The M25 tank transporter (G160) was a combination
6x6 M26 armored heavy
tank transporter/
tank recovery tractor
A tractor is an engineering vehicle specifically designed to deliver a high tractive effort (or torque) at slow speeds, for the purposes of hauling a Trailer (vehicle), trailer or machinery such as that used in agriculture, mining or constructio ...
and companion 40-ton M15 trailer introduced into
US Army service in Europe in 1944–45. Manufactured by
Pacific Car & Foundry Co., it was a substantial upgrade over the
Diamond T M19 transporter/trailer duo introduced in 1940.
Nicknamed the ''Dragon Wagon'', it was replaced by the 10 ton 6x6
M123 semi-tractor beginning in 1955.
Development
In 1942 a new 40 ton semi-trailer tank transporter was needed with better off-road performance than the M9 24 small-wheel trailer, and greater capacity than the 30 ton 8 large-wheel Shelvoke and Drewry semi-trailers used by the
Diamond T tractor unit. Designed by the
Fruehauf Trailer Company of
Detroit
Detroit ( , ) is the List of municipalities in Michigan, most populous city in the U.S. state of Michigan. It is situated on the bank of the Detroit River across from Windsor, Ontario. It had a population of 639,111 at the 2020 United State ...
, Michigan,
it was heavier than the Diamond T could manage. A companion M26 tractor was designed by the San Francisco-based Knuckey Truck Company. When it could not keep up with the Army's demands, production was awarded to the
Pacific Car & Foundry Co. of Seattle, Washington.
Designated TR-1 by Pacific Car, the
chain-driven 12-ton 6x6 M26 tractor was powered by a
Hall-Scott 440 6-cylinder gasoline engine developing at 2000 rpm and at 1200 rpm. Developed for the M26, it was used to uprate the
Diamond T. Some 2,100 Type 440s were built. Baxter notes "over 1,300" M26 and M26A1 being built.
Unusually, the tractor unit was fitted with both an armored cab and two winches with a combined pull of 60 tons,
allowing it to do light
battlefield recovery work.
A later unarmored version of the M26 tractor was designated the M26A1. An experimental
ballast tractor conversion was evaluated by the British
Fighting Vehicle Proving Establishment
After the war, some of them (both armored and unarmored) were bought as
surplus and used to carry
oversize loads such as
transformer
In electrical engineering, a transformer is a passive component that transfers electrical energy from one electrical circuit to another circuit, or multiple Electrical network, circuits. A varying current in any coil of the transformer produces ...
s,
locomotive
A locomotive is a rail transport, rail vehicle that provides the motive power for a train. Traditionally, locomotives pulled trains from the front. However, Push–pull train, push–pull operation has become common, and in the pursuit for ...
s and heavy equipment.
Gallery
File:M_26,_Pacific_Dragon_Wagon_pic4.JPG, M25 with M26 armored semi-tractor
File:M25_Tank_Transporter.jpg, Display of M25 with M26 armored semi-tractor
File:Pacific_Car_%26_Foundry_Tractor_M26A1_from_Wo-II.jpg, Display of M25 with M26A1 unarmored semi-tractor
File:M26-tractor-1.jpg, M26 semi-tractor (LR view)
File:M26Pacific rearwheels.JPG, M26 semi-tractor showing rear wheel drive by chains
Specifications
* Crew 7
* Armament 1
.50 cal. machine gun
* Armor, front 3/4 inch, sides and rear, 1/4 inch.
* Top speed 26 MPH
* Fuel capacity 120 gallons
Users
* :
Japan Ground Self-Defense Force
* :
British Army
The British Army is the principal Army, land warfare force of the United Kingdom. the British Army comprises 73,847 regular full-time personnel, 4,127 Brigade of Gurkhas, Gurkhas, 25,742 Army Reserve (United Kingdom), volunteer reserve perso ...
* :
United States Army
The United States Army (USA) is the primary Land warfare, land service branch of the United States Department of Defense. It is designated as the Army of the United States in the United States Constitution.Article II, section 2, clause 1 of th ...
* :
Yugoslav People's Army
See also
*
Diamond T tank transporter
*
G160, "G" designation
*
List of U.S. military vehicles by model number#Pre-consecutive trucks
*
Pacific Car & Foundry Co.
*
Scammell Pioneer Semi-trailer
Notes
References
* ''TM 9-1767A''
* ''TM 9-1767B Power Train for Tractor Truck M26''
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
Further reading
*Military Vehicle Journal #8 (Photos of the M26 and M26A1)
External links
Short story of the M26 and pictures of a restored vehicle in 2004Article and photo at milweb.net
* https://web.archive.org/web/20090204121541/http://realmilitaryflix.com/public/378.cfm training film
* http://www.forum-auto.com/automobile-pratique/modelisme-modeles-reduits/sujet7051-5495.htm pictures of M26 used as oversize loads tractors
{{Use dmy dates, date=June 2017
Military trucks of the United States
Tank transporters
Wheeled armoured recovery vehicles
World War II vehicles of the United States
Military vehicles introduced from 1940 to 1944
Fruehauf Trailer Corporation