M-60 tank facts for kids
Quick facts for kids M60 Patton |
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An M60 Patton Tank
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| 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 |
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| Armor | 6.125 in (155.6 mm) |
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Main
armament |
105 mm (4.1 in) M68 gun (M60/A1/A3) 152 mm (6.0 in) M162 Gun/Launcher (M60A2) |
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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) |
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Operational
range |
300 miles (500 km) |
| Maximum speed | 30 miles per hour (48 km/h) (road) |
The M60 Patton is a powerful main battle tank (MBT) that first appeared in December 1960. It became the main tank for the United States Army during the Cold War. This was a time when the United States and the Soviet Union were in a long competition, but without direct fighting. The M60 was designed to be strong and reliable on the battlefield.
Contents
M60 Patton Tank: A Cold War Giant
The M60 Patton was developed because the United States needed a better tank. The Soviet Union had created a new tank called the T-54. This tank was very advanced for its time. To keep up, the U.S. decided to improve their existing M48 Patton tank.
Why Was the M60 Built?
The main goal was to make a tank that could stand up to the Soviet T-54. Engineers focused on making the M60 stronger and more powerful. They wanted it to be a key part of the U.S. military's defense.
What Made the M60 Special?
The M60 Patton had several important upgrades:
- Better Armor: Its armor was made thicker and stronger. This helped protect the crew inside from enemy attacks.
- Powerful Gun: It was fitted with a new 105 mm gun. This gun was called the British L7. It could fire powerful shells over long distances.
- Diesel Engine: The army also decided to switch from gasoline to a diesel engine. Diesel engines are usually more fuel-efficient. They also have a lower risk of catching fire. This made the tank safer and able to travel further.
M60's Role in History
The M60 Patton served the United States for many years. It was used from 1961 until 1997. Over 15,000 M60 tanks were built in total. It played a big role during the Cold War. It was a symbol of American military strength.
The M60 also saw action in several real wars. These included the Yom Kippur War and the Persian Gulf War. Even after the U.S. Army stopped using it, many other countries continued to use the M60. This shows how reliable and effective it was.
