M48

M48 is a designation used for several things, most notably the M48 Patton, a United States main battle tank developed during the early Cold War. The M48 Patton was produced by Chrysler Defense (later GD/Chrysler) and entered service in the early 1950s as a successor to the M47 Patton. It featured a welded hull, a cast turret, and initially a 90mm M41 high-velocity gun. Over time, the design underwent improvements in armor, fire control, suspension, and mobility, and some variants were equipped with more powerful primary armament.

Variants of the M48 Patton include the M48A1, M48A2, and M48A3, each introducing refinements in protection, reliability, and performance. In later upgrades, a 105mm gun was incorporated in some versions, along with improved fire control systems and armor enhancement. The M48 family was widely exported and used by numerous allied nations during the 1950s through the 1980s, and it saw combat with various forces, including in Southeast Asia.

The M48 gradually gave way to newer designs such as the M60 Patton and other modern main battle tanks, but many units remained in service or reserve for extended periods and a number of examples have been preserved in museums or used for training. Beyond the tank, the designation M48 has been applied to unrelated equipment and infrastructure in different countries, reflecting its use as a military and production code in diverse contexts.