Patton tank
 The M48A1 tank | |
| Specifications | |
| Mass | 52 tonnes |
| Length | 6.4 m |
| Width | 3.6 m |
| Height | 3.1 m |
| Crew | 4 |
The M46, M47, M48 and M60 Patton were the U.S army's principal main battle tanks of the Korean and Vietnam Wars. The model was named after General George S. Patton, commander of the U.S. Third Army during World War II and one of the earliest advocates for the use of tanks in battle. It was replaced in US service by the M1 Abrams.
The M46
In May 1946, due to the changing conception of the US Army's tank needs, the M26 Pershing tank was reclassified as a medium tank. Designed initially as a heavy tank, Pershing was a significant upgrade from the M4 Sherman in terms of firepower and protection. Unfortunately, its mobility was deemed unsatisfactory for a medium tank as it used the same engine that powered the much lighter M4A3. Its underpowered engined was also plagued with an unreliable transmission. So in January 1948, work began on replacing the original powerpack with the Continental AV-1790-3 engine and Allison CD-850-1 cross-drive transmission. The design was initially called M26E2, but modifications continued to accumulate, and eventually the Ordnance decided that the tank "deserved" an index of its own. When the production began in November,1949, the upgraded M26 received not only a new powerpack and other improvements including a main gun with bore evacuator, but a new designation along with them - M46 General Patton or simply Patton.
M46 combat service
The only extensive combat use of the M46 was in the Korean War. The tank proved superior to North Korean T-34/85, which was expected from a much newer design.
The M46 was exported to some European countries, including Belgium, France and Italy.
The M47
Although the new powerpack corrected the mobility and reliability problems of the M26, the US Army considered the M46 a stopgap solution that would be replaced later by the T42 medium tank. However, after fighting erupted in Korea, the Army decided it needed the new tank earlier then planned. It was deemed that there was likely no time to finish the development of the T42 and then also to fix various problems that were likely to emerge in a new design. The final decision was to produce another interim solution, with the turret of T42 mounted on the familiar hull of the M46. The old-new tank, developed by the Detroit Arsenal, was named M47 Patton and entered production in 1951.
The M47 was widely used by NATO allies and other countries, including Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Greece, Iran, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Netherlands, Pakistan, Portugal, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, Spain, Taiwan, Turkey and Yugoslavia. In the US, however, it was quickly replaced by the M48.
M47 combat service
French M47s saw limited action during the Suez Crisis in 1956. Jordan used its M47s in the Six Days War (1967) and Pakistan in the second Indo-Pakistani War in 1965.
The M48
A year after the M47 entered service, the US Army decided to replace it by yet another product of the evolution of the Pershing/Patton line, the M48, still dubbed Patton. A deeper modernization than the M46 and the M47, the M48 featured a new turret, redesigned hull and an improved suspension. The hull machine gunner position was removed, reducing the crew to 4.
Nearly 12,000 M48s were built from 1952 to 1959. The early designs were powered by gasoline engines which gave the tank a short operating range and were prone to catching fire when hit, earning it the unflattering nickname Ronson (which was also used for the earlier gasoline powered M4 Sherman ), after the popular brand of cigarette lighter. This version was considered unreliable and unfit for service, but numerous examples saw combat use in various Arab-Israeli conflicts. In 1959, American M48s were upgraded to the M48A3 model which featured a diesel power plant.
In the mid-1970s, the M48A5 upgrade was developed to allow the vehicle to carry the heavier 105 mm gun. This was designed to bring the M48s up to speed with the M60 tanks then in regular use. Most of the M48s were placed into reserve service by this time.
By the mid-1990s, the M48s were phased out of U.S. service. However, many foreign countries continue to use the M48 models.
M48 combat service
The M48s saw action during the Vietnam War, as did another variant, the M67A2 flamethrower tank. The M48s performed admirably in Vietnam in the infantry-support role. As there were few actual tank vs. tank battles, the M48s provided adequate shelter for its crew from small arms, mines and RPGs.
M47s and M48s were first used in tank warfare by Pakistan against Indian Centurion and M4 Sherman tanks in the 1965 Indo-Pakistan War with poor results. Although technically superior to the enemy's tanks, it failed in war, but this was largely due to superior Indian tactics and crew ability. The Battle of Asal Uttar—where Pakistan's elite 1st Armoured brigade attacked Indian positions—saw about 100 Pattons being destroyed. It was later used in limited numbers by Pakistan in the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971 with similar results. In fact there was a place in Khemkaran in India called "Patton Nagar" ("Patton Town") that held 60-odd destroyed or captured tanks before the war trophies were relocated.
M48s were also used with mixed results during the 1967 Six-Day War. On the Sinai front, Israeli M48s were used with stunning success against Egyptian T-54s and T-34s supplied by the Soviet Union. However, on the West Bank front, Jordanian M48s were regularly outclassed by Israeli WWII-era M4 Shermans, the result of superior Israeli tactics and crews. The Israeli Army captured about 100 of these Jordanian M48 and M48A1 tanks and pressed them into their own service after the war.
