The M60 is a greatest of all time by the military — an all-around great of Cold War armor and technology. It filled the gap between post–World War II Pattons and today’s M1 Abrams, the ultimate combination of staying power, firepower, and armor. It rolled out in numbers well more than 15,000 and for over forty years, this steel giant crashed around continents, changing and evolving to the times.
With heightened tensions during the Cold War and Korean War, the Patton M48 then had a successor in the M60. Officially commissioned in 1960, it was the unavoidable American counter to growing Soviet armor threat. Packed with more power, durability, and more deadly, the M60 gave the United States and allies an adequate main battle tank that was equally capable of fighting any opponent on an even platform in the battlefield.
With its main armament being 105mm M68 rifled cannon — a variant of the global L7 British gun. The gun gained early on a wide reputation of being very accurate and trustworthy throughout the entire NATO block.
M60 borrowed many of the M48’s features, its power plant and overall form of the hull, but with a wedgier turret and thicker armor plates for greater protection. Slowly but surely, year by year, the tank was upgraded with a line of models of technological and performance refinement.
The first that was distinctly an upgrade was the M60A1, with a wider and longer turret, which made the crew happier and more efficient. Then the M60A2, a pleasant but innocent attempt to fit a behemoth 152mm gun-launcher for shells or missiles — a jump in technology more headache than hero. It was the late 1970s’ M60A3 that finally made the break-through. Rather than placing a new gun or armor, this version focused on advanced targetry and night fighting capability, giving crews a valuable tactical advantage.
Laser rangefinder, ballistic computer, and thermal sighting technology allowed M60A3 crewmen to see and shoot in foul weather or pure blackness. It was the quantum leap of technology in tank warfare. It also had smoke dischargers, an NBC full-protection system, and an automatic fire suppressant system — technologies that made it survivable and safe to fight.
While the M60 never fought in Vietnam, it made itself heard elsewhere. Israeli forces utilized the M60 to lethal effect in the 1973 Yom Kippur War against Soviet T-62 tanks, and was hailed for its firepower and stamina. A decade later, it saw service in Lebanon, but this time equipped with explosive reactive armor to combat more advanced anti-tank missiles — another example of its versatility.
The M60’s final serious test was in the Gulf War in 1991. US Marines used refurbished M60A1s equipped with better armor and night vision. Despite the newer Abrams tanks, the M60 continued to see action in combat — helping destroy Iraqi defenses and free Kuwait City. Its longevity and strength proved the tank’s durability again.
Away from America, the M60 gained its glory forever among friends worldwide. Egypt, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Taiwan, and Israel utilized and variations of their own to meet local needs. Even today, decades later, most have upgraded their M60 fleets with new electronics, stabilization packages, and active armor. Iran, for example, utilized enormous modernization projects in a bid to keep their tanks decades after mass production.
The M60’s legacy was not transferred with its retirement, though. Its combat experience and design were literally transferred over into the M1 Abrams, targeting technology directly and safeguarding the crew. The Abrams further extended that notion with sensors and composite armor, creating a new standard for modern tanks.
To the surprise of everyone, half a century on, the M60 just keeps on rolling. They still run some of them or update their fleets, proof that this Cold War tank is an awe-inspiring and force to be reckoned with. As perfectly balanced, battle-proven, and resilient as ever — the M60 tank is a far cry from something that can be retired to history books. It’s an old master lesson on how engineering, sweat-and-tears know-how, and indomitable will can make a legend that would last longer than its time.