Manufactured by General Dynamics, The M60 is an American second-generation main battle tank (MBT). It was developed from the M48 Patton but was never officially christened as a “Patton” tank. The sudden demand for America to produce a quality MBT began with the out-break of the Korean War. It appeared the Soviet Union had outpaced the United States in tank production, both in quality and quantity. The official standardization of the M60 was completed in 1959. The following year, it was fielded to U.S. Army European units and was rated “Combat Ready.” Since 1960, more than 15,000 M60 tanks have been manufactured. It became the primary battle tank for the United States during the Cold War and served in the armies of over 30 countries.
The M60 tank was rated a top-tier platform based on battlefield performance and the ability to constantly upgrade vital features. Three variants of the M60 were produced, M60A1, M60A2, and the M60A3. The addition of a new turret and thicker armor were the upgraded features of the M60A1, produced from 1962–1980. In 1972, the M60A2 rolled out with an added missile launcher, and a newer turret mounted with a 155mm gun. The final and most produced M60 variant was the M60A3 model, 1978–1987. An improved fire control system made this variant the most successful of the tank series. Presently, the M60 is in service with numerous foreign militaries.
