Posted on 05/13/2016 5:52:20 AM PDT by C19fan
Raytheon is pitching a new upgrade for the venerable M-60A3 Patton main battle tank that would turn the elderly design into a competitive force on the modern battlefield all at a fraction of the cost of a new vehicle.
(Excerpt) Read more at warisboring.com ...
This the one with new diesel 950HP engine and M1A1 quality targeting and gun?
The export version...
This is just Raytheon wanting some new cash. I don’t think we’ll be returning to using a Cold War tank any time soon.
I guess you could buy a Garmin and drop it in a Sherman, and say its upgraded with new technology.
Unless and until they re-armour the vehicle with Chobham, they are wasting their time. We used M-60’s as target practice for the Abrams using tungsten sabot rounds. Went right through them. HEAT rounds would ignite the rounds inside and blow the turret off of its rings. They could over burden the power train with reactive but that would only prevent RPGs from compromising the hull. The skirt is a nice addition but it had better hang low enough to prevent mobility kills. Once the Patton stops, it is an easy target.
I suppose one could drape reactive armor over the Patton. It might block sub caliber sabot penetrator rounds for a shot or two. I’d love to have a Patton for my front lawn
As does USAF Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) teams for Base Recovery After Attack (BRAAT) during war time. Used with a modified M9 dozer blade to clear submunitions from airfields and as a heavy armor base for small munitions disruption (SMUD) clearance operations using the on board M85, the MaDuce, Barrett M82A1, Scoped M1A rifles etc.... Used to be a two week course on driving and maintenance, then delivered to us with a grease gun, 5 gallon bucket of grease, wrench, string for track tension, manual and do not remove tags on every damn thing till ya read the manual. Of course we were two week wonder wing nuts with maybe 50 hours of actual operation of the tank.
Desert Storm was first and last time for use in my career....... loved the M60A3.
Hey, that would have come in handy in the Bocage.
Biggest problem that they had with the -60 when it was in the fleet was the stabilizer. My Tank Leader told me stories of how each station had a big red kill button that the crew would be ready to hit when the stabilizer was engaged. When the stab worked, all was good with the world but when it didn’t, the turret would spin wildly.
Not saying I would not love to have one to take the family out for a picnic! Nice thing to have around for crowd control, but not against MBTs.
Yeah, I heard about those from an Uncle. What a pain in the butt.
OK, so maybe the Garmin would not be the high tech addon. Perhaps put some metal horns on the front. Like a Rhino. (not a RINO.)
“Hey, that would have come in handy in the Bocage.”
The German beach obstructions welded to the front of a Sherman cut through the hedge rows well
They did, sort of:
The tank does its best work when you’re machine-gunning communications vans or driving through mess tents.
Or driving through BLM Riot/Protest/Hadji (Dearborn/Hamtramick)Town.
Don’t we have a bunch in National Guard stores?
Ah, the good ole AVSI 1790-1.
Sorry, but I tall you for sure that Garmins are useless even where there is mere road work and detours.
You forgot the 4 speed tranny dummy.
“Id love to have a Patton for my front lawn”
Though you do have a point - how likely is someone to try to rob you or do a home invasion if you’ve got that monster sitting out front? :>)
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