Quote:
Originally Posted by DRG
Did you catch that tidbit test insert about the USMC replacing their M26's in 1951? That's a bit sooner than the 4/53 we have now. I will adjust that date if this can be confirmed but I suspect he is correct as this was a note correcting the info in his discussion but do take note that leaves a gap in the unitclass that needs to be filled..probably by the M4A3E8 Sherman
M26 Pershing ends 4/51, M4A3E8 Sherman starts 5/51 instead of 5/52
Don
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Actually they kept and used their M26's until they departed Korea at which time they turned them over to the US Army, no sense shipping them back to the states.
The M4A3E8's (and some 90mm AT guns) were a loan from the US Army.
At the start of Korea
ALL active duty USMC armor was M4A3 105's (the reserve tank company had M4A3 75's). For anti-armor work they just swapped some HE for more HEAT ammo. When the 1st Provisional Marine Brigade was activated in July 1950 they swapped their company of M4A3's for M26's from the main USMC supply depot in Barstow, California because they realized they needed the anti-armor capability more then infantry support.
They arrived in Pusan 2 Aug and saw action 10 Aug.
USMC tank inventory June 1950.
74 M26 +16 on order.
149 M4A3 (105) +26 in Barstow.
28 M4A3 (75) all in reserves +157 in Barstow.
9 M24 all in Barstow.
The USMC ordered and got some M46's but due to shortages got mostly M47's (1951) which were replace by M48's (1954) as quickly as they became available (last M47 phased out 1959).