Reference for cold war M-48?

That book, by Zaloga, is very good. I share your interest, Viet Nam seems to dominate from that time period.

I think I will get it then. Just needed someone to chime in and say it was worth it. I think it's going for like $8.00 so I guess I can't really go wrong.

Here are some good sites with lots of good Cold War Europe info and photos

http://www.patton-mania.com/

http://www.3ad.org/

http://eaglehorse.org/main.htm

http://www.berlinbrigade.com/

http://www.usarmygermany.com/Sont.htm

sift thru the galleries on these sites and you'll find some good M48 shots.

Zaloga's books are always good. Another is "Cold War Warrior" by Michael Green. It's all about the M-48 and has some very good pics.

Thanks stikpusher and RBaer. I will hit those up for sure. Really appreciate the input.

You may also want to check out the Tankograd series of books. They have a lot of stuff for that era and area in the range of titles.

and some M48s in Germany photos from off the net for ya

From photos it looks like A1s and A2s were more common. And IIRC, the A3 was a later rebuilt version made from the earlier gasoline engined M48s, and not factory built....

That last one has the fuel kit on the back.

Nice bus!

Those are great! I have come across a few but that last one looks nice. Might have to take a closer look at it. Might be a winner.

It's an A1. Spotting features are the five return rollers which were changed to three for the A3 and onwards, and the "Universal Ejector Fuel Kit", that rack on the back with the four 55 gallon drums.

What makes it not an A nothing is the commanders cupola with the built in M2.

The one with the busted track is also an A1.

The first, second and fourth ones I think are A2's because they look to have the later headlight clusters and sharp fender breaks, but I really don't know these tanks that well and if someone said they were an A3 I couldn't argue.

Oh I forgot, one other piece of good M48 information is the first five minutes of "G.I. Blues".

It's "free" on Xfinity.

Nice pictures, Carlos. I'll bet when you cut yourself shaving, the blood runs green.

Well the prime difference between an A1 and A2 is the engine deck. The A2 has the same raised engine deck and rear grills as the A3. But the A3 being diesel powered also has the air cleaner housings on the fenders where the A1 & A2 have stowage boxes. Also the tow cables pre A3 were on the fenders. On the A3 and later they were moved to the back of the turret under the bustle rack.

None of those in the photos that I posted are A3s. I never noticed the fender differences until you called them out GM. Nice catch. We'll make a LURP out of you yet ;)

BTW, I hate shaving.... I'll be so glad in a few years when it will no longer be a job requirement.

Here's a still of some M48s from the Bond film "Goldfinger"...

the raised engine deck and fender mounted air cleaners ID them as A3s.

Bad day at Fort Knox. I'll find the thread, but there's a conversion to an A2 using the Tamiya kit and the Monogram kit.