20 M26 (T26E3) tanks deployed to Europe in January 1945 and saw combat in World War II
A total of 310 T26E3 tanks would be sent to Europe before VE Day,
the T26E3 tanks were first committed to combat on 25 February, with the Third Armored Division, in the fighting for the Roer River. On 26 February, a T26E3 named Fireball was knocked out in an ambush at Elsdorf while overwatching a roadblock. Silhouetted by a nearby fire, the Pershing was in a disadvantageous position. A concealed Tiger tank fired three shots from about 100 yd (91 m). The first penetrated the turret through the machine gun port in the mantlet killing both the gunner and the loader. The second shot hit the gun barrel causing the round that was in the chamber to fire with the effect of distorting the barrel. The last shot glanced off the turret side taking off the upper cupola hatch. While backing up to escape the Tiger became entangled in debris and was abandoned by the crew.[41] Fireball was quickly repaired and returned to service on 7 March.
Shortly afterwards, also at Elsdorf, another T26E3 knocked out a Tiger I and two Panzer IVs. The Tiger was knocked out at 900 yd (820 m) with the 90-mm HVAP T30E16 ammunition.
Photographs of this knocked out Tiger I in Hunnicutt's book showed a penetration through the front gun mantlet.
On 6 March, in the city of Cologne, a T26E3 knocked out a Panther tank in front of the Cologne Cathedral after the Panther had knocked out at least one M4 Sherman. The action was recorded by a Signal Corps cameraman.
On the same day, another T26E3 was knocked out in the town of Niehl near Cologne, by an 88mm self propelled anti-tank gun, at a range of under 300 yd (270 m).There were two other tank engagements involving the T26E3, with one Tiger I knocked out during the fighting around Cologne, and one Panzer IV knocked out at Mannheim.
The T26E3s with the Ninth Armored Division saw action in fighting around the Roer River with one Pershing disabled by two hits from a German 150-mm field gun.