M26 tanks include M26A 1, M26E 1 and M26E2. Among them, A 1 and E 1 have some improvements on the barrel, and the biggest change is E2. In order to make up for the lack of dynamic performance of M26 tank, the US military has made a plan to improve the maneuverability of M26 tank since 1948, which is also the origin of M26E2 tank. M26E2 has been replaced with AV- 1790- 1 V 12 cylinder air-cooled gasoline engine (maximum power reaches 8 10 horsepower) and CD 850-3 gearbox produced by Detroit Company. Senior tank fans know that A stands for air cooling (air cooling), V stands for V-shaped cylinder arrangement, and 1790 stands for cylinder displacement 1790 cubic inch. It is AV- 1790 and CD850 that laid the foundation for the power plant and transmission of American tanks after World War II.
1948 In the spring, the Detroit factory began to trial-produce the modified car, which was completed in May. 10 trial-produced the tank as a T40 tank. After being tested and further improved at Aberdeen proving ground, 1948 was formally finalized as M46 medium tank in July. From this point of view, it is quite appropriate to say that M46 tank is an improved version of M26 tank. Appearance, except for the shape of the upper part of the power cabin, other differences are very small. In this way, 800 newly produced M46 tanks, plus 12 15 modified from M26, make the total output of M46 tanks reach more than 2,000. For a period of time, it became the main force of North Korean American tanks.