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Guide to the American medium tank M60 WoT. Tank M60 review American main battle tank photo Equipment for the M60

14.10.2020

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During the discussion of street fighting in Syria, which unfolded after the post - tank ov in street battles". Most of the discussions came to the conclusion that modern tanks and, with their unconditional merits, are very little suitable for street fighting. From what is visible in the video to the naked eye and to a non-specialist, it immediately catches the eye that the tank is very difficult to maneuver with its long tank gun in dense urban areas. In addition, in my opinion, for urban battles, a tank near a gun is generally not needed. In urban battles, a howitzer would be much better. Since the firing range in urban conditions fades into the background. All ate within one kilometer no more. But much more important is the power of the amount of explosives in the projectile. And howitzers have more explosives in their shells than gun shells. And the barrel length of a howitzer can be much less than that of a cannon. From the tanks of the past, in my opinion, the KV-2, with its 152 mm howitzer, would be best suited for urban battles. Now there is no analogue.

So, while a specialized tank for urban combat has not been created. And I am sure that the military will come to such a need anyway. Since there will be more and more such battles in the future. It is worth paying attention to the experience of overseas tank builders, who in the early 70s of the last century created a vehicle very close in its parameters to an ideal tank for urban combat. This is the M60A2 tank. It will be discussed in this article.

The M60A2 tank is a modification of the M60 main battle tank and is designed to enhance the firepower of armored units and subunits armed with M60A1 tanks. The development of tank a was carried out in the second half of the 60s, and after testing and refinement, starting from 1972, the tank and the M60A2 began to enter service with the units american army stationed in Germany. The main difference between the M60A2 lies in the design of the turret with rocket and cannon weapons and the installation of weapons.

Flattened tower with large angles of inclination of the side walls. The turret is equipped with an XM150E4 launcher and a coaxial 7.62 mm machine gun. The twin mount is serviced by a fire control system that includes an electro-hydraulic two-plane stabilizer, an AN / W51 laser rangefinder made on ruby, an XM19 electronic ballistic computer, into which corrections are made for the type of ammunition, bore wear, derivation, gun trunnion angle, wind speed and angular movement of the target.

The gun-launcher M48 (XM150E4) provides effective firing of conventional HEAT projectiles at ranges up to 1500 m and ATGM MJM-5IA "Shilleyla" at ranges up to 3000 m. conventional ammunition. The Shileyla ATGM is a feathered guided missile, the main elements of which are a warhead with a shaped charge, control system equipment with a receiver and an infrared radiation source, a solid propellant jet engine, a powder gas generator, control actuators, a folding stabilizer, the blades of which open with an exit projectile from the barrel of the launcher.

The gunner and loader are located in the turret on both sides of the gun (gunner on the right), and the commander is located in the rear of the turret in the commander's cupola, equipped with observation devices and a 12.7-mm anti-aircraft machine gun. Another 7.62 mm machine gun is paired with the gun. On the sides of the tower in the aft part of it, two four-barreled grenade launchers were installed for setting smoke screens.

The M60A2 tank is equipped with a new fire control system, which includes an electro-hydraulic weapon stabilization system (launcher gun and coaxial machine gun), a laser rangefinder and an XM19 electronic ballistic computer. The gunner's control panel ensures that the range is entered manually by the gunner and tank commander. For the gunner, a combined periscope (daytime and non-illuminated infrared) XM50 sight with an electron-optical converter is provided. The XM51 commander's sight is similar in design to the XM50 sight; it is installed in the commander's cupola. The XM126 telescopic sight is used to guide the Shillaila ATGM.

The M60A2 tank is adapted to combat operations at low temperatures, has means of protection against weapons of mass destruction, automatic fire fighting equipment and the necessary means of radio communication. In terms of cross-country ability, speed characteristics and power reserve, it does not differ from the M60A1.

The total number of M60A2 tanks produced was 526 units, but they were not widely used. Their operation in the army showed that the gun-launcher has insufficient fire power. Despite the large caliber (152 mm), high-explosive fragmentation projectiles for this gun are significantly inferior in range and effect on the target to a similar projectile of 105- and 120-mm tank guns. At the same time, the Shillaila ATGM proved to be insufficiently effective when operating on heavily armored targets, and also very difficult to operate. It also had an effect that the cost of one "Shilleil" projectile is about 30 times higher than the cost of a projectile for a 105-mm gun.

For these reasons, the tank and M60A2 were removed from the ground forces and transferred to storage. Part of the tanks was converted into tank bridgelayers, sapper tanks and obstacle engineering vehicles.

The performance characteristics of the M60A2

Combat weight, t: 58.48

Crew, people: 4

Overall dimensions, mm:

length with cannon 7333

height 3632

width 3310

clearance 389

Armor, mm:

hull forehead 143

hull side 74

tower forehead 292

turret side 121

gun mask 292

Armament: 152 mm M162 gun-launcher

one 7.62 mm M73 machine gun

one 12.7 mm M85 anti-aircraft machine gun

two four-barreled smoke grenade launchers

Ammunition: 33 rounds

5500 rounds of 7.62 mm

1080 rounds 12.7 mm

Engine: diesel, "Continental" AVDS-1790-2A

power 750 hp

Highway speed, km/h: 48

Range on the highway, km: 448

M60 tank review American main combat photo , during the Cold War - can be considered the fourth generation of the Patton family or their direct descendant. Initially developed as a response to the improvement of Soviet tanks, the M60 remains in service to this day. It is not for nothing that more than 15,000 cars have been built.

M60 tank review American main combat photo

Tank M60 adopted as weapons in 1960. During the Vietnam War, a relatively small number of M60s were used, and they also took part in the 1973 Yom Kippur War as part of the Israel Defense Forces. In addition, they participated in the battles of the Iran-Iraq war and in Operation Desert Storm in 1991. Despite their advanced age, further upgrades allowed the M60 to maintain parity with Soviet models for a relatively long time. For example, in connection with the use in the 1990s. new advanced anti-tank weapons, on M60A3 elements of dynamic protection were attached outside the main armor. This additional protection is concentrated mainly on the turret and frontal hull plates.

American M60AZ tank with reactive armor photo

In 1956, intelligence data obtained indicated the development in the USSR of a new main battle tank, dramatically superior in performance to the previous T-54/55. A group of US researchers and designers came to the conclusion that they still have a large margin for introducing further improvements. A program of deep modernization was launched.
The M60 was produced at the height of the Cold War. The design is made on the basis, despite the fact that the latter was just considered weak to confront the new generation of Soviet vehicles. The M48 had an insufficient power reserve, high fire hazard, excessive weight with relatively weak armor. The significantly improved M60 was put into service in 1960 and became the basis of the American tank fleet for the next 20 years - until adoption. Production of the M60 was discontinued only in 1987.

American medium tanks M60A3 Patton on exercises REFORGER photo

The main American tank M60 , like the machines of the Patton family, it has a classic layout with the placement of the control compartment in the front of the hull, the fighting compartment with a rotating turret in the middle part and the engine-transmission compartment in the rear.
Initially, the M6O tower was similar to the M48 tower with a hemispherical - more precisely, elliptical - shape. However, on modifications A1 and A3, the tower received an elongated and narrowed shape in the front, which increased its armor resistance, armor thickness up to 127 mm. On the M60A1 modification, a powerful searchlight was installed, used in the visible and infrared range, but it was abandoned on the M60A3 tanks.

the M6O tank has a laser rangefinder and smoke grenade launchers photo

The commander, gunner and loader are placed in the turret, the gunner is to the left of the gun in front, the commander is behind and above him, the loader is to the right of the gun at its breech. The driver is located in front of the hull in a place shifted to the left of the hull axis, under the cover of 150-mm frontal armor, uses three periscope observation devices and an infrared night vision device to view the area. The gunner uses a periscope mounted on the roof of the turret, which can be replaced by an infrared night vision device. The commander uses eight periscope observation devices mounted around the perimeter of the rotating commander's cupola.

tank commander's workplace

  1. The commander can take control of the weapons, point the cannon vertically and fire from it, turn the turret, accompanying the moving target with the cannon. It is located in the tower behind and above the gunner, it can also fire from a machine gun mounted in the commander's cupola
  2. Laser range finder: The laser range finder sends a light pulse and, having received a signal reflected from the target, determines the range (distance) to it - to increase the accuracy of aiming the main weapon.
  3. The amplifying type night sight can be used with target illumination by an infrared searchlight; in later modifications, the thermal imaging sight became the main sight, which did not need such illumination. The night sight of the 105-mm cannon, the sight of the gunner and the commander are connected, allows them to see the same thing that one or the other sees through the eyepiece, at night or daytime.
  4. The commander can take control of the weaponry.
  5. Amplifying type night sight, target illumination can be carried out by an infrared searchlight, later the sight was replaced with a thermal imaging one.
  6. The hanging floor of the tower in the photo rotates with it, while the crew can instantly navigate inside the tank.

