Designed to replace the WWII M24 Chaffee the M41 featured a 76mm main gun and 500hp gasoline engine giving it excellent mobility and firepower for it’s time. 
By 1953 the M41 had completely replaced the M24 in US Service although it was never used in anger by the US. 
The M41 was well liked by its crews due to its high degree of mobility but one drawback was its lack of range with the engine being a real gas guzzler which meant it only had a range of 100 miles on a full tank.

A large number of M41s were supplied to the South Vietnamese Army and gave a good account of itself against the North Vietnamese T-54/55 tanks. 
Other major users included, Brazil, Denmark, Taiwan and Thailand.