Camp Shelby in Forrest County, Mississippi — The American South (East South Central)

M48 Patton Medium Tank

M48 <i>Patton</i> Medium Tank Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by James Hulse, January 3, 2026

1. M48 Patton Medium Tank Marker

Inscription. After the Second World War, the USSR turned its attention to spreading Communism around the world. One of their chief enforcement tools was the famous T-34/85 medium tank equipped with an 85 millimeter gun. During the Korean War hundreds of T-34's, operated by communist Chinese soldiers, drove UN forces back time and time again, brushing aside obsolete American light and medium tanks. In response, American armament designers developed the M48 tank equipped with a 90 millimeter gun.

The M48 was the third tank to be named for General Patton following the M46 and M47.

Vehicle Specifications
Armament: 1 x 90 mm M41 gun with 60 rounds, 1 x.50 caliber M2 HB machinegun with 630 rounds, 1 x .30 caliber M1919A4E1 machinegun with 5,900 rounds
Fire control range finder type: Stereoscopic, T46E1
Crew: 4 (commander, gunner, loader, and driver)
Weight: 49.5 tons
Speed: 30 mph
Maximum effective weapons range: 3,500 m (anti-tank)
Maximum armor thickness: 120 mm
Production: 11,703
Year entering service: 1952

Captions
(Photo #1) The Museum's M48 is the same model crewed by Elvis Presley during the Korean War

Erected by Mississippi Armed Forces Museum Camp Shelby. (Marker Number 7.)

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: War, Cold. A significant historical year for this entry is 1952.

Location. 31° 11.832′ N, 89° 13.448′ W. Marker is in Camp Shelby, Mississippi, in Forrest County. It is at the intersection of Forrest Ave W and Museum Street on Forrest Ave W. The marker is located on the grounds of the Mississippi Armed Forces Museum at Camp Shelby. Touch for map. Marker is at or

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near this postal address: 850 Forrest Ave W, Hattiesburg MS 39407, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Mississippi’s Pine Belt.

It is also in the American South,

specifically in the Deep South,

and in the Piney Woods.

Globally, it is in North America,

a Gulf of Mexico state,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain,

the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: M47 Patton Medium Tank (here, next to this marker); M103A2 Heavy Tank (a few steps from this marker); M728 Combat Engineer Vehicle (a few steps from this marker); M41 Walker Bulldog Light Tank (a few steps from this marker); M578 Armored Recovery Vehicle (within shouting distance of this marker); M102 105mm Howitzer (within shouting distance of this marker); M56 Scorpion Self-Propelled Gun (within shouting distance of this marker); M114 Armored Reconnaissance Vehicle (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Camp Shelby.

More about this marker. The marker and the Mississippi Armed Forces Museum are located at the historic Camp Shelby, an active Mississippi National Guard military installation. The museum is open to the public, but appropriate identification is required for access.

M48 <i>Patton</i> Medium Tank and Marker (left marker) image. Click for full size.

Photographed by James Hulse, January 3, 2026

2. M48 Patton Medium Tank and Marker (left marker)

M48 <i>Patton</i> Medium Tank Marker (right marker) image. Click for full size.

Photographed by James Hulse, January 3, 2026

3. M48 Patton Medium Tank Marker (right marker)

Credits. This page was last revised on January 27, 2026. It was originally submitted on January 8, 2026, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas. This page has been viewed 50 times since then. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on January 8, 2026, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas.