General Background

The M46 Patton tank was named after US General George S. Patton Jr. It basically was an improved M26 Pershing and was meant to replace the M26 and M4 Sherman. 800 of the M26s were converted to M46s and received a new more powerful engine and transmission with rearward-facing fender mounted mufflers and a main gun with a bore evacuator. The M46s made up 15% of the tank force in Korea and proved superior to its T34/85 counterparts