For most of the 1960s and early 1970s production of the M60A1 was maintained at a very low rate, the minimum necessary to sustain the production base.Īs a result of the Middle East War of 1973 a major effort was made to increase production of the M60A1 for two reasons: to replace M60A1 tanks supplied to Israel and to increase war reserve stocks which were then very low. It carries 63 rounds of 105 mm ammunition rather than 57 as carried by the older M60.

The M60A1 has the same basic chassis as the M60 but a redesigned turret with greater ballistic protection and other modifications.

The first M60s had M48-type turrets with 105 mm guns. The M60 entered service with the US Army in 1960 and from October 1962 the tank was succeeded in production by the M60A1 (development designation M60E1). Subsequent production buys, beginning with October 1960 production, were made from the Chrysler Corporation Detroit Tank Plant, with production of the M60A3 completed in September 1987. In August 1959, an engineering release bid package was released for the second production buy of M60s to be built at Delaware. The initial bid package for the production of M60 tanks was released in April 1959 and in June of the same year a production contract was awarded to Chrysler Corporation, Delaware Defense Plant, for the production of 180 M60 MBTs. In February 1957, the M60 (XM60) vehicle characteristics and production planning schedules were established and, in March 1959, the M60 was classified as Standard A. As a result of a meeting in February 1958, three M48 tanks (designated the M48A2E1) were rebuilt to incorporate the new power pack contemplated for use in the new tank, which had been designated the XM60.ĭuring October and November 1958, several main armament candidates were tested at Aberdeen Proving Ground and, based on the test results, the British 105 mm L7A1 barrel, with the US T254E2 breech, was selected as the main armament for the XM60 and designated the M68 cannon. In November 1956, a decision was taken to install an AVDS-1790-P compression ignition engine in an M48 tank, which was subsequently tested at Yuma Test Station during the summer of 1957.

Early in 1956, it was decided that the M48 tank should be further developed to produce an improved tank with increased operational range and mobility which would require a minimum of refuelling and servicing as well as incorporating an improved main armament.

M60 main battle tank