M48A3 Patton MBT C Company 1st Marine Tank Battalion HG5508 1:72

Hobby Master 1:72 Ground Power Series M48A3 Patton MBT C Company 1st Marine Tank Battalion Hobby Master HG5508 Scale 1:72 Country: USA 1:72 Scale Item: HG5508 The M48 Patton is a medium tank and was the third and final tank to be officially named after General George S. Patton. The first version used in Vietnam was the gasoline engined M48A2 but was soon out numbered by the diesel powered M48A3 which became the most numerous US tank during the conflict. The M48A3s were conversions of earlier models so it wasn’t uncommon for many characteristics to vary from tank to tank. Some M48A3s had 3 support rollers while others had 5 and the headlight assemblies could either be the early or later type. The 1st Marine Tank Battalion M48A3 Patton Tanks arrived in Da Nang, Vietnam in March 1966 and ordered to support operations carried out by the 1st Marine Division units. In late January until early March the 1st Marines and South Vietnamese forces fought to recapture the old capital city of Hue. There were massive casualties on both sides before the Marines and South Vietnam forces managed to recapture the city. The 1st MTB remained in Vietnam until they were redeployed to Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton in the Spring of 1970. Specifications of the M48A3 tank Role – Medium tank Production Dates – 1952 – 1959 Number Produced – Approximately 12,000 Crew: 4 Dimensions Length - 30 feet 6 inches Width - 11 feet 11 inches Height - 10 feet 1 inch Weight: 53 Tons