Wanderlust World Wanderlust World The "Patton" designation covers the first post-WWII U.S. main battle tank lineage, produced by General Motors (Fisher Body Division) and Chrysler from 1943 to 1955.
| Model | Production Span | Units Built | Key Features |
|---|---|---|---|
| M46 Patton | 1948–1949 | ~1,160 | M26 Pershing upgrade; 90mm gun; Continental AV1790 engine |
| M47 Patton | 1951–1953 | ~8,500 | New turret, fire control; Korean War emergency production |
| M48 Patton | 1952–1959 | ~11,700+ | New hull/turret; 90mm; most produced; Vietnam workhorse |
| M60 Patton | 1960–1987 | ~15,000+ | 105mm gun; diesel; not technically "Patton" named but direct descendant |
The M26 Pershing (Patton's direct predecessor) began production in 1943. The M46 was essentially an upgraded M26. The M47/M48 were clean-sheet designs initiated during Korean War urgency.
The M48/M60 formed NATO's armored backbone through the 1970s. Over 20 countries operated Pattons; many upgraded (Israeli Magach, Taiwanese CM11/12) serve today. The M60A3 TTS was the last U.S. Patton variant retired (1997).