Comments:
Softcover, 207 pages, black-and-white photos
ISBN: 978-1-18488-4761-3
Price: $29.95
Publisher: Pen & Sword
From the publisher:
From Pen & Sword’s Images of War series. Green brings his encyclopedic knowledge and vast collection of images to bear on the evolution of the Patton tank which, in its many variants, was the armored mainstay of the U.S. and many foreign armies for 40 years.
Successor to the Sherman and Pershing tanks, the first Patton tanks (M46) were converted Pershings which saw service in Korea. Countering Soviet-made armor, the M47 carried a more-effective 90mm gun and improved turret; 8,576 were produced.
The M48 entered service in 1953 as M47s were passed off mainly to NATO allies. Despite serious initial deficiencies, more than 12,000 gasoline-powered examples (M48A1/A2/A2C) came into service. These were followed by the diesel-powered M48A3 which the U.S. Marine Corps and U.S. Army took to South Vietnam.
In the late 1950s, the U.S. Army fielded the diesel-powered M60 series with its British-designed 105mm gun. By 1982 more than 15,000 had been built in four basic models. Simultaneously, the M48A5 Patton tank (with the same 105mm gun and diesel engines) went into service with U.S. Army Reserve, National Guard, and friendly foreign armies.
The Patton excelled in specialist roles: anti-aircraft, flamethrowers, recovery, or combat engineer. Additionally, other countries, notably Israel, modified their M48s and used them into the late 1990s.
FSM says:
A valuable photo resource for modelers: walkarounds, detail shots, plenty of variants. A comprehensive look at all things Patton.