- Yes!
- No!
After the founding of the new German post-war army in 1955, the Bundeswehr, it was predicted that the new tank groups would need around 3,000 new tanks for training the new divisions, until a domestic design would be procured. In 1956 1,100 M47 tanks were provided by the US for very cheap, since America was already phasing out the M47 by that time, and replacing it with the improved M48.
To acquire the other 1,900 tanks, Germany conducted an evaluation of both the Centurion Mk.VII, and the M48A1 in 1957. In the end, after thorough discussion and comparison of both tanks, on the 23rd of March 1957 it was decided, that the M48 would be the better fit for the German army’s needs. In the same year, 203 M48A1 tanks were bought and delivered to the Bundeswehr. In early 1958, the entire 5th tank-division was able to be equipped with M48A1’s.
After it’s adoption and usage in 1957, the M48 was liked for it’s good mobility, having similar cross-country speed and agility as the wartime Panther tank, while being easier to maintain, although the range was overall less than that of the Panther, with the M48 only being able to cross 50km over terrain, while the Panther had a range of around 80km cross-country.
The 90mm M41 gun was also well liked, as the German tank crews were already familiar with it from the M47, and considered it superior in firepower to the wartime 75mm KwK 42 of the Panther.
The M48A1 specifically went on to have a very short service time in the Bundeswehr, being replaced by the M48A2 in 1959, which had a more economical engine, however, the M48 itself, as a tank type, was used extensively by the Bundeswehr until 1991.
In War Thunder, the German KPz M48A1 would be identical to the American one that is already ingame, except for one detail, the M48A1’s Germany received did not have the M85 style muzzle-device on the M2HB in the commander’s cupola.
Pictures:
Spoiler
Specifications:
Crew: 4
Lenght: 8,46m
Height: 3,2m
Width: 3,63m
Weight: 47 tons
Engine: Continental AV-1790, 810hp
Top speed: 45kmh
Armament:
1x 90mm M41 cannon (60 rounds), 1x coaxial M1919A4E1 LMG (5950 rounds), 1x 12,7mm M2HB (900 rounds)
Thoughts:
I personally think, that the M48A1 could replace the tech-tree place of the M48A2C, with the M48A2C becoming a foldered vehicle under the M48A1. Since both the M48A1 and M48A2C are very similar, their BR’s should be both 7.3. This way, we can give Germany an additional strong 7.3 tanks, and the Leopard 1 could go back to 7.7, solving the issue of the Leopard 1 clubbing, and Germany not having enough 7.3 vehicles to fill the gap.
I also think the M48A1 would be a cool addition for Germany in general, because of it’s historical value, it being the first proper MBT Germany has adopted, since the M47’s very conventional layout, with the MG gunner in the hull, would in my mind still tie it closer to the medium and heavy tanks of WW2, rather than representing the next proper step forward. The M48 was used by Germany for a significantly longer time than the M47, which is also why adding the very first M48, that was used by Germany, would complete the history of it in the actual tech-tree, starting with the M48A1, going over the M48A2C, M48A2GA2, and ending at the Super M48.
If you want to add something, or spot a mistake, feel free to post it under this thread! 
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