Middlesex Township near Carlisle in Cumberland County, Pennsylvania — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
The Army’s New 50-Ton Killer
M60 to M60A3 Patton Main Battle Tank (MBT)
Photographed By Larry Gertner, September 11, 2012
1. The Army’s New 50-Ton Killer Marker
Inscription.
The Army’s New 50-Ton Killer. M60 to M60A3 Patton Main Battle Tank (MBT). The M60 “Patton” medium MBT was an effective redevelopment of the M48 medium tank, designed to counter the larger armament of the Soviet Union’s T-54 and forthcoming T-62 tanks. Introduced in 1960, the M60 featured a larger 105mm main gun, more angular turret for better protection and a diesel engine. In 1962 the initial design was modified resulting in the M60A1, which boasted a further sloped and elongated turret with thicker armor, laser rangefinder, solid state ballistic computer and a crosswind sensor and stabilization system that allowed the tank to be aimed and fired on the move.
Subsequent improvements in 1973 and 1979 further modified the M60’s turret, incorporated the 152mm XM162E1 gun-launcher for firing the Shillelagh missile (M60A2), and added the AN/VVG-2 laser range finder and AN’VSG-2 tank thermal sight (M60A3). Introduced for conventional warfare during the Cold War period, with versions battle tested in Vietnam, the M60 series MBT was the Army’s workhorse for nearly three decades, until being wholly retired in 1997 in favor of the newer M1A1 “Abrams” MBT.
The M60 “Patton” medium MBT was an effective redevelopment of the M48 medium tank, designed to counter the larger armament of the Soviet Union’s T-54 and forthcoming T-62 tanks. Introduced in 1960, the M60 featured a larger 105mm main gun, more angular turret for better protection and a diesel engine. In 1962 the initial design was modified resulting in the M60A1, which boasted a further sloped and elongated turret with thicker armor, laser rangefinder, solid state ballistic computer and a crosswind sensor and stabilization system that allowed the tank to be aimed and fired on the move.
Subsequent improvements in 1973 and 1979 further modified the M60’s turret, incorporated the 152mm XM162E1 gun-launcher for firing the Shillelagh missile (M60A2), and added the AN/VVG-2 laser range finder and AN’VSG-2 tank thermal sight (M60A3). Introduced for conventional warfare during the Cold War period, with versions battle tested in Vietnam, the M60 series MBT was the Army’s workhorse for nearly three decades, until being wholly retired in 1997 in favor of the newer M1A1 “Abrams” MBT.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: War, Cold.
Location. 40° 12.15′ N, 77° 9.491′ W. Marker is near Carlisle, Pennsylvania, in
Click or scan to see this page online
Cumberland County. It is in Middlesex Township. Marker can be reached from Army Heritage Drive. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Carlisle PA 17013, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Also see . . . M60 tank. Wikipedia entry. (Submitted on April 14, 2020, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York.)
Photographed By Larry Gertner, September 11, 2012
2. Insert - Assembly line
Photographed By Larry Gertner, September 11, 2012
3. Insert - NATO maneuvers
Photographed By Larry Gertner, September 11, 2012
4. Insert - M60 characteristics
Photographed By Larry Gertner, September 11, 2012
5. M60 on display
Photographed By Larry Gertner, September 11, 2012
6. M60 on display
Credits. This page was last revised on February 7, 2023. It was originally submitted on June 28, 2017, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York. This page has been viewed 310 times since then and 13 times this year. Photos:1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. submitted on June 28, 2017, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.
Editor’s want-list for this marker. A wide shot of the marker and its surroundings. • Can you help?