Hobby Master HG5504 | M48A2 Patton medium tank 7th Armored Brigade, Sinai 1967

General Background:

The M48 Patton is a medium tank and was the third and final tank to be officially named after
General George S. Patton. The first version used in Vietnam was the gasoline engined M48A2
but was soon out numbered by the diesel powered M48A3 which became the most numerous US
tank during the conflict. The M48A3s were conversions of earlier models so it wasn’t uncommon for many characteristics to vary from tank to tank. Some M48A3s had 3 support rollers while others had 5 and the headlight assemblies could either be the early or later type.



The Tank:

In the early 1960’s Israel needed to replace the old Sherman and AMX-13 tanks so a deal was
made for U.S. Pattons to ship through West Germany to Israel. After 40 Pattons were delivered the secret deal was revealed so the U.S. had to deal directly with Israel. The Israelis received another 210 M48s equipped with gasoline engines and 90 mm main guns. The IDF went about modifying many of these machines and during the Six-day War the M48 appeared in many
configurations such as up-gunned 105 mm L7 rifled guns, some with old M1 cupolas and some
plain M48A2s with gasoline engines. There weren’t any M48 or M48A1 configured tanks used.

Specifications for the M48A2 Patton tank

Manufacturers – ALCO Products Inc, Chrysler Corp.

Number Manufactured – 2,328

First Delivered – 1956

Crew
4 – Commander, Gunner, Loader and Driver

Power Plant
1 x Continental AVI-1790-8, 12 cylinder, 4 cycle 90° vee, gasoline fuel-injected engine
825 HP @ 2,800 rpm
Fuel Capacity – 335 US Gal  (1,270 L)

Speeds        
Maximum Road (Sustained) – 30 mph  (48 km/h)
Maximum Cruise Range – 160 miles  (260 km)

Weight
Combat – 105,000 lbs  (47,600 kg)

Dimensions
Length
Without Gun – 270.5 ins  (687.1 cm)

With Gun - 341.8 ins   (868.1 cm)

Width Over Track – 143 ft  (363.2 cm)

Height To Top of Cupola Periscope – 121.6 ins  (308.9 cm)

Armament
1 x 90 mm M41 with 64 rounds (Main Gun)
1 x .50cal M2HB MG 1,360 rounds on Cupola on turret
1 x .30cal M73 MG 5,590 rounds Coaxial to Main Gun