Three Armies Still Upgrading Their Cold War-era M-60 Tanks

War is Boring ^ | March 19, 2018 | Charlie Gao

[C19fan]

The M-60 “Patton” tank is one of the most iconic tanks of the Cold War. While it did not see use in the Vietnam War, it saw extensive use by Israel and Iran in the various hot wars of the 20th century, and comprised the vast bulk of the U.S. Army’s tank fleet facing down the Warsaw Pact throughout the 1970s and 1980s. It was also used by U.S. Marines in Grenada and Operation Desert Storm.

While it was phased out of American service in the 2000s — and most other tank fleets by the 2010s — the M-60 continues to serve on in some countries, and are receiving advanced upgrade packages in an attempt to make them adequate for today’s battlefield.

[C19fan]

The main problem with the M-60 in today's combat environment is the steel armor. Modern Main Battle Tanks use composite armors and in the case of the US some models of the M1 Abrams have depleted uranium armor.

[KarlInOhio]

Taiwan, Turkey and Thailand are the three countries the headline refers to.

[riverrunner]

It all depends on who you are fighting and what type of weapons they process.

[FreedomPoster]

Treadhead ping

[PapaBear3625]

If they could put in an auto-loader, it might be interesting to see if you could make the M-60’s in storage into remote-controlled/autonomous vehicles.

[Bonemaker]

We had them in West Berlin in the 60’s. Got to drive one..a big deal for an Air Force guy!

[McGruff]

I have a Ukrainian friend that can get you a good deal on a like new tank.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2572149/Stunning-images-huge-abandoned-tank-graveyard-Ukraine-machines-come-retirement-tensions-Russia-continue-escalate.html

[Delta 21]

The Abrams, as well as the M-60s, shoot an armor piecing round that is made out of depleted uranium but has armor protecting the vehicle and crew called Chobham Armor. APFSDS-T comes in 105mm and 120mm flavors.

Chobham armor is made out of different layers of composite steel, laminated similar to plywood and honeycombed inside. It is very hard to defeat.

FReeper TREADHEAD PING

With a well trained crew and modern upgrades, thge M-60 is still a force to be reconed with on the modern battlefield.

[mountainlion]

No M60s in Viet Nam? OK What were they?

[mylife]

Treadhead LOL! I have never heard that term

I’ve known lots of track drivers and driven a highly modified Bradley

[BwanaNdege]

M-48’s, IIRC

[RitchieAprile]

Only M60s in VN were CEVs (Combat Engineer Vehicles).

[BwanaNdege]

[MCF]

M-48 Patton tanks were used in Vietnam.

[Delta 21]

Mostly in the rear with the gear but definitely on a hard pack road. Damn things sinks like a rock in a rice paddy.

Pic says M-60 but thats an M-48. (Rounded leading edge of the front slope and 90mm muzzle break.) Modified/field anti-aircraft upgrade on the TC position. Nice parasol as well!

[Cincinnatus.45-70]

They can laugh at “wood armor” all they want. The British Navy did, at the palm log fort on Sullivan’s Island. The backward colonial Col. Moultrie had the last laugh when cannon balls stuck in the logs or bounced off. Then the British sailed away with their tails between their legs. Palm logs, at least, are good absorbers of kinetic energy. I’m not saying they will stop an RPG, but I won’t laugh until I see actual data.

[C19fan]

Isn’t that why the Palmetto is featured on the SC state flag?

[bmwcyle]

bttt

[mountainlion]

I was on a Rome Plow and some of our guys were good at putting the track back on with the stinger of the blade. All the driver had to do was look at a mud puddle and get stuck. Usually a couple Rome Plows would open the jungle and a couple tanks would follow. We cleared 100,000 acres of jungle and the tanks usually did not get too close.

What was the M- designation of the Abrams tank?

[Cincinnatus.45-70]

That’s at least part of the reason.