M47E1

ChieftainWarrior · June 16, 2025, 4:41am

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M47E1

TL;DR: Domestic Spanish upgrade of M47s, upgraded with a new (slightly worse) engine and ESS

History
Following the end of WWII, the UN — then comprised of 51 member states — rejected the admission of Spain into its ranks, due to Franco’s fascist regime and the assistance Spain provided to Germany and the other Axis powers during the war. They passed a resolution to exclude Spain from all international bodies lead by the UN. However, with the outbreak of the Cold War, it became more tempting for Western powers, primarily the US, to forge closer ties with Spain, because of both strategic geography (access to the Mediterranean) and ideological alignment (anti-communism). This lead to the signing of the Madrid Pact in 1953 between US and Spanish officials. The pact would provide Spain with US military equipment to modernise their army, which was in poor shape (as well as provide industrial equipment and have Spain host four US military bases).

Among the multitude of armoured vehicles received from the US, Spain obtained a total of 411 M47 Pattons over a decade-long period, with the first delivery in February 1954. The M47 was the most modern tank in the Spanish Army for a decade, until the arrival of the M48 in 1965. In 1975, Chrysler S.A. offered an upgrade to the M47s, replacing the engine with a diesel Continental AVDS-1790-2A (the same engine as on the M48A3-A5 series). This upgrade was very similar to that carried out by BMY on Iran and Pakistan’s fleet of M47s, which was designated M47M. Other modifications included the removal of the bow machine and assistant loader. Two variants were built: the M47E and M47E1 (sometimes written as M-47E / M-47E1). The M47E had a different gas outlet, but the two variants were otherwise identical. 329 tanks were upgraded from 1975 to 1980 — 100 M47Es and 229 M47E1s.

M47E1 rear

M47E1 rear

Later, in the latter half of the 1970s, Peugeot–Talbot proposed a further upgrade of the M47E/E1s, designated M47E2. The upgrade consisted of a 105mm Rh-105-30, upgrade of the engine to the 1790-2D model, TEESS engine exhaust smoke system, and smoke grenade launchers. 46 M47s were upgraded to this standard. All M47s had been taken out of service by 1993, replaced partly by M60s.

M47E2 Prototype

M47E2 prototype

Characteristics
The M47E1 is fitted with an unstabilised 90mm M36 cannon. It can fire a wide range of ammunition, including AP(C)BC, APCR, and HEAT-FS rounds. M82 APCBC penetrates 185mm @ 0° @ 10m. M332 APCR penetrates 321mm @ 0° @ 10m. M431 HEAT-FS penetrates 320mm @ 0° @ 10m. 77 rounds of ammunition are carried. The M47E1 has a coaxial 7.62mm MG42, with 2750 rounds of ammunition. The commander also has a 12.7mm M2 HB, with 1250 rounds of ammunition. The turret also houses an optical rangefinder.

The M47E1 is adequately-armoured, with hull armour up to 101mm on the front, and 76mm at the sides. The turret is roughly the same, with up to 121mm on the front and 63mm on the sides.

The M47E1 features the AVDS-1790-2A engine, producing 760hp, connected to an Allison CD-850-6A transmission with six forward and two reverse gears. The tank has a combat weight of 47t, resulting in a power-to-weight ratio of 15.9hp/t. The M47E1 can reach a top speed of 56km/h.

Conclusion
The M47E1 would effectively just be a regular M47 with a weaker engine (760hp instead of 810hp). it would likely still fit at a BR of 7.3, or potentially at 7.0 if given weaker ammunition (i.e. no HEAT-FS). I am mostly suggesting it for a future Greco-Iberian tech tree — there isn’t much purpose in it if Spain isn’t added to the game as a proper nation.

Specifications
Armament

90mm M36
- Unstabilised
- 77 rounds
- M318A1 APBC
  - 193mm at 0° at 10m
- M82 APCBC
  - 185mm at 0° at 10m
- M304 APCR
  - 287mm at 0° at 10m
- M332 APCR
  - 321mm at 0° at 10m
- M431 HEAT-FS
  - 320mm at 0° at 10m
- M71A1 HE
  - 17mm at 0° at 10m
1x 7.62mm MG42 coaxial
- 2750 rounds
1x 12.7mm M2 HB coaxial
- 1250 rounds