Global InformationM60 tank information
| M60 | |
|---|---|
 Original M60 variant on display at the Fort Lewis Military Museum in 2016 | |
| Type | Main battle tank |
| Place of origin | United States |
| Service history | |
| In service | 1959–present[1][a] |
| Used by | See Operators |
| Wars |
|
| Production history | |
| Designer | Chrysler Defense Engineering |
| Designed | 1957 |
| Manufacturer | Chrysler Corporation Delaware Defense Plant 1959 (initial low-rate production) Detroit Arsenal Tank Plant 1960–1983 |
| Unit cost | M60: $481,911 (1962) M60A1RISE: $703,278 (1976)[2] M60A2: $726,712 (1974)[3] M60A3TTS: $1.292 million (1990)[4] |
| Produced | M60: 1959–1962 M60A1: 1962–1980 M60A2: 1973–1975[3] M60A3: 1978–1983[5] |
| No. built | Over 15,000 (all variants) |
| Variants | See Variants |
| Specifications | |
| Mass | M60: 50.7 short tons (46.0 t; 45.3 long tons) M60A1: 52.6 short tons (47.7 t; 47.0 long tons) M60A2: 52.0 short tons (47.2 t; 46.4 long tons) M60A3: 54.6 short tons (49.5 t; 48.8 long tons)[6] |
| Length | M60/M60A1/M60A3: 6.946 meters (22 ft 9.5 in) (hull), 9.309 meters (30 ft 6.5 in) (gun forward) M60A2: 6.946 meters (22 ft 9.5 in) (hull), 7.3 meters (23 ft 11 in) (gun forward)[7] |
| Width | M60/M60A1/M60A2/M60A3: 3.631 meters (11 ft 11.0 in)[7] |
| Height | M60: 3.213 meters (10 ft 6.5 in) M60A2: 3.1 meters (10 ft 2 in) M60A1/M60A3: 3.27 meters (10 ft 9 in)[7] |
| Crew | 4[8] |
| Armor | Upper glacis[9]
Turret front[9]
|
Main armament |
|
Secondary armament |
|
| Engine | Continental AVDS-1790-2 V12, air-cooled twin-turbo diesel engine 750 bhp (560 kW)[7] |
| Power/weight | 15.08 bhp/st (12.4 kW/tonne)[7] |
| Transmission | General Motors, cross-drive, single-stage with 2 forward and 1 reverse ranges[7] |
| Suspension | Torsion bar suspension |
| Ground clearance | 1 foot 6.2 inches (0.463 m)[7] |
| Fuel capacity | 385 US gal (1,457 L)[7] |
Operational range | 300 miles (500 km)[7] |
| Maximum speed | 30 mph (48 km/h) (road) 12 mph (19 km/h) (cross country)[7] |
The M60 is an American second-generation main battle tank (MBT). It was officially standardized as the Tank, Combat, Full Tracked: 105-mm Gun, M60 in March 1959.[1] Although developed from the M48 Patton, the M60 tank series was never officially christened as a Patton tank. It has been called a "product-improved descendant" of the Patton tank's design.[12] The design similarities are evident comparing the original version of the M60 and the M48A2. The United States fully committed to the MBT doctrine in 1963, when the Marine Corps retired the last (M103) heavy tank battalion. The M60 tank series became America's primary main battle tank during the Cold War,[13] reaching a production total of 15,000 M60s.[14] Hull production ended in 1983, but 5,400 older models were converted to the M60A3 variant ending in 1990.[5]
The M60 reached operational capability upon fielding to US Army European units beginning in December 1960.[15] The first combat use of the M60 was by Israel during the 1973 Yom Kippur War, where it saw service under the "Magach 6" designation, performing well in combat against comparable tanks such as the T-62. In 1982, the Israelis again used the M60 during the 1982 Lebanon War, equipped with upgrades such as explosive reactive armor to defend against guided missiles that proved very effective at destroying tanks. The M60 also saw use in 1983 during Operation Urgent Fury, supporting US Marines in an amphibious assault on Grenada. M60s delivered to Iran also served in the Iran–Iraq War.
The United States' largest deployment of M60s was in the 1991 Gulf War, where the US Marines equipped with M60A1s effectively defeated Iraqi armored forces, including T-72 tanks. The United States retired the M60 from front-line combat after Operation Desert Storm, with the last tanks being retired from National Guard service in 1997. M60-series vehicles continue in front-line service with a number of countries' militaries, though most of these have been highly modified and had their firepower, mobility, and protection upgraded to increase their combat effectiveness on the modern battlefield.
The M60 has undergone many updates over its service life. The interior layout, based on the design of the M48, provided ample room for updates and improvements, extending the vehicle's service life for over four decades. It was widely used by the US and its Cold War allies, especially those in NATO, and remains in service throughout the world, despite having been superseded by the M1 Abrams in the US military. The tank's hull was the basis for a wide variety of prototype, utility, and support vehicles such as armored recovery vehicles, bridge layers and combat engineering vehicles. As of 2015,[update] Egypt is the largest operator with 1,716 upgraded M60A3s, Turkey is second with 866 upgraded units in service, and Saudi Arabia is third with over 650 units.
- ^ a b Hunnicutt 1984, p. 165.
- ^ Office, U.S. Government Accountability (August 6, 1976). "Increasing Procurement Cost Of M60A1 Tanks". Gao.gov (PSAD-76-153). Archived from the original on November 13, 2018. Retrieved December 12, 2018.
- ^ a b Sabot Publications, M60A2 Main Battle Tank in Detail, Volume 1
- ^ "Taiwan - Congressional Record". Archived from the original on April 17, 2016. Retrieved October 23, 2018.
- ^ a b "M60 Series Tank (Patton Series)". Fas.org. Archived from the original on September 4, 2018. Retrieved September 11, 2018.
- ^ Jane's Tank Recognition Guide, 1996, ISBN 0-00-470995-0
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j Foss 2005, p. 166.
- ^ "Basic Issue Plan". Fas.org. Archived from the original on April 19, 2016. Retrieved December 12, 2018.
- ^ a b Hunnicutt 1984, pp. 439–443.
- ^ a b Foss, Christopher F., ed. (2005). Jane's Armour and Artillery: 2005–2006 (26th ed.). Coulsdon, Surrey, UK; Alexandria, VA.
- ^ TM 9-1000-213-35 Direct Support, General Support, and Depot Maintenance Manual for Cannon, 105-mm Gun, M68, Mount, Combination Gun, M116 and M140, and Cupola, Tank Commander's Caliber .50 Machine Gun, M19 Used on: Tank, Combat, Full Tracked: 105-mm Gun, M60A1 W/E (2350-756-8497) and Tank, Combat, Full-tracked: 105-mm Gun, M60 W/E (2300-00-678-5773). Washington, D.C.: Dept. of the Army, 8 July 1975.
- ^ Hunnicutt 1984, pp. 6, 408.
- ^ Hunnicutt 1984, p. 181.
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
tanks-encyclopedia.comwas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ "M60 Patton Main Battle Tank (USA)". www.historyofwar.org.
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