Difference between revisions of "M48A1 (China)"

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{{Specs-Card|code=cn_m48a1_patton_III}}
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{{About
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| about = medium tank '''{{PAGENAME}}'''
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| usage = other versions
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| link = M48 Patton (Family)
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}}
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{{Specs-Card
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|code=cn_m48a1_patton_III
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|images={{Specs-Card-Image|GarageImage_{{PAGENAME}}.jpg}}
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}}
  
 
== Description ==
 
== Description ==
 
<!-- ''In the description, the first part should be about the history of the creation and combat usage of the vehicle, as well as its key features. In the second part, tell the reader about the ground vehicle in the game. Insert a screenshot of the vehicle, so that if the novice player does not remember the vehicle by name, he will immediately understand what kind of vehicle the article is talking about.'' -->
 
<!-- ''In the description, the first part should be about the history of the creation and combat usage of the vehicle, as well as its key features. In the second part, tell the reader about the ground vehicle in the game. Insert a screenshot of the vehicle, so that if the novice player does not remember the vehicle by name, he will immediately understand what kind of vehicle the article is talking about.'' -->
−
<!-- [[File:GarageImage_{{PAGENAME}}.jpg|420px|thumb|left]]
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The '''{{Specs|name}}''' , officially known as the M48A1戰車 and M48A3戰車* after engine refit, was the main composition of ROCA armored corps in 1970s until 1990s. As PLAGF and PLANMC have already acquired Type 59s for their armored brigades/divisions, ROCA saw the complications of their already obsolete fleet of US-built light tanks would be hopeless against the former; but this would be further hindered by the end of Mutual Aid Program with free aids, meaning any future equipment have to be purchased. By 1973, ROCA started to purchase M48A1 from US Army stocks under the Project Fire Bull (火牛專案) and has acquired 309 of them in 4 separated batches by 1980; due to the signature of Sino (Mainland China)-US treaties regarding to military sales to Nationalist Government, these tanks would be the main force until later purchase of M60A3TTS from US. Most M48A1s were then upgraded with new diesel engine with spare parts purchased from USA, while one of these tanks is experimented with a 105 mm M68 gun under the name Wancheng IV (萬乘四號) or M48A5; most of these tanks would be decommissioned by 1990s with the arrival of M60A3TTS and domestic rebuilt CM11 (M48H; based on M60A3TTS chassis and M48A5 turret), while 100 of these M48A1s would be modified with spare FCS from CM11 and refitted with M68A1 gun as the CM12. Due to the lack of spare parts from M48 series, these CM12 tanks were all in reserve until M1A2T eventually arrives in mid-2020s.
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{{break}} -->
+
 
−
The '''{{Specs|name}}''' is a rank {{Specs|rank}} Chinese medium tank {{Battle-rating}}. It was introduced in [[Update 1.91 "Night Vision"]].
+
Introduced in [[Update 1.91 "Night Vision"]] alongside with the Chinese ground tech-tree, M48A1 performs identically to its US and Israeli counterparts with its huge profile while armed with a 90 mm cannon; while its huge size hinders its combat efficiency, with more advanced HEATFS and careful planning, players can still utilize M48A1 in a support role even at higher tier, while it will have no problem handling WWII tanks.
 +
 
 +
''<small>*ROCA refitted AVDS-1790-2DM from spare parts of US M48A3 tanks and enlarged the fuel tanks for their M48A1 fleet, thus naming M48A3 by ROCA</small>''
  
 
== General info ==
 
== General info ==
 
=== Survivability and armour ===
 
=== Survivability and armour ===
−
''Describe armour protection. Note the most well protected and key weak areas. Appreciate the layout of modules as well as the number and location of crew members. Is the level of armour protection sufficient, is the placement of modules helpful for survival in combat? If necessary use a visual template to indicate the most secure and weak zones of the armour.''
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{{Specs-Tank-Armour}}
 +
<!-- ''Describe armour protection. Note the most well protected and key weak areas. Appreciate the layout of modules as well as the number and location of crew members. Is the level of armour protection sufficient, is the placement of modules helpful for survival in combat? If necessary use a visual template to indicate the most secure and weak zones of the armour.'' -->
 +
 
 +
'''Armour type:'''
 +
 
 +
* Cast homogeneous armour (Hull, Turret)
 +
* Rolled homogeneous armour (Rear - low, Roof)
 +
 
 +
{| class="wikitable"
 +
|-
 +
! Armour !! Front (Slope angle) !! Sides !! Rear !! Roof
 +
|-
 +
| Hull || 85-200 mm (59-74°) ''Front glacis'' <br> 63-200 mm (13-60°) ''Lower glacis'' || 76 mm (8-43°) ''Front'' <br> 51 mm (0-43°) ''Rear'' || 35 mm (26-32°) ''Top'' <br> 25 mm (61-62°) ''Bottom'' || 25.4-57 mm
 +
|-
 +
| Turret || 127 mm (12-76°) ''Turret front'' <br> 152 + 82 mm (17-26°) ''Gun mantlet'' || 69-100 mm (12-36°) || 51-55 mm (2-71°) || 25-69 mm
 +
|-
 +
| Cupola || 70 mm || 70 mm || 70 mm || 70 mm
 +
|-
 +
|}
 +
'''Notes:'''
 +
 
 +
* Suspension wheels and tracks are 20 mm thick.
 +
* Belly armour is 38 mm in the front and 25 mm in the rear.
  