Brief overview of the American main battle tank M60 photo

Tank M60 review American main battle tank photo armament

  • Ha M60, as well as on the machines of a number of other states, has a 105-mm M68 gun, a licensed copy of the British L7A1 gun.
  • 12.7 mm M85 heavy machine gun. installed in the commander's cupola,
  • supplemented with a 7.62 mm machine gun coaxial with a cannon, sometimes with another 7.62 mm machine gun near the loader's hatch.
  • Six smoke grenade launchers are installed along the sides of the tower.
  • The powerful 105 mm M68 cannon can be fired by the gunner or the commander, both of whom can control the rotation of the M60 turret.

Tank M60 power point AVDS-1790-2A with a power of 560 kW (750 hp) provides the M6O with a speed of up to 50 km / h.

Tank M60 American main combat photo of one of the museum exhibits

Machines of the M60 series have an individual torsion bar suspension. The torsion bar is enclosed in a pipe with which it is connected at one end, as a result, the torsion bar and the pipe work as a double spring.

Modernized M60 tank for the Turkish army photo, in many countries is still in service

Modifications of the American main battle tank M60 photo

  • XM60/M60: Modernization, cast hull with vase-like profile, aluminum alloy track rollers, three support rollers on board. The first samples did not have a commander's cupola.
  • M60A1: The first modification, characterized by an elongated narrowed front of the turret.
  • М60А1 AOS: In 1972 the M68 gun stabilizer was added.
  • M60A1 RISE: "Special Reliability Enhancement Equipment" (RISE) kit; improvements to most of the major systems, including changes to the power plant systems that make it easier to access and allow for quick replacement of the engine and transmission.
  • М60А1 RISE Passive: model М60А1 RISE supplemented with the installation of a reduced searchlight for visible and infrared light, the replacement of active night vision devices with non-illuminated ones.
  • M60A1E1: An experimental vehicle with the replacement of the gun with a 152-mm gun - the M162 launcher with the ability to launch ATGMs through the barrel.

Tank M60 exercises BRIGHT STAR, 1982

  • M60A1E2/M60A2: The modified turret received an external shape reminiscent of a fantastic starship. The modification of the M60A2 was a significant departure from the usual standards of the main battle tank and, as a result, disappointed the customer. The M60A2, known by the nickname Starship (“starship”), received a new turret in which a weapon was installed - a launcher for the Shillelagh ATGM, which turned out to be unreliable. The 152mm gun is a launcher no less than half the weight of a conventional tank gun and combines the capabilities of launching ATGMs and firing conventional high-explosive, incendiary or practical projectiles. A total of just over 550 M60A2s were built, which were handed over to warehouses. The variant also carried a remote-controlled 20 mm automatic cannon.
  • М60А1ЕЗ: Experimental М60А1 Е2 with the replacement of the gun with a 105-mm rifled gun.
  • M60A1E4: An experimental vehicle with guided weapons.
  • By 1977, the M60AZ modification was ready, and the M60A1 tanks already in the army began to be brought to this standard. In addition to the improvement of the fire control system, the tank received new tracks with removable asphalt pads, which are easily mounted and removed by the crew. M60AZ is able to put a smoke screen with the help of thermal smoke equipment. Removable equipment for underwater driving allows you to overcome water obstacles up to 4 m deep along the bottom. Subsequently, dynamic protection was installed on it.

American main battle tank M-60A2 photo under the nickname Starship starship

  • M60AZ TTS: The M60AZ with AN/VSG-2 thermal imaging sight, launched in 1977, weighs 52 tons - the same as the M60A1 - but includes a number of significant improvements, such as an integrated Hughes laser rangefinder and a thermal imaging sight at the commander’s workplace, an AN / VGS-2 thermal imaging sight and a VVG-2 Hughes laser rangefinder at the gunner’s station, as well as a digital ballistic computer based on a solid-state element base. This increased the accuracy of fire and extended the range of fire to 200-5000 m. Previous improvements to the M60 taanka included moving the gun forward by 12 cm to free up additional volume inside the three-man turret. The M60AZ standard also includes Israeli-designed automatic fire-fighting equipment using HALON gas.
  • M60 Super/AX: Modification with enhanced armor protection and minor changes.

Tactical and technical characteristics american tank M60

  • M60-2000/120S: Developed by General Dynamics Land Division hybrid modification with elements of the M60 and Abrams. Not accepted by the military.
  • M728: Combat engineering vehicle (CEV) based on the M60A1 chassis.
  • М728А1: Modernization of М728.

Schematic longitudinal section of the M60 main battle tank:

1 - 7 62 machine guns; 2 - barrel of a 105 mm gun; 3 - fire extinguishers; 4 - heater; 5 - driver's seat 6 - landing hatch; 7 - torsion bar; 8 - hydraulic cylinder of the lifting mechanism of the gun; 9 - gunner's seat; 10 - drain cock; 11- engine; 12 - power transmission; 13 - commander's seat; 14 - installation of weapons; 15 - rangefinder

The M60 tank was designed according to the traditional layout with a control compartment in the front of the vehicle, a fighting compartment in the middle part and an engine-transmission compartment in the stern. The crew consists of a commander, gunner, loader and driver. The layout of the tank remained the same, that is, with a rear power compartment, like the M48A2 tank. The hull and turret are cast. The frontal part of the hull is made with larger angles of inclination than that of the M48A2 tank.

M60 at the Aberdeen Proving Ground, 1963 (source) Patton : A History of the American Main Battle Tank Hardcover by R . P. Hunnicutt).


The upper frontal plate has a thickness of 120 mm and an angle of inclination to the vertical of 64 degrees; the thickness of the roof and bottom of the hull in the area of ​​​​the control compartment is 50 and 40 mm, respectively. The thickness of the armor in the area of ​​the fighting compartment and MTO has been reduced to 20 mm.

In the United States, the use of armor combinations on serial tanks lagged far behind the USSR, although it was offered for M48 tanks in the form of modules and for the XM60 variant. It did not go further than prototypes.

1 - Scheme of booking the M60 tank (source magazine Technique and Armament).

2 - Scheme of the XM60 tank turret with combined armor (source Patton: A History of the American Main Battle Tank Hardcover by R. P. Hunnicutt).

The driver's workplace is located in the control compartment strictly along the longitudinal axis of the hull. Above the driver's seat, in the upper armor plate, there is a hatch with a sliding cover (it rises before turning). In the combat position, the terrain is surveyed using three periscopic observation devices, the middle of which is interchangeable with the M36 night infrared device. The night vision device is illuminated by special headlights mounted on the front sheet. On the sides of the driver's seat there is an ammunition rack - aluminum sockets for unitary shots for the M68 cannon (15 sockets - to the left of the seat, 11 - to the right), batteries are placed directly behind the seat. The configuration of the hemispherical turret has been slightly improved and its dimensions have been reduced. A new enlarged M19 commander's turret was installed on the roof of the turret, which creates more comfortable conditions for the commander to work in the tank. The turret is equipped with viewing prisms that provide the commander with a circular view, and a manual drive.

