The M-60 series of main battle tanks were officially known as “Tank, Combat, Full Tracked: 105-mm Gun, M60.” It would become one of the most important pieces of weaponry for the US Army and Marine Corps during the Cold War. Entering production in 1959, manufactured by Chrysler Defense and later the Detroit Arsenal Plant, the M-60 was intended to replace the aging M-48 Patton. Though introduced during the Vietnam War era, the M60 did not itself fight in Vietnam; its variants, the M88 recovery vehicle, and the M728 Combat Engineer Vehicle did.
The first major combat deployment of the M60 came in the 1973 Yom Kippur War, where the Israeli Army used it against Soviet-manufactured T-62 tanks. During its production time, 15,000 M60 variants were constructed, with 27 countries operating the tank during that period, many of which continue to use the M60 today.
The M60 series included several major variants and designations: the first M60, otherwise known as the “Slick,” with its rounded turret; the M60A1, which featured an elongated turret; the USMC M60A1 RISE (P), with ERA plates added; the largely unissued M60A2 “Starship”; and the M60A3, which had a thermal-sleeved main gun and TTS.
Other specialized variants included the M88A2 Hercules Armored Recovery Vehicle (ARV), the M728 Combat Engineer Vehicle (CEV), and the M60 Armored Vehicle Launched Bridge (AVLB). Other rarer specialized variants included one turret-less variant, the Modified M60 “Panther” Mine-Clearing Vehicle, and a handful of soft-s.
David Doyle’s comprehensive review of the M60 in the “Legends of Warfare” series by Schiffer Publishing tells the story of this tank’s development and operational use. Entering operational service in 1959/60, the M60 replaced the M48 Patton as the USA’s principal battle tank, with its more powerful 105mm main gun an urgent response to Soviet armor. The tank consequently played a key role in NATO’s European theater during the Cold War, a bridge until the appearance of the M1 Abrams, circa 1990.
The M60 remained in service for nearly four decades, with the National Guard retiring the last units in 1997. The great use of this tank made it well known to both US allies and other states, taking part in the Yom Kippur War, the Lebanon War of 1982, and Operation Desert Storm in 1991.
These were examples of designations that included the M60A1 “AOS” for Add-On Stabilization and M60A1 “RISE” for Reliability Improvements for Selected Equipment, among other designations, since continuous upgrading prolonged the life of this vehicle. The upgraded M60s used by the Israeli military called “Magach” tanks, proved to be quite effective against Soviet-made T-62s and anti-tank missiles.
The M60’s legacy continues to be modernized in countries such as Egypt, Turkey, and Israel, with hundreds still in service. A Turkish modernization program has boasted the M60T “Sabra,” boasting a 120-millimeter smoothbore main gun and upgraded armor protection.
While the M60 has been retired from US military service for the M1 Abrams, its legacy in the field of armored warfare and the annals of the Cold War remains very much intact. The story of the M60 is a testament to the time-honored value of solid design and constant innovation in redefining military technology.