M48A2 C

This page is about the German medium tank M48A2 C. For other versions, see M48 Patton (Family).

M48A2 C

Tiger II (H)

M48A2 G A2

M48A2 C

Tiger II (H)

M48A2 G A2

Germany

V Rank

Battle rating:

AB	RB	SB
7.7	7.7	7.7

Class:

Medium tank

Research:95 000

Purchase:270 000

Show in game

Description

The M48A2 C is a rank V German medium tank with a battle rating of 7.7 (AB/RB/SB). It was introduced in Update 1.91 "Night Vision".

General info

Survivability and armour

Smoke grenades

Creation of a smoke screen in front of the vehicle

Armourfront / side / back

Hull110 / 76 / 35

Turret130 / 76 / 51

Crew4 people

Visibility117 %

Armour type:

• Rolled homogeneous armour (hull roof, hull rear - engine vents, turret roof, turret ring)
• Cast homogeneous armour (hull, turret, cupola)

Armour	Front (Slope angle)	Sides	Rear	Roof
Hull	85-200 mm (59-74°) Front glacis 63-200 mm (13-60°) Lower glacis	76 mm (5-45°) Front 51 mm (0-44°) Rear	35 mm Top 25 mm (32-62°) Bottom	57 mm (0-58°) 30 mm Engine access panel 12.7 mm (76°) Engine vents
Turret	83.2-173 mm (0-48°) Turret front 152 + 82 mm (17-26°) Gun mantlet	69-100 mm (12-36°)	51-55 mm (2-71°) 25.4 mm (75-82°) Underpart of the turret	25-69 mm
Cupola	70 mm

Notes:

• Suspension wheels, tracks and torsion bars are 20 mm thick.
• The turret ring is 70 mm thick.

The armour of the M48A2 C is identical to the M48A1. The ammo rack in the turret is removed and the shape of the front hull ammo racks are improved. The front armour is able to handle almost most APHE shells it might face, but struggles against HEATFS and APDS rounds. The lower front plate is a weak spot. The sides are decently armoured, but not thick enough to make angling the hull a valid tactic. Some thin vents on the top of the hull are vulnerable to strafing runs by enemy aircraft, which may cause engine fires. Overall, the M48A2 C has excellent armour protection for its tier.

Mobility

Speedforward / back

AB54 / 10 km/h

RB and SB49 / 9 km/h

Number of gears6 forward

2 back

Weight47.8 t

Engine power

AB1 574 hp

RB and SB825 hp

Power-to-weight ratio

AB32.9 hp/t

RB and SB17.3 hp/t

Game Mode	Max Speed (km/h)		Weight (tons)	Engine power (horsepower)		Power-to-weight ratio (hp/ton)
	Forward	Reverse		Stock	Upgraded	Stock	Upgraded
Arcade	54	10	47.8	1,279	1,574	26.76	32.93
Realistic	49	9		730	825	15.27	17.26

Modifications and economy

Repair costBasic → Reference

AB3 959 → 5 463

RB4 474 → 6 174

SB6 304 → 8 699

Total cost of modifications77 600

129 400

Talisman cost2 000

Crew training78 000

Experts270 000

Aces1 100

Research Aces670 000

Reward for battleAB / RB / SB

130 / 200 / 220 %

190 / 190 / 190 %

Modifications

Mobility	Protection	Firepower
Tracks Research: 3 200 Cost: 5 200 165 Suspension Research: 3 600 Cost: 5 800 185 Brake System Research: 3 600 Cost: 5 800 185 Filters Research: 5 000 Cost: 8 100 260 Transmission Research: 5 200 Cost: 8 400 270 Engine Research: 5 200 Cost: 8 400 270	Improved Parts Research: 2 100 Cost: 5 200 165 Improved FPE Research: 2 300 Cost: 5 800 185 Crew Replenishment Research: 5 000 Cost: 8 100 260	Horizontal Drive Research: 3 200 Cost: 5 200 165 Smoke grenade Research: 3 200 Cost: 5 200 165 90mm_us_M82_m48_ammo_pack Research: 3 200 Cost: 5 200 165 Adjustment of Fire Research: 3 600 Cost: 5 800 185 90mm_ger_DM502_JPz_HESH_ammo_pack Research: 3 600 Cost: 5 800 185 Elevation Mechanism Research: 5 000 Cost: 8 100 260 90mm_us_M431_HEAT_ammo_pack Research: 5 000 Cost: 8 100 260 Artillery Support Research: 5 200 Cost: 8 400 270 90mm_us_M313_Smoke_ammo_pack Research: 5 200 Cost: 8 400 270 Rangefinder Research: 5 200 Cost: 8 400 270

Armaments

Rangefinder

Reduces the error and increases the maximum measurable distance of the rangefinder

Main armament

90 mm M41 cannon

Ammunition64 rounds

First-order27 rounds

Reloadbasic crew → aces

8.7 → 6.7 s

Vertical guidance-9° / 19°

90 mm M41					Turret rotation speed (°/s)					Reloading rate (seconds)
Mode	Capacity	Vertical	Horizontal	Stabilizer	Stock	Upgraded	Full	Expert	Aced	Stock	Full	Expert	Aced
Arcade	64	-9°/+19°	±180°	N/A	22.8	31.6	38.4	42.5	45.2	9.75	8.63	7.95	7.50
Realistic					14.3	16.8	20.4	22.6	24.0

Ammunition

Penetration statistics
Ammunition	Type of warhead	Penetration @ 0° Angle of Attack (mm)
		10 m	100 m	500 m	1,000 m	1,500 m	2,000 m
M332 shot	APCR	321	316	292	265	240	218
M82 shot	APCBC	185	182	170	155	142	130
M431 shell	HEATFS	320	320	320	320	320	320
DM502	HESH	102	102	102	102	102	102
M71 shell	HE	13	13	13	13	13	13

Shell details
Ammunition	Type of warhead	Velocity (m/s)	Projectile Mass (kg)	Fuse delay (m)	Fuse sensitivity (mm)	Explosive Mass (TNT equivalent) (g)	Ricochet
							0%	50%	100%
M332 shot	APCR	1,249	5.7	N/A	N/A	N/A	66°	70°	72°
M82 shot	APCBC	853	10.94	1.2	14	137.2	48°	63°	71°
M431 shell	HEATFS	1,216	5.8	0.05	0.1	712.64	65°	72°	77°
DM502	HESH	853	10.6	0.1	4	3,050	73°	77°	80°
M71 shell	HE	823	10.55	0	0.1	925	79°	80°	81°

Smoke shell characteristics
Ammunition	Velocity (m/s)	Projectile Mass (kg)	Screen radius (m)	Screen deploy time (s)	Screen hold time (s)	Explosive Mass (TNT equivalent) (g)
M313	821	10.7	13	5	20	50

Ammo racks

Ammo racks of the M48A2 C

Full ammo	1st rack empty	2nd rack empty	3rd rack empty	4th rack empty	5th rack empty	Visual discrepancy
64	57 (+7)	46 (+18)	28 (+36)	21 (+43)	1 (+63)	No

Notes:

• As they are modeled by sets of 2, shells disappear from the rack only after you've fired both shells in the set.
• Racks 4 and 5 are first stage ammo racks. They totals 27 shells and get filled first when loading up the tank.
• These racks are also emptied early: the rack depletion order at full capacity is: 4 - 5 - 1 - 2 - 3.
• Full reload speed will be realized as long as shells are available in the ready racks 4 and 5. If the ready rack is empty, a penalty to reload speed will occur.
• Simply not firing when the gun is loaded will move ammo from racks 1 to 3 into racks 5 then 4. Firing will interrupt the restocking of the ready racks.
• If you pack 21 (+43) shells, it will keep the front hull and the turret bustle empty of ammo.

