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

M47 Patton Medium Tank

M47 <i>Patton</i> Medium Tank Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by James Hulse, January 3, 2026

1. M47 Patton Medium Tank Marker

Inscription. Intended to replace the M46 tank, the M47 was itself replaced by the M48 tank shortly after entering service. As a result, many of the M47 tanks produced were sold to aid many other countries friendly to the United States during the Cold War. Early production models of this tank were fitted with a 50 caliber coaxial machinegun instead of the normal .30 caliber. It was the first American tank to enter into production equipped with a built-in rangefinder.

Vehicle Specifications
Armament: 1 x 90 mm M36 gun with 71 rounds, 1 x 50 caliber M2 HB machinegun with 1,700 rounds, 2 x 30 caliber M1919A4 machineguns with 11,150 rounds
Fire control range finder type: Stereoscopic M12
Crew: 5 (commander, gunner, two loaders, and driver)
Weight: 101,800 lbs
Speed: 30 mph
Maximum effective weapons range: more than 2,000 m
Maximum armor thickness: 4.5 In (110 mm) cast homogeneous armor
Production: 8,676
Year entering service: 1952

Erected by Mississippi Armed Forces Museum Camp Shelby. (Marker Number 8.)

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

Location. 31° 11.835′ N, 89° 13.452′ 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 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

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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: M41 Walker Bulldog Light Tank (here, next to this marker); M48 Patton Medium Tank (here, next to this marker); M103A2 Heavy Tank (a few steps from this marker); M26 Pershing Heavy Tank (a few steps from this marker); M728 Combat Engineer Vehicle (a few steps from this marker); M578 Armored Recovery Vehicle (a few steps from this marker); M102 105mm Howitzer (within shouting distance of this marker); M59 Armored Personnel Carrier (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.

M47 <i>Patton</i> Medium Tank Marker (Left marker) image. Click for full size.

Photographed by James Hulse, January 3, 2026

2. M47 Patton Medium Tank Marker (Left marker)

M47 <i>Patton</i> Medium Tank image. Click for full size.

Photographed by James Hulse, January 3, 2026

3. M47 Patton Medium Tank

A closeup side view of the M47 tank.

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 38 times since then. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on January 8, 2026, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas.