After the requisite performance trials by the US Army, the M46 entered serial production (in its basic form as the "M46") and entered formal service in 1950. First M46 elements arrived in Korea on August 8th, 1950 with the US 6th Tank Battalion. By the end of the year, some 200 units would be available and 800 of the original M46s would be produced in all. The M46 fought alongside existing M26 (before their eventual withdrawal) and the large fleet of M4 Shermans as well as other light tanks in circulation. Once M46 stocks were adequate, the M26 was officially withdrawn for the better and Shermans began to see a similar fate in time.
After some practical operational use, the M46 was modified through the improved M46A1 variant. This version fitted a fire suppression system as well as an integrated cooling system and improved braking arrangement. Electrics were modernized and these forms were further upgraded with Continental AV-1790-5B series engines coupled with Allison CD-850-4 series transmission systems. All told, production of this type totaled 360 units.
In combat, the M46 gave a good account of itself. It outmatched the North Korean Soviet T-34/76 and the limited T-34/85 medium tank types considerably. The 90mm main gun proved a good penetrating power at range while Western tactics proved superior for the day. The subsequent battles regained swathes of territory originally lost in the initial North Korean push, eventually pulling Chinese forces into the fold (Soviet jet fighter pilots also flew against Americans). The M46 proved critical in the defense of the all-important Pusan Perimeter during the latter half of 1950 that, its loss, would have spelled defeat for both US forces and South Koreans otherwise. M46s were used in support of the amphibious US Marine landings at Inchon thereafter and were also fielded used in support of UN forces during their retreat after the Chinese thrust. The war would eventually conclude in a cease-fire armistice though no formal conclusion was ever recognized - meaning that a state of war has consistently existed between the North and South since. As such, limited skirmishing continues today across the Korean Demilitarized Zone (DMZ), a zone spanning some 2.5 miles between the North and South as a buffer of sorts. The Korean War became the sole combat exposure for the M46 breed as it was soon replaced by the similar M47 Patton beginning in 1952. M47s were not used in the war but went on to stock US allies across Europe and the Middle East in the years following. Remnant M46s were eventually leased to Belgium, France and Italy as interim fighting and training systems until the expected arrival of M47s in their respective inventories.
Such ended the tenure of the M46 Patton, the first of the Patton tank line that has since culminated with the M60 Patton of 1961 - America's first "Main Battle Tank". The M60 itself was superseded by the excellent M1 Abrams Main Battle Tank in 1980.
The M46 Patton was formally retired in 1957. 1,160 M46 tanks were built in all by the Detroit Arsenal Tank Plant. The M46 was utilized by both US Marine and Army elements in the Korean War.
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