M48A2 C

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

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This page is about the German medium tank M48A2 C. For the version in the American tree, see M48A1.

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

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 (8-43°) Front 51 mm (0-43°) Rear	35 mm (26-32°) Top 25 mm (61-62°) Bottom	12.7-57 mm
Turret	127 mm (12-76°) Turret front 152 + 82 mm (17-26°) Gun mantlet	69-100 mm (12-36°)	51-55 mm (2-71°)	25-69 mm
Cupola	70 mm

Notes:

• Suspension wheels, tracks and torsion bars are 20 mm thick.

The armour of the M48A2 C is identical to the US 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 HEAT-FS 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

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

Armaments

Main armament

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	46	-9°/+19°	±180°	N/A	22.80	31.46	38.40	42.50	45.18	9.70	8.63	7.90	7.50
Realistic					14.30	16.87	20.40	22.60	24.00

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	5.70	N/A	N/A	N/A	66°	70°	72°
M82 shot	APCBC	853	10.94	1.2	14.0	137.2	48°	63°	71°
M431 shell	HEATFS	1,216	5.80	N/A	0.1	712.64	65°	72°	77°
DM502	HESH	853	10.60	0.4	0.1	3,050	73°	77°	80°
M71 shell	HE	823	10.55	0.1	0.5	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	Visual discrepancy
46	42 (+4)	28 (+18)	16 (+30)	1 (+45)	No

Note:

• The "4th" ammunition rack is a ready rack, and it will refill from the other racks (in the same order) when it is depleted.
• The ammunition depletes after every two shots, except for the last two shells in the 3rd rack.

Machine guns

12.7 mm M85
Mount	Capacity (Belt)	Fire rate	Vertical	Horizontal
Pintle	900 (200)	625	-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:

As with any vehicle, the M48A2 C finds itself at a serious disadvantage while stock. Without access to the APCBC or HEAT-FS rounds, players will need to use this vehicle more carefully. While other modifications like night vision devices or smoke grenades can be helpful, the stock M332 APCR round is a much larger issue. The stock round has awful post penetration damage, so players will need to try and disable individual modules or pick off individual crew members. However, this can be a time consuming process so M48A2 C players will need to make sure not to focus too much on one damaged enemy, as another enemy may come to their aid.

Spaded Gameplay:

The M48A2 C is a powerful tank. The M431 HEAT-FS 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 HEAT-FS 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 HEAT-FS 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 HEAT-FS 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 HEAT-FS 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 HEAT-FS 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.

Modules

Tier	Mobility		Protection	Firepower
I	Tracks		Parts	Horizontal Drive	Smoke grenade	M82 shot
II	Suspension	Brake System	FPE	Adjustment of Fire	DM502
III	Filters		Crew Replenishment	Elevation Mechanism	M431 shell	NVD
IV	Transmission	Engine		Artillery Support	M313	Rangefinder

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

Videos

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

See also

• M48A1 - Basic M48 version that the M48A2 C was upgraded from.
• Magach 3 (USA) - An upgraded M48 tank from a pack in the USA tech tree.
• 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