The M-26 heavy transporter Truck & M-15 trailer were standardized together in June 1943 as a retriever for the M-4 Sherman medium tank. The tractor-trailer combination was originally designated as the M-25 but the nomenclature was changed in late 1944 to separately designate the tractor as the M-26 and the trailer as the M-15. The combination was called the "Dragon Wagon" by the troops, a designation that was also used for other vehicles at other times.

The M-26 6x6 tractor had a fully armored cab that included hinged steel plates that could be fastened to cover the windows, allowing only slits for vision. The M-26A1 and M-26A2 had a soft top, not intended for use under fire. The tractors had a fifth wheel designed to connect to the M-15 trailer and had three winches. Two of the winches were 60,000 lb. units mounted behind the cab, for use in pulling a load onto the trailer. The third winch, with 35,000 lb. capacity, was front mounted, for use in self-recovery if the tractor became stuck. The M-26 Tractor was armed with an M2 .50 cal. machine gun on a ring mount.

The M-15 semi-trailer was an eight wheel flat bed that attached to the M26 fifth wheel and had rear loading ramps for loading tanks or other cargo. The rear wheels and ramps had adjustable width for loading vehicles of different sizes. The payload of the trailer was:

M-15 Semi-trailer: 80,000 lb. (36,287kg)
M-15A1 Semi-trailer: 90,000 lb. (40,823kg)
M-15A2 Semi-trailer: 100,000 lb. (45,359kg)

The M-26 Tractor units and the M-15/M-15A1 trailers were manufactured by Pacific Car & Foundry Co. of Renton, WA. The M-15A2 trailers were built by Freuhauf Trailer Co.

The M-26 heavy transporter & M-15 semi-trailer remained in U.S. Army inventory through the 1950s and 1960s. It was eventually replaced by the M-911 commercial heavy equipment transporter (C-HET), starting in 1977.

Pictured here is a 1:43 scale replica of a US Army M26 "Dragon Wagon" Armored Tank Recovery Vehicle equipped with a Browning M2 .50 caliber heavy machine gun. Now in stock!

Dimensions:
Length: 7-inches
Width: 2-3/4-inches

Release Date: November 2024

Historical Account: "Heavy Hauler" - 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, 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 1,090 cu in (17.9 L) 6-cylinder gasoline engine developing 240 hp (180 kW) at 2000 rpm and 810 lbf⋅ft (1,098 N⋅m) at 1200 rpm. Developed for the M26, it was used to up rate 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.

The M26 was such a massive and impressive vehicle that, as soon as it arrived on the battle field the soldiers quickly dubbed it the Dragon Wagon. This huge truck was driven by a model 440 Scott Hall gasoline engine, six-cylinder in line, with a 1,090 cu in (17.9 liters) displacement, developing 240 hp. M26 fuel consumption could reach the extravagant figure of 150 liters per 100 km. The M26 is therefore a recovery vehicle for heavy equipment, especially tanks, it was equipped with a front winch of 16 tons and two rear winches of 27 tons each.