Hobby Master HG5509 | M48A3 Patton "Zig Zag Men" 1st Sqn. , 10th Cavalry Regiments, War of Vietnam

General Background:

The M48 Patton is a medium tank and was the third and final tank to be officially named after General George S. Patton. The first version used in Vietnam was the gasoline engine M48A2 but was soon outnumbered by the diesel powered M48A3 which became the most numerous US tank during the conflict. The M48A3s were conversions of earlier models so it wasn’t uncommon for many characteristics to vary from tank to tank. Some M48A3s had 3 support rollers while others had 5 and the headlight assemblies could either be the early or later type.

The Tank:

During one assignment in the war M48A3 tank named “Zig Zag Men” of the 1/10th Cavalry was assigned to support the 1/22nd Infantry/ 4th Infantry Division. Their base was located beside Highway QL-19 and named Landing Zone Schueller after 1Lt. James Schueller who was killed in 1967. M83A3 “Zig Zag Men” was named after the cigarette rolling paper brand. “Zig Zag Men” doesn’t wear the usual red and white guidons on the turret sides like most 1/10th Cavalry did. The 35 indicates it was a section leader No. 3 Platoon, Alpha Troop. 1/10th Armored Cavalry Squadron.

Specifications of the M48A3 tank
Role – Medium tank
Production Dates – 1952 – 1959
Number Produced – Approximately 12,000
Crew: 4
Dimensions
Length - 30 feet 6 inches
Width - 11 feet 11 inches
Height - 10 feet 1 inch
Weight: 53 Tons
Performance
Powerplant – 1 X Continental AVDS-1790-2A air-cooled diesel 750hp
Fuel Capacity - 375 gallons
Max Speed - 30mph
Range - 310 miles
Armor - 4.7 inch frontal
Armament
1 X 90 M41 Rifled Gun (64 rounds)
1 X 7.62mm coax Machine Gun
1 X 50 cal Machine Gun