M47 Part II...Variant Designation?

[jagjetta]

This is the second M47 that is confusing me. This one is near Onalaska, Wisconsin. Again, it seems to be a standard M47 EXCEPT for the missing secondary idler wheel. Does this variant have a specific (army-assigned) designation?

Thank you!
John A-G
Iola, Wisconsin

[toadmanstankpictures]

Hi John,
The compensating idler wheel was removed during the many rebuilds by foreign companies such as Oto Melara of Italy. There isn't a special designation for this modification. Like the M47 in your previous post, this one was probably shipped back from an overseas user.

[jagjetta]

Hi Chris,
Thanks for the info. Even though this particular tank was pretty intact (not looted or vandalized), I couldn't find a data plate on the exterior like the one at Camp Dodge. However, I suspect that this was a NATO return as well.

Thanks so much for taking the time to have a look!

Best Regards,
John A-G
Iola, Wisconsin

[Neil_Baumgardner]

John,
Can you give me an address or more specific location for this M47?

Neil

[jagjetta]

- Neil_Baumgardner

John,
Can you give me an address or more specific location for this M47?

Neil

Hi Neil,
This one is on Highway 53 in Holmen, Wisconsin, in front of a bank.

JOhn

[glmm]

Note the rain deflector chutes welded to the turret sides, this was a common modification added to Italian M47s. The gasoline powered M47 on show at the Spanish armor museum is a Italian one which nver served with the Spanish army. A number were bought in the early 80s to use them to developt specialiced variants (engineers, AVBL....) In the end they were sold for scrap or used as monuments.