M48 Patton

M48 Patton
M48A2C Patton at the Deutsches Panzermuseum Munster
TypeMain battle tank
Place of originUnited States
Service history
In service1952–present
United States Army (historical) 1952–1987
United States Marine Corps (historical) 1954–1973
Used bySee Operators
Wars
Production history
Designer Chrysler Defense Engineering
Designed1950[1]
ManufacturerChrysler, Fisher Body, Ford Motor Company, American Locomotive Company
Developed fromM47 Patton
Developed intoM60 tank
Unit cost
  • M48A3
    • 1961
      • US$309,090 (equivalent to $3,151,479 in 2023)[2]
Produced
  • M48/M48A1
    • 1952–1956
  • M48A2
    • 1955–1957
  • M48A3
    • 1957–1961[3]: 25–27 
No. built12,000 (all variants)
VariantsSee Variants
Specifications
Mass
Length9.3 m (30 ft 6 in)
Width3.65 m (12 ft 0 in)
Height3.1 m (10 ft 2 in)
Crew
  • Four [1]
    • Commander
    • Gunner
    • Loader
    • Driver

Armor
  • Upper glacis
    • 110 mm (4.3 in) at 60°
    • 220 mm (8.7 in) LoS
  • Turret front
    • 178 mm (7.0 in) at 0°[4]
Main
armament
Secondary
armament
Engine
Power/weight16.6 hp (12.4 kW)/tonne
Transmission
  • Allison CD-850-4A or CD-850-4B
    • Two forward ranges
    • One reverse
SuspensionTorsion bar suspension
Ground clearance16 in (0.41 m)
Fuel capacityM48:200 US gal (760 L)
M48A1:200 US gal internal 420 US gal (1,600 L)(with external fuel drums)
M48A2:335 US gal (1,270 L)
M48A3/M48A5:300 US gal (1,100 L)
Operational
range
  • M48
    • 113 km (70 mi)[5]
  • M48A1
    • 217 km (135 mi) with external fuel drums[5]
  • M48A2

177.8 km (110.5 mi)

  • M48A3
    • 463 km (288 mi)[5]
  • M48A5
    • 499 km (310 mi)[5]
Maximum speed
  • M48A5
    • 30 mph (48 km/h)

The M48 Patton is an American first-generation main battle tank (MBT) introduced in February 1952, being designated as the 90mm Gun Tank: M48. It was designed as a replacement for the M26 Pershing, M4 Sherman, M46 and M47 Patton tanks, and was the main battle tank of the U.S. Army and U.S. Marine Corps in the Vietnam War.[6][7]: 5  Nearly 12,000 M48s were built, mainly by Chrysler and American Locomotive Company, from 1952 to 1961. The M48 Patton was the first U.S. medium gun tank[8] with a four-man crew, featuring a centerline driver's compartment and no bow machine gunner.[9] As with nearly all new armored vehicles it had a wide variety of suspension systems, cupola styles, power packs, fenders and other details among individual tanks.

The early designs, up to the M48A2C, were powered by a gasoline engine. The M48A3 and A5 versions used a diesel engine, however, gasoline engine versions were still in use in the US Army National Guard through 1968 and by many West German Army units through 1975. Numerous examples of the M48 saw combat use in various Arab–Israeli conflicts and the Vietnam War. Beginning in 1959, most American M48A1s and M48A2s were upgraded to the M48A3 model.

The M48 Patton-series saw widespread service with the United States and NATO until it was superseded by the M60 tank. It was widely exported. The tank's hull also became the basis for a wide variety of experimental, utility and support vehicles such as armored recovery vehicles and bridge layers. Some M48A5 models served into the mid-1980s with US Army National Guard units, and M48A3s were used as targets for weapons and radar testing into the mid-1990s.

Many M48s remain in service in countries other than the US. Most of these have been modified and their firepower, mobility and protection upgraded to increase their combat effectiveness on the modern battlefield. As of 2015, Turkey is the largest operator with over 750 units in service, Taiwan is second with approximately 500 upgraded variants, and Greece is third with 390 in service.

  1. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference 1960_Data_Sheets was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ Cite error: The named reference 2010_Maloney was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ Cite error: The named reference 1992_Crismon was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. ^ Hunnicutt 2015, p. 428.
  5. ^ a b c d Cite error: The named reference 1989_Jane_s was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  6. ^ Starry Department of the Army p. 53, 54, 236, 237
  7. ^ Cite error: The named reference 1991_Terry was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  8. ^ FM 17-79 (1955) p. 4, Department of the Army
  9. ^ Department of the Army 1954; p. 7, 10 TM 9-7012 90-mm Gun Full Tracked Combat Tanks M48, M48A1, and M48C.


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