The M48 is probably most famous for its use in the Vietnam War in the 1960s. Although there was little tank to tank action there, the M48 was a powerful deterrent, and many were used as static guns to support the infantry.
The M48 was one of a number of tanks to be named after the celebrated American General George S Patton. It was designed at the time of the Korean War but did not enter service until 1953. From a construction point of view the most important features of the M48 are the hull and turret. Each are composed of enormous castings which give the tank its distinctive, rounded shape.
The curved shape of the lower hull is particularly significant since it was designed to resist mine blast. It resulted in a remarkably high survival rate for M48 crews mined in Vietnam. There are, however, certain problems with casting; notably the difficulty of controlling armour thickness on all surfaces and the great overall height of the tank. The M48 is powered by a Continental air-cooled petrol engine operating through an Allison cross-drive, automatic transmission and the tank rides on torsion bar suspension.
The M48 was much easier to drive than other tanks of the time. Its automatic gearbox and power-assisted steering meant that the driver did not need to use much physical effort.
The M48 was built in vast numbers and used by the United States Army and US Marine Corps; it was also supplied to many of America’s allies. It was introduced in 1952, about the same time as the British Centurion and the Soviet T-55.
The Tank Museum’s vehicle
This vehicle is an early model called the T48, which was sent to Britain for testing and examination.
