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M60 Patton
FLMM - M60.jpg
An M60 Patton Tank
Type Main battle tank
Place of origin United States
Service history
In service 1961–1997 (United States)
Used by See Operators
Wars Yom Kippur War
Turkish invasion of Cyprus
Iran–Iraq War
Persian Gulf War
Western Sahara War
Shia insurgency in Yemen
Turkey–PKK conflict
Production history
Manufacturer Detroit Arsenal Tank Plant, Chrysler
Produced 1960–1987
No. built Over 15,000 (all variants)
Variants See Variants
Specifications
Mass M60: 50.7 short tons (46.0 t; 45.3 long tons)
M60A1: 52 to 54 short tons (47 to 49 t; 46 to 48 long tons) depending on turret design.
Length M60: 6.946 meters (22 ft 9.5 in) (hull), 9.309 meters (30 ft 6.5 in) (gun forward)
Width M60: 3.631 meters (11 ft 11.0 in)
Height M60: 3.213 meters (10 ft 6.5 in)
Crew 4

Armor 6.125 in (155.6 mm)
Main
armament
105 mm (4.1 in) M68 gun (M60/A1/A3)
152 mm (6.0 in) M162 Gun/Launcher (M60A2)
Secondary
armament
.50 cal (12.7 mm) M85
7.62 mm M73 machine gun
Engine Continental AVDS-1790-2 V12, air-cooled Twin-turbo diesel engine
750 bhp (560 kW)
Power/weight 15.08 bhp/t
Transmission General Motors, cross-drive, single-stage with 2 forward and 1 reverse ranges
Suspension Torsion bar suspension
Ground clearance 0.463 meters (1 ft 6.2 in)
Fuel capacity 1,457 liters (320 imp gal; 385 U.S. gal)
Operational
range
300 miles (500 km)
Maximum speed 30 miles per hour (48 km/h) (road)

The M60 Patton is a main battle tank (MBT) introduced in December 1960. The M60 became the Army's primary tank during the Cold War. When the Soviet Union got the T-54 tank, the United States decided to upgrade the M48 Patton tank. The armor was improved. It was fitted with the British L7 105 mm tank gun. The army also decided to switch from gasoline to diesel.

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