The M48 Patton entered U.S. service in February 1952 as the Army’s new main battle tank, replacing the M26 Pershing, M46, M47, and even lingering Sherman variants. Designated as the 90 mm Gun Tank M48, it marked the Army’s move toward modern MBT doctrine. Nearly 12,000 were built by Chrysler and American Locomotive Company between 1952 and 1961. Unlike earlier tanks, the M48 introduced a four-man crew layout with a centerline driver’s compartment and eliminated the bow machine gunner, giving more space inside the hull. The earliest versions, from the M48 through the M48A2C, were powered by gasoline engines, a choice that proved hazardous in combat as fires often broke out when the tanks were hit. Later M48A3 and A5 models switched to diesel engines, which became the standard. The gasoline models lingered in the U.S. National Guard until 1968 and in West Germany until the mid-1970s. By the late 1950s, most American tanks were upgraded to the M48A3 standard, and the series remained in front-line service until the M60 took over in the 1960s. Even so, M48A5s stayed with the U.S. National Guard into the mid-1980s, and some were still being used as test vehicles into the 1990s. The Patton family saw its most famous action during the Vietnam War, where M48s of the U.S. Army and Marine Corps supported infantry, defended bases, and engaged North Vietnamese armor. Abroad, the M48 fought in multiple Arab–Israeli wars, where both U.S. and Soviet-supplied designs faced each other directly. Exported widely across NATO and beyond, it became one of the most recognized Cold War tanks. As of the 2010s, many nations continued to operate modernized M48s, with Turkey, Taiwan, and Greece fielding the largest fleets. In terms of design, the M48 had a wedge-shaped glacis plate, six pairs of roadwheels per side with torsion bar suspension, and a cast hemispherical turret. Early M48s had five return rollers, but later models like the M48A2 reduced this to three per side while simplifying the engine deck and powerpack layout. Shock absorbers were mounted at the first two and last wheel stations, and the drive sprocket was located at the rear. The rear engine deck layout changed significantly between versions as designers sought greater efficiency and fuel capacity. The turret design was distinctive, with a rounded profile and a flat gun shield. It mounted the 90 mm Gun M41, an improved and lighter version of the M47’s weapon. This cannon was intended to deal with Soviet heavy armor like the IS-3, though American planners were concerned about its effectiveness. Work on new ammunition, including HEAT and APDS rounds, sought to improve penetration. A .30 caliber coaxial machine gun supported the main gun, while a .50 caliber machine gun in the commander’s cupola provided additional firepower. Cupola designs varied over time, with some early tanks using remote-controlled pedestal mounts and later models adopting enclosed cupolas that allowed the commander to fire from under armor, though reloading often still required exposure. One of the M48’s key advancements was its fire control system. Drawing on lessons from World War II and Korea, the tank integrated optical rangefinders, a mechanical ballistic computer, and a ballistic drive to adjust the gun’s elevation automatically. This system allowed crews to engage effectively at longer ranges, giving NATO forces an advantage in anticipated battles against numerically superior Soviet forces in Europe. Autoloader systems were briefly tested on experimental turrets but ultimately rejected due to space limitations. While originally envisioned to incorporate new composite armor made with fused silica glass, the M48 remained reliant on cast steel armor, as the technology was not yet mature. Nonetheless, the tank’s design left room for upgrades, and many nations later reinforced M48s with additional armor and modern electronics. Its versatile hull also became the basis for armored recovery vehicles, bridge layers, and engineering variants, extending its utility well beyond that of a frontline battle tank. Though replaced in U.S. service, the M48 Patton remains a symbol of Cold War armored warfare and continues to serve in modified form around the world.