The Heavy Tank T29 and Heavy Tank T34 were American heavy tanks projects started in March 1944 to counter the appearance of the German Tiger II heavy tank. The T26E3 medium tank (which entered service as the M26 Pershing), weighed around 45 short tons, but was not considered heavily enough armed or armored to counter the Tiger II, which weighed closer to 69 t (76 short tons). The T29 was not ready in time for the war in Europe, but it did provide post-war engineers with opportunities for applying engineering concepts to artillery and automotive components.