired from the side, gives an excellent chance to send a blank into milk. Third: turn the tower carefully, follow the movement of the enemy's barrel and show him only the mask. Remember, the enemy will not miss the opportunity to whip you on your tender cheeks if you substitute them for him. With the proper use of your hands, playing as a heavy tank, you will be more useful to both the team and yourself. But a little more personal skill is required in this option. For this tactic, such a set is suitable additional modules: rammer - damage per minute is relevant to us always and everywhere, enlightened optics, we are driving in the forefront, which means we need to be vigilant and a fan that increases the efficiency of the tank as a whole. However, if for some reasons, religious or ideological, the fan does not suit you, feel free to use drives or a stabilizer. As for the equipment, the recommendations remain the same: a first aid kit, a repair kit and an automatic fire extinguisher. As for the skills of the crew, first of all we download repairs, and the commander - a light bulb. Then we strongly recommend that everyone download the combat brotherhood, it looks too good together with the fan. Of the other skills, a virtuoso will be useful - in close combat we need to turn our foreheads towards the enemy, which means that the speed of the tank's turn will not be superfluous at all.

T26E4 Super Pershing is a tier 8 US premium medium tank. An old-timer of World of Tanks with a preferential level of battles, which is now experiencing its rebirth. Like all tanks, it has its advantages and disadvantages, but one thing is for sure - it really deserves attention. Of course, every player who wants to buy it is interested in the issue of farming silver and the quality of the gameplay, is it possible to “bend over” on it? To this and other questions about the life of the T26E4 after the upgrade in patch 1.2, find out the answers below.

After several years of waiting, the developers condescended to the requests of many players and "upgraded" Super Pershing. Now the tank has sparkled with new colors, it has really changed. In order not to be unfounded, let's get acquainted with the characteristics of the tank.

gun

The main changes affected firepower tank. Armor penetration by an armor-piercing projectile has been increased from 192 to 202, which allows you to feel more comfortable in battles and more often penetrate enemy armor. Also, the reload time was reduced from 8.2 to 8 seconds, the dispersion of the gun during movement and turret rotation was slightly reduced.

Where to pierce T26E4 SuperPershing

Like many tanks, the first weak points are the horse-sized hatches on the turret, the stern and the machine-gun point on the VLD. Super Pershing also has personal weaknesses:

• cheeks of the tower, which are not covered by additional armor;
• joint between hull and turret;
• front roller;

But after patch 1.2, the T26E4 received an armor buff just to address its weak points. Let's see what happened:

Improved armor slightly leveled its weaknesses, which allows the tank to play more confidently, being at the top of the list.

Advantages and disadvantages

The T26E4 Super Pershing is an American medium/heavy tank hybrid, with both its advantages and disadvantages.

Advantages:

1. Preferential level of battles, the tank does not get to the 10th level.
2. Armor penetration allows you to pierce the enemy's same-level vehicles with armor-piercing shells, and if necessary, by loading sub-caliber shells, you can give a worthy rebuff to level 9 tanks.
3. The low cost of AP shells and 240 damage per shot allow this tank to farm, which is very important for a premium vehicle.
4. Frontal booking. Due to the specifics of the reduced armor, standing in a rhombus T26E4 can tank hits from guns with armor penetration up to 200 mm. The main armor of the hull, taking into account the slopes, is 152 mm in the VLD and 140 mm in the NLD.
5. Excellent gun elevation angles allow you to play from the terrain.
6. High durability points of 1500 units.
7. Gives a bonus to the leveling of the crew.

Flaws:

1. At long distances, the mediocre accuracy of the gun is felt.
2. Weak gun stabilization.
3. For good frontal armor, the tank paid with poor dynamics, low speed and poor ground penetration.
4. The lack of maneuverability and impressive dimensions make the tank a tasty morsel for artillery.
5. The sides and feed make their way without difficulty.