The main armament of the vehicle is a 105 mm M68 tank gun. It consists of a monoblock pipe, a cast breech connected to the barrel by a sector thread, a wedge gate and an ejection device installed in the middle part of the barrel. There is no muzzle brake on the gun. The gun is mounted in a cradle, the body of which simultaneously serves as the outer cylinder of the recoil devices. Angles of vertical guidance of the gun from -10 degrees. up to +20 degrees. Guidance mechanisms have electro-hydraulic and manual drives.


The control of electromechanical mechanisms is carried out by the tank commander and the gunner from their consoles by means of a handle that rotates in two planes. The maximum traverse speed of the turret is 24 deg/s, the cannon is aimed in a vertical plane - 4 deg/s. The gun on the tank is not stabilized.

Loading - manual, with a ramming mechanism. The rate of fire is 8 rds / min. The ammunition load of the gun includes 60 shots (26 are located in the control compartment, 34 - in the fighting compartment) of unitary loading with an electric ignition device with five types of projectiles:

  • M392 armor-piercing sub-caliber projectile with a detachable pallet and a tungsten carbide core, capable of penetrating homogeneous armor up to 120 mm thick at a distance of 2000 m at an encounter angle of 60 degrees;
  • compensated (with a non-rotating charge) M456 cumulative projectile;
  • armor-piercing high-explosive projectile M393 with plastic explosive and easily deformable warhead;
  • M494 projectile with ready-made arrow-shaped lethal elements;
  • smoke projectile M416.

The initial speed of an armor-piercing sub-caliber projectile is 1478 m / s.

As auxiliary weapons, the tank is equipped with a 7.62-mm M73 machine gun coaxial with a cannon (to the left of the gun in the gun mask) and a 12.7-mm M85 anti-aircraft machine gun (vertical guidance angles from -15 degrees to + 60 degrees), mounted in commander's tower. Both machine guns have shortened receivers and loose bolts, which improves heat dissipation from the barrel. Ammunition consists of 1050 rounds of 12.7 mm and 5500 rounds of 7.62 mm.

The main direct fire control system consists of a new M17S monocular rangefinder sight, which is used by the tank commander.

The rangefinder has a base of 2000 mm and a 10x magnification. The measurement range to the target is 500 ... 4000 m. For a machine gun coaxial with a cannon, the M44S sight is used. As on previous tanks, the fire control system includes the M13A1D ballistic computer, which is not much different from the same device on the M48A2 tank. Guidance of the gun when firing from closed positions is carried out using the M28A1 azimuth indicator and the M13A1 quadrant, which are improved compared to the same devices of the M48A2 tank.


The commander's horizon view is provided by eight M41 prism devices installed along the perimeter of the commander's cupola. The latter contains the M71-28S machine-gun sight, designed for firing at both ground and air targets, and the M34 surveillance device. One prismatic observation device of circular rotation M27 is installed at the loader.

The power plant of the tank is a four-stroke 12-cylinder V-shaped tank diesel AVDS-1790-2 Continental air-cooled turbocharged. Diesel power - 750 hp at 2400 rpm. The engine is sealed and can work underwater. The engine assembly with power transmission is placed along the longitudinal axis of the tank. To facilitate starting the engine in winter conditions, a heater with forced air supply is installed in the tank. Starting the engine with an electric starter is provided at an air temperature of up to -30 degrees C. The total capacity of the fuel tanks is 1420 liters, all of them are located in the reserved volume.

The power transmission is a hydromechanical transmission CD-850-6 Cross-Drive, made similarly to the transmission of the M48A2 tank and consisting of a torque converter, a three-stage planetary gearbox and a multi-radius planetary differential turning mechanism.

The suspension of the M60 tank is similar to the suspension of the M48A2 tank, with the exception of minor changes made to its design. In particular, tension rollers were excluded on the M60, more rigid torsion shafts were used, which made it possible to slightly increase the clearance of the machine, the support (except for the extreme ones) and support rollers were made of aluminum alloy, travel stops with springs and telescopic shock absorbers were mounted on the first and sixth road wheels. Track rollers (six per side) - gable, rubberized, with removable disks and aluminum alloy hubs, their dynamic stroke is 206 mm. Rollers are interchangeable, with guide wheels. Support rollers (three per side) also have rubber bandages. Driving wheels - with steel removable gear rims. Caterpillars 710 mm wide - completely with T97 rubber-coated tracks and rubber-metal hinges. The resource of caterpillars in terms of mileage is 1500 - 2000 thousand km. The radio equipment of the tank consists of one VHF radio station AN / GRC-3 (or AN / GRC-4, -5, -6, -7 or -8), providing stable communication within a radius of 32 - 40 km, and an AN / V1A tank intercom -4 with field phone jack.

In addition, a walkie-talkie operating in the frequency range used by aviation can be installed on the M60.


The tank is equipped with an E37R1 filter-ventilation unit, the same as the M8A2, special tank gas masks and hoods to protect the crew from radioactive dust, toxic substances and bacteriological weapons, an X-ray meter, an automatic fire-fighting equipment system and air heaters (for heating the crew).

To overcome fords up to 3.125 m deep, the tank is provided with special equipment, and the installation of a manhole pipe provides the tank with underwater driving up to 5 m.

The turret ring is sealed using a rubber ring-tube, into which air is pumped by a hand pump.

The first version of the M60 was a certain compromise between the requirement for increased security and the timing of adoption: tests showed that the armor protection of the M48 turret was not capable of withstanding the shells of a 100-mm Soviet tank gun. In 1962, M60A1 tanks began to roll off the Chrysler arsenal in Detroit. The same shoulder strap of the old and new towers made it possible to change models on the assembly line painlessly.


A number of improvements were introduced into the design of the M60A1 tank, namely:

  • a new turret of an improved configuration was installed, which has an increased projectile resistance compared to the turret of the M60 tank (frontal armor thickness - 180 mm), providing better working conditions for the crew in the fighting compartment;
  • an improved fire control system was used, which includes a set of infrared observation devices and sights that ensure firing at night.

On M60A1 tanks manufactured after 1965, a new electric ballistic computer M16 was introduced into the fire control system, taking into account the data of the rangefinder sight, corrections for the drop in initial speed due to wear of the gun barrel bore and the misalignment of the bore axis and the zero aiming line.

The working conditions of the driver have been improved due to the improvement of the tank control mechanisms: the steering wheel has been replaced with a T-shaped lever, the location of some controls and control devices has been changed, a new hydraulic drive of the power transmission brakes and a mechanical stopping brake have been applied; telescopic shock absorbers were introduced on the first, second and sixth track rollers of the undercarriage.


In the late 1960s, the US Army command, in response to the emergence of new Soviet tanks (T-62 and T-64), adopted a three-stage modernization program for the M60A1 tanks. So, starting from 1971, the M60A1 tanks began to install a two-plane electro-hydraulic gun stabilization system (Add-On Stabilization - AOS) from Cadillac Gage and Honeywell, new tracks with T142 tracks, which had octagonal rubber asphalt cushions (the resource of tracks with T142 tracks reached 5 - 6 thousand km). Gun ammunition increased by three shots. Despite the presence of a stabilizer, the possibility of conducting aimed fire from a cannon on the move with the M60A1 (AOS) tank was practically excluded due to the presence of a mechanical connection between the rangefinder sight and the gun.

