Which version was used in Vietnam? I am planning a diorama during the TET Offensive.

Thanks
Mike

Both. The Mod B was mainly used by the US Army, but by the USMC in lesser numbers too.

have heard a couple stories about very early gasoline powered versions over there. Never saw one, and all stories say they were with the 1st Infantry Div way down south. Yet folks I know from that AO say they used nothing but A3's. The 3/4 CAV did have a few A2's (how many I can't say). The 69th is supposed to have fielded a handful of mod.B's. Up north is was nothing but A3's (Mod.A's), but some have claimed to have seen a Mod.B. News to me, but maybe the 5th Mech might have had some. Never got up there, so I don't know. CAV units in I-Corp used Mod.A's, and by the end of 1968 were phasing them out for Sheridans. (I won't vent on this)
gary

forgot about your time frame.

Contrary to popular belief there was more than one TET offensive. Not sure about 1966, but there was one in 1967, as well as 68 and 69. Maybe more, I don't know. 67 and 68 would be the M48a2 or M48a3 depending on the location. 69 is much different, and an M48 was not a common sight up north.

Remember TET occurred right at the end of the monsoon season from Plieku north to the DMZ. Those tanks were pretty much restricted to roads and dryer areas. A 48 bogs down real easy in extreme wet weather.

Now to take this further. 1967 I can't say about, but have heard it was very wet. 1968 was one of the recorded shortest wet seasons. 1969 was pretty wet. The first of February is where you start o see a little sunshine. By the end of the month things start to dry out. January is usually pretty wet, and you mostly saw M113's
gary

Mike,
it is going to come down to what service (Army or Marine Corps) and what unit are you planning on representing with the model? IMHO, the safe bet would be to use Dragon's second M48 offering as the M48A3s with the G503 risers were common during the 1968 Tet period. They can also be assembled without the riser to get an earlier M48A3, if your references point you in that direction.

HTH

John

I would suggest the squadron book M48 in Vietnam (and the companion M113 in Vietnam). Not a huge expense and you will see all kinds of variations in cupolas, risers, mantlets with and without covers etc....

Dragon's first M48A3, the Mod B, is only appropriate in Vietnam from 1968 onwards, since they were modified starting in 1967.

The second M48A3 by Dragon, the Mod A, would be appropriate for any time frame in Vietnam, since these were converted from M48s and M48A1s starting in 1963.

The cupola risers started appearing in 1967, before any Mod Bs were in country. They can't be used in a picture to identify a Mod B. However, the reinforced fenders and different headlights are dead giveaways.

David Doyle's book on M48s in Vietnam will be an invaluable reference for you.

Gino, the USMC did not have B Mod M48A3s in RVN, period. What you think are B Mod hogs have the vision block riser installed.
Outta here, Mike sends . . .

As the others have said, the early M48A3 with the five return rollers was the type appropriate for the 1968 Tet Offensive.
Some M48A2C models were rushed to Vietnam after Tet to make up vehicle losses, but the Army didn't like gasoline-powered tanks due to fire hazards (and lousy mileage). Revell Germany is releasing an all-new M48A2C any day now (just don't mix it up with the ancient Monogram kit they've offered for years).

You'll find some interesting reference pics in "Tommy Japan"'s albums on Flickr, like this one :



More here (it's only the tip of the iceberg ...) :

https://www.flickr.com/search?user_id=97930879%40N02&sort=relevance&text=tank

Here's the link to all the albums (= 800) :

https://www.flickr.com/photos/97930879@N02/sets/?&page=1

H.P.

Great find Frenchy. "Tanks" for those links.
Mike sends . . .