Developed as a light reconnaissance tank to replace the Chaffee. Though designed in the late 1940s the M41 did not enter service until 1953 with the outbreak of the War in Korea. It was immediately found to be unsatisfactory in its designed role even though it did not see active service.
In fact the M41 found its real role in the Vietnam War, and was provided in numbers to the South Vietnamese Army up to 1972 when the M48 took over in the main combat role. The M41 was sold top many foreign custtomers and remains in service around the world. Nearly 5500 were produced.