The next stage of the modernization program began in 1974. Improvements were made to the power plant of the tank and electrical equipment. The purpose of modernization under the RISE (Reliability Improved Selected Equipment) program was to increase the reliability of systems and units. The new version of the diesel engine - AVDS-1790-2D - also had a longer resource. The re-equipment of tanks according to the last, third, stage of a long-term modernization program began in 1977. At this stage, it was planned to equip the machines with passive night vision devices on electron-optical image intensifiers. In addition, the machine was equipped with advanced devices for overcoming water obstacles along the bottom. The equipment for underwater driving included an air-supply pipe-manhole, installed above the loader's hatch, the direction of movement under water was maintained using a gyro semi-compass. These machines received the designation M60A1 (RISE / PASSIVE).

M60A2

The machine, or rather its tower, was designed to install the Schillel guided anti-tank weapon system. The potentially high characteristics of the missile (high accuracy of hitting targets at ranges 2 - 2.5 times greater than the effective firing distances of traditional ammunition) forced the military to take the initiative to install a 152-mm XM81E13 gun / launcher (after modifications, the gun received the M162 index) on the main American linear tank M60.

Two prototypes of the M60A1E2 missile tank were handed over for testing in the winter of 1965/66. The shortcomings of both the MGM-51A Shillel ATGM itself and the new turret were revealed already at the very beginning of the tests.

1- Experimental tank XM60A1E1 with 152 mm gun/launcher.

2 - XM60A1E2 prototype M60A2. According to the US Army, 540 tanks of this type were purchased.

A serious problem was the inadequacy of a light turret to a heavy gun: when fired with a conventional projectile, the recoil was stronger than when launching a rocket, knocking down the aiming of the gun - it was necessary to hastily develop a new three-stage barrel recoil compensation system after a shot and strengthen the attachment points to the fire control tower.

Despite the crude design and the unfinished test program, the desire to adopt an effective anti-tank weapon turned out to be great: in 1966, the US Army allocated funds for the purchase of 243 missile towers for installation on the chassis of already built M60A1 tanks and reserved an order for 1967, providing for manufacturing from scratch 300 tanks with Schillel ATGM under the designation M60A2. The report presented by the US Secretary of Defense to Congress in 1970 noted: The army's efforts to improve the M60A1 tank by integrating the system into its design

Schillel's guided weapons were unsuccessful: 300 M60A1E2 tanks, provided for the purchase of the budget for the 1967 fiscal year in the current configuration, cannot be put into service. Representatives of the army are not confident in the possibility of overcoming the problems associated with the stabilization of the tower when fired in a fairly short time, it is unlikely that it will be possible to ensure proper reliability in the foreseeable future.

By September 1971, the army command considered the test results of the modified M60A1E2 prototypes to be satisfactory. The tank was assigned the official M60A2 index, and in November of the same year, the serial production and conversion of the previously built M60A1 to the A2 variant was given the green light. However, the M60A2 combat units entered only in 1973. The manufacture of the M60A2 tanks and the conversion of the M60A1 into them was carried out in 1973 - 1975. A total of 526 M60A2 units were produced.


Despite all its shortcomings, the M60A2 has become a milestone in the history of world tank building in terms of fire control systems and has earned the highest praise from experts. In practice, it turned out to be perhaps the first successful attempt to link various devices and sensors of primary information into a single automated complex that generate data for firing from a cannon.

The fire control system installed on the M60A2, in terms of its complexity and effectiveness among all Western tanks, was commensurate only with the FCS of the Leopard-2 tank. The electronic computer generates data for firing, taking into account the distance to the target, type of projectile, air and charge temperature, wind speed and direction, atmospheric pressure, speed and direction of target movement relative to the tank, bore wear, gun trunnion roll angle.

The M60A2 tank is equipped with a two-plane gun stabilization system and non-illuminated night vision devices. Ammunition for the gun/launcher includes 13 Schillel ATGMs and 33 152mm rounds. Auxiliary weapons are similar to the M60A1 tank.

M60AZ

Tank variant A3 was the last modification of the M60, launched into mass production. The design took into account the experience gained during the modernization of the M60A1 and the development of the M60A2, as well as the elimination of design bottlenecks identified in the battles of the 1973 Middle East war.

The reason for the failure in combat conditions of many M60s was the jamming of the turret: the power of the turning mechanism was not enough to grind the fragment of the projectile that wedged the turret. The installation of more powerful electro-hydraulic drives partially solved the problem. The M73 machine guns did not prove themselves well in combat conditions, they should have been replaced by the more reliable Belgian MAG58 (American designation M240).


M60AZ

In the mid-1970s, the main priority in the United States was not the modernization of the M60, but the development of a new XM1 tank, so the M60A1 was supposed to be fine-tuned so as not to make radical changes to the design. The Arab-Israeli war of 1973 was the reason for the birth of the M60AZ. To compensate for the considerable losses in the tanks of their strategic ally, the Americans urgently transferred several hundred M60A1s from Europe to Israel, thereby reducing the armored grouping in Germany to a critical level.

To make it possible to hit targets on the move with the first shot on the M60AZ, a fire control system was installed, developed on the basis of the FCS of the M60A1 and M60A2 tanks. The commander's instrumentation complex consists of an AN / WG-2 laser monocular rangefinder sight, a combined periscope (with day and night channels) M36E1 sight / observation device and eight M41 prism devices installed in the commander's cupola.

The gunner has the M35E1 main combined sight and the M105D auxiliary telescopic sight, similar to those used on earlier M60 models. The tank is equipped with a Hughes M21 digital ballistic computer based on solid-state elements. However, on the M60AZ, the SLA was not yet a single complex - in fact, hitting a target from the move with the first shot remained a very problematic task, despite the presence of a laser rangefinder, a ballistic computer and a two-plane gun stabilization system. Like the M60A1 (PASSIVE), the M60AZ has interchangeable active and passive modules for night vision devices.

The gun barrel of the M60AZ tank is equipped with a heat-insulating casing. In order to disguise the machine on the battlefield, thermal smoke equipment (TDA) was installed in the MTO. In addition to the TDA, one block of M239 smoke grenade launchers (six in a block) is mounted on the sides of the M60AZ turret. M239 are British grenade launchers adapted for installation on the M60, used on the main battle tank Chieftain.


Serial production of the M60AZ began in 1978. In total, 1811 tanks of this modification were manufactured, of which more than 1200 units were delivered to third countries.

MODEL K

Failures with missile turrets led to another attempt to increase Patton's firepower - to install an experimental turret with a promising 120-mm Delta gun on him. However, the development of this option had to be canceled due to lack of funds allocated for other projects and the Vietnam War.

The project of the M60 tank with a 120 mm gun is known as the K model. At least one K turret with such a gun was made.


M60 tank with mock turret with 152 mm XM150 gun/launcher (Model K). The tower was supposed to be equipped with a semi-automatic loading system. It was supposed to install a remote-controlled machine gun on the commander's cupola.


Model of a turret with a 120 mm Delta gun.

M60AZ TTS

Since 1979, the M60AZ TTS (Tank Termal Sight) variant has been produced, equipped with an AN / VSG-2 gunner's thermal imaging sight, which has an ocular thermal imaging channel to the commander (field tests of the new sight took place back in 1977 on the M60 tanks in Fort Knox and Yuma) . A mast with atmospheric parameters sensors appeared on the tank turret, information from which was automatically entered into the ballistic computer.

The SLA was a single complex to a much greater extent than on tanks of earlier models. The automatic circuit of the weapon control system consists of the M21 tank ballistic computer, the AN / WG-2 commander's rangefinder sight, the AN / VSG-1 gunner's sight (installed instead of the M35E1 sight), the weapon stabilizer, the M10A4 ballistic drive and atmospheric parameters sensors. The M36E1 commander's sight and the gunner's auxiliary sight are not connected to the computer.

The modernization of the M60A1 tanks, which were in service with the US Army, to the M60AZ TTS level began in 1981.

Tanks M60 with dynamic protection

In 1982 - 1983 The ballistics laboratory of the Aberdeen Proving Ground was studying the possibility of strengthening the protection of the M60 tank from ATGMs with a cumulative warhead by installing hinged dynamic protection. Tests of vehicles with dynamic protection were launched at the Aberdeen Proving Ground in July 1985. Since 1988, the M60AZ tanks of the US Marine Corps have been equipped with dynamic protection.


