Hi guys,

Please take a look at this link:

http://www.network54.com/Forum/47209/message/984018587/T-142+Tracks+are+post+1973

Is it true that the National Guard received back old M48a1 tanks in the 70's?
And it so, how long where they still being used ?

Gé

M48A1's (gasoline engines) were converted to M48 A3's (diesel engines) in the early 1960's because of the fire risk. There is a photo of M48's with the 90mm gun (M48A3) still in National Guard (assuming Calif. Army Guard) Service at least until the mid to late 1970s. Check the photo on the following link:

The link is: http://blog.chosun.com/web_file/blog/337/1837/17/05-m48a3-20.jpg

You can tell its at least the mid 1970's by the MERC camo scheme which didn't start until the very end of 1975. this photo appears to have been taken at Fort Irwin after it became the National Training Center starting in about 1977.

BUMP !!

No-one to give me any info about my question ?
Shure would like to know if the fact about re-using old M48a1 tanks by the National Guard/Reserve is true.
And if so, untill when in in which units.

Gé

No M-48A1s after the early 1960s because they had gasoline engines and were a fire hazard (especially since hydraulic fluid had a low flash point). They were all (or almost all) converted to diesel engines. Those not converted were sold in foreign military sales.

Last M48A1 were retired from US service in 1968 and from Bundeswehr service in 1975. Several countries used them for many years longer.