Equipment for T26E4 SuperPershing

The equipment helps to increase the strengths of the tank or helps to reduce its weaknesses. Consider the optimal set of additional modules to increase combat effectiveness:

• vertical stabilizer"must have" module to improve gun stabilization;
• rammer, because the rate of fire of the T26E4 is mediocre, so you need to increase the average damage per minute;
• coated optics will help to achieve maximum visibility;
• ventilation is an alternative option instead of installing optics. In the presence of a pumped crew with a learned skill, Combat Brotherhood will increase in general combat power tank.

Crew training

The T26E4 Super Pershing is ideal for upgrading the crew of the US medium tank branch. The crew consists of 5 tankers, each performs only his own role (there are no mixed specialties). Taking into account TTX of the tank recommended for study are the following perks:

Given the large dimensions and poor dynamics of the tank, repairs are necessary. The second perk will help to improve the stabilization of the gun in motion, increase visibility and reduce the chance of a critical ammo rack. Combat Brotherhood will give a 5% bonus to all crew members, which, together with the ventilation module, will improve the tank's efficiency on the battlefield. The fourth perk can slightly increase visibility and patency on the ground, or for fans of a safer game, leveling up disguise will be an alternative option.

Equipment

A repair kit and a first aid kit are indispensable companions on every tank. The question remains open for choosing equipment in the third slot.

The Super Pershing has vulnerable sides and stern, a few hits to the tanks are enough to set it on fire and therefore a fire extinguisher is needed.

If you do not expose the sides and stern to the enemy, but play carefully, then you can put gasoline or Coca-Cola.

How to play T26E4 SuperPershing

First of all, the player goes into battle on this vehicle to earn silver. It is from this position that we will analyze the tactics of the game on T26E4. The best option would be the role of fire support on the second line. At medium range, the accuracy of the gun allows it to target weak areas of the enemy and deal damage, but it can be difficult with heavily armored tanks. Then the player is faced with a choice: load an expensive sub-caliber projectile and try to penetrate the enemy, or change the target so as not to lose silver after the battle.

UHV and a fairly strong tower make it possible to play using the terrain. good review help keep the enemy team in sight. During reloading, do not stand still, on the move it will be more difficult for the enemy to aim and hit the vulnerable hatches on the tower.

Despite the impressive frontal armor, you should not rush to go forward unnecessarily. You need to take into account the fact that the enemy can also charge gold shells and nullify all the millimeters of your armor.

In battle, the poor dynamics of the tank are felt. Low speed caused not only by the weight of the T26E4 due to increased armor, but by a weak engine (which is why some players prefer gasoline in equipment). It is necessary to follow the map, because the mobility of the tank will not allow, if necessary, to quickly return to the defense of the base. Also, do not forget about artillery, Super Pershing is always a tasty morsel for it, so it’s better not to expose yourself in open areas once again.

Brief summary

Having thoroughly studied the technique, using it strengths and given the weak, you can achieve good results in battle. Over time, you get used to the leisurely style of playing on this tank. In the hands of an experienced player, the T26E4 Super Pershing is a good farming and damage machine.
The tank is completely self-sufficient: it can illuminate itself, sometimes tank something, and by loading sub-caliber shells it can dismantle any opponent.

Should I buy the T26E4 SuperPershing in 2019?

After the improvement of the preferential vehicles in patch 1.2, the popularity returned to the tank and it can be found more and more often in random. The T26E4 Super Pershing is a representative of an endangered class, because for a long time developers have not added vehicles with a preferential level of combat to the game, but, on the contrary, they have removed them from free access. Also important feature is its presence in the in-game store of the game client and the lowest cost among all premium tanks of level 8 - 7200 gold. T26E4 Super Pershing is definitely worth the money, it guarantees the owner a comfortable game and earning silver.

