M48 Patton vs. Centurion

The Indo-Pakistani War of 1965 witnessed the largest tank battles seen since World War II, notably between India's British-made Centurion Mk 7s and the American-made M48 Pattons fielded by Pakistan. Following nearly two decades of tensions and sporadic conflict between India and Pakistan, in August 1965 several thousand Pakistani soldiers entered the disputed territory of Kashmir disguised as local civilians, to which India responded with a successful ground assault. The ensuing battles would demonstrate that the Centurion, with its powerful gun and heavier armour, generally proved superior to the faster, lighter but overly complex Patton. Featuring full-colour artwork, expert analysis and absorbing combat accounts, this is the full story of the clash between two leading tanks of the Cold War era that were never designed to fight each other, but rather to line up on battlefields as allies.