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Posted: 8/31/2011 3:36:48 AM EDT
After 30 years of crewing everything from an M48A5 to an M1A2SEP I'm still convinced that the "ancient" M60 series (That I spent 75/80% of My
time on) was the best tank that the US ever produced. I've always felt that the M1 series was more "TD" than "tank" and that's OK because it's what we needed given the threat in the late 70's and beyond but, '60's were the penultimate TANK as far as versatility went. Besides that, M1's don't SMELL like tanks (  ). Yeah, they're spooky lethal and all that but a TANK smells like DIESEL damnit! At 1,200-1,400 MTRSfiring Battle-Sight APDS a '60 will fuck you up (!) Besides, a TT-8 just ain't the same if you're NOT trying to pull rounds out of the "Honeycomb" while balancing yourself on hot brass (The smells of the green shit leaking out of the L7/M68 mixed with the soles of your "Tanker" boots melting while you tried and keep your balance....sigh....). "Dinosaur" for the win! The FRH be damned!...and...Rough and smooth you bastages..... Lest I forget, yeah, the 219 and M73 DID suck (For all you old guys like me that remember those pieces of shit)! When we went to the '240 it WAS much better.     |
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Posted: 8/31/2011 3:39:15 AM EDT
[#1]
The Patton series tanks had great lines. For some reason, they just look like a tank should.
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Posted: 8/31/2011 3:42:36 AM EDT
[#2]
always liked them things.
I have a couple of lower halves of the sights sitting at home....and I have no idea why. like this:  |
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Posted: 8/31/2011 3:46:10 AM EDT
[#3]
I got to watch them live fire once. Then the Cobras and A10's took their turn. It was a big dog and pony show for some General visiting Ft. McCoy. It was Awesome.
I'll never forget the percussion in my chest when those tanks fired. It's like someone smacked you in the chest. Awesome! |
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Posted: 8/31/2011 3:47:36 AM EDT
[#4]
The Crotch (TM) still used M60A1s when I was on active duty (88-92), although with slabs of reactive armor bolted to the turret, etc.
As an infantryman I was always jealous of those tankers driving by in relative comfort as we slogged along. Good thread. As stated, an M60 just looks like a tank. |
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Posted: 8/31/2011 3:51:53 AM EDT
[#5]
Quoted:
The Crotch (TM) still used M60A1s when I was on active duty (88-92), although with slabs of reactive armor bolted to the turret, etc. As an infantryman I was always jealous of those tankers driving by in relative comfort as we slogged along. Good thread. As stated, an M60 just looks like a tank. I always felt the same, until I once saw a Bradley throw a track in Iraq. I didn't envy those poor fucks anymore. ETA) Before somebody jumps in my shit with both feet, I know a Bradley isn't a tank. But it does have tracks, and I'm assuming the process is similar for when an M1A1 throws a track. 
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Posted: 8/31/2011 3:54:03 AM EDT
[#6]
Don't the Marines still have some active M60s?
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Posted: 8/31/2011 3:55:02 AM EDT
[#7]
Having been inside a Texas NG M60 and an M1, the M60 interior is like a stadium compared to the M1.
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Posted: 8/31/2011 2:07:26 PM EDT
[#8]
Bump.
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Posted: 8/31/2011 2:11:58 PM EDT
[#9]
When I think M60s, I think back to this pic
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Posted: 8/31/2011 2:14:42 PM EDT
[#10]
Funny thing is, I think M48s were used in Detroit during the 1968 Riots.
And not just parked on the corners - used to machine gun buildings. |
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Posted: 8/31/2011 2:23:32 PM EDT
[#11]
Quoted:
Don't the Marines still have some active M60s? M60A1 AVLB vehicles. IIRC the USMC stuck with M60's until after Desert Storm. They have M1A1's. They were concerned about how the M1A1's heavier weight would effect sealift and amphib operations. |
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Posted: 8/31/2011 2:25:42 PM EDT
[#12]
Quoted: I got to watch them live fire once. Then the Cobras and A10's took their turn. It was a big dog and pony show for some General visiting Ft. McCoy. It was Awesome. I'll never forget the percussion in my chest when those tanks fired. It's like someone smacked you in the chest. Awesome! During a life fire exercise at 29 Palms the amtrack I was riding in stopped about 50 feet behind a line of M-60s firing downrange. We dismounted just as the one directly in front of us fired...my ears rang for days afterwards. 
