The M60 tank, a name full of iron-plated history, was first revealed in 1960 as a Cold War giant, a representation of American engineering and warfare might. The main battle tank, the heir to the Patton M48, not only played the leading role during times of uncertainty but continues to be engraved forever in the pages of military history and weapons storerooms of many nations.
Built to kill Soviet tanks, the M60 was America’s chief defense and a symbol of NATO might in the 1960s and 1970s, until the M1 Abrams took its place around 1990. The M60’s arrival was heralded by its 105mm rifled gun barrel to punch holes through enemy defenses, a homogeneous steel hull six-inches thick, and a powerful twin diesel motor with 750-horsepower capable of traveling at 30 miles per hour and with a 300-mile range.
The M60 models soon followed, with the M60A1 in 1963 bringing larger turret and improved armor. While plans to implement a lower-profile M60A2 with a 152mm main gun were underway, it was the M60A3 that took center stage globally with its computerized ballistics system, thermal sight, new air filtration system, and advanced laser rangefinder. The M60A3, increasingly popular with American allies, was modernized by defense corporations including Raytheon and General Dynamics Land Systems, offering upgrades such as 120mm smoothbore guns and enhanced fire control systems.
The M60’s valor was indelible in the 1973 Yom Kippur War, where massive tank-on-tank combat saw the M60 as a chivalrous armored vehicle for Israeli soldiers, later supported with explosive reactive armor for the 1982 Lebanon War.
The M60’s service life was marked by yet another turning point during Operation Desert Storm in 1991. Even with the presence of the more advanced M1 Abrams, American Marine Corps and Saudi troops utilized the M60 to glorious effect against Iraqi T-62 tanks.
The high profile and lack of a true ammunition compartment were among the weaknesses of the M60, and it’s no match for today’s anti-tank missiles. The M60 was officially decommissioned by the U.S. Army in 1997, but its legacy remains strong. Many nations, recognizing its versatility and toughness, have continued to use their fleets of M60s.