M60AZ US Marine Corps with reactive armor

M 60 A 1 RISE with installed DZ. (Photo source http://www.primeportal.net/tanks/greg_smith/m60a1_rise_era/)

On the basis of the M60 tanks, a tank bridge layer was created AVLB to overcome obstacles up to 18 m wide, the M728 sapper tank (has a 165-mm short-barreled gun, bulldozer and crane equipment, a traction winch) and a roller mine trawl for high-speed overcoming minefields (the width of the track being made is 2x1.2 m).

M60 with increased firepower

In mid-May 2001, countries using the M-60 tank were shown tanks of this series, modernized by installing a new gun and FCS equipment. AB9V1 program developed by the design bureau King Abdullah and Development Bureau (KADDB) ) with the participation of American and Swiss employees.

The proposed upgrade has three levels:

Level 1 - installation of an integrated SLA of the company Raythenon Technical Services for M-60A1 or A3/A3TT tanks S while maintaining the M68 gun (105 mm, rifled). The practical demonstration of improvements of this level led to a decrease in the reaction time of the crew by 3 times. 5 shots were fired in 31 seconds and 3 targets were hit at a distance of 1500 m.

Level 2 - installation of an integrated FCS and a new 120 mm smoothbore compact gun L 50 developed by a Swiss company RUAG Land Systems.


M60 A9B1 (Daniel Machacek, 2002)

Work to resolve this issue should have been resolved by the end of the summer of 2001.

Level 3 - increased survivability and improved chassis:

  • additional solution for armor protection;
  • installation of a laser irradiation warning device;
  • installation of a 950 hp engine;
  • installation of a more advanced transmission;
  • installation of hydropneumatic suspension.

Continuation of development work on the modernization of the M-60 level 2 tank was carried out by the design bureau KADDB project АВ9С5 within the framework of the program Merlin waiting to be shown at the exhibition IDEX in Abu Dhabi in March 2003.

Further improvement involved:

  • the possibility of installing a four-container anti-tank guided missile system on the tower;
  • development and installation of a new tower Falkon -2 with a fire control computer, a combat control panel, manual drives and a target tracking system for the commander and gunner.

Sabra MkII upgrade

Photo by H. Ufuk Aydıner (http://www.modelsitesi.com/referanslar/m60/index.htm)

This modernization was intended for the operational needs of a particular country, which in this case turned out to be Turkey, which ordered the modernization of 170 M60 tanks with the Sabra MkII package for its army. In Turkey, the upgraded version was named M60T. The modernization agreement between the two countries was signed in 2002, the prototype of the first modernized tank was delivered in November 2005. Modernization of the Sabra MkII was carried out from 2007 to 2009 by the Turkish side from kits supplied by Israel. Another proposal for the modernization of the M60 called M60-2000 came to Turkey from General Dynamics Land Systems. In the end, Turkey signed a contract with Israel, and Egypt decided to take advantage of General Dynamics Land Systems' offer to modernize the M60.

The key to the upgrade was the replacement of the original 105mm cannon with a 120mm MG253 smoothbore cannon based on the cannon developed by the Israeli Military Industry for the Merkava Mk III main battle tank. The barrel is equipped with a thermally insulated jacket and ejector to reduce wear and improve shooting accuracy by reducing thermally induced barrel flex. The gun has a greater range and greater penetration than the original 105mm gun fitted​​ on M60 MBT. The gun is capable of firing standard 120 mm NATO smoothbore ammunition, including armor-piercing sub-caliber rounds. Ammunition is 42 shells.

The tank is equipped with dynamic protection. Modular armor can change depending on the combat situation and potential threats. Additional protection is provided by two sets of four smoke grenade launchers located on the turret on either side of the gun.

The fire control system consists of a hydraulic drive for lifting the barrel and an electric drive for horizontal guidance. The tank is equipped with a Knight computerized fire control system supplied by El-Op Industries Ltd and Elbit Systems. Guidance of the gun can be carried out by the gunner or commander.

The gunner's sight is equipped with a periscope eight-fold day sight and a night vision device with a magnification of 5.3 from El-Op. The sight is stabilized in two planes. The eye-safe laser (YAG) rangefinder operates in the range of 200-9,995 meters with an accuracy of ± 5 meters.


The tank is powered by a General Dynamics AVDS-1790-5A four-stroke, air-cooled, turbocharged diesel engine that develops 908 horsepower at 2,400 rpm, generating a power-to-weight ratio of 16.5 horsepower per ton. The powertrain consists of a Renk 304 automatic transmission. The Sabra has a top speed on the highway of 48 km/h (according to some sources, the maximum speed is 55 km/h) and accelerates from 0 to 32 km/h in 9.6 seconds. The cruising range on solid ground is 450 km.

Modernization of the M60 for export sales by Textron

The tank has modernized protection, increased firepower (120 mm cannon), modernized control system.
The tank is adapted for use in urban areas, the APU, side and rear view cameras are installed. Modernization for Textron export sales.

Lattice screens are installed on the sides of the tower to protect against RPGs.

Modernization of the M60 with an automatic gun


The upgraded tank is equipped with a 25 mm LW25 remote-controlled automatic cannon and a module with a heavy machine gun. The tank is maximally adopted for use in low-intensity conflicts and urban battles (photo http://www.tank-net.com/).

The protection on the tank has been modernized, firepower has been increased (120 mm cannon), the SLA has been modernized. The tank is adapted for use in urban combat.
The new footage of the upgraded M60 shows significantly increased firepower for fighting in the city. In addition to a remote-controlled installation with large-caliber machine guns, a module with a compact 25 mm LW25 cannon developed by ATK was installed.




Production of the M60A1 tank, 1975 (source http://www.com-central.net)


Serial production of the M60 tanks was carried out by the Chrysler arsenal in Detroit from 1959 to 1987. The first prototypes of the M60 were manufactured at the plant in Delaware. A total of 15,221 tanks of four modifications were produced: M60, M60A1, M60A2 and M60AZ.

Serial production of the M60 tank was organized from 1960 to 1963 at the tank factory of the Detroit Arsenal. The total output was 2205 units.

Since 1962, the plant began production of the M60A1 model, which continued until 1980.

In total, 7948 M60A1 tanks were manufactured during this period, of which 5661 were subsequently (starting from 1979) upgraded to the level of the M60A3 tank.

In the period from 1972 to 1974, a relatively small batch (540 vehicles) of M60A2 tanks with rocket and cannon weapons was produced. The modernized sample M60A3 was produced from 1978 to 1985. Of the 1811 manufactured tanks, over 1200 vehicles were delivered to Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Tunisia, Austria and Sudan. The remaining tanks were used to replace the M60A2 tanks.

In addition to the above countries, the M60 and M60A1 tanks were exported to Iran, Ethiopia, North Yemen and Oman. 300 M60A1 tanks were delivered to Italy, where the production of these vehicles was then launched under license.

In addition to state-owned, a large number of private firms were involved in the production of M60A3 tanks. Specialized factories produced: Watervilt Arsenal (New York State) - 105-mm M68 gun; Hughes Aircraft (El Segundo, California) - fire control system devices; firm Lier Ziegler (Grand Rapids, Michigan) - gun stabilizer; Blow-Knox firm (Willing, West Virginia) - cast hulls and towers; Teledyne (Muskegon, Michigan) - AVDS-1790 engine; Allison firm (Indianapolis, Indiana) - Cross Drive transmission; FMC firm (Anniston, Alabama) - caterpillar; Grumman firm (Long Island, New York) - PPO system.