 
=== Mobility ===
 
=== Mobility ===
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''Write about the mobility of the ground vehicle. Estimate the specific power and manoeuvrability, as well as the maximum speed forward and backwards.''
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{{Specs-Tank-Mobility}}
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<!-- ''Write about the mobility of the ground vehicle. Estimate the specific power and manoeuvrability, as well as the maximum speed forwards and backwards.'' -->
 +
 
 +
{{tankMobility|abMinHp=1,255|rbMinHp=716}}
 +
 
 +
=== Modifications and economy ===
 +
{{Specs-Economy}}
  
 
== Armaments ==
 
== Armaments ==
 +
{{Specs-Tank-Armaments}}
 
=== Main armament ===
 
=== Main armament ===
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''Give the reader information about the characteristics of the main gun. Assess its effectiveness in a battle based on the reloading speed, ballistics and the power of shells. Do not forget about the flexibility of the fire, that is how quickly the cannon can be aimed at the target, open fire on it and aim at another enemy. Add a link to the main article on the gun: <code><nowiki>{{main|Name of the weapon}}</nowiki></code>. Describe in general terms the ammunition available for the main gun. Advise about how to use them and how to fill the ammunition storage.''
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{{Specs-Tank-Weapon|1}}
 +
<!-- ''Give the reader information about the characteristics of the main gun. Assess its effectiveness in a battle based on the reloading speed, ballistics and the power of shells. Do not forget about the flexibility of the fire, that is how quickly the cannon can be aimed at the target, open fire on it and aim at another enemy. Add a link to the main article on the gun: <code><nowiki>{{main|Name of the weapon}}</nowiki></code>. Describe in general terms the ammunition available for the main gun. Give advice on how to use them and how to fill the ammunition storage.'' -->
 +
{{main|M41 (90 mm)}}
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 +
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"
 +
|-
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! colspan="5" | [[M41 (90 mm)|90 mm M41]] || colspan="5" | Turret rotation speed (°/s) || colspan="4" | Reloading rate (seconds)
 +
|-
 +
! Mode !! Capacity !! Vertical !! Horizontal !! Stabilizer
 +
! Stock !! Upgraded !! Full !! Expert !! Aced
 +
! Stock !! Full !! Expert !! Aced
 +
|-
 +
! ''Arcade''
 +
| rowspan="2" | 60 || rowspan="2" | -9°/+19° || rowspan="2" | ±180° || rowspan="2" | - || 22.8 || 31.6 || 38.4 || 42.5 || 45.2 || rowspan="2" | 8.71 || rowspan="2" | 7.70 || rowspan="2" | 7.10 || rowspan="2" | 6.70
 +
|-
 +
! ''Realistic''
 +
| 14.3 || 16.8 || 20.4 || 22.6 || 24.0
 +
|-
 +
|}
 +
 
 +
==== Ammunition ====
 +
{{:M41 (90 mm)/Ammunition|M332 shot, T142E3, M82 shot, M431 shell, M71 shell, M313}}
  
−
=== Additional armament ===
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==== [[Ammo racks]] ====
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''Some tanks are armed with several guns in one or more turrets. Evaluate the additional weaponry and give advice on its use. Describe the ammunition available for additional weaponry. Give advice on about how to use them and how to fill the ammunition storage. If there is no additional weaponry remove this subsection.''
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[[File:Ammoracks_M48A1.png|right|thumb|x250px|[[Ammo racks]] of the M48A1 (identical).]]
 +
<!-- '''Last updated: 2.15.1.55''' -->
 +
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
 +
|-
 +
! Full<br>ammo
 +
! 1st<br>rack empty
 +
! 2nd<br>rack empty
 +
! 3rd<br>rack empty
 +
! 4th<br>rack empty
 +
! 5th<br>rack empty
 +
! Visual<br>discrepancy
 +
|-
 +
| '''60''' || 53&nbsp;''(+7)'' || 42&nbsp;''(+18)'' || 24&nbsp;''(+36)'' || 17&nbsp;''(+43)'' || 1&nbsp;''(+59)'' || No
 +
|-
 +
|}
 +
'''Notes''':
 +
 
 +
* Shells are modeled by sets of 2 and disappear from the rack after you've fired both shells in the set.
 +
* Racks 4 and 5 are first stage ammo racks. They total 23 shells and get filled first when loading up the tank.
 +
** These rack are also emptied early: the depletion order at full capacity is: 4 - 5 - 1 - 2 - 3.
 +
** Simply not firing when the gun is loaded will move ammo from racks 1-3 into rack 5 then 4. Firing will interrupt the restocking of the ready rack.
  
 
=== Machine guns ===
 
=== Machine guns ===
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''Offensive and anti-aircraft machine guns not only allow you to fight some aircraft but also are effective against lightly armoured vehicles. Evaluate machine guns and give recommendations on its use.''
+
{{Specs-Tank-Weapon|2}}
 +
{{Specs-Tank-Weapon|3}}
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<!-- ''Offensive and anti-aircraft machine guns not only allow you to fight some aircraft but also are effective against lightly armoured vehicles. Evaluate machine guns and give recommendations on its use.'' -->
 +
{{main|M2HB (12.7 mm)|M73 (7.62 mm)}}
 +
 
 +
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="50%"
 +
|-
 +
! colspan="5" | [[M2HB (12.7 mm)|12.7 mm M2HB]]
 +
|-
 +
! Mount !! Capacity (Belt) !! Fire rate !! Vertical !! Horizontal
 +
|-
 +
| Pintle || 600 (200) || 575 || -9°/+60° || ±180°
 +
|-
 +
|}
 +
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="50%"
 +
|-
 +
! colspan="5" | [[M73 (7.62 mm)|7.62 mm M73]]
 +
|-
 +
! Mount !! Capacity (Belt) !! Fire rate !! Vertical !! Horizontal
 +
|-
 +
| Coaxial || 6,000 (250) || 500 || - || -
 +
|-
 +
|}
  
 
== Usage in battles ==
 
== Usage in battles ==
−
''Describe the tactics of playing in the vehicle, the features of using vehicles in the team and advice on tactics. Refrain from creating a "guide" - do not impose a single point of view but instead give the reader food for thought. Describe the most dangerous enemies and give recommendations on fighting them. If necessary, note the specifics of the game in different modes (AB, RB, SB).''
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<!-- ''Describe the tactics of playing in the vehicle, the features of using vehicles in the team and advice on tactics. Refrain from creating a "guide" - do not impose a single point of view but instead give the reader food for thought. Describe the most dangerous enemies and give recommendations on fighting them. If necessary, note the specifics of the game in different modes (AB, RB, SB).'' -->
 +
The M48A1 plays as a general medium tank, acting as a jack-of-all-trades in all of the tank's traits with average armour, firepower, and mobility.
 +
 
