Talk:M48 Patton

I changed some metric mesures to inch mesures,I did not change any figures except for the HP ratings of the diesel to 750 hp.Feel free to correct me if I am wrong.Safn1949 22:36, 17 September 2007 (UTC)

In that vein, shouldn't the English measurements come first, since it's a U.S. vehicle...? Trekphiler (talk) 02:52, 2 March 2008 (UTC)

So that’s where the inconsistency between the tank’s entry and the engine’s Wikipedia entry came from. The 2 gasoline engine ratings (650 and 690 HP) match the net ratings of 2 of the 3 gasoline versions of the engine on the engine’s Wikipedia page. The only diesel version of the engine rated at 750 HP is 750 HP gross/643 HP net. Shouldn’t the horsepower ratings shown in the tank’s Wikipedia page either show the gross horsepower in all cases, or the net horsepower in all cases? 69.166.116.51 (talk) 04:22, 24 June 2025 (UTC)

The photo of the Indian Army with captured tanks actually shows 2 M47's and 1 M48,is there any way to change the text for accuracy?Safn1949 (talk) 02:42, 25 February 2009 (UTC)

New tank or development of M47?

This article claims the M48 is both a completely new tank design and a development of the M47. It's one or the other, and I'm pretty sure it's the former. 86.45.4.210 (talk) 00:12, 15 January 2009 (UTC)

The M-48 was a new design with a different hull and turret design from the M-47.Safn1949 (talk) 02:31, 2 April 2010 (UTC)

The US Army says the M48 Patton is a medium tank

Army field manual FM 17-12, TANK GUNNERY, Nov 1964, states on page 102 "a. MAIN BATTLE TANK...b. TANKS NOT EQUIPPED WITH A SUPERELEVATOR (M41 and M48 Tanks)..." This is stating that the M48 is not an MBT (Main Battle Tank). There are photos of the M60 tank in the manual, they have only 3 support rollers, a straight edged front end (the bow) fender to fender, and a 105mm main gun with the bore evacuator mid barrel.

All Patton tanks (excepting the A5 model) mounted 90mm tank guns, which were catagorized as medium guns. The 105mm M60 tank was a step away from the medium gun. US M103 heavy tanks had 120mm guns, which definately makes the 90mm a medium gun. When the M1 Abrams first came out, it carried a 105mm main gun; which makes it (the GUN) the beginning of the MBT.

Army FM 17-79 dated 1955 actually specifies the M48 tank as a "medium tank" on p. 4. So why is wikipedia contradicting the US Army? I took the liberty of making some corrections to draw attention to this discussion page.

According to Hunnicutt, Abrams, History of the American Main Battle Tank, First Edition 1990 by Presidio Press: P. 96 states that an Armor and Bridging conference was held in Canada in October 1957 recommending that the light tank (M41 Walker Bulldog) be replaced by the AR/AAV Armored Reconnaissance/Airborne Assault Vehicle (which is misprinted in the book, using the word Airborne twice and leaving out the word Armored) which ultimately turned out to be the M551 Sheridan in 1967. The conference also stated that the heavy and medium tanks were to be combined into a single all purpose Main Battle Tank.

P.98 of Hunnicutt's book (Abrams) also states that Gen Maxwell Taylor, Army Chief of Staff in 1957 called for developments to replace both the M41 light tank's 76mm gun and the 90mm gun. Further stating that "unfortunately, the rapid progress in selecting a design for the AR/AAV did not extend to the program for the new main battle tank." That the selection of the 105mm M68 gun (which ended up in the M60 tank) was an alternate gun to the preferred XM81 152 gun/launcher for the MBT. Thus making the product improved M60 tank with it's 105mm gun the new Mid Range (MR) army Main Battle Tank. Until replaced by the M1 105mm gun Abrams MBT in 1980.Pages 101, 202.

The US Army officially didn't use the term main battle tank until after 1957. The M46, M47, and M48 tanks were officially classified as medium tanks. The M103 was officially classified as a heavy tank, and the M41 Walker Bulldog was officially classified as a light tank. According to those referenced pages in Hunnicutt's book (Abrams), the M60 tank was a MR (Mid Range) 105mm gun MBT, and it's replacement was the 105mm gun M1 Abrams MBT. Both MBTs mounted 105mm main guns. This would explain why those two army manuals quoted in the above discussion called the M60 tank a Main Battle Tank and the M48 a medium tank. Both army manuals were published prior to 1965, when the US military still had the M103 heavy tank on the books. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 205.154.222.130 (talk) 22:24, 10 November 2022 (UTC)

Patton, A History of the American Main Battle tank by Hunnicutt (1984), states the following: P. 157, there was a proposal in April 1959 to "revise the nomenclature to the 105mm gun main battle tank M60." This was scrapped due to a conflict with the FEDERAL CATALOGING AGENCY. P. 292 M48, M47, and M46 are classed as medium tanks. P.298 says, "the M60 as the army's main battle tank." P. 408; the 105mm M48A5 was basically an original M60 and thus considered a main battle tank. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 96.90.215.65 (talk) 20:59, 24 April 2023 (UTC)

Fume extractor or muzzle brake?

The article states: "Tank crews complained that the Y-shaped fume extractor was found to be prone to snagging brush. It was replaced with a T-shaped model early in production."

Judging by the description, it sounds like they are actually referring to the muzzle brake, not the fume extractor. Is that correct?

Axeman (talk) 19:16, 11 October 2025 (UTC)

Update the map

Somalia just got some from Turkey. Would be cool if someone could update the map. Yubudirsi (talk) 18:42, 17 February 2026 (UTC)