Hobby Master 1/72 Ground Power Series
HG5510
M48A3 Patton "Death" 1st Tank Bttn., C Company, Vietnam War
 
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 engined M48A2 but was soon out numbered 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.