A tank takes a bow
The M47 was produced by the Detroit Arsenal Tank Plant and the American Locomotive Company. The companies turned out 8,576 tanks that would enter service with 22 countries, including NATO.
There are some noteworthy actors who have portrayed members of a tank crew in movies, such as Donald Sutherland in “Kelly’s Heroes” and, more recently, Brad Pitt in “Fury”. There are fewer examples of those who have made the transition in the other direction by starting out as a tank crew and becoming a movie star. One person to achieve that accolade is Austrian-born Arnold Schwarzenneger, the star of many action movies.
In 1965, at age 18, Schwarzenneger had to serve his mandatory one year in the Austrian Army, during which time he learned to drive the M47 “Patton” tank. For many recruits that would have been sufficient contact with tanks, but in 1991, by then a multi-millionaire, he decided to acquire the actual tank he had driven in the army. For the reported sum of $20,000 he became the owner of his personal tank and had it shipped to America. Today he drives it to raise funds for charitable causes and plenty of clips online showing him in action with his tank.
The M47 was produced by the Detroit Arsenal Tank Plant and the American Locomotive Company between 1951 and 1954. During that time the companies turned out 8,576 tanks that would enter service with 22 countries, including member states of NATO such as Greece, Turkey and Italy. During the 1960s the M47 starred in many movies, standing in as either German Panzers or Allied tanks, according to production needs. The M47 was taken out of service gradually and by the beginning of the 1970s had been retired from all but a few armies. The leftovers were either sent to museums or used as targets on military ranges. The Tank Museum at Bovington in Dorset, England, acquired its example of the M47 from the Italian Army in 1987, where it had been retired from service in the 1970s.
Two variants emerged from the basic design: the M47 gun tank and the M47M with improved fire control. From there, overseas armies using the tank developed some examples into specialized roles, such as bridge laying and vehicle recovery. On the whole, though, the M47 remained in its primary role of gun tank with the 90mm M36 capable of firing several types of ammunition including high explosive, anti-personnel, smoke and HEAT rounds. Secondary armament included an M1919A4E1 .30-caliber machine gun mounted co-axially in the turret and a second weapon mounted in the glacis. A dismountable M2 HB .50-cal. machine gun could be fitted to the turret roof for use against helicopters. A total of 71 rounds were carried for the main gun, 4,125 .30-cal. rounds and 440s round for the M2 HB.
During its service career the M47 was deployed in combat roles by various armies engaged in conflict, such as the Iran-Iraq War of 1980-1988 when those in service with the Iranian Army were bested by Iraqi T62 and T72 tanks. The Pakistan Army deployed M47 tanks in 1965 and again in 1971 during the wars against India. Following the so-called “Six Day War” when Israel faced an Arab coalition force of Egypt, Syria, Jordan and Iraq between June 5 and 10 in 1967, the Israeli Army in an after-action report declared the M47 tanks deployed by Jordan to be the best-handling of the war. The Spanish Army was among one of the last forces to retire its fleet of M47 in the 1990s, but some countries still maintain examples in reserve.
The Tank Museum had held the M47 in its collection for 37 years, but it had been kept in storage during that time, having been largely untouched as other projects took precedence and diverted attention away from it. Then in mid-2024 the decision was made that it should be restored and a public appeal was launched to raise funds. Within several months the target figure of £50,000 GBP was almost reached and the approval for work to begin was given. The museum hoped the work would be completed in time for the M47 to take part in Tankfest 2025 to be held over the weekend of June 27-29.
The person of choice to undertake the work was Matt Pyle, an experienced and well-known figure in the world of vehicle restoration. In fact, Pyle had previous first-hand experience working on an M47, having completed his own personal restoration project which had taken part in the display at Tankfest 2024. Arrangements were made to transport the M47 from the Tank Museum to Pyle’s workshop in Hampshire, where work commenced almost immediately. To Pyle’s surprise, the tank was in remarkably good condition.
First the 8-ton turret was removed, followed by the engine. His job was made that much easier by the Tank Museum supplying a replacement engine, of the original type, and a gear box from their stock of spare parts. Rust and old paint were removed using sand blasting, with special attention paid to the more delicate parts. Items were then treated with red oxide followed by three coats of green finish. After the bodywork was complete, the vehicle was reassembled with the tracks and the engine fitted. The interior cockpit was left in its original condition, per the request by the museum. There is still more work to be done, but Pyle had the Patton ready for Tankfest 2025.
The news that it would be taking part in the show circulated prior to the event and everybody was eagerly anticipating its appearance. They were not disappointed and the crew operating it gave an excellent display of mobility and speed. As a post-war design, it will now take its place alongside other designs which emerged in the 1950s, including the T55, French AMX 13 and M103 heavy tank. Now that the M47 is functioning it joins the line-up of other historical designs in the Tank Museum’s expanding collection of operational vehicles.
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