M47 Patton Tank?

Question

The M47 Patton Tank entered WWII classed as a heavy tank. Then, later, it was re-classed as a medium tank. Did it lose any weight? Or was it really never a heavy tank?

Okay, dumb mistake - as one of you noted, I meant the M26 Pershing.

Answer 1

Actually the M47 never entered WW2 at all.
The M47 was a redesign of the late-war M26 Pershing heavy-tank. The M26 found itself nearly outclassed when used against Russian vehicles such as the JSU152, and T44.
The M47 incorporated features such as a coincidence range-finder (you can identify this series by the "ears" on either side of the turret), white-light searchlight mounted on the main armament, a better powerplant, and more powerful 90mm gun.
The distinction between "heavy, medium, and light" was dropped as the US Army's experience with Light-tanks was not a success. Additionally, the US Army found its tank-destroyer doctrine, with its distinctive roles of heavy-medium-light vehicles, to be badly outdated. The newer term "Main Battle Tank" better described the post-war vehicle's role in combined arms doctrine. It's probably also worthwhile to note that nearly ever nation with armored forces has also gone to this term.

Answer 2

no they just lumped them together under medium/heavy tanks it was always a heavy tank in the ranks of the tiger and the panther tanks.

Answer 3

the m 47 didn't see service till 1952

Answer 4

it might have been that that came out with even heavier tanks and re-classified it all