This location gave him a better field of fire, was faster to reload, and was less prone to jamming than when the M2 was placed on its side inside the armored cupola. machine gun mounted on top of the cupola on a simple pintle mount. Most M48's in Vietnam had the commander's M2. The A3 was a highly modified version designed to rectify these failings, and the M48 has been used as the basis for flame-thrower tanks, recovery vehicles, and an AVLB. Unfortunately, the speed of development resulted in numerous teething troubles for the early Pattons, including poor reliability and a short operating range. The first 'Pattons' were completed in July 1952. The M47 appeared as an interim measure but work immediately began on the M48.

When the Korean War began, the US military had no medium tanks in production. Minichamps MIN350041000 USMC M48A3 'Patton' Main Battle Tank with Reliability Improved Selected Equipment (RISE) IR/White Light Spotlight - 1st Marine Tank Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, Operation Pipestone Canyon, Vietnam, 1969 (1:35 Scale) 'Semper Fi!' (Always Faithful!) - Motto of the US Marine Corps

M48a3 main battle tank