M-26 with German Panther on trailer
M26 12-ton Tractor & M15 Semi-Trailer
If not the largest American vehicle used in World War II, then the 'Dragon Wagon' must be the best known of the heavy haulers. Designed to recover the M4 Medium Tank from frontline battlefield conditions, the 'Dragon Wagon' could tow the tank if the running gear was intact - or haul the entire tank up on the flatbed trailer. Though the vehicle was rated to transport 40 tons - the weight of the M4 Medium Tank - the 'Dragon Wagon' often hauled far more. Virtually anything the crew could put on the flatbed could be hauled by this truck. Loads up to 100,000 pounds were not unusual for the 'Dragon Wagon'. The first version of the 'Dragon Wagon' had an armor plated cab to protect the crew. It was anticipated that the vehicle would be employed while under enemy fire. This additional weight, however, belabored the tractor severely and impacted its overall performance. When tank recovery under fire didn't prove the case in actual use in Western Europe, the M26A1 variant was developed. This being an unarmored cab, open topped and radically different in appearance from the armored version.