 +
The M48A1 front hull glacis and turret are the strong points of the tank and have the best chance on the tank to bounce off rounds. However, its lower glacis and side armour remain a significant weak point for the tank, so take extra caution when exposing those weak points.
 +
 
 +
One of the best ways to use this tank when a player does not have access to its HEATFS round is to refrain from using it as a brawler. This is because most of the shells that this tank has in its arsenal, do not have the ample firepower to eliminate most of the targets it faces at its BR. However, since the tank is incredibly mobile, it can be used as an excellent flanker. It can out-manoeuvre most of its medium tank rivals and expose their side armours.
  
 
=== Pros and cons ===
 
=== Pros and cons ===
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<!--Summarise and briefly evaluate the vehicle in terms of its characteristics and combat effectiveness. Mark its pros and cons in a bulleted list. Try not to use more than 6 points for each of the characteristics. Avoid using categorical definitions such as "bad", "good" and the like - use substitutions with softer forms such as "inadequate" and "effective".-->
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<!-- ''Summarise and briefly evaluate the vehicle in terms of its characteristics and combat effectiveness. Mark its pros and cons in a bulleted list. Try not to use more than 6 points for each of the characteristics. Avoid using categorical definitions such as "bad", "good" and the like - use substitutions with softer forms such as "inadequate" and "effective".'' -->
  
 
'''Pros:'''
 
'''Pros:'''
  
−
* Decent frontal armor
+
* Good firepower:
−
* M82 APCBC shells are less effective at its rank but will still do the job if used wisely
+
** Powerful HEATFS round, can generally penetrate everything it meets
−
* Good penetration for the HEAT rounds
+
** M82 APCBC shells have low penetration, but has good explosive mass
−
* Good mobility overall
+
** .50 calibre machine gun is good for use against lightly-armoured vehicles and aircraft
−
* .50 caliber machine gun is good for use against lightly-armored vehicles and aircraft
+
** Has access to a rangefinder, allowing quick measuring of distances
−
* Unlike the M47, the M48 doesn't have a shot trap in front
+
* Decent armour:
 +
** Good sloped frontal armour
 +
** Strong hull roof armour of 57 mm
 +
** Good gun mantlet, virtually immune to APHE rounds
 +
* Good overall mobility
 +
* Has neutral steering
  
 
'''Cons:'''
 
'''Cons:'''
  
−
* Armor can still be penetrated by the majority of the guns at this rank
+
* Armour can still be penetrated by the majority of the guns at this rank
−
* Stock APCR round is painful to use
+
* Large commander's cupola is a major weak spot, especially against APHE
 +
* Turret roof is only 25 mm, can be penetrated by HMG armed aircraft
 +
* Large profile
 +
* Poor stock grind due to stock APCR round
 +
* Gunner doesn't get access to NVD
  
 
== History ==
 
== History ==
−
''Describe the history of the creation and combat usage of the vehicle in more detail than in the introduction. If the historical reference turns out to be too long, take it to a separate article, taking a link to the article about the vehicle and adding a block "/History" (example: <nowiki>https://wiki.warthunder.com/(Vehicle-name)/History</nowiki>) and add a link to it here using the <code>main</code> template. Be sure to reference text and sources by using <code><nowiki><ref></ref></nowiki></code>, as well as adding them at the end of the article with <code><nowiki><references /></nowiki></code>. This section may also include the vehicle's dev blog entry (if applicable) and the in-game encyclopedia description (under <code><nowiki>=== In-game description ===</nowiki></code>, also if applicable).''
+
<!-- ''Describe the history of the creation and combat usage of the vehicle in more detail than in the introduction. If the historical reference turns out to be too long, take it to a separate article, taking a link to the article about the vehicle and adding a block "/History" (example: <nowiki>https://wiki.warthunder.com/(Vehicle-name)/History</nowiki>) and add a link to it here using the <code>main</code> template. Be sure to reference text and sources by using <code><nowiki><ref></ref></nowiki></code>, as well as adding them at the end of the article with <code><nowiki><references /></nowiki></code>. This section may also include the vehicle's dev blog entry (if applicable) and the in-game encyclopedia description (under <code><nowiki>=== In-game description ===</nowiki></code>, also if applicable).'' -->
 +
 
 +
=== Scavenging "Patton" from scrap ===
 +
Due to the impact of the Vietnam War, the United States changed its military aid policy to Taiwan. The United States no longer provided its surplus armaments for free to the ROCA, and instead required the ROCA to purchase equipment in the form of military aid loans. As a result, the progress of the ROCA's upgrade to newer American-made equipment began to stagnate.
 +
 
 +
Major General Richard G. Ciccolella, Chief of the US Military Assistance Advisory Group, Taiwan, requested for free or low-cost access to military equipment from the US Asia-Pacific garrison under the US military's "Major Item Material Excess" (MIMEX) program and "Military Assistance Program Excess" (MAP EXCESS) program. Excess or discarded weapons and equipment could be handed over to the ROCA for them to repair and reacquire. The repair and reacquire program was formally implemented in 1968, and the ROCA called the plan a "Diligence" program. On the other hand, the ROCA had been responsible for the repairing of damaged equipment in the Vietnam War since 1967 as the US military elements stationed in Vietnam lacked the ability to overhaul tanks and other special purpose vehicles. Among these American equipment, the heavily damaged equipment that was too difficult to repair was recovered and acquired by the ROCA. This program is called the "Repair Assistance" program. These programs were the two main approaches for the ROCA to obtain American-made equipment at that time.
 +
 
