Basic Information

Name

M48A5 American Main Battle Tank (MBT)

Designation

M48A5

Alternate Designation

M48A5

Equipment Type

Main Battle Tank (MBT)

Manufacturer

—

Date of Introduction

1976

Description

M48A5 In the mid-1970s, the vehicle was modified to carry the heavier 105 mm gun. The original program designation was XM736. The designation was subsequently changed to M48A3E1 and was finally standardized as M48A5. As many components from the M60A1 were utilized as possible. Anniston Army Depot was issued a contract to convert 501 M48A3 tanks to the M48A5 standard and this was completed in December 1976. These early M48A5's were essentially M48A3 tanks with the 105mm gun added. They retained the M1 cupola armed with a .50 cal machine gun. Based on Israeli experience in upgrading M48 series tanks, further changes were included starting in August 1976. These included replacing the M1 cupola with a low-profile "Urdan" type cupola that mounted an M60D machine gun for use by the tank commander. A second M60D machine gun was mounted on the turret roof for use by the loader. Internal ammunition stowage for the 105mm main gun was also increased to 54 rounds. These tanks were initially given the designation M48A5API; but, after early conversions were brought up to the later standard, the API was removed and these tanks were known simply as M48A5. In addition to the conversion of M48A3 tanks, an additional conversion process for bringing M48A1 tanks to the M48A5 standard was also developed. By March 1978, 708 M48A5 tanks had been converted from the M48A1 model. Work continued until December 1979, at which time 2069 M48A5's had been converted. The vast majority of M48A5 tanks in service with US Army units were assigned to National Guard and Army Reserve Units. A notable exception was the 2nd Infantry Division in the Republic of Korea, which replaced their M60A1 tanks with M48A5s, which arrived in June and July 1978. On 2nd Infantry Division M48A5 tanks, the commander's M60D was replaced with a .50 caliber M2 machine gun. By the mid-1990s, the M48s were phased out of U.S. service. Many other countries, however, continued to use these M48 models.

Ground Specifications

Crew 4

Engine V-12 Diesel (750 hp)

Range 499.0 km

Variants

M48 M48: Differed from the M47 in having yet another new turret design and a redesigned hull, doing away with the bow machine gun position, featuring the M41 90 mm gun. These turrets give the M48 its distinctive non-M26 style look. Originally, the gun featured a Y-shape muzzle brake, but this was changed to the more characteristic T-shape.

M48C M48C: Over a hundred original production hulls were found to be lacking correct ballistic protection and were relegated to training as the M48C.

M48A1 M48A1: New driver hatch and M1 commander's cupola, allowing the M2HB .50 caliber machine gun to be operated and reloaded from within the vehicle.

M48A2 M48A2: Improved powerpack and transmission, redesigned rear plate, and improved turret control.

M48A2C M48A2C: M48A2s with an improved rangefinder, M17, new ballistic drive and bore evacuator for the main gun, and the auxiliary tensioning wheels were deleted.

M48 AVLB M48 AVLB: M48A2 chassis, fitted with a scissors-type bridge. All later upgraded to A3 standard.

M48A3 Refit of M48A1 through M48A2C models to diesel engines and a new fire control system. 1,019 converted.

M48A3 Mod. B M48A3 Mod. B: Additional armor on the exhausts and tail lights, and a raised commander's cupola.

M48A4 M48A4: upgrade proposed 15 October 1966 by Chrysler Defense, mating the T95E5 turret of the original variant of the M60 series tank to the M48A3 hull. Used by Israel in some Magach 3 variants.

M48A5 M48A5: Up-gunned with the 105 mm M68 gun. 2,069 converted.

M48A5E1 M48A5E1: New laser rangefinder, digital fire-control system, improving night vision system.

M48A5PI M48A5PI: M1 cupola replaced by the Israeli Urdan model.

M67 "Zippo" M67 "Zippo": M48 armed with a flamethrower inside a dummy model of the main gun with a fake muzzle brake. Named after a popular brand of cigarette lighter.

M247 Sergeant York: M247 Sergeant York: This self-propelled anti-aircraft gun, cancelled in 1985 before it was deployed, used the M48A5 chassis.

System

Alternative Designation M48A5

Type Main Battle Tank

In Service 1976-Present

Crew 4 (commander, gunner, loader, driver)

Dimensions

Length, Hull 6.42 m

Length, Gun Forward 9.31 m

Width 3.63 m

Height 3.09 m

Track, Length on Ground 4.00 m

Track, Width 0.71 m

Ground Clearance 0.41 mm

Ground Pressure 0.88 kg/cm sq

Weight, Combat 48,987 kg

Weight, Unloaded 46,287 kg

Automotive

Engine Name 1 x Teledyne Continental AVDS-1790-2D 1,790-cu in (29.3-liter) air-cooled

