[TalonDJ]

The major oppenent of the change was none other than Gen. George Patton, who falsely believed that a heavier tank with wider tracks would have to be slower on roads. He took the view that tanks would fill the roll of cavalry, running free behind enemy lines, and did not consider tank to tank fighting to be a major role.

Other historians have debunked this and laid the blame for sticking with the M4 at the feet of McNair. The Wikipedia article on the M26 has a summary of some of the competing views of this.

[Hugin]

Interesting article. Of course it’s possible that both McNair and Patton opposed a heavier tank. McNair cites a prevaailing veiw among combat commanders that a heavy tank was not needed, and there was no role for tank on tank combat. Patton certainly could have been one of those commanders.