 +
In 1973, the ROCA purchased 60 M48A1 "Patton" medium tanks from the United States in four batches through the program codenamed "Fire Bull". An additional 100 M48A1 tanks were purchased under the "Fire Bull I" program in late 1973. The first batch of 60 tanks is mainly equipped by the 711st Battalion, 1st Armored Brigade, and the additional 100 tanks purchased are spread across the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Armored Brigades. In 1977, the "Fire Bull II" project was implemented and 100 M48A1 tanks were purchased, these 100 tanks were equipped to the 51st Armored Brigade and the 64th Armored Brigade. Later in the same year, the last batch of 56 M48A2 tanks in US preserves were purchased. Before the purchase of M48A1 medium tanks, the ROCA was only equipped with a number of M41 light tanks, therefore these M48A1 medium tanks constituted the backbone of the ROCA's armoured forces.
 +
 
 +
''(Fire Bull or "火牛", refers to a historical story of sneak raid that used bulls on fire as pioneer)''
 +
 
 +
=== The ROCA upgrade project of M48 ===
 +
The Joint Logistics Command, ROCA  launched a series of plans for self-developed tanks and armoured vehicles in 1975, codenamed the "Wan Sheng" project. The "Wan Sheng IV" prototype was built under such a background and, imitating the M48A5 medium tank introduced by the United States in 1973. The Army expected to improve the combat effectiveness of its M48 tanks up to the standard of the US M60A1 tank by upgrading the old M48A1 to M48A5 standard. Compared with the M48A1, the "Wan Sheng IV" prototype had enhanced equipment such as the M68 105 mm cannon, IR night vision optics, and an optical rangefinder, but retains the original hull structure without further modification. Therefore, the "Wan Sheng IV" prototype is not as capable as the standard M48A5 in terms of reliability, endurance and fire control system. Since the Army still hoped to purchase M60 medium tanks directly from the United States at the time, only one vehicle was modified under the "Wan Sheng IV" project and it never saw mass production.
 +
 
 +
In 1978, Mainland China and the United States issued the "China-US Announcement on Solving the Issue of US Arms Sale to Taiwan", while in the following year, Republic of China formally severed diplomatic relations with the United States and the Sino-US Mutual Defense Treaty also expired at the end of 1979. Therefore, Taiwan could no longer obtain new weapons from the United States in the close future.
 +
 
 +
In the meantime, the M48A1/A2 medium tanks equipped by the ROCA were very outdated and the Army was particularly dissatisfied with the M48's original AVSI-1790-6 gasoline engine, believing that its reliability and range could not meet the demand. As the result, the Army Ordnance Industry Development Center under the Joint Logistics Command purchased a batch of AV-1790-2DM diesel engines to upgrade the power components of the M48 in service. The ROCA designated these tanks as M48A3. However, this batch of tanks lacked the structural upgrade of the engine compartment like the standard M48A3. Not only did these tanks look different, their fire control systems and suspension systems were also inferior compared to the standard US M48A3 tanks. Therefore, the M48A3 tank modified by the ROCA is only a combination of the M48A1 and an upgraded power station.
 +
 
 +
''(Wan Sheng or "萬乘", meaning "thousands of combat vehicles", is a Chinese allusion referring to a powerful army and therefore a strong nation)''
 +
 
 +
=== CM11 and CM12 ===
 +
After the failed attempt by the ROCA to purchase M48A5 and "[[Magach 3]]" tanks from Spain, South Africa and Israel, the imitation and transformation project for a new tank was launched again in 1984. The ROCA's tank research and development center and General Dynamics jointly designed a second-generation main battle tank "Brave Tiger", designated as M48H (or CM11 later).
 +
 
 +
The "Brave Tiger" MBT is a hybrid of an enhanced M48 turret and a M60 chassis, equipped with a cutting-edge FCS that comes from the M1 Abrams. Therefore, "Brave Tiger" was designated as M48H (H for Hybrid). The Army Fighting Vehicle R&D Center purchased 450 M60 tank chassis for modification before the M60 production line ever shut down. The "Brave Tiger" tank began testing in 1988. It officially entered service in  the ROCA on April 14th, 1990.
 +
 
 +
The Army Ordnance Industry Development Center transformed a total number of 550 turrets. After 450 M48H tanks were assembled on the CM11 "Brave Tiger", the remaining 100 turrets were assigned to the old M48A3 tanks. These upgraded M48A3 tanks are known as CM12 MBTs. The Army Ordnance Industry Development Center continued to carry out the transformation of the M48A3 tank, and a total of 250 CM12 tanks were produced.
 +
 
 +
After the Taiwan Strait Missile Crisis in 1996, in order to curb the CCP's attempt to invade Taiwan by force, the United States sold 450 M60A3 tanks to Republic of China. At present time, the armoured combat forces of the Republic of China Army are mainly equipped with CM11 "Brave Tiger" MBTs and M60A3 MBTs. Due to lack of reliability, most of the CM12 tanks are stored as reserve forces.
 +
 
 +
=== PLA's evaluation of captured ARVN M48A3 ===
 +
After North Vietnam and the Viet Cong defeated the Republic of Vietnam, the Vietnamese Defense Minister Võ Nguyên Giáp presented a personal gift of a batch of US-made weapons including M48A3 tanks and M113 APCs to Chinese Defense Minister Ye Jianying. After evaluating the M48A3 tank, the Armored Forces Technology Research Institute, which is responsible for the R&D of armoured vehicles in mainland China, believed that the M48A3 medium tank has many advantages over the Type 59 tank in service. With the advancement of the PRC's military industry, technical advantages of the M48A3 tank such as steering wheel control system, air-cooled engines, and hydraulic transmissions were rapidly absorbed by subsequently produced domestic tanks.
 +
 
 +
The captured ARVN M48A3 tank is currently on public display in the Family Courtyard No. 4, Huaishuling, Fengtai District, Beijing.
  