Video reviews of T26E4 SuperPershing

This article is an author's review of the American premium medium tank. Tier VIII T26E4 Super Pershing. Normally, the price of this tank is 7200 , but as part of the May promotion, all players have a chance to get it for free. And if you opened this article, then you are probably wondering: “Is the game worth the candle?”, That is, is it worth spending time and effort on completing this combat mission. To make the right decision, we must carefully and objectively study the tank itself.

background

After its appearance in update 7.5, SuperPershing (hereinafter referred to as SP) quickly conquered the niche of the “budget farm horse”. Its low price by the standards of Tier VIII premium vehicles, ease of use, and excellent silver earning rates have made it very popular. However, in update 8.8, the car was redesigned in order to bring it to historical correspondence. The main change was the change in the angles of inclination of the frontal armor of the hull, which affected the security of the tank. To compensate, the dynamics and some other characteristics have been slightly improved. At the same time, the developers made an unprecedented offer: the owners of the SP, who were not satisfied with these changes, received the right to sell the tank for the full price in gold without any losses. Many players then went for it and sold the American. These events had a bad effect on the reputation of the tank and since then it has gone into the shadows, and the SU-122-44 and E-25 tank destroyers have taken the place of the "budget premium". Deservedly or not, let's try to figure it out further.

General description of the tank

According to its characteristics, the SuperPershing is a light-heavy-medium tank:

• Armor very specific. The forehead of the hull and turret is protected by additional armor plates that can withstand hits from cannons with a penetration of up to 200 mm. And this is a very significant part of the opponents on the level. The sides of the tank and areas not protected by additional armor (for example, the area above the mask) break through much easier. Therefore, in no case should you let the enemy target your weak spots. You should keep it at a long and medium distance, do not allow yourself to be surrounded, use shelters, move the tower and hull during reloading.
• gun Excellent penetration with sub-caliber ammunition (258) with a good rate of fire (7.32) and average accuracy (0.38) make this tank a real monster when playing "on gold". Elevation angles are comfortable, but keeping the turret under enemy fire all the time is not recommended, since this is where most of the vulnerable zones are located.
• Mobility unimportant, at the level of a heavy tank. On hard ground, the tank moves well - it keeps 30 km / h, but quickly loses speed on impassable roads. Nevertheless, the SP cannot be called completely slow-moving. On it, it will not be possible to be the first to take the mountain at Rudniki or the “trousers” in Karelia, but he is quite capable of bypassing the enemy tied up in battle or spinning some kind of ISU.
• Review- 390 meters, very good indicator at the level. When installing a stereo tube or optics, you can earn extra money with passive light against opponents of the 9th level. This is also possible thanks to good disguise tank.
• Margin of safety very impressive. This indicator is equal to or close to the class of heavy tanks.
• Preferential level of battles means you won't be hit by level 10 tanks. This is a very big plus. Another thing is that even with 9 levels sometimes it is not easy. For vehicles like the E-75, Jagdtiger, Object 704 and some others, SuperPershing is an easy frag. Although, according to the experience of playing on 704, I can say that BL-10 shells tend to get stuck in SP armor at the most inopportune moment.

Not obvious but true

• Per recent months There have been a lot of changes in the game. First, the mechanics of HEAT and APCR shells have been reworked, theoretically increasing the effectiveness of the SuperPershing armor. Secondly, the mechanics of fire dispersion has changed - on the one hand, it has become easier for us to target weak spots of enemies with our cannon with weak penetration, on the other hand, experienced enemies will be easier to hit our pain points. Thirdly, the number of self-propelled guns has noticeably decreased, especially in tier 8 battles. Under such conditions, it became easier to play on SP.
• The tank is flammable. Swapping out your fire extinguisher for gasoline or cola is tempting but risky.
• Armor-piercing shells are very cheap. SP farms well even with moderate shooting "gold".
• The optimal crew composition of 5 people creates ideal conditions for using the tank as a simulator for US ST tankers.

