Hobby Master HG5601 | M60A1 Patton Tank 3rd Armored Division, 1960s

General Background:

The M60 was initially introduced in 1960 and often incorrectly referred to as a Patton. The M60
resembled the M48 because it was based on the M48 but with some significant alterations and
improvements. M60 has a 105mm Main Gun while the M48’s was 90mm and the front slope was
straight compared to the M48’s rounded front plus other modifications. The M60 was the last U.S.
tank to use homogenous steel as well as an escape hatch in the floor for the driver.

The  Tank:

The U.S. Army 3rd Armored Division “Spearhead” was activated in 1941 and gained the
nickname “Third Herd”. In 1956 the 3rd AD arrived in West Germany and remained there until
1992. In the event of war their mission was to help defend the Fulda Gap, Germany. The 3rd AD
replaced the 4th Infantry Division and was the first U.S. armored division to be stationed east of
the Rhine River. The only time in their 36 years in Germany that the 3rd AD left was to support
Operation Desert Storm.

General Specifications for the Detroit Arsenal (Chrysler)

Role – Main Battle Tank (MBT)

Production Period – 1960-1987

Number Produced All Variants – Over 15,000
M60 - A total of 2,205 M60s were built
M60A1 - A total of 7,948 M60A1s were built
M60A2 - 540 M60A2s were built

Year First Introduced
M60 – 1960
M60A1 – 1962
M60A2 – 1974
M60A3 – 1979

Crew – 4 X Commander, Driver, Gunner, Loader

Dimensions
Overall Length
M60 – 30.5 ft   (9.3 m)
M60A1 – 31 ft   (9.4 m)
M60A2 – 24.1 ft   (7.3 m)
M60A3 – 31 ft   (9.4 m)
Width
M60 – 11.9 ft   (3.6 m)
M60A1 – 11.9 ft   (3.6 m)
M60A2 – 11.9 ft   (3.6 m)
M60A3 – 11.9 ft   (3.6 m)
Height
M60 – 10.5 ft   (3.2 m)
M60A1 – 10.5 ft   (3.2 m)
M60A2 – 10.9 ft   (3.3 m)
M60A3 – 10.5 ft   (3.2 m)

Combat Weight
M60 – 50.5 tons   (45.8 mt)
M60A1 – 57.6 tons   (52.2 mt)
M60A2 – 57 tons   (51.7 mt)
M60A3 – 57 tons   (51.7 mt)

Performance
Powerplant - 1 X Continental AVDS-1790 Turbo Super Charged Fuel Injected 90° V-12 Cylinder
Air-Cooled Diesel Producing 750 hp (559 kw)
Transmission – Detroit Diesel Allison CD850 Series 2-Speed Forward, 1 Reverse
Road Speed – 30 mph   (48 km/h)
Range – 310 miles   (500 km)


Armament
Main Gun
M60 – 105 mm M68 Rifled, Typical Load 63 APFSDS-T, APDS-T, APERS-T, HEAT
M60A1 – 105 mm M68 Rifled, Typical Load 63 APFSDS-T, APDS-T, APERS-T, HEAT
M60A2 – 152 mm M162 Gun-Launcher, 13 Shillelagh Guided Missiles, 33 Conventional Rounds
HEAT-MP, HE
M60A3 – 105 mm M68 Rifled, Typical Load 63 APFSDS-T, APDS-T, APERS-T, HEAT

Machine Gun
M60 – 7.62 mm M73 6,000 Rounds, Coaxial To Main Gun
M60A1 – 7.62 mm M73 6,000 Rounds, Coaxial To Main Gun
M60A2 – 7.62 mm M219 6,000 Rounds, Coaxial To Main Gun
M60A3 – 7.62 mm M240 6,000 Rounds, Coaxial To Main Gun

M60 - .50 cal M85 Machine Gun, 900 Rounds Turret Cupola
M60A1 - .50 cal M85 Machine Gun, 900 Rounds Turret Cupola
M60A2 - .50 cal M85 Machine Gun, 900 Rounds Turret Cupola
M60A3 - .50 cal M85 Machine Gun, 900 Rounds Turret Cupola