The M60
 The M60 Patton tank | |
| Specifications | |
| Mass | 57.3 tonnes |
| Length | 6.9 m |
| Width | 3.6 m |
| Height | 3.3 m |
| Crew | 4 |
In 1957, it was determined that the Soviets were in the process of developing a new medium tank, the T-55, with a 100 mm gun, superior to that of the American M48 tank. In response, an M48 tank was fitted with a new engine and later with a variant of the British 105 mm L7 series gun. This new vehicle (originally designated M68) was put into production in 1959, reclassified as the M60 and entered service in 1960. Over 15,000 M60s (all variants) were constructed.
The improved design provided an increased operational range and mobility, required a minimum of refueling and servicing, and incorporated an improved main armament. A Continental V-12 750 hp. air cooled diesel engine powers the vehicle. Power is transmitted to a final drive through a cross drive transmission, which is a combined transmission, differential, steering, and braking unit. The hull of this vehicle is a one piece steel casting and is divided into two compartments, the crew in the front, and the engine at the rear.
In 1963, the M60 was upgraded to the M60A1. This new variant, which stayed in production until 1980, featured a larger, better-shaped turret and improvements to the armor protection and shock absorbers.
The M60A2 featured an entirely new low-profile turret with a commander's machine-gun cupola on top, giving the commander a good view and field of fire while under armour but spoiling the low profile. It also featured a 152 mm calibre main gun similar to that of the M551 Sheridan light tank, which fired regular rounds as well as the Shillelagh anti-tank guided missile (ATGM). There were a number of problems with the new gun (such as unburnt propellant from the missile fouling the tube and pre-detonating subsequent rounds), most of which were solved to some extent, but after all the problems the A2 model was abandoned and the turret for the A3 would be based on that of the A1. Most of the M60A2 tanks were rebuilt to M60A3 standard.
In 1978, work began on the M60A3 variant. It featured a number of technological enhancements, including smoke dischargers, a new rangefinder and ballistic computer and a turret stabilization system. All American M60s eventually underwent the conversion to the A3 model.
M60 combat service
The M60 first saw some action in the Vietnam War with the Marine Corps. Later the Marine Corps also used the M60A1 variant in Operation Desert Storm in opposition to the Soviet-supplied Iraqi T-72 tanks which were comparable, if slightly better-gunned than the M60s. The M60A1s supported the effort into Kuwait City.
A few M60s and M60A1s also saw action with Israel during the 1973 Yom Kippur War in both the Sinai and the Golan Heights. The United States sent additional M60s to Israel just before and during hostilities. Following the war, the IDF received many more M48s, M60s and M60A1s from the U.S..
Israel further upgraded their stock of M60s prior to their use in the invasion of Lebanon in 1982 as part of Operation Peace for Galilee. The Israeli modifications included new tracks and explosive reactive armor (ERA). This variant was known as the Magach 6B. Further work in Israel has been done on the upgraded Magach 6 models, adding new armor, new fire controls, a thermal sleeve and smoke dischargers. This model, the Magach 7 (with variants A through C) is still in use with the IDF.
M60 versions are in service as of 2005 with Argentina, Bahrain, Austria, Egypt, Greece, Israel, Portugal, Spain, Turkey, Taiwan and some others to varying degrees. Also, US continues to have significant stockpiles of them waiting to be scrapped, sold-off, or converted, though some versions that use the chassis see some use still.
Variants
US Variants
- M26E2/M46 - M26/A1 Pershing upgraded with Continental V-12 engine and cross-drive transmission. Used the same M3A1 90mm gun as the M26A1 Pershing, and differed mainly in the position of the exhausts.
- M46A1 - Product improved variant with improved braking, cooling and fire suppression systems, as well as, improved electrical equipment, AV-1790-5B engine and CD-850-4 transmission.
- M47 - M46 with T42 turret, fitted with the M36 90mm Gun, and was longer to incorporate a radio, ventilator, and featured a stereoscopic rangefinger.
- M47M - The product of an improvement program started in the late 1960's, the M47M featured the engine and fire control elements from the M60A1. The asst. driver's position was eliminated in favor of additional 90mm ammunition. Not used by the US, over 800 vehicles were produced for Iran and Pakistan.
- M48 - Differed from the M47 in having yet another new turret design, featuring the M41 90mm gun. These turrets give the M48 its distinctive non-M26 style look. Originally the gun featured a Y-shape muzzle brake, but this was changed to the more characterisitc T-shape.
- M48C - Over a hundred original production hulls were found to be lacking correct ballistic protection and were relegated to training as the M48C.
- M48A1 - New driver hatch and M1 commander's cupola, allowing the M2HB .50 caliber machine gun to be operated and reloaded from within the vehicle.
- M48A2 - improved powerpack and transmission, redesigned rear plate, an improved turret control.
- M48A2C - M48A2s with an improved rangefinder, M17, new ballistic drive and bore evacuator for the main gun, and the auxillery tensioning wheels were deleted.
- M48A3 - Refit of M48A1s with diesel engines and a new fire control system.
- M48A3 Mod. B - Additional armor on the exhausts and tail lights, and a raised commanders copula.