Equipment

Standard equipment for a medium tank is recommended. Bundle Rammer+Stabilizer is unchanged, while the third slot is left to the player's choice. Those who believe in favor improved ventilation and Fighting Brotherhood(BB) put them on. Those who play from the review choose coated optics. Personally, I usually use optics, and only after the crew has fully studied the third skill, I retrain them on AP, and replace the optics with a valve.

• The direction of travel should be chosen wisely. You shouldn't take long roundabout routes, as you will fall behind the group, but you shouldn't get stuck on short routes either - butting head-on with heavy tanks is not the best idea, especially if they have a high alpha and armor penetration of guns. On the ST directions, on the contrary, you will have an advantage in terms of armor and safety margin, and the lack of armor penetration will be barely noticeable. The main thing is that it was not far to go, as an example, a village in Ruinberg.
• You should never rely on the fact that you will not be punched. This lesson is important to learn regardless of the tank you play. Whatever the armor and whatever the gun, there is always a chance that you will get into the hatch "from the turntable" or fall out maximum value breakdown. This does not mean that you need to hide in the bushes or behind the backs of the allies, you just should not rush and go to the enemy, who has already converged and is waiting for you. Of course, situations are different, but in most cases such a risk is not justified.
• Playing in a platoon will greatly increase your efficiency. For example, you can push directions in a team with IS-6 and / or KV-5, or vice versa "tank" for allies on FCM 50t and T-34-3.
• Watch where the enemy is aiming and prevent him from targeting your vulnerable zones: “body dance” and move the tower. In such conditions, inexperienced players get lost and shoot anywhere.
• Do not use the diamond against experienced opponents. Already somewhere at 30% of the turn, the SP begins to break into the sides.
• Use sub-caliber ammunition wisely. Sometimes they help drag the fight even in a hopeless situation. At the same time, they are not a panacea - in any case, try to shoot at weak spots.

conclusions

T26E4 SuperPershing is a specific vehicle. It is no longer as easy and comfortable to learn as it used to be. Multiple flaws make the game difficult, but they are not critical and can be offset by the correct tactics of use and the use of sub-caliber shells. It is known that many players “raise the stat” on SP, though at the same time loading at least half of the “gold” BC. There is already something closer.

Personally, I think the SuperPershing is a standalone machine, both in performance and design. If you collect unusual tanks, then you will probably want to get it. The same applies to fans of the US branch, which has very few high-end premium cars. For the same players who consider SP as the first and main tank for farming, I would not recommend it. On the other hand, if it is possible to get a Tier VIII premium tank absolutely free, then why not. Moreover, getting SP now is much easier than IS-6 for the New Year's promotion.

P.S. If you already have SuperPershing in your hangar, then when you complete a combat mission, you will receive full compensation in the amount of 7200 .

Review video guide tank Super Pershing World of Tanks

With update 0.7.5, a new Tier 8 premium medium tank Super Pershing has been added to World of Tanks. It arouses genuine interest in the community and it is not surprising, because it is not only a curious technique for playing, but also pharmaceutical machines that can fill the owner's pockets with ringing silver coins. And with this, everything is in order with the new one: it receives a lot due to increased profitability, the shells are cheap for it, and it is spent on repairs in moderation, you will almost always remain in the black, even if you lose in a not very successful battle. And if you act correctly, get a lot of damage, and even win, silver will pour into your car like a full-flowing river. The convenient level of battles also contributes a lot to this, you will see the ninth levels on Super Pershing World of Tanks not too often and not very much.