The development of the M60 tank began in February 1957, the impetus for starting work was the appearance in the Soviet tank forces of the T-54 tank, which surpassed the American M48 in all respects.
In March 1959, the first version of the tank was ready, classified as M60, standard "A". The US Department of Defense signed a contract for the production of the first 180 vehicles with Chrysler in June 1959, and two months later the next contract for 720 vehicles was signed.
The M60 tank completes the line of development of the American medium tanks M26, M46, M47 and M48. Many technical solutions The M60s were borrowed from the designers of the M48A2, and a number of parts and assemblies of these tanks are interchangeable. The main layout decisions remained unchanged. This is due to the desire to use the equipment of factories that produced the M48A2 tank.
At the same time, the M60 tank differs significantly from its predecessor in terms of armament, power plant and armor.
The armor of the M60 tank was strengthened primarily by increasing the thickness of the armor in the most vulnerable places. Also used is such a method of strengthening armor protection as the location of armor parts with large angles of inclination to the vertical. This applies to both the tank hull and its turret.

The M60 tank is armed with an English rifled 105-mm L7 cannon, standardized in the USA under the M68 brand and manufactured there under license.
The design of the shutter, recoil devices and the installation of the gun in the tower are made, as on the M48. The ejection device for removing powder gases is shifted to the middle part of the barrel. The muzzle brake is missing. A quick replacement of the gun barrel in the field is provided.
The guidance mechanisms with electro-hydraulic drives were borrowed from the M48 tank without significant changes.
The gun ammunition includes unitary loading rounds with an electric ignition device with five types of projectiles: the M392 armor-piercing sub-caliber projectile, capable of penetrating homogeneous armor up to 120 mm thick at a distance of 2000 m at an encounter angle of 60 °, the M456 cumulative projectile, the M393 armor-piercing high-explosive projectile with plastic explosive , a projectile with ready-made arrow-shaped lethal elements M494 and a smoke projectile M416.
The ammunition load of the tanks of the first series consists of 60 rounds (for the M60A1 (A3) - 63 rounds) and is located in the side niches of the hull, in the left side of the turret and in the bow of the hull. The gun is loaded manually using a shot rammer mechanism.

For the gunner, a new periscope sight with variable magnification (from 8 to 1) is provided. The machine gun sight is made separately, but its reticle is projected into the field of view of the main sight. The gunner's second instrument is a telescopic articulated sight with a similar magnification range. The sight for night shooting (infrared) is combined in one body with a periscope sight. Attached to the cannon's mask is a searchlight that can illuminate the area with conventional light and infrared rays.
For the commander, a monocular non-detuning rangefinder sight is installed under the roof of the turret. Unlike the stereoscopic one (on the M48), in which the range is determined by combining two images, the monocular rangefinder is easier to use, good vision and long training are not required when working with it.
The ballistic computer acts on the reticles of the sight and rangefinder sight and automatically sets them to the position corresponding to the measured range. A special sensor automatically corrects for derivation, sight parallax, loss of initial speed (due to wear), trunnion tilt, and ambient temperature.
For the commander, a second handle for controlling the guidance mechanisms is provided. The commander has his own fire control system and can fire a shot instead of the gunner.

The machine-gun armament of the tank is represented by a 7.62-mm machine gun coaxial with a cannon and a 12.7-mm universal machine gun mounted in the commander's cupola. For firing from this machine gun, a periscope sight (in the roof of the turret) and simple guidance mechanisms driven by hand are provided. Machine guns have shortened receivers and interchangeable barrels.
For the first time in post-war American tank building, a diesel engine was installed on the M60 tank - a 12-cylinder, V-shaped turbocharged diesel engine AVDS-1790-2 from Continental. The engine has an air cooling system, its power is 750 liters. from. at 2400 rpm. To start the engine at low temperatures, there is a heater with forced air supply. Starting the engine with an electric starter is provided at temperatures down to -30°C.
The hydromechanical transmission CD 850–6 of the “Cross-Drive” type is interlocked with the engine, consisting of a torque converter, a three-stage planetary gearbox and a multi-radius planetary differential rotation mechanism.
The suspension of the M60 tank is similar to the suspension of the M48A2 tank, however, some changes have been made to its design.

Track rollers (except for the outer ones), support rollers and drive wheels are made of aluminum alloy. Brackets of the balancers of the track rollers and limiters of the travel of the balancers are welded to the body.
Shock absorbers are not installed in M60 tanks; Used torsion shafts are more rigid than in the M48 tanks. Rubberized caterpillar with rubber-metal hinge has a width of 710 mm.
The production of the M60 tank in its original version lasted only 2 years, and already in 1962, the M60A1 tanks began to roll off the assembly lines, which for a long time became the main tanks of American armored formations.
The tank of this modification has a turret of a new design, which provides better resistance to projectiles. To improve the accuracy of firing, the gun is equipped with an electro-hydraulic stabilization system in two guidance planes. Its ammo capacity has been increased by 3 rounds. Since 1975, mass-produced M60A1 tanks began to install a new AVDS-1790-2G RISE diesel engine, which is characterized by increased power and extended service life.

The M60A1 tank was in production until 1980 and was replaced by the next modification M60A3 (the M60A2 modification is a rocket-gun tank), which is distinguished mainly by increased firing accuracy due to gun stabilization and the introduction of an improved fire control system, including an AN / WG laser rangefinder -2 and electronic ballistic computer M21.
It was noted in the foreign press that the probability of hitting a fixed target (2.3x2.3 m in size) at a distance of 2000 m for the M60AZ tank is about 70 percent, while for the M60A1 it is 23 percent.
The gunner's passive night sight has been replaced by the AN/VSG-2 thermal imaging sight, which has better performance and allows detecting targets at long ranges.
Instead of an unreliable 7.62 mm M219 machine gun coaxial with a cannon, a Belgian machine gun of the same caliber (received the designation M240) was installed. A heat-insulating cover is put on the gun barrel.
To set up smoke screens, M239 grenade launchers mounted on the sides of the front of the tower, and thermal smoke equipment (fuel is injected into the engine exhaust system) can be used.
The tank is equipped with a filter-ventilation unit, an automatic fire extinguishing system and radio communications.

Until 1982, it was planned to manufacture 1,696 new M60A3 tanks and refine the 1,700 M60A1 tanks in service to their level.
M60 tanks were exported to many countries of the world, including: Israel (1400 vehicles of various modifications), Egypt (700 M60A1 and 753 M60A3), Iran (about 200 M60A1), Italy (300 M60A1), Saudi Arabia (about 250 M60A3), Australia (170 М60А3) and other countries.
In some of these countries, tanks have undergone modernization, which significantly increased their combat properties. For example, in Israel, to increase security, dynamic protection kits were installed on the tank, which made it practically invulnerable from the Soviet Malyutka ATGMs and RPG-7 cumulative mines, which are in service with many Arab countries.
The chassis of the M60 tank was used to create a number of combat and auxiliary vehicles, including the M728 engineering obstacle blocking vehicle (312 units produced) and the AVLB bridge layer (400 units produced). The M728 machine is equipped with a bulldozer blade and is armed with a 165-mm short-barreled gun, in the ammunition load of which there are shells designed to undermine various kinds of obstacles. The weight of the machine is 52.1 tons.

medium tank M60- America's first main battle tank. It has been developed since 1957 and was supposed to surpass the Soviet T-54 tank in terms of performance characteristics. The developer is Chrysler. The first four prototypes, designated XM60, were built in March 1959 and were extensively tested. The tank was standardized on 16 March 1959 as the 105 mm Gun Full Tracked Combat Tank M60. Contrary to popular belief, the name "Fallon" and even more so "Patton IV" was never assigned to it. Serial production was carried out at the Detroit Tank Plant from 1960 to 1987. 15221 units were manufactured, including engineering vehicles and ARVs. In Italy, OTO Melara manufactured 200 tanks of the M60A1 modification under license.

Tank M60 has a traditional layout with a control compartment in the front of the vehicle, a fighting compartment in the middle part and an engine-transmission compartment in the aft part. The crew of the tank consists of a commander, gunner, loader and driver.

