The US M48 Main Battle Tank with a 90 mm gun, initially in the A1 version then later in larger numbers as the A2 - formed part of the initial battle equipment of the German Armed Forces. It formed the backbone of German armoured units - and therefore that of the Army for many years. The M48A2GA2 is a combat performance-enhanced version of the M48A2, that at first filled the void until the introduction of the Leopard 2 and subsequently remained in service within units of the Territorial Army for many years. During modifications the gun-mantle was also renewed and the Commanders gun turret with its .50 calibre MG was replaced with one similar to the Leopard 1 with a cupola on the hatch. The first M48A2GA2 were delivered in 1978. Upon its withdrawal from service in the wake of German reunification in 1990/91, Leopard 1's which had been built after the M48's had already been de-commissioned.