But enough about premium features. The first thing to understand when buying this tank is that in fact it is not an ST. It is more likely to be compared with than with noisy CTs. Its dynamics are, well, very dreary, judge for yourself: the heaviest of the medium tanks of the eighth level is also the owner of the crappiest engine. Super Pershing drives slowly, sadly accelerates, and as soon as we press the gas button, he instantly forgets that he was driving somewhere and starts playing bunker with a cannon. As a legacy from classmates, Super Pershing inherited only a gun, his gun is similar to the one that is in service with Pershing ordinary. Average damage 220, armor penetration 170 units. The figures are not too impressive, but since we hit the net as often as Kirzhakov, they are more than enough. The accuracy and speed of information, of course, is not ideal, but it is enough to target the enemy's pain points. And we break through every little thing of the seventh level and below without any problems at all. However, the most significant advantage of this tank, both in terms of value and mass, is the frontal armor. 114 mm steel on the lower armor plate, 140 on the upper one, plus 38 mm screens both there and there. On the mask of the gun 114 mm steel and 88 - the screen. Characteristics of Super Pershing, He has so much Armor that he can donate it to beggars and throw himself at passers-by. Taking into account a good slope, even with a properly screwed body, it can be left in the cold. On the other hand, only those who have run out of shells and have more than enough vulnerable spots on their foreheads do not pierce us with karma. The ability to pump the crew on and smooth movement can also be added to the treasury of advantages; on the move, this tank shoots with very decent accuracy. The combination of a medium-powered cannon and very, very strong armor makes it possible to use two completely different tactics in style and skill requirements.

Guide Super Pershing farm and profitability

Tactician 1: Super Pershing WOT - support tank. We still ride slowly and tragically, so why should we climb forward, move in the second rows, hide from artillery and do not climb forward. Standing at a medium distance or behind the broad backs of our comrades, we methodically make our not very large, but very valuable contribution to the damage box. Well, or we simply harm the enemies, for example, by knocking down caterpillars. The tactic is quite safe, because to a certain extent it insures you from getting into karma and board, and targeting vulnerable points on the forehead outside of melee is a very difficult task. The result is a kind of harmful, annoying turret: they don’t let you get into close combat, it hurts, but at an average distance, hit, try. Recommended for those who have not yet had time to roll a thousand - another fights and feel not too confident at high levels. For this tactic, we recommend the following set of equipment: a rammer, to increase dpm, coated optics, in order to better notice enemies at a distance, and reinforced aiming drives. We load the equipment in the classical way: a repair kit and a first aid kit, and in the last slot a fire extinguisher, preferably an automatic one. If you believe in the incombustibility of your engine and want better dynamics, then fill the tank with hundred-octane gasoline, but at your own peril and risk, a fire extinguisher is generally still preferable.

Overview of video guide Super Pershing t26e4 World of Tanks

Tactic 2: Super Pershing t26e4 - . And why not, and that what is written in the middle, we, in the end, know better. You remember that our main opponents, most often, will be tanks of level 7-8, and they need nothing to break through our super-strong, super-pershed forehead, they still won’t break through. Therefore, we play the classic heavyweight - we do not stand behind, we climb into close combat, attack with the forehead, cover our skinny, lightly armored comrades. Again, our picking stick pierces from a short distance somewhat more cheerfully, and it’s easier to target the weak points of enemy tanks nearby. The main thing in this tactic is to remember that the sides and karma of the tank are paper, which means we don’t need to fly to the front line. It is necessary to move, though in the first line, but slowly and measuredly. A function will not allow us to quickly roll out and decisively retreat - the power has fled, and the enemy behind karma is a sure sign of an imminent transition to observers. However, even with the forehead, not everything is so simple, there are also vulnerabilities on it, there are a lot of them, therefore, without competent dances, turning and attentiveness, you will never pave the way to a brighter future with your armored facade. For clarity, a few tips on behavior in close combat. First: rotate the body so that the machine gun on the front end is harder to aim, for example, like this or like this.

