M60A1 (RISE) Main Battle Tank

M60A1 (RISE) Main Battle Tank, a photo by relex109.com on Flickr.

Via Flickr:
Successor to the M48, another General Patton
One major criticism of the M48 was its relatively poor armour protection which left it vulnerable to the Soviet T-54. When the M60 appeared in 1960 there was little evidence of change in this respect; the lower hull was thicker but armour thickness on the upper hull had been slightly reduced. In terms of firepower and performance there were great changes which had been foreshadowed in later M48 production. M60 carried the British 105mm gun and employed the 12 cylinder Continental diesel engine which gave it a very lively performance.

Like M48 the M60 is a large tank, made bigger by the enclosed commander's cupola, virtually a little turret in its own right. Early models featured a turret similar to M48 but the M60A1 has an elongated turret with an improved shape at the front. Later changes included modifications to the engine under the Reliability-Improved-Selected-Equipment programme or RISE.

The M60 has also been supplied to many of America's allies, most notably to Israel where it has seen considerable service and been extensively modernised. The M60 was never used in Vietnam but it did see service with United States forces in the Gulf War. Our exhibit came from US Army stocks in Germany and is finished in a typical camouflage scheme.
Other Numbers

NumberType
12893Original Accession
1993.1098Original Entry
8971Serial
JJO 1Z8Vehicle Registration
Main utility type

Main Battle Tank
Country of Use

U.S.A. (1962)

Production
Object Production

RoleAttributionDatePlaceNotes
ManufacturedOctober 1962Detroit Tank Arsenal, Chrysler CorporationUnited States
Era

Post War
Nationality

American

Location
Current Location

BOVTM - B18A - Tamiya Hall (Moved here on 22/05/2013)

Physical
Features

Part NameDescriptionNotes
Tracks/WheelsFull Tracked
Armament - Main Weapon TypeGun - 105 mm Gun
Armament - Secondary Weapon Type2* Machine Gun (7.62mm & 12.7mm)
EngineContinental AVDS-1790-2A, 12 cylinder, air-cooled
Transmission2 Forward and 1 Reverse Ranges
SuspensionTorsion bar
Dimensions

Part NameDimensionValueUnitPrecisionNotes
OverallLength6.946m
OverallWidth3.631m
CrewNumber4
OverallWeight52,617kg
Speed - RoadMaximum48.28kph
FuelTypeDiesel
Main GunCalibre105mm
Engine OutputPower750bhp@ 2400 rpm
FuelVolume1420ltr
RangeRadius500km
Armour Thickness - HullMaximum143mm
ProjectileNumber63rounds
OverallHeight3.27m

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