M48 Patton: America's First "Main Battle Tank"

The M48 Patton entered production in 1952 and remains in service with several major militaries today, a great testament to the design and how it has evolved. The "Patton" is a fast tank with strong armor and a deadly 90 mm gun, and it is an all-rounder, generally accepted as America's first modern "main battle tank" or MBT. The tank was phased out of frontline service by the US military after the Vietnam War, resulting in large numbers of M48s being sold as surplus to foreign militaries, some of which still deploy the vehicle today. This is a pictorial guide to the type, featuring a balance of combat and detail photos. The book begins with the T48 prototype and then features chapters on the A1, A2, A3, A4, and A5 versions, respectively, along with a chapter on flamethrower variants.