The tank has a cast hull with spherical sides and a cast turret borrowed from the M48A2 tank with some modifications. The frontal part of the hull is made with larger angles of inclination than that of the M48A2 tank. The upper front plate has a thickness of 120 mm and an angle of inclination to the vertical of 64 "; the thickness of the roof and bottom of the hull in the area of ​​​​the control compartment is 50 and 40 mm, respectively. The thickness of the armor in the area of ​​\u200b\u200bthe fighting compartment and MTO is reduced to 20 mm. The driver's workplace is located in the control compartment strictly along the longitudinal axis of the hull. Above the driver's seat, in the upper armor plate there is a hatch with a sliding cover (it rises before turning). night vision is carried out by IR headlights mounted on the front sheet.On the sides of the driver's seat there is an ammunition rack - aluminum alloy sockets for unitary shots for the M68 cannon (15 sockets are located to the left of the seat, 11 to the right), a unit is placed directly behind the seat from 6 batteries.

The turret was borrowed from the M48A2 tank with minor changes. A new enlarged M19 commander's turret is installed on the roof of the turret, which creates better conditions for the commander to work in the tank. The turret is equipped with viewing devices that provide the tank commander with a circular view, and a manual drive.

The main armament of the tank is a 105-mm M68 tank gun with conientric recoil devices and an ejection device for blowing out the bore. Gun elevation angles - from -10" to -1-20". Guidance mechanisms have electro-hydraulic and manual drives. The control of electromechanical mechanisms is carried out by the tank commander and the gunner from their control panels using a handle that rotates in two planes. The maximum traverse speed of the turret is 24 deg/s, the cannon is aimed in a vertical plane - 4 deg/s. The gun is not stabilized. Loading - manual, with a ramming mechanism.

The rate of fire is 8 rds / min. The gun ammunition includes 60 unitary shots (26 are located in the control compartment, 34 - in the fighting compartment) with five types of projectiles: the M392 armor-piercing sub-caliber projectile with a detachable pallet and a tungsten carbide core, capable of penetrating homogeneous armor up to 120 mm thick at a distance of 2000 m at a meeting angle of 60 ", a compensated (with a non-rotating charge) M456 cumulative projectile, an M393 armor-piercing high-explosive projectile with a plastic explosive and an easily deformable warhead, an M494 projectile with ready-made arrow-shaped lethal elements and an M416 smoke projectile. The initial speed of an armor-piercing sub-caliber projectile is 1478 m / from.

In addition to the cannon, the tank is equipped with a coaxial 7.62 mm M73 machine gun (to the left of the gun) and a 12.7 mm M85 anti-aircraft machine gun (vertical guidance angles from -15 ° to +60 "), mounted in the commander's cupola. Both machine guns have shortened receivers and blowbacks, which improves heat dissipation from the barrel.Ammunition consists of 1050 rounds of 12.7 mm and 5500 rounds of 7.62 mm.

On the tank M60 mounted monocular rangefinder sight M17C, which is used by the tank commander. The rangefinder with a base of 2000 mm has a 10x magnification. Measurement range to the target with the M17C range finder - 500-4000 m; the body of the rangefinder sight is connected to the gun by a parallelogram mechanism. Unlike the stereoscopic (like the M48), in which the range is determined by combining two images, the monocular rangefinder is easier to use, good vision and long training are not required when working with it.

The gunner uses the M31 periscope sight and the M105C telescopic articulated sight. Both sights have variable magnification (from 8x to 1x) and reticles with a range scale graduated in meters. For a machine gun coaxial with a cannon, the M44C sight is used, but its reticle is projected into the field of view of the main sight. The night sight is combined in one housing with a periscope sight. A xenon searchlight is installed on the gun mask, which can operate both in normal light and infrared mode.

The M60 tank control system includes the M13A1D ballistic computer, which is not much different from the same M48A2 tank device, and the M10 ballistic drive, which connects the ballistic computer, rangefinder sight and periscope sight. The ballistic computer acts on the reticles of the sight and rangefinder and automatically sets them to a position corresponding to the measured range. Corrections for derivation, sight parallax, loss of initial speed due to barrel wear, trunnion tilt, mismatch between external and internal temperatures are made by a special sensor.

The aiming of the gun when firing from closed positions is carried out using the M28A1 azimuth indicator and the M13A1 quadrant, which are improved compared to the same devices of the M48A2 tank. The commander's cupola has an M71-28C machine gun sight designed to fire at both ground and air targets, and an M34 observation device.

The M60 tank is equipped with a 12-cylinder four-stroke V-shaped turbocharged air-cooled diesel engine AVDS-1790-2 from Continental. Engine power 750 hp at 2400 rpm. Its main advantage is a significant reduction in fuel consumption compared to the gasoline engine of the M48A2 tank. In addition, it is sealed and can work in water. The engine in the engine compartment is mounted complete with a CD850-6 hydromechanical transmission along the longitudinal axis of the tank. The MTO of the M60 tank is equipped with a heat-dissipating device that reduces the thermal radiation of exhaust gases.

The exhaust pipes of the engine are led to a special over-engine compartment, closed from above by a heat-insulating roof, in which the exhaust gases are cooled, mixing with the air flow of the cooling system, and then thrown out through the blinds mounted in the stern. To facilitate starting the engine in winter conditions, a heater with forced air supply is installed in the tank. Starting the engine with an electric starter is provided at air temperatures up to -30 ° C. An auxiliary engine for driving the charging unit is not installed on this tank. The total capacity of the fuel tanks is 1420 liters. All tanks are located in the reserved volume.

tank suspension M60 similar to the suspension of the M48A2 tank, with the exception of minor changes made to its design. In particular, tension rollers were eliminated on the M60 tanks, more rigid torsion shafts were used, which made it possible to slightly increase the ground clearance of the tank, the track (except for the extreme ones) and support rollers were made of aluminum alloy, travel stops with springs and telescopic shock absorbers were mounted on the first and sixth track rollers. Track rollers (six per 6opt) - gable, rubber-coated, with removable disks, their dynamic stroke is 206 mm. Rollers are interchangeable with guide wheels. Support rollers (three per side) also have rubber bandages. Brackets of the balancers of the track rollers and limiters of the travel of the balancers are welded to the body. Driving wheels - with steel removable gear rims. Caterpillars 710 mm wide - with fully rubber-coated T97 tracks and rubber-metal hinges. The resource of caterpillars in terms of mileage is one and a half to two thousand km.

The radio equipment of the tank consists of one VHF radio station AN / GRC-3 (or AN / GRC-4.5,6.7 or 8), which provides stable communication within a radius of 32-40 km and an AN / VIA-4 tank intercom with a field phone jack. In addition, the M60 can be equipped with a radio operating in the frequency range used by aviation.

The M60 tank is equipped with an E37P1 filter-ventilation unit, the same as the M48A2, special tank gas masks and hoods to protect the crew from radioactive dust, toxic substances and bacteriological pathogens, an X-ray meter, an automatic PPO system and air heaters (for crew heating). To overcome fords up to 3.125 m deep, the tank uses special equipment, and when installing a manhole pipe, it is possible to overcome water obstacles up to 5 m deep.

Modifications
M60- the first serial version. The combat weight of the tank is 49.71 tons. Serial production from 1960 to 1962. Manufactured 2202 units.

M60A1(1962) - a new, asymmetrical cast tower with an improved configuration with respect to the longitudinal axis, which has increased projectile resistance (frontal armor thickness - 180 mm), providing better working conditions for the crew in the fighting compartment; an improved SLA, which includes a set of infrared observation devices and sights that provide firing at night. For the driver, an infrared periscope device M24 is provided. for the gunner - an eight-fold infrared periscope sight M32, which is installed in place of the M31 day sight; for the commander - an eight-fold M36 IR sight and XM18 infrared binoculars, for the loader - an M37 periscope night vision device.