Machine guns

12.7 mm M2HB machine gun

Ammunition1 400 rounds

Belt capacity200 rounds

Reloadbasic crew → aces

10.4 → 8.0 s

Fire rate575 shots/min

Vertical guidance-10° / 60°

7.62 mm M73 machine gun (coaxial)

Ammunition6 000 rounds

Belt capacity250 rounds

Reloadbasic crew → aces

10.4 → 8.0 s

Fire rate500 shots/min

12.7 mm M2HB
Mount	Capacity (Belt)	Fire rate	Vertical	Horizontal
Pintle	900 (200)	577	-10°/+60°	±180°

7.62 mm M73
Mount	Capacity (Belt)	Fire rate	Vertical	Horizontal
Coaxial	5,950 (250)	500	N/A	N/A

Usage in battles

Stock Gameplay:

The stock grind of the M48A2 C is problematic since the M332 APCR shot is the only stock ammunition provided, excluding the HE shell. Because of the lacklustre performance of APCR shots against angles, and the limited post-penetration damage it inflicts, players need to aim very carefully. Players may find the most success through flanking, and assisting teammates disable enemy armour. Sticking close to allies is near mandatory, as being caught off guard with the APCR is often times a death sentence. Players should prioritize unlocking the M82 APCBC round immediately, as it improves the tank's offensive capability significantly. Along with the M48A2 C's decent manoeuvrability while stock, flanking with the APCBC shell is a viable, and quite effective, option.

Spaded Gameplay:

The M48A2 C is a powerful tank. The M431 HEATFS round has adequate penetration, and in the event that a round with higher post penetration effects is needed, the M82 APCBC is also available. The gun and reload rate are comparable to other main battle tanks of the battle rating, although the M48A2 C relies on its HEATFS round for most situations. The armour on the M48A2 C is adequate, able to bounce enemy shells depending on the angle. The night vision image intensifier equipment and IR lamp can be a big advantage during night battles, but M48A2 C players should be careful not to expose themselves using their own IR lamp. The M48A2 C does not excel spectacularly in any way, but it is an adequate medium tank that is well suited to most situations.

Close Range Engagements:

The M48A2 C is capable at close range, but it is not exceptional. It has decent acceleration and gun handling, meaning it will do decently. Additionally the armour can prove useful even at close range. The only issue for the M48A2 C at close range is the post penetration on the HEATFS round. Generally using the APCBC round is more effective at close ranges.

Long Range Engagements:

The M48A2 C is very capable at long range. The HEATFS round will easily penetrate almost any enemy tank at any range. The biggest issues the M48A2 C will face in regards to long range engagements is the velocity and drop on the HEATFS round. Once this can be accounted for, it will perform very well. Additionally, the armour is even more effective at long range.

Gameplay summary:

Although the M48A2 C is very difficult to play when stock, it is an adequate frontline tank while spaded. The good HEATFS round gives it a strong position in the German tech tree. The M48A2 C is a true main battle tank, and will perform well in any situation. The one disadvantage the M48 may suffer from is a lack of a stabilizer on the main gun. While most tanks which it faces also lack stabilization, those that have it will have a big advantage over the M48A2 C.

Pros and cons

Pros:

• Decent frontal hull armour, impenetrable UFP for most conventional ammo
• Good firepower
• Good mobility
• Has a commander's .50 calibre machine gun
• APCBC round with devastating high-explosive filler for great damage upon penetration
• Surprisingly survivable, two crew members often survive a shot
• Gun mantlet tend to stop conventional rounds
• More favourable matchmaking compared to other 90-mm armed M48 Pattons

Cons:

• Difficult APCR stock grind
• Turret armour isn't reliable
• Commander's cupola weak spot
• Ineffective armour in an uptier
• No stabilizer
• Ammunition explosions are common as most of the shells are in the front next to the driver

History

In the mid 1950's, West Germany received several version of the M48 Patton III tank from the US. In 1958, one of these versions was the M48A2 Patton III. This version included a 750 HP engine and a 90mm M41 cannon, as well an M85 .50 caliber machine gun mounted in the commander's cupola, and a coaxially mounted 7.62mm machine gun. In the same year, these tanks would receive an upgraded 825 HP engine, as well as other minor changes and would be designated as the M48A2 C in German service. This version saw service until the 1970's were it was replaced by the M48A2 GA2.

Media

Skins

• Skins and camouflages for the M48A2 C from live.warthunder.com.

Videos

The Patton Family discusses the M48A2 C at 6:57 - War Thunder Official Channel

See also

Related development

• M48A1 - Basic M48 version that the M48A2 C was upgraded from.
• M48A2 G A2 - An upgraded version of the M48A2 C with a 105 mm gun.

External links

• [Development] Changes and optimization in the German tech-tree