M60A3 Tank

The M60 series was first introduced in 1961 and served longer than any other tank, with advanced weapon control, a powerful engine, and service under nine U.S. presidents. Its thick armor protected soldiers in 22 countries, and the last 60-ton examples left National Guard and Reserve service in 1997. The M60A3 improved on earlier M60 models with a ballistic computer for fire control, a laser range finder, a thermal gun sleeve to keep heated guns from sagging, and an advanced thermal sight system for night vision. First accepted in 1978, it was built by Chrysler Corporation, with 5,400 produced. It had a crew of four men: commander, gunner, loader, and driver. Its armament included an M68 105mm gun, an M240 7.62mm coaxial machine gun, and an M85 12.7mm cupola-mounted machine gun. Armor was 10 inches thick at the front of the turret, with the hull up to 5-1/2 inches thick. It used a Continental AVDS-1790-2C 12-cylinder turbocharged diesel engine producing 750 horsepower at 2,400 rpm, and its maximum road speed was 30 mph.

Boalsburg, Pennsylvania · United States