Modeller Build Logs

Super Pershing: Scratch Conversion

The Super Pershing was one of the most interesting tanks fielded by the US in WW2. It was an up-gunned version of the battlefield newcomer, the T26 Pershing. After the introduction of 90mm-armed T26E3's into the European theater under the "Zebra Mission", an up-gunned Pershing was also sent over in March '45 to see how it would fare under combat conditions. This "Super" Pershing (designated T26E4) was the mating of the pilot model of the T26E1 with the longer caliber T15E1 cannon. This cannon was to be on equal par with the deadly German KwK 43 L/71 88mm tank gun mounted on the likes of the Tiger II and Jagdpanther. I found the best reference material for the Super Pershing to be in R. P. Hunnicutt’s “Pershing, A History of the Medium Tank T20 Series”. There are development pictures of the T26E4 as well as a great series of photos of the SP just at the end of hostilities. A brief description of its deployment is included, as well. For additional background info, you can read Belton Cooper's "Death Traps". It is his excellent memoir of his experiences as a 3AD maintenance officer. He was actually in charge of the armoring up of the T26E4 and there are interesting construction notes. Also, John Irwin's "Another River, Another Town" is a memoir of a 3AD gunner. In the closing weeks of the war, Irwin and his crew actually manned the Super Pershing. He tells of its ease of use and handling. He gets three tank kills while in the SP. Both are very compelling reading. A commonly known photo of the SP exists in the Squadron "Pershing In Action" book. When reading Cooper’s "Death Traps" you see that this was only a preliminary photo. Upon the first trial, it was discovered that the mantlet armor threw the turret traverse and elevation off balance. They had to improvise and the addition of the "batwing" armor solved the problem. Irwin says that the much heavier SP functioned just as easily as his earlier M4A3 76mm. Camouflage and markings are apparent in the Hunnicutt pictures. In Zaloga's "US Tank Battles in Germany" there is a color rendition of the SP. The camouflage pattern looks right but there are some detail inaccuracies in the drawing, however (rear turret bustle missing, incorrect .50 cal MG mount). With all this in hand, I decided to have my go at this unique tank. I had access to the Accurate Armour full resin kit of the Super Pershing. It is a fine kit but I decided to attempt a full scratch conversion with the great Tamiya M26 Pershing. I set out at the onset to replicate the SP as it might have appeared just before the end of hostilities – using the photos from Hunnicutt’s book as my main source of reference. Besides the obvious up-armoring and long gun tube, there are a series of steps required to make an accurate SP. First, the Tamiya M26 needs to be backdated to the T26E1 pilot model. Then the up-gunning and up-armoring can take place.