There were no changes made to the M48 to make it a USMC-specific tank. The amount of extra turret armor varied by tank from nothing to fully encapsulated in sand bags. The best bet is to find a pic of the tank you wantto model and follow it.

There were no changes made to the M48 to make it a USMC-specific tank. The amount of extra turret armor varied by tank from nothing to fully encapsulated in sand bags. The best bet is to find a pic of the tank you wantto model and follow it.

The DWFK exhaust stack is usually seen mounted early in the war when the Marines were conducting amphobious opeartons along the coast.

Still waiting for a 1/35th scale H-34...

Hi guys

I am looking for some information regarding the USMC use of the M46 during the Tet offensive, building from the Tamiya kit is there anything I need to be aware of regarding the USMC version (if any changes at all) and how much additional armour did they add to the turret, having seen pictures with extra track links and sand bags

Many thanks in Advance

cheers

Keith

The original spotlight was a drum shaped commercial spotlight, not the rectangular one in the kit. These were seen in 1965-67. The Dragon M46 Patton kit includes a similar one as an option, as I recall.

Gary, the snorkel you refer to is the Exhaust Stack for the DWFK(Deep Water Fording Kit). The engine air intakes for the M48A3 is normally from the crew compartment to the fender mounted air cleaners. The DWFK exhaust stack is usually seen mounted early in the war when the Marines were conducting amphobious opeartons along the coast. Outta here, Mike sends . . .

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There were no changes made to the M48 to make it a USMC-specific tank. The amount of extra turret armor varied by tank from nothing to fully encapsulated in sand bags. The best bet is to find a pic of the tank you wantto model and follow it.

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Actually I believe that 3-4 Cavalry, 25th Infantry Division were the ones who "encapsulated" their M48 turrets in sandbags. Certainly, sand bags were added to other tanks as well to provide standoff and protect exposrd crew members...

Another type of expedient turret armor was extra track blocks that were routinely hung from the turret rails. they were there for replacing blocks after a mine strike but would also detonate incoming RPG rounds before striking the main armor.

John

Keith,
Depended on when & where you were,larger cities in the south & highlands were mainly asphalt,outside the cities were mainly dirt,a reddish clay that was dust in the dry season and glue-like mud in the wet/rainy season in '66-'67.

Some MSR's(main supply routes)like HWY 19 were paved by US engineers as needed.The weight & frequent use,8-10 convoys daily from Quin Nhon really tore up what areas were asphalt so it was really futile.

Crushed rock was tried but the rear duals picked them up and then hurled them out at the worst possible time usually hurting someone badly.It was still used as a base,but not by itself.

Some bases used PSP(pierced steel planking)at the entrance/exit to try to reduce dust/mud.

Can't speak to north of the central highlands,all my experience was Plieku and areas south & east.

Hope this helps.
Jake