M48A5 Patton, USA

Specification:

First prototype: 1975 First production: 1975-1979 (conversion programme ofM48Al, M48A2, M48A2C, M48A3 vehicles) Current users: Greece, Iran, Israel, Jordan, South Korea, Lebanon, Morocco, Norway, Pakistan, Portugal, Spain, Taiwan, Thailand, Tunisia, Turkey

Crew: 4

Combat weight: 49 090 kg Ground pressure: 0.88 kg/cm2

Length, gun forwards: 9.47 m Width: 3.63 m Height (with cupola): 3.29 m Ground clearance: 0.41 m

Max. road speed: 48 km/h Maximum range: 500 km Fording: unprepared 1.22 m

Gradient: 60% Side slope: 40% Vertical obstacle: 0.9 m Trench: 2.6m

Powerpack: M48A1/M48A2/M48A2C conversion - AVI 790-2D RISE V-12 aircooled diesel developing 750 hp and coupled to an Allison CD-850-6A automatic transmission; M48A3 conversion - as M48A1 but with an AVDS-1790-2A RISE model diesel Armament: (main) 1 x 105 mm gun (54 rounds); (coaxial) 1 x 7.62 mm MG; (anti-aircraft) 1 x 12.7 mm and 1 x 7.62 mm or 2 x 7.62 mm MG; (smoke dischargers) 2 x6

M48A1/M48A2/M48A3 Series Pat ton USA

M48 - First production model with none believed to be remaining in service. M48C-Was a training version with a mild steel hull. A number were converted to M48A2C standard. M48A1 - 1800 built but never received a T-series development designation. Fitted with fully enclosed commander's cupola and new suspension/running gear components. M48A2 - Also known as Product Improved M48, with redesigned enginecompartment to incorporate new fuelinjection petrol engine and increased fuel load to reduce the battlefield IR signature. The running gear was changed and the 90 mm main gun control-systems, together with the tank's fire-control system, with its gunner's stereoscopic rangefinder sight, up-dated. M48A2C-Production variant had its firecontrol system graduated in metres rather than yards and switched over to a coincidence type gunner's sight. M48A3-A rebuild of the earlier M48A1/M48A2 models with the petrol engine replaced by the diesel engine and transmission of the M60A1; a collective NBC system fitted and further improvements to the fire control system, commander's cupola, transmission and running gear.

A number of other countries also undertook conversion programmes, these included: Germany - a total of 650 M48A2 Fattens were rebuilt by Wegmann during 1978-80 to the M48A2GA2 standard. The 90 mm gun was replaced by a 105 mm L7 series rifled gun fitted with a thermal sleeve. 46 rounds of 105 mm ammunition were carried as the basic load and a full nightfighting capability was added together with a passive Low Light Level Television (LLLTV) aiming and observation camera system over the gun mantlet. Under CFE these vehicles have been destroyed or cascaded to suitable friendly countries. Spain - In the late seventies the Spanish Marines took delivery of 19 locally modified M48A3E Fatten tanks. These had

a number of major modifications but retained the 90 mm main gun armament with 62 rounds. Turkey-A total of 174 rebuilds of early model M48 pattons were undertaken initially by Wegmann of Germany and then via kit form in Turkey, based on the M48A2GA2 design the programme involved the fitting of a new engine and transmission; a locally built 105 mm L7 series rifled gun, with thermal sleeve and extensive changes to the chassis; turret systems and suspension. A total of 46 105 mm rounds are carried. The Turkish designation for these tanks is M48T1. The support tank variants are dealt with in the M48A5 entry.

Specification

First prototype: M48 1951 First production: M48A1 1955-1956; M48A2 1956-1959 (total of 11 703 M48/M48A1/M48A2 vehicles built) Current users: M48A1 - Greece, South Korea, Taiwan; M48A2 - Greece; M48A3 Greece, South Korea, Turkey, Tunisia

Crew: 4

Combat weight: M48A1/A3 47 273 kg; M48A2 47 727 kg Ground pressure: 0.83 kg/cm2 Length, gun forwards: M48A1 8.73m; M48A2/A3 8.69m Width: M48A1/A2/A3 3.63 m Height (without AA gun): M48A1 3.13m; M48A2 3.09 m; M48A3 3.12 m Ground clearance: M48A1 0.38 m; M48A2 0.42 m; M48A3 0.41 m Max. road speed: M48A1 42km/h; M48A2/A3 48 km/h Maximum range: M48A1* 216 km; M48A2* 400 km; M48A3 496 km/h *with jettisonable external fuel tanks Fording: unprepared 1.22 m Gradient: 60% Side slope: 30%

Vertical obstacle: 0.91 m Trench: 2.6m

Powerpack: M48A1 - AV1790-7C V-12 air-cooled petrol engine developing 810 hp and coupled to an Allison CD-8504B transmission; M48A2 - as M48A1 but AVI 1790-8 825 hp engine and CD-850-5 transmission; M48A3 - as M48 but AVDS1790-2A 750 hp diesel engine and CD850-6 transmission