M48 Patton III

M48 Main Battle Tank.

The US medium tank “M48 Medium Tank – 90 mm Gun” was introduced in 1953 as the successor to the M47 Patton medium tank and the last representative of the “Medium Tank” class. It was superseded in 1960 by the main battle tank “Tank, Combat, Full Tracked: 105-mm Gun, M60”. M48A5 tanks served in the US Army National Guard until the late 1980s, and NATO partners Germany, Greece, Spain, and Turkey continued to use their upgraded M48s, in some cases, until the late 1990s.

Available Scale Model Kits

  • M48A1 Patton III, 1:35 Dragon 3559
  • M48A1 Patton III, 1:76 Archer Models MUS05
  • M48A1 Patton III, 1:87 H0 ROCO 220
  • M48A1 Patton III, 1:100 Roskopf 102
  • M48A2, 1:35 Revell 03206
  • M48A2, 1:72 ESCI 8322, Italeri 7015
  • M48A2, 1:72 Revell 03170
  • M48A2 Bundeswehr, 1:87 Artitec 1870021
  • M48A2 Bundeswehr, 1:87 Artitec 6870055
  • M48A2 Bundeswehr (gefechtsklar), 1:87 Artitec 6870056
  • M48A2 Bundeswehr (Bahntransport), 1:87 Artitec 6870057
  • M48A2 IDF, 1:87 Artitec 6870061
  • M48A2 US Army, 1:87 Artitec 6870062
  • M48A2 US Army (Bahntransport), 1:87 Artitec 6870064
  • M48A2 US Army (Vietnam), 1:87 Artitec 6870063
  • M48A2 US Army, 1:160 Artitec 6160052
  • M48A2 US Army (Bahntransport), 1:160 Artitec 6160053
  • M48A2 Bundeswehr, 1:160 Artitec 6160046
  • M48A2 Bundeswehr (gefechtsklar), 1:160 Artitec 6160047
  • M48A2 Bundeswehr (Bahntransport), 1:160 Artitec 6160048
  • M48A2.C, 1:35 Revell 03206
  • M48A2.CG, 1:35 Revell 03287
  • M48A2.C, 1:72 ESCI 8336
  • M48A2.C, 1:72 Revell 03170
  • Kampfpanzer M48A2GA2 of the Bundeswehr
  • M48A3, 1:35 Tamiya 35120
  • M48A3, 1:35 Dragon 3546
  • M48A3 mod. B, 1:35 Dragon 3544
  • M48A3, 1:72 ESCI 8326
  • M48A3, 1:72 Hobby Master HG5501
  • M48A3, 1:87 World Tanks Depot 29
  • M48A5, 1:35 Dragon 3611
  • M48A5, 1:72 ESCI 8333
  • M48A5, 1:72 Revell 03170
  • M48A5 Bundeswehr, 1:87 Schuco 452635900
  • M48A5K with Side Skirts (Green Army), 1:87 China

Technical Specifications

  • M48 Medium Tank – 90 mm Gun
  • Type: Medium Tank / Main Battle Tank
  • Motor: Continental AV1790 V-12 Gasoline Engine with 478 kW (650 HP), or V-12 Twin-Turbo Diesel with 560 kW (750 HP)
  • Speed: 48 km/h on roads
  • Range: 113 km (M48, M48A1), 258 km (M48A2), 463 km (M48A3), or 499 km (M48A5) on Roads
  • Length Overall: 9300 mm
  • Hull Length: 6880 mm
  • Width: 3630 mm
  • Height: 3150 mm
  • Ground Clearance: 420 mm
  • Track Width: 600 mm
  • Weight: 45,000 kg
  • Armament:
  • Crew: Commander, Driver, Gunner, Loader
  • Production: 1952–1959 ca. 12,000 Units

Historical Employment

  • US Army, Marines, and National Guard
  • German Bundeswehr
  • Greek Army
  • Israel Defense Forces
  • Jordanian Army
  • Spanisch Army
  • South Korean Army
  • Taiwanese Army
  • Turkish Army

Variants

  • M48T5 ARV – Armored Recovery Vehicle
  • M48T5 CEV – Combat Engineer Vehicle
  • M48 AVLB – Armored Vehicle-Launched Bridge
  • M88 Recovery Vehicle
  • M48 Minenräumpanzer Keiler

Bibliography

  • Anweiler, Karl: Rad- und Kettenfahrzeuge der Bundeswehr.
  • Blume, Peter: Die Panzertruppe der Bundeswehr 1956–heute (Illertissen 1996)
  • Ford, Roger: Tanks from 1916 until today
  • Gau, Lutz-Reiner: Deutsche Militärfahrzeuge. Bundeswehr und NVA.
  • Zaloga, Steven J.: M47 & M48 Patton Tanks

Historical Employment

  • 4. Jägerdivision
  • 6. Panzergrenadierdivision, Schleswig-Holstein
  • 12. Panzerdivision

During the Cold War, M103 heavy tanks were intended to support the M47 and M48 medium tanks in combined arms warfare by providing effective long-range fire. However, NATO‘s medium tanks, when adequately armed and armoured, proved superior; they were lighter, faster, more maneuverable, more versatile, more robust, and cheaper than the heavy tanks. Consequently, in the 1960s, they evolved into the modern main battle tank (also known as a universal tank) and superseded the heavy tank type.

Cold War Miniatures