M60 Patton

M60 Patton

M60 Patton Main Battle Tank

Specifications

Country of origin = United States Of America

Manufacturer = Detroit Arsenal Tank Plant, Chrysler

Produced in = 1960-1987

Number Produced = 15,000

Crew = 4

Length = 9.43 m

Width = 3.63 m

Height = 3.27 m

Weight = 46,684 kg / 107,330 lb

Powerplant = Continental AVDS-1790-2 V12, air-cooled Twin-turbo diesel engine

Engine Power = 750 h.p.

Maximum Speed = 48.28 km/h

Maximum Range = 482 km

Armament = 1 x 105mm M68 main gun

1 x 12.7mm M85 heavy machine gun

1 x 7.62mm M73 coaxial machine gun

2 x 6 smoke grenade dischargers

About

The M60 Patton main battle tank began its development in 1957 to replace the aging US heavy tank, the M103 Heavy Tank. M60 patton was introduced in December 1960 and became the US army primary Main Battle Tank during the Cold War. M60 Patton was actually a derivative from the M48 Patton, so in the early stages, the M60 was classified as a "product-improved descendant". The M60 Patton was developed to counter the Soviets who were researching on a new main battle tank which was armed with a 115mm main gun. The Americans knew that the Soviet new tank would outgun even the latest M48 Patton which was the standard US Army tank at that time. The American generals nightmare turned into reality when the rumored soviet tank armed with 115mm gun turned out to be the T-62 tank and it really did outgun the M48 and even the latest M60 tank. With world war 2 experience in tanks, the M60 designers simply took the M48 systems and upgraded it and put it in a new and revised hull complete with new engines and drive transmission system and the M60 tank turret was equipped with the outstanding British-made L7 main gun.

Combat Action

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