M48 Patton Tank
Photo U.S. Army
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Developed during the early 1950s the M48 was designed
for combat in Europe against Soviet tanks and had one of the most advanced
fire control systems of that time. At the outbreak of the Vietnam War the
relatively light 52-ton tank proved ideal for use in the region’s swampy
areas. However, the M48 did have problems in Vietnam, the tank’s
computerized fire control was set up for long range battles such as the
Army would encounter in Europe. In Vietnam fighting was close combat. As a
result, it was common to take the gunner out of the turret and put
him outside on the back deck with a machine-gun to provide close-in
protection. After Vietnam the M48 was taken out of active service and
given to Army Reserve and National Guard units where the tank remained in
service into the 1980s. The M48 remains in service with fifteen foreign
countries.
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