The M60 Patton series was the primary American main battle tank from 1960 through the 1990s. Developed from the M48 Patton, the M60 featured a 105mm gun and diesel engine. Over 15,000 M60s of all variants were constructed.
The M47/M48
In October 1950, Detroit Arsenal began work on a new medium tank with a 90mm gun. The M48 Patton entered service in 1953. Nearly 12,000 M48s were built from 1952 to 1959. Early designs were powered by gasoline engines, which were unreliable and fire-prone. In 1959, the M48A3 received a diesel power plant. The M48A5 upgrade of the mid-1970s added the heavier 105mm gun.
The M60
In 1957, in response to the Soviet T-54, an M48 was fitted with a new engine and British 105mm L7 gun. This became the M60, entering service in 1960. The M60A1 (1963) featured a larger turret with improved armor. The M60A2 featured a 152mm gun firing both rounds and Shillelagh ATGMs. The M60A3 (1978) added smoke dischargers, new rangefinder, ballistic computer and turret stabilization.
Specifications Comparison
| M48 | M60 | |
|---|---|---|
| Length | 21 ft (6.4 m) | 22 ft 9 in (6.9 m) |
| Width | 11 ft 11 in (3.6 m) | 11 ft 11 in (3.6 m) |
| Weight | 52 t | 57.3 t |
| Speed | 40 mph (64 km/h) | 30 mph (48 km/h) |
| Range | 258 mi (415 km) | 280 mi (450 km) |
| Main Gun | 90mm (105mm in M48A5) | 105mm |
| Crew | 4 | 4 |
Combat Service
M48s saw action in Vietnam, the 1965 Indo-Pakistan War, and the 1967 Six-Day War. The M60 first saw action in Vietnam with the Marine Corps, and M60A1s were used in Operation Desert Storm. M60s also served with Israel during the 1973 Yom Kippur War and the 1982 Lebanon invasion.
Israeli Variants (Magach Series)
Israel created extensive variants including the Magach 1 through Magach 7D (renamed Magach 8), progressively adding Blazer ERA, improved fire control, Merkava tracks, and upgraded armor. The Sabra is another upgraded Israeli version.