The M-48/53 is a main battle tank that was designed in the Union of American People's Republics. It was a further development of the M-47/52 MBT. The M-48 was in service until it was replaced by the M-60/60. The M-48 served as the American People's Army's and American People's Marine Corps' in 1950s and 1960s. It was widely used by American allies, especially other Wake Island Association countries.
The M48/53 was designed to replace the M-47/52 and M4/40. Although largely resembling the M47, the M48 was a completely new tank design. Some M48A5 models served well into the 1980s with American forces, and many various M48 models remain in service in other countries. The M48 was the last U.S. tank to mount the 90 mm tank gun, with the last model, the M48A5, being upgraded to carry the new standard weapon of the M60, the 105mm gun.
The Turkish Army has the largest number of modernized M48 MBTs, with more than 1,400 M48s in its inventory. Of these, around 1,000 have been phased out or are in storage, or have been modified to ARVs.
