When the Korean War began, the US military had no medium tanks in production. The M47 appeared as an interim measure but work immediately began on the M48. The first 'Pattons' were completed in July 1952. Unfortunately, the speed of development resulted in numerous teething troubles for the early Pattons, including poor reliability and a short operating range. 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. The A5 was an upgraded version produced in the mid-1970s, which extended the M48's shelf life considerably.

Without question, the centerpiece of the "Unsung Heroes" collection is this striking 1:50 scale diecast replica of a US Army M48 A3 'Patton' main battle tank. Landing at Da Nang on March 9th, 1965, the M48 A3 was the first American tank to enter the War. A derivative of the M48, which had entered production back in April 1952, the A3 was designed to bring older versions up to the standard of the newer M60.

Pictured here is a 1:50 scale replica of a US Army M48A3 medium tank that was attached to the 11th Cavalry and nicknamed "Jungle Daddy." This baby features a hull-mounted machine gun, a turret-mounted .50-caliber machine gun, and a huge 90mm main gun with laser rangefinder. Like the other vehicles in this series, the M48A3 has been 'muddied' to give it a more weathered appearance. Sold Out!

Dimensions:
Length: 5.5-inches
Width: 2.75-inches

Release Date: February 2006

Historical Account: "Vietnam Bound" - With the war in Vietnam escalating, the Blackhorse Regiment was alerted for assignment to Southeast Asia on 11 March 1966. The Regiment began specialized training for combat in a counterinsurgency environment. Modifications were made to the organization and equipment (MTOE) with emphasis on the use of modified M113 armored personnel carriers (APCs). Two M-60 machineguns with protective gun shield were mounted at the port and starboard rear of the vehicle, and a combination circular & flat frontal gun shield(s) were added around the .50 caliber machine gun located at the commander's hatch. This lethal combination produced a deadly M-113 Armored Cavalry Assault Vehicle, or, in Vietnam more simply referred to as an ACAV by GI's in country, a name coined by 11th Armored Cavalrymen.

The regiment's modifications emphasized the use of ACAVs instead of the Patton medium tank and completely replaced the M-114 found in reconnaissance platoons, which may have existed in European and CONUS areas of operation. The M114 had been deployed to Vietnam in 1962, but withdrawn in 1964 due to its unsatisfactory, and often disastrous performance. Throughout the war, the tank companies, with their M48 Patton tanks, remained the same in each squadron. In 1968, Colonel George S. Patton IV (son of WWII General Patton), commander of the 11th ACR in South Vietnam recommended to General Creighton Abrams that one squadron from a division and the other from theater command be issued the army's new aluminum tanks (Sheridans) for combat testing. General Abrams concurred, and in January 1969, M551 Sheridans were issued to the 3rd Squadron 4th Armored Cavalry and the 1st Squadron 11th Armored Cavalry. Due to differences between the organization of Regimental Cavalry Squadrons and Divisional Cavalry Squadrons, in 1st Squadron 11th ACR, the Sheridans were issued to the ACAV Troops, replacing three M113 ACAVs in each platoon (the squadron's one tank company remained intact); in 3rd Squadron, 4th Cav, the Sheridans replaced M48A3 tanks throughout the squadron.