 
== Media ==
 
== Media ==
−
''Excellent additions to the article would be video guides, screenshots from the game, and photos.''
+
<!-- ''Excellent additions to the article would be video guides, screenshots from the game, and photos.'' -->
 +
 
 +
;Skins
 +
 
 +
* [https://live.warthunder.com/feed/camouflages/?vehicle=cn_m48a1_patton_III Skins and camouflages for the {{PAGENAME}} from live.warthunder.com.]
 +
 
 +
;Images
 +
<gallery mode="packed" heights="200">
 +
File:ROCA-M48A3-1.jpg|thumbnail|x150px|Retired ROCA M48A3 at Keelung.
 +
File:ROCA-M48A3-2.jpg|thumbnail|x150px|Retired ROCA M48A3 at Keelung.
 +
File:ROCA-M48A3-3.jpg|thumbnail|x150px|Retired ROCA M48A3 at Keelung.
 +
</gallery>
 +
 
 +
;Videos
 +
{{Youtube-gallery|Xwid3UCLr5U|'''The Patton Family''' discusses the {{PAGENAME}} at 7:59 - ''War Thunder Official Channel''}}
  
 
== See also ==
 
== See also ==
−
''Links to the articles on the War Thunder Wiki that you think will be useful for the reader, for example:''
+
<!-- ''Links to the articles on the War Thunder Wiki that you think will be useful for the reader, for example:''
 +
* ''reference to the series of the vehicles;''
 +
* ''links to approximate analogues of other nations and research trees.'' -->
 +
 
 +
;Related development
  
−
* ''reference to the series of the vehicles;''
+
* [[M48 Patton (Family)]]
−
* ''links to approximate analogues of other nations and research trees.''
 
  
 
== External links ==
 
== External links ==
Line 60: Line 225:
  
 
* ''topic on the official game forum;''
 
* ''topic on the official game forum;''
−
* ''encyclopedia page on the tank;''
 
 
* ''other literature.''
 
* ''other literature.''
  
 +
{{TankManufacturer Chrysler Defense}}
 
{{China medium tanks}}
 
{{China medium tanks}}

Latest revision as of 13:11, 10 February 2024

Introducing Wiki 3.0
This page is about the medium tank M48A1 (China). For other versions, see M48 Patton (Family).
␗M48A1
cn_m48a1_patton_iii.png
GarageImage M48A1 (China).jpg
␗M48A1
China flag.png China
V Rank
Battle rating:
AB RB SB
7.7 7.7 7.7
Class:
Research:95 000 Specs-Card-Exp.png
Purchase:270 000 Specs-Card-Lion.png

Description

The ␗90 mm Gun Tank M48A1 Patton III , officially known as the M48A1戰車 and M48A3戰車* after engine refit, was the main composition of ROCA armored corps in 1970s until 1990s. As PLAGF and PLANMC have already acquired Type 59s for their armored brigades/divisions, ROCA saw the complications of their already obsolete fleet of US-built light tanks would be hopeless against the former; but this would be further hindered by the end of Mutual Aid Program with free aids, meaning any future equipment have to be purchased. By 1973, ROCA started to purchase M48A1 from US Army stocks under the Project Fire Bull (火牛專案) and has acquired 309 of them in 4 separated batches by 1980; due to the signature of Sino (Mainland China)-US treaties regarding to military sales to Nationalist Government, these tanks would be the main force until later purchase of M60A3TTS from US. Most M48A1s were then upgraded with new diesel engine with spare parts purchased from USA, while one of these tanks is experimented with a 105 mm M68 gun under the name Wancheng IV (萬乘四號) or M48A5; most of these tanks would be decommissioned by 1990s with the arrival of M60A3TTS and domestic rebuilt CM11 (M48H; based on M60A3TTS chassis and M48A5 turret), while 100 of these M48A1s would be modified with spare FCS from CM11 and refitted with M68A1 gun as the CM12. Due to the lack of spare parts from M48 series, these CM12 tanks were all in reserve until M1A2T eventually arrives in mid-2020s.

Introduced in Update 1.91 "Night Vision" alongside with the Chinese ground tech-tree, M48A1 performs identically to its US and Israeli counterparts with its huge profile while armed with a 90 mm cannon; while its huge size hinders its combat efficiency, with more advanced HEATFS and careful planning, players can still utilize M48A1 in a support role even at higher tier, while it will have no problem handling WWII tanks.

*ROCA refitted AVDS-1790-2DM from spare parts of US M48A3 tanks and enlarged the fuel tanks for their M48A1 fleet, thus naming M48A3 by ROCA

General info

Survivability and armour

Armourfront / side / back
Hull110 / 76 / 35
Turret130 / 76 / 51
Crew4 people
Visibility117 %

Armour type:

  • Cast homogeneous armour (Hull, Turret)
  • Rolled homogeneous armour (Rear - low, Roof)
Armour Front (Slope angle) Sides Rear Roof
Hull 85-200 mm (59-74°) Front glacis
63-200 mm (13-60°) Lower glacis 		76 mm (8-43°) Front
51 mm (0-43°) Rear 		35 mm (26-32°) Top
25 mm (61-62°) Bottom 		25.4-57 mm
Turret 127 mm (12-76°) Turret front
152 + 82 mm (17-26°) Gun mantlet 		69-100 mm (12-36°) 51-55 mm (2-71°) 25-69 mm
Cupola 70 mm 70 mm 70 mm 70 mm

Notes:

  • Suspension wheels and tracks are 20 mm thick.
  • Belly armour is 38 mm in the front and 25 mm in the rear.

