M41 Walker Bulldog light tank

The M41 light tank was developed by the U.S. Army in the late 1940s for reconnaissance and tank destroyer missions. Its armor is much heavier than later light tanks such as the AMX-13 and the PT-76. The design of the latter two, however, more accurately presaged a post-war trend toward emphasizing firepower and mobility in a vehicle smaller than the M41.

The M41 has proved to be reliable and sturdy, except for its gasoline engine. It serves in several countries, although not in...