Primary armament of the M41 was a 76mm M32 series main gun fitted to the traversing electrically-powered (later hydraulically-powered) turret. A Browning M1914A4 7.62mm (.30 caliber) machine gun was fitted in a coaxial mounting alongside the main gun and operated by the gunner. A trainable 12.7mm (.50 caliber) Browning M2 heavy machine gun could be mounted atop the turret at the commander's hatch to help counter low-flying aerial threats or light-armored enemy vehicles.
In all, the M41 appeared in several notable variants beginning with the base M41 production model of 1951. 1953 saw the arrival of the M41A1 which was completed with a hydraulically-powered turret over that of the original's electrically-driven one. The new turret power center proved more compact and allowed an increased in internal storage volume for the required 76mm projectiles - increased from 57 rounds to 65 rounds. The M41A2 arrived in 1956 and sported a Continental AOS 895-3 6-cylinder gasoline engine featuring fuel injection. Earlier M41 forms were also brought up to feature this new powerplant standard. The M41A3 designation was used to simply mark M41A1 production models brought up to the M41A2 engine standard. The chassis of the M41 was then used in the development of the M41 "Duster" of 1942 - and mobile air defense weapon fitting 2 x 40mm Bofors cannons. Other nations took to upgrading their M41s under various programs as well and included such additions as indigenous main guns, differing powerplants and Explosive Reactive Armor (ERA). Many of these have since been retired by their respective owners when defense budgets allowed an affordable modern upgrade.
Beyond the Korean War, the M41 would later see combat actions in the Vietnam War - a conflict not to be decided by armor actions as in previous wars. South Vietnamese forces were equipped with the type, having received them in some number from the French. These M41s acquitted themselves quite well, a testament to the original American design and the Vietnamese tanker crews within. Ultimately, the war proved a losing effort for the Americans and the South, resulting in withdrawal for the former and capitulation for the latter.
In US Army service the M41 series was formally replaced by the newer M48 "Patton" medium tank series. The M41 continued widespread use, however, for it was delivered in over 1,500 examples to the inventories of several nations around the globe. Some of the largest foreign operators became Taiwan, Brazil and Thailand. Even today, some forces continue to operate the M41 despite its operating costs and ages-old technologies.
Total M41 production is reported at 3,728.
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