to editor Paul Boyer

I've recently read that the M-60 was never officially named'Patton'.It's a similar topic,maybe this question could be answered too?

Squadron books show it as the "Pershing"
John
helicopters don't fly, they beat the air into submission

They tried to name the M-60 "Comanchee (?)", but the common name was still Patton. Most reference sources now list it as part of the Patton family. I served as a platoon leader from 76-79 on the A-1 version and that is what we called them.

Nope, the M-46 was NEVER the Pershing. The WWII and Korea-vintage M-26 was the Pershing. AFAIK, the M-46 thru 60 series were called "Patton" as the designs basically just built upon the previous model until armor was revolutionized with the Abrams.

Seems like every time we try to name something "Comanche" it either gets cancelled or it develops a different name!

Although I don't have my references handy, I thought that I had read that the M-46 was basically a remanufactured M-26 instead of a new tank based on the previous one. Additionally at the Amazon link below, one can purchase a a book by Stephen Zaloga titled M26/M46 Pershing Tank 1943-53. I'm not absolutely sure whether Pershing is the official name for the M-46 or not, however, the mistake, if any, seems to have been an honest one.

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/1841762024/qid=1100031964/sr=8-13/ref=sr_8_xs_ap_i13_xgl14/002-9318822-2405614?v=glance&s=books&n=507846

The Patton name did not come to use till the M-47 tank was delevoped in the late 50's. The hull and turrent were changed to a differant design then. Thats my 2cents worth that I have read. But that could be wrong too. **********Stephen*********

I checked further last night, and according Foss's Encyclopedia of Tanks and Armored Fighting Vehicles, the M-46 was known unofficially as both the Pershing and the Patton. Foss did not specifiy when the names came into use. Given that the M-46 is a souped up M-26, the use of the Pershing name is very understandable. Since the later M-48's were so similar, it is also understandable how coldiers might refer to the earlier M-46's as Pattons.