1962: A Spearhead M-60 Main Battle Tank
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Note by Dan Fong, Staff: The 3AD received its first M-60's (105mm main gun)
in 1960, replacing the M-48 (90mm). The M-60 was somewhat rushed
into service as a response to the new Soviet T-55 (100mm) tank.
As a result of this rush, the newly developed M85 .50 cal machine
gun, which was designed to fit within the turret cupola of the
M-60, was in scarce supply. The consequence was a period of time,
as demonstrated in the above photo, when the older M2 .50 cal
was temporarily used instead and was mounted externally on a
pintle. With the fielding of the new M-60A1 starting in 1962-63,
all 3AD tanks in the M-60 series would have the M85, which, while
well-protected within the cupola, had certain disadvantages in
close-quarter combat. The next generation main battle tank -
the M1 Abrams - would revert to a fully external .50 cal. |
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