Night vision devices were illuminated by a multi-purpose (IR and visible spectrum) high-intensity xenon gas-discharge searchlight AN / VSS-1 with a power of 2.2 kW, mounted on a gun mask. Turning the searchlight lamp on and off, choosing the filter and the angle of dispersion are made by the gunner or tank commander using the control panel located near their seats. The steering wheel has been replaced with a T-shaped lever, the location of some controls and control devices has been changed, a new hydraulic drive of the power transmission brakes and a mechanical stopping brake have been applied; telescopic shock absorbers were introduced on the first, second and sixth track rollers of the undercarriage.

After 1965, a new electric ballistic computer M16 was introduced into the MSA, which takes into account the data of the rangefinder sight, corrections for the drop in initial speed due to wear of the gun barrel bore and the misalignment of the bore axis and the zero aiming line. The total correction by the M16 calculator is automatically entered into the gunner's periscope sight and the tank commander's rangefinder sight. Since 1972, an electro-hydraulic armament stabilizer has been installed in two planes (Add-On Stabilization - AOS), since 1974 - the M142 caterpillar with removable rubber pads, since 1975 - the AVDS-1790-2C engine (RISE program - Reliability Improved Selected Equipment) .

The M60A1 (AOS) machines were converted to the M60A1 (RISE) variant. Since 1977, the tank has been equipped with passive night vision devices based on image intensifiers. Such devices - M36E1 - were installed on the commander's cupola and on the driver's side instead of the middle periscope. The M36E1 night vision device is a modification of the M36 device with the replacement of the active IR night vision module with a passive electron-optical one. Active and passive modules are interchangeable. therefore, the possibility of using a thermal imaging channel remained, for which a xenon searchlight was retained on the tank. In addition, the machine was equipped with advanced devices for overcoming water obstacles along the bottom. The equipment for underwater driving included an air-supply pipe-manhole, installed above the loader's hatch, the direction of movement along the bottom was maintained using a gyro-semi-compass. These machines received the designation M60A1 (RISE / PASSIVE). From 1962 to 1980, 7849 tanks of the M60A1 modification were manufactured.

M60A2(1972) - fire support tank. A new cast tower of complex configuration has been installed. Armament: 152 mm M162 low-impulse gun-launcher, capable of firing both conventional shells and MGM51C Shillelagh ATGMs, M73 coaxial machine gun and M85 anti-aircraft machine gun. Ammunition: 33 rounds and 13 ATGMs. Combat weight 46,332 tons. From 1972 to 1975, 526 units were manufactured and converted from M60A1 tanks.

M60A3(1978) - an FCS was installed, including an AN / VVG-2 laser range finder, an M21 electronic ballistic computer, an M36E1 periscope combined (with day and night channels) sight / observation device and eight M41 glass blocks installed in the commander's cupola. The laser sight-rangefinder is mounted on the seats of the M17 optical rangefinder. To sight the target and exit the laser radiation, the right armored head, left over from the optical rangefinder, is used. The laser rangefinder is equipped with a remote control panel installed at the gunner. The gunner has an M35E1 main combination sight and an M105D auxiliary telescopic sight, similar to those used on earlier M60 models. Interchangeable active and passive modules of night vision devices are installed. Illumination of IR devices is carried out using the AN / VSS-3A xenon searchlight, which has a smaller size and power consumption compared to the AN / VSS-1 searchlight of the M60A1 tank. A feature of the AN / VSS-3 searchlight is the use of a flexible metal reflector that allows you to smoothly change the beam width in the range from 1 ° to 7". TDA, high-speed PPO system since 1987. Combat weight 52.62 tons. 1811 units manufactured, 5661 converted from M60A1 tanks.

M60A3TT S (1979) - TTS (Tank Termal Sight) - an AN / VGS-2 gunner's thermal imaging sight was installed. The automatic circuit of the weapon control system includes the M21 tank ballistic computer, the AN / VVG-2 commander's rangefinder sight, the AN / VSG-1 gunner's sight (installed instead of the M35E1 sight), the weapon stabilizer and the M10A4 ballistic drive, atmospheric parameters sensors. The M36E1 commander's sight and the gunner's auxiliary sight are not connected to the calculator.

M60A3ERA(1988) - M60A3 tanks of the US Marine Corps, equipped with dynamic protection (ERA - Explosive Reactive Armor). The mounted DZ set consists of 49 M1 metal boxes and 42 M2 boxes filled with explosives. The mass of the tank increases by 1.8 tons. 170 units are equipped.

M60A4- an unrealized project for the modernization of M60 tanks commissioned by the US National Guard. The program provided for the modernization of 12 tanks in 1989, 48 - in 1990 and 120 - in 1991, followed by reaching the level of 450 vehicles per year. It was assumed that the M60A4 tank would be armed with a 120-mm smoothbore gun, it was planned to install a new 1050 hp diesel engine, an automatic transmission, applied armor, a low-profile commander's cupola, improve the undercarriage and air filters. For financial reasons, the program was cancelled.

The production of the M60 tanks has been completed. The M60 family of combat vehicles formed the backbone of the US Army and Marine Corps tank fleet in the 1960s and 1970s and were widely exported. As part of the American troops, tanks of the M60 series practically did not participate in hostilities. The exception is the landing of several M60A1 Marine Corps on Grenada in 1983 and the participation of several dozen M60A3 tanks in Operation Desert Storm in 1991. In Vietnam, only M728 engineering tanks and M60AVLB bridgelayers were used.

Tanks of the second generation M60A1 in the period of 1960-1970s they had rather high tactical and technical characteristics, and their good suitability for operation in various climatic zones, maintenance and repair in the field, as well as relatively low cost, led to their wide distribution in the armies of many countries.

By the end of the 1970s, despite repeated modernization, which led to an increase in the mass of vehicles, in terms of protection and mobility, even the latest models - the M60A3 tanks - no longer met the increased requirements. There was a need to move to the tanks of the next, third generation.

PERFORMANCE CHARACTERISTICS OF THE M60A1 TANK
COMBAT WEIGHT, t: 52.61.
CREW, people: 4.
OVERALL DIMENSIONS, mm: length - 9436, width - 3632, height (along the periscope on the commander's cupola) - 3264, ground clearance - 389 12.7 mm.
AMMUNITION: 63 shots, 5950 rounds of 7.62 mm caliber, 900 rounds of 12.7 mm caliber.
WEAPON STABILIZER: two-plane electro-hydraulic.
AIMING DEVICES: M17A1 monocular rangefinder sight, M105D telescopic sight, M28C commander's periscope sight.
RESERVATION, mm: hull forehead - 120. side - 50-76, stern - 44. roof - 57, bottom - 20-50, tower - 25-180.
ENGINE: Continental AVDS-1790-2C. 12-cylinder, diesel. V-shaped, air-cooled; power 750 hp (550 kW) at 2400 rpm.
TRANSMISSION: GMC CD-850-6, hydro-mechanical type "Cross-Drive", which includes a primary gearbox, an integrated torque converter, a hydro-mechanical planetary three-speed gearbox, a differential-type steering mechanism with dual power flow, final drives.
RUNNING GEAR: six rubber-coated road wheels on board, three rubber-coated support rollers, a rear-mounted drive wheel with removable gear rims (lantern gear), idler wheel; individual torsion suspension; hydraulic shock absorbers on the 1st. 2nd and 6th hardpoints; caterpillar with a width of 710 mm, rubber-coated with RMSH of parallel type and removable asphalt pads.
MAX SPEED, km/h: 48.3.
POWER RESERVE, km: 480.
OBSTACLES TO OVERCOME: climb angle, hail. - 30. moat width. m - 2.6. wall height, m ​​- 0.91, ford depth, m - 1.2 (with OPVT - 5 m).
COMMUNICATIONS: VHF telephone, simplex radio station AN/VRC-12, intercom.