M60 Patton Spares and Parts

Versons Available

• M60A1

M60 was quickly followed by M60A1, and the major redesign was the turret. M60A1 featured a longer, “needle-nosed” turret, which placed the 105mm gun 5″ (13cm) forward of where it would be in M60’s turret. M60A1 also featured increased armor protection, improved location of the brake and accelerator pedals, hydraulic instead of mechanical linkages for those pedals, and improved seats. Friction snubbers were installed on the first two and last road wheels from the start of production.

There were many improvements to the M60A1 over its lifetime. Top-loading air cleaners, which were easier to maintain and provided better air filtration than earlier versions, were introduced in 1971. A stabilization system for the M68 was introduced in 1972; M60A1s fitted with stabilization were designated M60A1(AOS) for Add-On Stabilization. M60A1(RISE), or Reliability Improvements for Selected Equipment, was fielded in 1975. M60A1(RISE) had a more reliable engine with the top-loading air cleaners; stronger cylinders; improved starter, fuel injection lines, and nozzles; and better turbo-superchargers. The T142 track allowed for longer track life since the rubber pads were replaceable. The top loading air cleaners were armored starting in January 1977. Improvements were also made to the tank’s electrical system. M60A1(RISE)(PASSIVE), first seen in 1977, was fitted with a smaller gun shield-mounted searchlight that produced white and infrared light, and the gunner and commander were given passive night vision sights. The M68 gun tube was also wrapped in a thermal shield to prevent barrel droop due to temperature imbalances.

• M60A2 “Starship”

M60A2 was composed of a new, narrow-profile turret placed on M60A1 hulls. The vehicle used the 152mm gun-launcher originally intended for the next US main battle tank project. The M162 gun-launcher fired the MGM-51C Shillelagh missile, also used by the M551 Sheridan. The commander sat well to the rear of the turret, and the gunner and loader each had hatches in the turret sides. Late-production M60A2s were built without bore evacuators, since they used the closed-breech scavenging system (CBSS), which used compressed air to blow any remnants of the combustible ammunition case out of the gun-launcher before the breech was opened. In M60A2, the CBSS was located below the engine exhaust louvres in the hull rear, and this made a distinctive bulge below the exhaust louvres. Due to the complexity of the fire control system and missile guidance hardware, M60A2 was sometimes derisively known as “Starship”.

• M60A3

M60A3 was an improved M60A1, featuring a laser rangefinder, solid state ballistic computer, and crosswind sensor. The laser rangefinder utilized the right-side rangefinder blister. In August 1979, the AN/VSG-2 tank thermal sight was added to M60A3s to allow better passive visibility in inclement weather conditions such as smoke or fog. M60A3s equipped with this device were designated M60A3(TTS). Steel road wheels were again used starting in May 1980, since they cost less than the lighter aluminum wheels. Drivers were provided with an improved floor escape hatch lock, and the power of the turret motor was doubled, from 5 to 10 horsepower. M60A3s also were later fitted with a muzzle reference system, a Halon fire extinguishing system, a vehicle engine exhaust smoke system, and hardware to allow the mounting of equipment such as chemical alarms.