Customer Reviews

Patton: A History of the American Main Battle Tank

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

As a former M-60 tanker, I found this book to be superb. I have enjoyed everything that Hunnicutt has done. This book covers the history and development of America's longest service series of tanks, the Patton.

Tracing the post Korea era, Hunnicutt provides excellent detail of all prototypes, models and varients of the M-47, M-48 and M-60 series. The photos, line drawings and text fully explain the armament, suspension, hull, turret, automotive - you name it, it's there.

You get what you pay for in life, if you can find this, buy it. I have read this many times over am glad I have this in my collection.

As a former M-60 crewmember, I found the book very informative. This is not a subject that has recieved a lot of attention, but with the fall of communism and the peace dividend the M-60 should recieve its proper place in history.It trulely helped to win the cold war

R.P. Hunnicutt wrote 10 different books on US Armor. Each of them is a classic; this is perhaps the best of the best. When you discuss the Patton tank (unofficial name of the M-48 and M-60 series tanks), you begin with the WW2 designed Pershing tank. Why? Because the M-46, M-48, and M-60 tanks all trace their heritage back to the M-26. The M-60 was an evolution that began with a tank designed in 1942.

That is one of the things that makes this book so great. It's not just about one tank. Here, you'll find line drawings, photos of every tank from every angle inside and out, cutaways of M-26, M-46, M-48, M-60, M-60A1, M-60A2, and M-60A3. And there is more - Engineer vehicles, The CEV, M-88, Artillery tanks, AA tanks (Sgt York). There are 60 pages of B&W photos showing the Patton tank in service, 8 pages of the tanks in color. 38 pages of vehicle data sheets which give you every specification on each tank covered in the book. You can find here the weights, dimensions and performance of everything from the cannon to the engines and all that lay between.

I am a huge armor fan and collector of tank books - this is probably the best single book of them all. There are many newer books with more color and certainly more affordable. Hopefully, this book will go back in print and become available to a new generation of tankers and historians. My copy is frayed and worn from all the times I have referenced it, re-read it. Am glad I plunked down the $60.00 to buy it back in 1998.

Hunnicutt's volume on the "Patton" is still the definitive book for anyone who is looking for a reference on the US Army tanks from the Korean War to the fielding of the M1 Abrams. This volume starts with the M26 as a foundation, traces development of the M46, M47, M48 and M60 Series. The Combat section focuses on the M48 in Viet Nam but does provide a look at the others. This is really the only book available that provides detailed coverage of the less well known variants of the M60 (like the M60, the M60A2 and some of the M60A1 incremental updates).

Expensive, but worth the price if you can find one!

this old M60A1/M60A3 tanker is glad to finally have a copy!