American M26“heavy tank rolls across a muddy field, 1945

Description: 

Photograph. Soldiers driving a M26 Pershing heavy tank through mud. Official Caption: "Rome, 6/2/45--New U.S. Heavy Tank--The M-26 'General Pershing'. New U.S. heavy tank, flows through heavy mud. Powered by an eight-cylinder gasoline engine, the 45-ton vehicle has a speed of 25 miles (40 KM) an hour and can negotiate grades up to 60 per cent [sic]. The tank's 90 MM gun, which has a range of over two miles (three km.), is equipped with a 'muzzle brake' which deflects flash and reduces the possibility of enemy detection of the gun's position. Other armament includes two 30- caliber machine guns--one in the front and one in the power-operated turret--and a 50-caliber anti-aircraft gun on top of the turret. The M-26 has tracks almost two feet wide. The thickness and slope of its armor provides maximum protection.--FA photo--Serviced by Rome OWI (A list out). Approved by appropriate military authority. 6517." Location unknown. 2 June 1945

Image Information

Donor: 
Dylan Utley
Accession Number: 
2012.019.446
Date: 
06/02/1945
Location: 
Hometown: 
Branch: 
Theater of Service: 
Unit: 
Campaign / Event: 
POW / KIA: 
Topical Subjects: 
Tanks (Military science)--American
Soldiers--American
Collection Level: 
Items from the service of Isaac "Ike" Bethel Utley, who was born in Smith Mills, Kentucky on 3 March 1920. Ike enlisted in the Army Air Corps on 19 January 1942. He was shipped overseas to the European Theatre and worked with a supply division based out of the city of Naples with an office set up in a residential villa. Utley worked with the Office of War Information and used their photographs in news articles to inform soldiers of the progress of the war. At war's end, Utley returned stateside. A trunk full of over 800 photographs from the O.W.I. arrived on his doorstep from his office in Italy, sender unknown. This collection consists of those photographs.
Thesaurus for Graphic Materials: 
Tanks (Military science)--American
Soldiers--American