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Posted: 8/31/2011 2:35:01 PM EDT
[#13]
Hell yea!
My experience with the beast is as follows: D Troop 10th US CAV READY AND FORWARD M60A1 1/70th Armor STRIKE SWIFTLY M60A3 4/69th Armor SPEED AND POWER M60A3 |
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Posted: 8/31/2011 2:45:14 PM EDT
[#14]
I agree, they do "look" like a tank should. Always loved the way they appear.
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Posted: 8/31/2011 2:48:05 PM EDT
[#15]
Didn't the A2's have some kind of 152mm gun barrel missile? Why didn't that work out? (or am I confusing that system with an M551?)
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Posted: 8/31/2011 2:49:05 PM EDT
[#16]
Quoted:
Didn't the A2's have some kind of 152mm gun barrel missile? Why didn't that work out? (or am I confusing that system with an M551?) Same system IIRC. |
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Posted: 8/31/2011 2:50:07 PM EDT
[#17]
I loved workig on them.. you could get to everything easly! Not like the M1 where you have to remove 12 guards to get to the part you need to fix.
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Posted: 8/31/2011 2:53:01 PM EDT
[#18]
how would they do against a T72?
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Posted: 8/31/2011 2:55:07 PM EDT
[#19]
Quoted: how would they do against a T72? When crewed by Israelis, quite well.  ETA: Did any USMC M-60s engage T-72s in Kuwait in 1991? |
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Posted: 8/31/2011 2:58:33 PM EDT
[#20]
Always liked the looks of em'.
It looks like it had a mini turret on top of the turret...so you can turret while you turret?
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Posted: 8/31/2011 2:59:36 PM EDT
[#21]
Quoted: Last year in AFG the Marines we were attached to ripped out of Dwyer. The guys leaving left (60 hulled) AVLB's but the guys that replaced themQuoted: Don't the Marines still have some active M60s? M60A1 AVLB vehicles. IIRC the USMC stuck with M60's until after Desert Storm. They have M1A1's. They were concerned about how the M1A1's heavier weight would effect sealift and amphib operations. only had experience on AVBs(M1 based). I was heading into the COC one day at Leatherneck and this "gigantic" Gunny looked at me and said "Hey, are you 'treadhead'? the old guy who used to crew 60's?" I said yeah Gunny, what'cha need? They needed someone to go to Dwyer and load thebridges on the hulls and then drive the hulls onto a HETT to get them back to Leatherneck. It was great. I asked if I could just "Rommel" one back across the desert (There is NOTHING between Dwyer and Leatherneck) but they didn't want to take the chance of having to recover in it something took a shit on the old girl....   |
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Posted: 8/31/2011 3:04:11 PM EDT
[#22]
Quoted: I always thought so too The Patton series tanks had great lines. For some reason, they just look like a tank should. |
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Posted: 8/31/2011 3:06:14 PM EDT
[#23]
Quoted:
Quoted:
Last year in AFG the Marines we were attached to ripped out of Dwyer. The guys leaving left (60 hulled) AVLB's but the guys that replaced them
Quoted:
Don't the Marines still have some active M60s? M60A1 AVLB vehicles. IIRC the USMC stuck with M60's until after Desert Storm. They have M1A1's. They were concerned about how the M1A1's heavier weight would effect sealift and amphib operations. only had experience on AVBs(M1 based). I was heading into the COC one day at Leatherneck and this "gigantic" Gunny looked at me and said "Hey, are you 'treadhead'? the old guy who used to crew 60's?" I said yeah Gunny, what'cha need? They needed someone to go to Dwyer and load the
bridges on the hulls and then drive the hulls onto a HETT to get them back to Leatherneck. It was great. I asked if I could just "Rommel" one back across the desert (There is NOTHING between Dwyer and Leatherneck) but they didn't want to take the chance of having to recover in it something took a shit on the old girl....
