Thai M48 hits Cambodian T-55 tanks in border clash

Defence affairs - Def-Geopolitics

Thailand’s Army has confirmed a direct tank engagement with Cambodian armored forces during recent fighting along the Thai-Cambodian border, after videos circulated on social media showing a Thai M48A5 tank engaging multiple Cambodian T-55 tanks.

The footage was first published by Thai sources on social media, showing a Thai Army M48A5 main battle tank firing on four tanks from the T-55 family operated by the Cambodian Army. Shortly afterward, additional video emerged online depicting one of the Cambodian T-55 tanks destroyed during the engagement.

As stated by Thai military sources online, the engagement occurred with Thai forces positioned on higher ground, giving the Thai tank a clear tactical advantage. A commentary accompanying one of the videos noted that because Thai forces were located on elevated terrain, the encounter ended in a one-sided outcome.

The Thai Army has not released exact coordinates or a precise timeline for the engagement but confirmed that the clash took place amid renewed fighting linked to the long-running border dispute between Thailand and Cambodia. The incident occurred before a ceasefire agreement was reached later in December.

The tanks involved reflect the aging armored inventories still fielded by both countries. Thailand’s M48A5 is an upgraded variant of the U.S.-designed M48 Patton main battle tank, featuring improved fire control systems and a 105mm main gun. While largely phased out in frontline roles by many armies, the platform remains in limited service with Thai ground forces, particularly in reserve or territorial units.

Cambodia’s T-55 tanks are Soviet-designed main battle tanks introduced in the late 1950s and widely exported during the Cold War. Despite their age, T-55 variants remain in service in several countries (including Russia), often used in secondary roles or deployed due to limited alternatives. The vehicles seen in the footage appear to belong to Cambodian Army armored units stationed near the contested border area.

The release of combat footage by the Thai side marked one of the clearest visual confirmations to date of direct tank-on-tank combat between the two countries.