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1994-05-04
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In 1950, the Detroit Tank Arsenal and the Chrysler Corporation were each award-
ed contracts to develop a new medium tank armed with a 90 millimeter gun. De-
sign work began in December 1950 and was completed one year later. Even
before the first prototypes were finished in March 1952, contracts were awarded
to General Motors and the Ford Motor Company. The first M-48 tank came off the
assembly line in July 1952.
The Patton tank was the most heavily armored tank in American service to that
date. Armor protection ranged from 4.72 inches on the hull's front to 4.3 inches
on the turret front down to slightly less than one inch on the turret top. The driver
is seated in the center front of the hull and the gunner is located on the right side
of the turret. The loader is on the left side of the turret and the commander be-
hind and higher.
The engine drove the rear drive sprocket through a planetary gear transmission.
The M-48 used torsion bar suspension with six small road wheels per side. Five
return rollers were used in the M-48 and M-49A1 configuration, but only three in
the M-48A2 and later variations.
The M-48 was equipped with infrared driving lights, and a searchlight was mount-
ed above the main gun. It was the first American tank to be fitted with a nuclear-
biological-chemical warfare protection system and warm air heaters. All M-48s
have provisions for mounting a bulldozer blade.
The M-48 Patton has gone through seven model designations. The final modern-
ization included improved armor, an improved fire control system, the 105mm
M68 main gun, and a range of other modifications to increase service life. The
engine was replaced with an improved model that gave an even greater range.
The machine guns were upgraded and the commander's hatch had an antiaircraft
machine gun attached.
No active Army units have been equipped with the M-48 Patton since 1984. They
were replaced by the M-60 tank.