Mobility

Speedforward / back
AB51 / 10 km/h
RB and SB46 / 9 km/h
Number of gears6 forward
2 back
Weight44.9 t
Engine power
AB1 545 hp
RB and SB810 hp
Power-to-weight ratio
AB34.4 hp/t
RB and SB18.0 hp/t
Game Mode Max Speed (km/h) Weight (tons) Engine power (horsepower) Power-to-weight ratio (hp/ton)
Forward Reverse Stock Upgraded Stock Upgraded
Arcade 51 10 44.9 1,255 1,545 27.95 34.41
Realistic 46 9 716 810 15.95 18.04

Modifications and economy

Repair costBasic → Reference
AB3 878 → 5 460 Sl icon.png
RB4 381 → 6 168 Sl icon.png
SB6 174 → 8 692 Sl icon.png
Total cost of modifications77 300 Rp icon.png
129 500 Sl icon.png
Talisman cost2 000 Ge icon.png
Crew training78 000 Sl icon.png
Experts270 000 Sl icon.png
Aces1 100 Ge icon.png
Research Aces670 000 Rp icon.png
Reward for battleAB / RB / SB
130 / 200 / 220 % Sl icon.png
190 / 190 / 190 % Rp icon.png
Modifications
Mobility Protection Firepower
Mods new tank traks.png
Tracks
Research:
4 000 Rp icon.png
Cost:
6 500 Sl icon.png
210 Ge icon.png
Mods new tank suspension.png
Suspension
Research:
3 600 Rp icon.png
Cost:
5 800 Sl icon.png
185 Ge icon.png
Mods new tank break.png
Brake System
Research:
3 600 Rp icon.png
Cost:
5 800 Sl icon.png
185 Ge icon.png
Mods new tank filter.png
Filters
Research:
4 000 Rp icon.png
Cost:
6 500 Sl icon.png
210 Ge icon.png
Mods new tank transmission.png
Transmission
Research:
5 200 Rp icon.png
Cost:
8 400 Sl icon.png
270 Ge icon.png
Mods new tank engine.png
Engine
Research:
5 200 Rp icon.png
Cost:
8 400 Sl icon.png
270 Ge icon.png
Mods tank tool kit.png
Improved Parts
Research:
2 600 Rp icon.png
Cost:
6 500 Sl icon.png
210 Ge icon.png
Mods extinguisher.png
Improved FPE
Research:
2 300 Rp icon.png
Cost:
5 800 Sl icon.png
185 Ge icon.png
Mods tank reinforcement cn.png
Crew Replenishment
Research:
4 000 Rp icon.png
Cost:
6 500 Sl icon.png
210 Ge icon.png
Mods new tank horizontal aiming.png
Horizontal Drive
Research:
4 000 Rp icon.png
Cost:
6 500 Sl icon.png
210 Ge icon.png
Mods tank ammo.png
90mm_us_M82_m48_ammo_pack
Research:
4 000 Rp icon.png
Cost:
6 500 Sl icon.png
210 Ge icon.png
Mods tank cannon.png
Adjustment of Fire
Research:
3 600 Rp icon.png
Cost:
5 800 Sl icon.png
185 Ge icon.png
Mods tank ammo.png
90mm_us_T142E3_HESH_ammo_pack
Research:
3 600 Rp icon.png
Cost:
5 800 Sl icon.png
185 Ge icon.png
Mods new tank vertical aiming.png
Elevation Mechanism
Research:
4 000 Rp icon.png
Cost:
6 500 Sl icon.png
210 Ge icon.png
Mods tank ammo.png
90mm_us_M431_HEAT_ammo_pack
Research:
4 000 Rp icon.png
Cost:
6 500 Sl icon.png
210 Ge icon.png
Mods night vision device.png
NVD
Research:
4 000 Rp icon.png
Cost:
6 500 Sl icon.png
210 Ge icon.png
Mods art support.png
Artillery Support
Research:
5 200 Rp icon.png
Cost:
8 400 Sl icon.png
270 Ge icon.png
Mods tank ammo.png
90mm_us_M313_Smoke_ammo_pack
Research:
5 200 Rp icon.png
Cost:
8 400 Sl icon.png
270 Ge icon.png
Mods tank rangefinder.png
Rangefinder
Research:
5 200 Rp icon.png
Cost:
8 400 Sl icon.png
270 Ge icon.png

Armaments

Rangefinder
Reduces the error and increases the maximum measurable distance of the rangefinder
Night vision device
Improves visibility by enhancing natural light or active illumination.

Main armament

90 mm M41 cannon
Ammunition60 rounds
First-order23 rounds
Reloadbasic crew → aces
8.7 → 6.7 s
Vertical guidance-9° / 19°
Main article: M41 (90 mm)
90 mm M41 Turret rotation speed (°/s) Reloading rate (seconds)
Mode Capacity Vertical Horizontal Stabilizer Stock Upgraded Full Expert Aced Stock Full Expert Aced
Arcade 60 -9°/+19° ±180° - 22.8 31.6 38.4 42.5 45.2 8.71 7.70 7.10 6.70
Realistic 14.3 16.8 20.4 22.6 24.0

Ammunition

Penetration statistics
Ammunition Type of
warhead 		Penetration @ 0° Angle of Attack (mm)
10 m 100 m 500 m 1,000 m 1,500 m 2,000 m
M332 shot APCR 321 316 292 265 240 218
T142E3 HESH 102 102 102 102 102 102
M82 shot APCBC 185 182 169 155 142 130
M431 shell HEATFS 320 320 320 320 320 320
M71 shell HE 20 20 18 17 16 16
Shell details
Ammunition Type of
warhead 		Velocity
(m/s) 		Projectile
mass (kg) 		Fuse delay
(m) 		Fuse sensitivity
(mm) 		Explosive mass
(TNT equivalent) (g) 		Ricochet
0% 50% 100%
M332 shot APCR 1,249 5.7 - - - 66° 70° 72°
T142E3 HESH 792 10.6 0.1 4 3,050 73° 77° 80°
M82 shot APCBC 853 10.91 1.2 14 137.2 48° 63° 71°
M431 shell HEATFS 1,216 5.8 0.05 0.1 712.64 65° 72° 77°
M71 shell HE 823 10.55 0.2 0.1 1,210 79° 80° 81°
Smoke shell characteristics
Ammunition Velocity
(m/s) 		Projectile
mass (kg) 		Screen radius
(m) 		Screen deploy
time (s) 		Screen hold
time (s) 		Explosive mass
(TNT equivalent) (g)
M313 821 10.7 9 5 20 50

Ammo racks

Ammo racks of the M48A1 (identical).
Full
ammo 		1st
rack empty 		2nd
rack empty 		3rd
rack empty 		4th
rack empty 		5th
rack empty 		Visual
discrepancy
60 53 (+7) 42 (+18) 24 (+36) 17 (+43) 1 (+59) No

Notes:

  • Shells are modeled by sets of 2 and disappear from the rack after you've fired both shells in the set.
  • Racks 4 and 5 are first stage ammo racks. They total 23 shells and get filled first when loading up the tank.
    • These rack are also emptied early: the depletion order at full capacity is: 4 - 5 - 1 - 2 - 3.
    • Simply not firing when the gun is loaded will move ammo from racks 1-3 into rack 5 then 4. Firing will interrupt the restocking of the ready rack.

