M48A1/M48A2/M48A3 Series Patton, USA

Armament: (main) 1 x 90 mm gun (M48A1 60 rounds, M48A2 64 rounds, M48A3 62 rounds); (coaxial) 1 x 7.62 mm MG; (anti-aircraft) 1 x 12.7 mmMG

M47/M47M Patton

USA

The M47 entered production during the Korean War period and was basically a T42 turret fitted on a new hull, The vehicle apparently never entered a T-series prototype stage.

The 90 mm gun fitted is the M36 model with the gunner using a basic stereoscopic rangefinder sight. If the bow machine gun is retained then the basic ammunition load is 71 rounds, if it is removed then the load can be increased to a maximum 105 rounds, The ammunition types fired include APC-T, APERS-T, AP-T, HE-T, HEAT-FS, HVAP-T, APFSDS-T, canister and smoke, No NBC system is fitted,

The M47M was a BMY designed upgrade that incorporated the fitting of the running gear, engine, transmission and electro-hydraulic turret/weapon control systems of the M60A1 MET with numerous minor turret internal /external equipment and stowage changes, Iran built a tank plant between 1970-72 to convert 400 of its M47 Fattens and 147 Pakistani Army vehicles to this configuration.

The plant subsequently took on M48A5 conversion work and M60A1 refurbishment work for the Iranian Army and a 145 M48A1 to M48A5 vehicle modernisation package for Pakistan, Pakistan has also prototyped its own M47M AVLB support vehicle and may well have produced small numbers for its army.

South Korea has also modified its 550 plus M47 Patton fleet with improved running gear and the provision of full active/passive night fighting capabilities, It has also converted other M47s into a simple ARV variant with a winch in place of the turret and an A-frame to lift heavy components,

During the mid-seventies, Spain converted 376 M47s into 330 M47E1 and 46 M47E2 variants. The latter having a 105 mm RheinmetaU Rh-105-30 rifled gun fitted with ammunition stowage for 44 105 mm rounds. Most of these have been phased out as surplus M60A1/M60A3 Pattons were received, A number of support tank versions have also been designed by the Spanish firm Talbot SA which converted the M47s. These include an engineer tank, ARV and AVLB, with Spain requiring all three types,

Specification:

First prototype: M47 none; M47M 1969 First production: M47 1950-1953 (8576 built); M47M 1973-75 (547 conversions) Current users: M47 - Greece (reserve), South Korea, Portugal, Turkey (reserve) M47M - Iran, Pakistan Crew:M4-5;M47M-4 Combat weight: M47 46 170 kg; M47M46810kg Ground pressure: 0.94 kg/cm2 Length, gun forwards: M47 8.51 m; M47M 8.55 m

Width: 3.38 m Height (without AA gun): 3.02 m Ground clearance: 0.47 m

Max. road speed: M47 48 km/h; M47M 55 km/h Maximum range: M47 130 km; M47M 600 km Fording: unprepared 1.22 m Gradient: 60% Side slope: 30%

Vertical obstacle: 0.91 m Trench: 2.6m

Powerpack: M47 - AV1790-5B, -7 or -7 V-12 air-cooled petrol engine developing 810 hp and coupled to an Allison CD-8504, -4A or -4B transmission; M47M-AV-1790-2AV-12 air-cooled diesel developing 750 hp and coupled to an Allison CD-850-6A transmission Armament: (main) 1 x 90 mm gun (M47 71 rounds, M47M 79 rounds); (bow) 1 x 7.62 mm MG (removed in M47M); (coaxial) 1 x 7.62 mm or 12.7 mm MG; (anti-aircraft) 1 x 12.7 mmMG