When did the US start using tank searchlights? (No. NOT CDLs.) I’ve seen ones on M26/46 s in Korea. (M4s,maybe). Look like the circular Crouse-Hinds units seen on USMC M48s in Vietnam. I;m interested in the 1947 time frame.
From everything I have read, the M46 Patton was the first US tank fitted with a searchlight. It was first fielded in 1949 with the Crouse-Hinds light .
Seeing I’m doing a “what if”, that mght be “close enough for Govt. work”. Working on a T34E2 … T34 with T29E3 stereo range finder. Was thinking 47 time frame for it so a Crouse-Hinds would be “logical”