Machine guns

12.7 mm M2HB machine gun
Ammunition600 rounds
Belt capacity200 rounds
Reloadbasic crew → aces
10.4 → 8.0 s
Fire rate575 shots/min
Vertical guidance-9° / 60°
7.62 mm M73 machine gun (coaxial)
Ammunition6 000 rounds
Belt capacity250 rounds
Reloadbasic crew → aces
10.4 → 8.0 s
Fire rate500 shots/min
Main articles: M2HB (12.7 mm), M73 (7.62 mm)
12.7 mm M2HB
Mount Capacity (Belt) Fire rate Vertical Horizontal
Pintle 600 (200) 575 -9°/+60° ±180°
7.62 mm M73
Mount Capacity (Belt) Fire rate Vertical Horizontal
Coaxial 6,000 (250) 500 - -

Usage in battles

The M48A1 plays as a general medium tank, acting as a jack-of-all-trades in all of the tank's traits with average armour, firepower, and mobility.

The M48A1 front hull glacis and turret are the strong points of the tank and have the best chance on the tank to bounce off rounds. However, its lower glacis and side armour remain a significant weak point for the tank, so take extra caution when exposing those weak points.

One of the best ways to use this tank when a player does not have access to its HEATFS round is to refrain from using it as a brawler. This is because most of the shells that this tank has in its arsenal, do not have the ample firepower to eliminate most of the targets it faces at its BR. However, since the tank is incredibly mobile, it can be used as an excellent flanker. It can out-manoeuvre most of its medium tank rivals and expose their side armours.

Pros and cons

Pros:

  • Good firepower:
    • Powerful HEATFS round, can generally penetrate everything it meets
    • M82 APCBC shells have low penetration, but has good explosive mass
    • .50 calibre machine gun is good for use against lightly-armoured vehicles and aircraft
    • Has access to a rangefinder, allowing quick measuring of distances
  • Decent armour:
    • Good sloped frontal armour
    • Strong hull roof armour of 57 mm
    • Good gun mantlet, virtually immune to APHE rounds
  • Good overall mobility
  • Has neutral steering

Cons:

  • Armour can still be penetrated by the majority of the guns at this rank
  • Large commander's cupola is a major weak spot, especially against APHE
  • Turret roof is only 25 mm, can be penetrated by HMG armed aircraft
  • Large profile
  • Poor stock grind due to stock APCR round
  • Gunner doesn't get access to NVD

History

Scavenging "Patton" from scrap

Due to the impact of the Vietnam War, the United States changed its military aid policy to Taiwan. The United States no longer provided its surplus armaments for free to the ROCA, and instead required the ROCA to purchase equipment in the form of military aid loans. As a result, the progress of the ROCA's upgrade to newer American-made equipment began to stagnate.

Major General Richard G. Ciccolella, Chief of the US Military Assistance Advisory Group, Taiwan, requested for free or low-cost access to military equipment from the US Asia-Pacific garrison under the US military's "Major Item Material Excess" (MIMEX) program and "Military Assistance Program Excess" (MAP EXCESS) program. Excess or discarded weapons and equipment could be handed over to the ROCA for them to repair and reacquire. The repair and reacquire program was formally implemented in 1968, and the ROCA called the plan a "Diligence" program. On the other hand, the ROCA had been responsible for the repairing of damaged equipment in the Vietnam War since 1967 as the US military elements stationed in Vietnam lacked the ability to overhaul tanks and other special purpose vehicles. Among these American equipment, the heavily damaged equipment that was too difficult to repair was recovered and acquired by the ROCA. This program is called the "Repair Assistance" program. These programs were the two main approaches for the ROCA to obtain American-made equipment at that time.

In 1973, the ROCA purchased 60 M48A1 "Patton" medium tanks from the United States in four batches through the program codenamed "Fire Bull". An additional 100 M48A1 tanks were purchased under the "Fire Bull I" program in late 1973. The first batch of 60 tanks is mainly equipped by the 711st Battalion, 1st Armored Brigade, and the additional 100 tanks purchased are spread across the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Armored Brigades. In 1977, the "Fire Bull II" project was implemented and 100 M48A1 tanks were purchased, these 100 tanks were equipped to the 51st Armored Brigade and the 64th Armored Brigade. Later in the same year, the last batch of 56 M48A2 tanks in US preserves were purchased. Before the purchase of M48A1 medium tanks, the ROCA was only equipped with a number of M41 light tanks, therefore these M48A1 medium tanks constituted the backbone of the ROCA's armoured forces.

(Fire Bull or "火牛", refers to a historical story of sneak raid that used bulls on fire as pioneer)

The ROCA upgrade project of M48

The Joint Logistics Command, ROCA launched a series of plans for self-developed tanks and armoured vehicles in 1975, codenamed the "Wan Sheng" project. The "Wan Sheng IV" prototype was built under such a background and, imitating the M48A5 medium tank introduced by the United States in 1973. The Army expected to improve the combat effectiveness of its M48 tanks up to the standard of the US M60A1 tank by upgrading the old M48A1 to M48A5 standard. Compared with the M48A1, the "Wan Sheng IV" prototype had enhanced equipment such as the M68 105 mm cannon, IR night vision optics, and an optical rangefinder, but retains the original hull structure without further modification. Therefore, the "Wan Sheng IV" prototype is not as capable as the standard M48A5 in terms of reliability, endurance and fire control system. Since the Army still hoped to purchase M60 medium tanks directly from the United States at the time, only one vehicle was modified under the "Wan Sheng IV" project and it never saw mass production.

