M60 tank

M60 tank. The M60 is an American main battle tank that served as a cornerstone of United States Army and United States Marine Corps armored formations during the Cold War. Developed as a successor to the M48 Patton, it entered service in 1960 and featured significant improvements in firepower and armor protection. Its design was continuously upgraded over three decades, seeing extensive export and combat use with numerous allied nations.

Development and design

The development of the M60 was driven by intelligence on the new Soviet T-54/T-55 series and the lessons learned from conflicts like the Korean War. The project was managed by the Chrysler Corporation at the Detroit Arsenal Tank Plant, utilizing components from the earlier M48 Patton. A primary design goal was to mount a more powerful main gun, leading to the adoption of the British-designed Royal Ordnance L7 105 mm gun, produced in the U.S. as the M68. The hull was redesigned with a distinctive wedge-shaped front glacis for improved ballistic protection, and it was powered by a Continental AVDS-1790 series diesel engine, offering greater range and reduced fire risk compared to gasoline engines. The turret, initially similar to the M48 Patton, housed a crew of four: commander, gunner, loader, and driver.

Service history

The M60 entered service with the United States Army in 1960 and never saw direct combat with American crews in a major conventional war against the Warsaw Pact, its intended foe. However, it was deployed extensively during the Vietnam War, primarily in the USMC's M60A1 variant, where it provided direct fire support. Its most significant combat use came with other operators, notably Israel during the Yom Kippur War and the 1982 Lebanon War, where it engaged Syrian T-62 and T-72 tanks. The Imperial Iranian Army used them prior to the Iranian Revolution, and they were later employed by both sides during the Iran–Iraq War. The tank also saw action in the Gulf War with the United States Marine Corps, and continues in limited frontline service with several nations, including in the ongoing conflicts involving the Turkish Armed Forces.

Variants

The primary production models were the original M60, the M60A1 with a longer, better-shaped turret, and the M60A3 which incorporated major technological upgrades like a Raytheon AN/VVG-2 laser rangefinder, Texas Instruments AN/VSG-2 thermal sight, and a solid-state ballistic computer. Numerous specialized variants were also built, including the M60A2 "Starship" with a low-velocity M162 gun/missile launcher, the M728 Combat Engineer Vehicle with a short-barreled M135 demolition gun and A-frame crane, and bridgelayers like the M60A1 AVLB. The Israeli Defense Forces created extensive local upgrades, culminating in the Sabra and Magach 7 models, which were also exported to other countries like Turkey.

Operators

The M60 was widely exported under various U.S. security assistance programs. Primary operators beyond the United States included NATO allies such as Turkey, Greece, and Italy. It was a key tank for Israel for decades and was also supplied to major non-NATO partners like Iran under the Pahlavi dynasty, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, and Egypt following the Camp David Accords. Other significant operators have included Austria, Spain, Thailand, Bahrain, Oman, Tunisia, Morocco, and the Taiwan. Many of these countries have since retired or significantly upgraded their fleets.

Specifications

* **Primary Armament:** 105 mm M68 rifled gun (M60/A1/A3) * **Secondary Armament:** Coaxial 7.62 mm M73/M219/M240; commander's cupola-mounted 12.7 mm M85 * **Engine:** Continental AVDS-1790 series V12, air-cooled twin-turbo diesel (750 hp) * **Transmission:** General Dynamics CD-850 series cross-drive (2 forward, 1 reverse) * **Suspension:** Torsion bar * **Operational Range:** Approximately 300 miles (480 km) * **Maximum Speed:** 30 mph (48 km/h) * **Crew:** 4 (Commander, Gunner, Loader, Driver) * **Combat Weight:** ~50-52 tons (varies by variant)

Category:Main battle tanks of the United States Category:Cold War tanks of the United States Category:Military vehicles introduced in the 1960s