The M60 Patton is an American main battle tank introduced into United States Army service in 1960, developed from the earlier M48 Patton by fitting a more powerful 105mm main gun, improved armor and a diesel engine for better range, and it became the primary American and NATO main battle tank of the 1960s and 1970s before gradual replacement by the M1 Abrams. It saw extensive combat and export service with American allies, most notably with Israeli forces in the 1973 Yom Kippur War, where it fought Egyptian and Syrian armor including Soviet-supplied T-62s in some of the largest tank engagements since the Second World War, and it remained in front-line or reserve service with numerous countries' militaries for decades afterward. Though eventually eclipsed by more advanced designs, the M60's long production run and wide export use made it one of the most numerous Western tanks of the Cold War, and upgraded versions continued in active service with some countries into the twenty-first century.
Facts
Classification
Service Status Weapon Class Introduced Year Weapon Class
Weapon Class (category) FAQs
What threat led to the M60 Patton being built with a larger gun?
The Soviet T-54 and its 100mm gun outclassed the 90mm gun of the M48.
The threat was the Soviet T-54. In the early 1950s, reports from British intelligence indicated that the Soviets had developed a new heavily armored medium tank armed with a 100mm gun, which was superior to the old 90mm weapon of the American M48. The M60 answered that threat by combining an updated M48 chassis with a more powerful 105mm main gun.
Connections
Operated By
Source Wikipedia: M60 tank
Source Wikipedia: M60 tank
Used In
Source Wikipedia: M60 tank
Source Wikipedia: M60 tank
Source Wikipedia: M60 tank
Source Wikipedia: M60 tank
In the Other Atlases
Manufactured By
Also in Business Atlas: the manufacturer of this subject.
Source Wikidata: M60 Patton
Sources
1. Wikipedia: M60 tank
Wikipedialead section, paragraph 1, sentence 1
The M60 is an American second-generation main battle tank (MBT).
lead section, paragraph 1, sentence 2
It was officially standardized as the Tank, Combat, Full Tracked: 105-mm Gun, M60 in March 1959.
service status
It was widely used by the US and its Cold War allies, especially those in NATO, and remains in service throughout the world, despite having been superseded by the M1 Abrams in the US military
Lead and body text (105mm)
These events spurred the United Kingdom to begin upgrading existing tanks with a 105 mm high-velocity rifled gun in 1958, the Royal Ordnance L7 to keep the Centurion viable against this new Soviet tank design.
Infobox: service
1959-present
Caliber attribute (m60-patton)
The M60 Patton is an American main battle tank introduced into United States Army service in 1960, developed from the earlier M48 Patton by fitting a more powerful 105mm main gun, improved armor and a diesel engine for better range, and it became the primary American and NATO main battle tank of the 1960s and 1970s before gradual replacement by the M1 Abrams.
- Used In: Yom Kippur War, infobox wars field: 'Yom Kippur War'
- Used In: Ogaden War, infobox wars field: 'Ogaden War'
- Used In: Iran-Iraq War, infobox wars field: 'Iran-Iraq War'
- Used In: Yemeni Civil War, infobox wars field: 'Yemeni Civil War'
Operated By: United States Army, Article text
After reviewing the proposal it was declined by the Chief of Staff of the United States Army General Carl E.
Operated By: United States Marine Corps, Infobox, used by and service fields
Infobox lists: United States Marine Corps
View the Source Wikidata: M60 Patton
Wikidata Q382421, class allow-list match (w-wdresolver-0926)View the Source Reader Challenges (0)
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