In 1978, Mainland China and the United States issued the "China-US Announcement on Solving the Issue of US Arms Sale to Taiwan", while in the following year, Republic of China formally severed diplomatic relations with the United States and the Sino-US Mutual Defense Treaty also expired at the end of 1979. Therefore, Taiwan could no longer obtain new weapons from the United States in the close future.

In the meantime, the M48A1/A2 medium tanks equipped by the ROCA were very outdated and the Army was particularly dissatisfied with the M48's original AVSI-1790-6 gasoline engine, believing that its reliability and range could not meet the demand. As the result, the Army Ordnance Industry Development Center under the Joint Logistics Command purchased a batch of AV-1790-2DM diesel engines to upgrade the power components of the M48 in service. The ROCA designated these tanks as M48A3. However, this batch of tanks lacked the structural upgrade of the engine compartment like the standard M48A3. Not only did these tanks look different, their fire control systems and suspension systems were also inferior compared to the standard US M48A3 tanks. Therefore, the M48A3 tank modified by the ROCA is only a combination of the M48A1 and an upgraded power station.

(Wan Sheng or "萬乘", meaning "thousands of combat vehicles", is a Chinese allusion referring to a powerful army and therefore a strong nation)

CM11 and CM12

After the failed attempt by the ROCA to purchase M48A5 and "Magach 3" tanks from Spain, South Africa and Israel, the imitation and transformation project for a new tank was launched again in 1984. The ROCA's tank research and development center and General Dynamics jointly designed a second-generation main battle tank "Brave Tiger", designated as M48H (or CM11 later).

The "Brave Tiger" MBT is a hybrid of an enhanced M48 turret and a M60 chassis, equipped with a cutting-edge FCS that comes from the M1 Abrams. Therefore, "Brave Tiger" was designated as M48H (H for Hybrid). The Army Fighting Vehicle R&D Center purchased 450 M60 tank chassis for modification before the M60 production line ever shut down. The "Brave Tiger" tank began testing in 1988. It officially entered service in the ROCA on April 14th, 1990.

The Army Ordnance Industry Development Center transformed a total number of 550 turrets. After 450 M48H tanks were assembled on the CM11 "Brave Tiger", the remaining 100 turrets were assigned to the old M48A3 tanks. These upgraded M48A3 tanks are known as CM12 MBTs. The Army Ordnance Industry Development Center continued to carry out the transformation of the M48A3 tank, and a total of 250 CM12 tanks were produced.

After the Taiwan Strait Missile Crisis in 1996, in order to curb the CCP's attempt to invade Taiwan by force, the United States sold 450 M60A3 tanks to Republic of China. At present time, the armoured combat forces of the Republic of China Army are mainly equipped with CM11 "Brave Tiger" MBTs and M60A3 MBTs. Due to lack of reliability, most of the CM12 tanks are stored as reserve forces.

PLA's evaluation of captured ARVN M48A3

After North Vietnam and the Viet Cong defeated the Republic of Vietnam, the Vietnamese Defense Minister Võ Nguyên Giáp presented a personal gift of a batch of US-made weapons including M48A3 tanks and M113 APCs to Chinese Defense Minister Ye Jianying. After evaluating the M48A3 tank, the Armored Forces Technology Research Institute, which is responsible for the R&D of armoured vehicles in mainland China, believed that the M48A3 medium tank has many advantages over the Type 59 tank in service. With the advancement of the PRC's military industry, technical advantages of the M48A3 tank such as steering wheel control system, air-cooled engines, and hydraulic transmissions were rapidly absorbed by subsequently produced domestic tanks.

The captured ARVN M48A3 tank is currently on public display in the Family Courtyard No. 4, Huaishuling, Fengtai District, Beijing.

Media

Skins
Images

  • Retired ROCA M48A3 at Keelung.

  • Retired ROCA M48A3 at Keelung.

  • Retired ROCA M48A3 at Keelung.

Videos
The Patton Family discusses the M48A1 (China) at 7:59 - War Thunder Official Channel

See also

Related development

External links

Paste links to sources and external resources, such as:

  • topic on the official game forum;
  • other literature.


Chrysler Defense
MBTs 
M48 Patton  M48A1
M60  M60 · M60A1 (AOS) · M60A2 · M60A1 RISE (P) · M60A3 TTS
M1  XM1 (Chrysler) · M1 Abrams
Export 
M48  M48A2 C · M48A2 G A2 · ␗M48A1 · Magach 1 · Magach 2
M60  ␗M60A3 TTS · M60A1 "D.C.Ariete" ·
Note  Chrysler Defense was purchased by General Dynamics Land Systems (GDLS) in 1982.

China medium tanks
ZTZ59  Type 59 · ZTZ59A · ZTZ59D1
ZTZ69  Type 69 · Type 69-IIa
ZTZ88/96  ZTZ88A · ZTZ88B
  ZTZ96 · ZTZ96A · ZTZ96A (P)
ZTZ99  ZTZ99-II · ZTZ99-III
ZTZ99A  ZTZ99A · WZ1001(E) LCT
Export series  MBT-2000 · VT4A1
ROC  CM11
Other  Т-34-85 Gai · Object 122MT "MC"
Bangladesh  T-69 II G
Japan  ␗Chi-Ha · ␗Chi-Ha Kai
Pakistan  Al-Khalid-I
USA  ␗M4A4 · ␗M4A4 (1st PTG) · ␗M4A1 (75) W · ␗M48A1 · ␗M60A3 TTS
USSR  ␗T-34 (1943) · ␗Т-34-85 (S-53) · T-34-85 No.215 · Т-62 №545

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