Video guide super pershing World of Tanks

Second: turn the turret to the right, it is more difficult to aim the turret with pipes on the roof, besides, many people aim not at the ledge itself, but at the pipes, which, when fired from the side, gives an excellent chance to send a blank into milk. Third: turn the tower carefully, follow the movement of the enemy's barrel and show him only the mask. Remember, the enemy will not miss the opportunity to whip you on your tender cheeks if you substitute them for him. With the proper use of your hands, playing as a heavy tank, you will be more useful to both the team and yourself. But a little more personal skill is required in this option. For this tactic, the following set of additional modules is suitable: a rammer - damage per minute is relevant to us always and everywhere, coated optics, but we are driving in the forefront, which means we need to be vigilant and a fan that increases the efficiency of the tank as a whole. However, if for some reasons, religious or ideological, the fan does not suit you, feel free to use drives or a stabilizer. As for the equipment, the recommendations remain the same: a first aid kit, a repair kit and an automatic fire extinguisher. As for the skills of the crew, first of all we download repairs, and the commander - a light bulb. Then we strongly recommend that everyone download the combat brotherhood, it looks too good together with the fan. Of the other skills, a virtuoso will be useful - in close combat we need to turn our foreheads towards the enemy, which means that the speed of the tank's turn will not be superfluous at all.

Army weapons engineers were interested in sending new tank into battle, in the hope that he will make war with the King Tiger. Having already lost several new M26s from the German anti-tank guns with high initial speed projectile, we knew that his armor was still inferior to that of the Tiger. My job was to design and install additional armor on the new tank.

A well-equipped German repair shop had several large pieces of boiler sheets one and a half inches thick. We decided to use a laminating scheme for the glacis. From the boiler plate, we cut two pieces and put them together in a V shape to fit on the V-shape formed by the glacis and bottom front plate. The upper front hull plate had a slope of 38 degrees from the horizontal, which gave 52 degrees from the vertical and was considered a sufficient angle to cause a ricochet. This gave zero clearance at the top and about 3 inches below the seam where the bottom sheet was attached.

In the same way, we cut the second boiler sheet and positioned it at a 39 degree angle above the first sheet. Where it joined the bottom sheet, there was a 7 to 8 inch gap underneath. We ended up with 4 inches of cast armor on the glacis and two boiler plates one and a half inches thick with space between them. We decided that although the boiler sheet was softer, the lamination and reduced angle of the armor would help German shells ricochet. The new armor added about 5 tons of weight to the front of the tank. With a ruler, we measured how far the torsion bar suspension would sag in front.

Then we cut a section from the front plate of a knocked out German Panther and cut it to size - three and a half inches thick*, 5 feet long and two feet wide. A large hole was cut in the middle for the gun barrel and two small holes on the sides for a coaxial machine gun and a telescopic sight. We put this plate on the barrel, moving it up to the mask itself, and welded it hard around the entire circumference. This plate, weighing fourteen hundred pounds, shifted the center of gravity 14 inches forward from the center of the trunnions, making the gun barrel significantly heavier towards the front of it.

The Super M26 Pershing already had balancer springs on top, attached to the turret and native mantlet, which, as we assumed, compensated for the large length of the gun barrel. However, the weight we added exceeded the force of the balancer springs, and the barrel of the gun in front heeled down. The mechanical gearbox inside the turret, which was used to raise and lower the barrel, turned out to be insufficient for such a weight.

To compensate for this, we took two pieces of a one and a half inch boiler plate and cut out some ridiculous looking counterweights about three and a half feet long - at one end they were about two feet wide for the first 18 inches and then expanded to about two feet for the next 24 inches. We welded the narrow edges on the sides of the mask, made of Panther armor, so that they went back horizontally and widened, protruding slightly beyond the turret. Thus, the heavy part was behind the trunnions, forming a counterweight effect. These counterweights helped, although it was still difficult for the gunner to point the muzzle up using the mechanical vertical drive.
It was clear that more weight had to be added to these counterweights, but the question was how and where. From my limited knowledge of theoretical mechanics, I knew that this would require a lot of calculations, information and time that we did not have. [...]

We decided to apply empirical method. They took several one and a half inch plates, one foot wide and two long, and fastened them with clamps at the back of the large counterweights. By shifting this weight back and forth, through trial and error, we finally found a balance point where the implement could easily be raised and lowered by hand. Then we welded the plates into place.