Engine Type V-12 Diesel

Engine Power 750 hp at 2,400 rpm

Range 499 km

Speed, Maximum Road 48 kph

Speed, Average Cross INA

Speed Maximum Swim Not Amphibious

Gradient 60%

Vertical Obstacle 0.92 m

Trench 2.59 m

Fording Depth, without Preparation 1.22 m

Fording Depth, with Preparation 2.44 m

Main Armament

System

Name M68

Type 105mm Rifled Gun

Caliber 105mm

Length 5,550 mm

Barrel Length 50 Calibres

Weight 1,128 kg

Fume Extractor Yes

Elevation -9 deg to 19 deg

Traverse 360 deg

Maximum Firing Range 4,000 m

Sights INA

Ammunition

Type Rifle

Caliber 105 mm

Shell INA

Shell Weight INA

Basic Load 54 Rounds

Coaxial Weapon System

System

Name M73 Machine Gun

Type Medium Machine Gun

Caliber 7.62mm

Quantity 2 x 7.62mm M73 machine gun

Manufacturer United States

Proliferation The M73 and M219 are 7.62 mm NATO caliber machine guns designed for tank use. NATO no longer uses them, but they were used on the M48 Patton and M60 Patton MBT series (including the M728 Combat Engineer Vehicle), and on the M551 Sheridan Armored Reconnaissance / Airborne Assault Vehicle (AR/AAV).

In Service 1959-1990s

Length 1,219.2 mm

Barrel Length 609.6 mm

Weight 14.1 kg

Rate of Fire 500-625 round/min

Action Recoil-operated/short-recoil operation with gas assist

Muzzle Velocity 853.44 m/s

Maximum Firing Range 3,657.6 m

Effective Firing Range 899.8 m

Feed System Belt Feed, left or right hand

Sight INA

Ammunition

Type Rifle

Caliber 7.62 mm

Cartridge 7.62×51mm NATO

Basic Load 2,000 Rounds

Auxiliary Weapon System

System

Name M60D

Type 7.62mm

Caliber General-Purpose Machine Gun

Quantity 2 x 7.62mm M60D Machine Gun

Manufacturer Saco Defense U.S. Ordnance

Proliferation Widely Proliferated

In Service 1957-Present

Length 1,105 mm

Barrel Length 560 mm

Weight 10.5 kg

Action Gas-operated, short-stroke gas piston, open bolt

Rate of Fire 550–650 RPM

Muzzle Velocity 853 m/s

Effective Firing Range 1,100 m

Feed System Disintegrating belt with M13 Links

Sights Iron sights

Note The M60D is a mounted variant of the standard M60. It can be mounted on boats, vehicles and as a pintle-mounted door gun in helicopters. When used in aircraft, it differs from the M60C in that it is not controlled by the pilot—rather, it is mounted in a door and operated by a member of the crew. Like the rest of the M60 family, it is an air-cooled, gas-operated, belt-fed weapon. Unlike other models, however, the M60D normally has spade grips and an aircraft ring-type sight or similar, as well as an improved ammunition feed system. A canvas bag is also affixed to the gun to capture ejected casings and links, preventing them from being sucked into the rotor blades or into an engine intake. The M60D was equipped on the UH-1B Huey (using the M23, XM29, M59, and the Sagami mounts), the CH-47 Chinook (using the M24 and M41 mounts) in both door and ramp locations, the ACH-47A "Guns-A-Go-Go" variant of the Chinook (using the XM32 and XM33 mounts), and on the UH-60 Black Hawk (using the M144 mount). The M60D is also used by the British on Royal Air Force Chinooks. In US service, the M60D has been primarily replaced by the M240H. The M60D is still manufactured by U.S. Ordnance and still used on the SH-60 Seahawk.

Ammunition

Type Rifle

Caliber 7.62 mm

Cartridge 7.62×51mm NATO

Basic Load 3,000 Rounds Each

Fire Control

Name INA

Computerized FCS Yes, The fire control system included a rangefinder, mechanical ballistic computer, ballistic drive, and gunner's periscope. Collectively, these mechanical devices resembled in miniature the fire control systems used in naval gunnery. Only after the Second World War did such systems become small enough for use in combat vehicles. These mechanical fire control systems permitted tanks to engage effectively at much longer ranges than in World War II, a critical consideration for the Army, expecting to enter the European battlefield outnumbered. Instead of a gunner's sight being slaved to the gun tube, the ballistic computer and drive computed the range and elevated the gun. The gunner's primary responsibility lay in keeping the sight on the target.

Thermal Sight Tank Commander thermal sights (Taiwanese and Turkish M48s only)

Infrared driving lights and searchlights

Main Gun Stabilization INA

Rangefinders There are two basic types of optical rangefinders, stereoscopic and coincidence. With a stereoscopic model range determination occurred by measuring the distance from the observer to a target using the observer's capability of binocular vision. The coincidence rangefinder uses a single eyepiece. Light from the target enters the rangefinder through two windows located at either end of the instrument. The ARCOVE emphasis upon increased long range accuracy led to the incorporation of a fire control system (FCS) in the M48.

Ballistic Computer M13 electro-mechanical ballistic computer. The mechanical ballistic computer made a more accurate computation of range possible by mathematically accounting for such factors as vehicle cant and ammunition type. Many developmental range finders based on pulses of IR light, such as the OPTAR rangefinder of the T95 continued into 1957.

Protection

Hull Armor hull front: 101/120 mm hull sides: 76 mm hull rear: 44 mm hull top: 57 mm

Turret Armor turret front: 110 mm turret sides: 76 mm turret rear: 50 mm turret top: 25 mm

Applique Armor INA

Explosive Reactive Armor INA

Active Protection System INA

Mine Clearing INA

Self-Entrenching Blade INA

NBC Protection limited protection

Smoke Equipment M339 smoke grenade dischargers; engine smoke-laying system