Comparing: M26 Pershing vs. Panther II vs. Type 59

American medium tank, named in honor of General John Pershing, who led the American Expeditionary Force during World War I. In 1944–1946 in the U.S. Army, the M26 was temporarily classified as heavy tank. Starting in February 1945 these vehicles took part in World War II; in 1950–1951 the vehicle saw combat in the Korean War.

The vehicle was conceived in 1943. Two prototypes with the existing Panther I turrets were ordered in 1944. By 1945 only one of them had been built by the MAN company.

Chinese medium tank. Initially, the vehicle was a copy of the Soviet medium T-54A tank. The Type 59 entered service in 1959. The first tanks manufactured had no gun stabilizer or night-vision device. Later the vehicle underwent several modernizations. Between 6,000 and 9,500 vehicles of all variants were manufactured from 1958 through 1987.