- M48A4 - Proposed refit of M48A3s with M60 turrets, scrapped with the need of these previous "surplus" turrets with the failure of the M60A2
- M48A5 - Upgunned with the 105mm M68 gun.
- M48A5PI - M1 copula replaced by the Israeli Urdan model.
- M67 - M48 armed with a flamethrower inside a dummy model of the main gun with fake muzzle brake.
- M67A1 - M67 variant, M48A2 hulls used.
- M67A2 - M67 variant, M48A3 hulls used.
- XM60/M60 - Bearing a strong familial resemblance to the M48, the M60 has a wedge shaped hull, three return rollers, and aluminum road wheels, features not found on previous M48s. Featured a turret with 105mm M68 gun. Early versions did not have the commanders copula.
- M60E1/A1 - First variant to feature the distinctive "needle-nose" long nosed turret, along with better armor protection and improved hydraulics.
- M60A1 AOS - Add-On Stabilization, introduced in 1972 for the M68 gun.
- M60A1 RISE - Reliability Improvements for Selected Equipment, featured improvements of almost all the basic systems and a new track type, T142, that helped reduce wear and improve track life.
- M60A1 RISE Passive - RISE, but with a smaller infra-red/white light capable search-light and passive night vision equipment.
- M60E2 - Experimental version with driver in turret and armed with Shillelagh and 20 mm cannon.
- M60A1E1 - Developmental test vehicles fitted with the 152mm M162 gun-missile launchers.
- M60A1E2/M60A2 - Turret design finalized, giving the distinctive "starship" look. A variant was tested with a remote controlled 20mm cannon as well.
- M60A1E3 - prototype, M60A1E2 fitted with 105 mm gun.
- M60A1E4 - Experimental type with remote control weapons.
- M60A3 - M60A1 fitted with a laser rangefinder, solid state ballistic computer, and a crosswind sensor. Late model USMC M60A3s were also capable of being fitted with ERA.
- M60A3 TTS - Tank Thermal Sight, M60A3s fitted with the AN/VSG-2 thermal sight.
- M60 Super/AX - Uparmored versions with minor improvements. Main version awas also featured no optical rangefinder.
- M60-2000/120S - M60/Abrams hybrid vehicle developed by General Dynamics Land Division. Not adopted by the United States military.
Specialized Variants
- M60A1 AVLB - Armored Vehicle Launched Bridge, 60 foot scissors bridge on M60A1 chassis.
- M60 AVLM - Armored Vehicle Vehicle Launched MICLIC (Mine-Clearing Line Charge), modified AVLB with up to 2 MICLIC on M60 chassis.
- M728 - M60A1 based Combat Engineering Vehicle (CEV). M60A1 chassis fitted with a new turret featuring an A-frame crane and an M135 165mm demolition gun. Commonly fitted with the M9 bulldozer blade, or a mine-clearing equipment.
- M728A1 - Upgraded version
- M60 Panther - M60 modified into a remotely controlled mine clearing tank.
- Additional Equipment
- M9 - Bulldozer and earthmoving equipment added to M60.
Israeli variants
Israel created an extensive number of variants of the series from tanks acquired initially from a number of sources, including capturing them in battle, or from other countries such as Germany and the United States.
- E-48
- E-48 AVLB - a M48 AVLB but with a Israeli bridge.
- E-48 (M48A2) - basically unmodifed M48A2 from Germany
- E-48 (M48A2C) - basically unmodifed M48A2C from Germany
- E-48 (M48A3) - basically unmodifed M48A3 from USA
- E-60
- E-60 - basically unmodifed main production M60
- E-60A - basically ummodified M60A1
- E-60A Dozer - version with M9 bulldozer kit installed
- E-60B - basically unmodified M60A3
- Sabra - an upgrade of M60A3 developed for a proposal to Turkey. Features a 120 mm gun, modern fire controls, add-on armor.
- Magach - a series of improved Israeli versions of the M48 and the M60.
Jordanian Variants
- AB1 - Jordanian armoured recovery vehicle.
- AB9B1 - Jordanian upgrade with 120mm smoothbore gun.
- Mazin - Jordanian modified M60A3.
Spanish Variants
- M47ER3 - Armored recovery vehicle.
- M48A5E - M48A5 variant, 105mm gun with laser rangefinder.
- Alacran CZ-10/25E - Spanish army combat engineer variant.
- Alacran CZ-10/30E - Upgraded CZ-10/25E
- VLPD 26/70E - Spanish Army bridgelayer based on the M60 with Leguan bridge system.
South Korea
- M48A5K - Fitted with an improved 105mm gun, additional armor, and significant fire control upgrades, making it on par if not more capable than early M60s.
Taiwanese Variants
- M48A5H/CM-11 "Brave Tiger" - Taiwanese version consisting of M48H turret and M60 hull and fitted with ERA. Also has significant upgrades to the gun tracking equipment and fire control.
- CM-12 "Brave Tiger" - Fitting of existing CM-11 turrets to M48A3 chassis.
See also
Reference
- Steven J Zaloga, Tony Bryan, Jim Laurier - M26-M46 Pershing Tank 1943-1953 (Osprey New Vanguard 35).
External links