With the gun turned forward, the tank looked like an angry elephant rushing ahead. The long trunk stuck out like a trunk; large, characteristically shaped counterweights looked like ears; and the holes in the mask for the telescopic sight and the machine gun looked like eyes. We hoped that he would make the same impression on the Germans.

The turret had already been modified at the rear with large counterweights to compensate for the long gun. For the same purpose, we added more weight. However, when the tank was on a slope, it was difficult to turn the gun even with the help of a power drive. Such a problem was noticed even on the German Panther. If it was on a steep slope, and the gun was turned down, then it took a long time for the German gunner to turn the turret straight with the help of a manual turning mechanism.

Now we have added 7 tons to the tank. The ground clearance was checked again and found that the road wheels sank another two inches. This resulted in the back of the tank sticking up like an excited wild drake. Despite its ridiculous appearance and the fact that we probably slowed down by almost 5 miles per hour, the tank with its 550-horsepower engine still had enough power.

We then tested driving performance and drove off to the edge of the hollow for trial shooting. After looking around for a suitable target, they finally found a padded German assault gun Jagdpanzer IV, which was destroyed by a single hit on the side and did not burn. We hooked him up to one of our tow hooks and dragged him to the other side of the hollow, to the very bottom, about 50 feet below the crest. Jagdpanzer was put on our forehead. The distance to the target is about a mile and a half.

The ammunition for the 90mm T15E1 gun was the standard 90mm round, only the case was longer to accommodate more powder charge. First, we used two people to load the projectile into the barrel. However, with a little practice, one person could do this, although with some difficulty. For experimental tank having certain problems was normal.

Major Dick Johnson sent for a crew for this tank to the 33rd Tank Regiment. We familiarized them with the instructions, while teaching ourselves. The sergeant in charge artillery armament and shooting, previously made a reconciliation of the guns, and we were ready to shoot. I made sure that everyone stood behind the sides and behind the tank so that the flash from the shot did not hit anyone.

Everyone who stood behind the M4 Sherman could see how the projectile flew out and, describing a small arc, rushed to the target. This new gun, with a high muzzle velocity, was completely different from what we are used to. At the first shot, they barely made out the projectile. It seemed that he went up slightly, although in fact he hit the target. It was optical illusion but the effect was amazing. When it hit the target, the sparks flew up to 60 feet into the air, as if a giant grinding wheel had struck metal.

Looking at the target, I was dumbfounded. The 90mm shell penetrated four inches of armor, went through the five-inch differential shaft, the fighting compartment, the rear wall of the fighting compartment, penetrated the four-and-a-half-inch Maybach crankshaft, an inch of aft armor, and dug into the ground so deep that they could not find it. Although our gunsmiths from Aberdeen told us that a tank gun could penetrate thirteen inches of armor from a hundred yards, it was still hard to believe in such monstrous power. We all realized that we now have a weapon capable of tearing apart even the most powerful German Mark VI Tiger.

We instructed the new crew on how to handle the gun and gave each one a shot. We explained that the new ammo is longer and harder to load, and the extra armor makes it difficult to shift gears, but with a little getting used to, they can handle everything. Although the tank had additional armor, they should not be foolishly substituted. The task was to enter the battle under the most favorable conditions and see what the tank could do against the German armour.

The crew was so happy to receive this tank that people were ready to endure any inconvenience. I'm sure they felt that a tank, probably the most powerful of the American, German or Soviet ones, increased their chances of survival.

I told Major Johnson that his crew should become well acquainted with the tank, in particular with the final drive, tracks and engine, since the additional seven tons could cause some maintenance difficulties. Despite this, I felt that the tank would do its job.

* To be precise, the front plate of the Panther was not 3.5 inches (88.9 cm), but 3.1496063 inches (80mm). Belton Cooper rounded the figure using American system measurements, which gave an error.