You ever think "screw their rules!" and get your own personal M60? I remember at least one member had one. |
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Posted: 8/31/2011 3:10:16 PM EDT
[#24]
Quoted:
Quoted:
how would they do against a T72? When crewed by Israelis, quite well.
ETA: Did any USMC M-60s engage T-72s in Kuwait in 1991? I don't know if they were USMC M-60s but there was a battle at the Kuwait airport involving M60s and T72s, the T72s didn't fare too well at all. One m60 had the tread blown off (mobility kill) and that was about it. |
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Posted: 8/31/2011 3:17:11 PM EDT
[#25]
Quoted: I'm not sure if it was a widespread problem (?) but, back in '84 when 1/7 Cav (My unit) was netting on the M1 we (FT Hood) lost a coupleI loved workig on them.. you could get to everything easly! Not like the M1 where you have to remove 12 guards to get to the part you need to fix. of Turret Mech's when they were leaning over the main gun breech and somehow turret power got switched on and the gun went to whatever "stab" position (Usually hull down) was last inputted. You know how fast that damn gun moves.... |
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Posted: 8/31/2011 3:28:52 PM EDT
[#26]
UPS please
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Posted: 8/31/2011 3:42:46 PM EDT
[#27]
Yep, I was a Tanker from 75 to 79. Driver, loader, gunner and TC. 1/13 Armor in Germany. Loved every second of it.
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Posted: 8/31/2011 3:49:59 PM EDT
[#28]
Quoted:
Quoted:
Don't the Marines still have some active M60s? M60A1 AVLB vehicles. IIRC the USMC stuck with M60's until after Desert Storm. They have M1A1's. They were concerned about how the M1A1's heavier weight would effect sealift and amphib operations. The Army still has AVLB's on M60 and M48 hulls. |
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Posted: 8/31/2011 3:58:08 PM EDT
[#29]
Quoted: Remember THESE at Holder? Yep, I was a Tanker from 75 to 79. Driver, loader, gunner and TC. 1/13 Armor in Germany. Loved every second of it.  |
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Posted: 8/31/2011 4:00:18 PM EDT
[#30]
Quoted:
Quoted:
how would they do against a T72? When crewed by Israelis, quite well.
ETA: Did any USMC M-60s engage T-72s in Kuwait in 1991? U.S. crewed VS Soviet crewed |
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Posted: 8/31/2011 4:02:17 PM EDT
[#31]
Nice 10,000! Thank you for your years of service. I've enjoyed many of your posts over the years. HERE HERE!
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Posted: 8/31/2011 4:05:44 PM EDT
[#32]
Quoted:
Quoted:
I got to watch them live fire once. Then the Cobras and A10's took their turn. It was a big dog and pony show for some General visiting Ft. McCoy. It was Awesome. I'll never forget the percussion in my chest when those tanks fired. It's like someone smacked you in the chest. Awesome! During a life fire exercise at 29 Palms the amtrack I was riding in stopped about 50 feet behind a line of M-60s firing downrange. We dismounted just as the one directly in front of us fired...my ears rang for days afterwards. That's like 5... 10% disability right there. 
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Posted: 8/31/2011 4:12:52 PM EDT
[#33]
Quoted: Well thanks man...Nice 10,000! Thank you for your years of service. I've enjoyed many of your posts over the years. HERE HERE! |
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Posted: 8/31/2011 4:15:21 PM EDT
[#34]
Quoted: Yeah, that's one thing most DAT's will agree on. When YOUR tank is firing (And you've got the CVC on) it's just sort've a dull "whuump!".Quoted: Quoted: I got to watch them live fire once. Then the Cobras and A10's took their turn. It was a big dog and pony show for some General visiting Ft. McCoy. It was Awesome. I'll never forget the percussion in my chest when those tanks fired. It's like someone smacked you in the chest. Awesome! During a life fire exercise at 29 Palms the amtrack I was riding in stopped about 50 feet behind a line of M-60s firing downrange. We dismounted just as the one directly in front of us fired...my ears rang for days afterwards. That's like 5... 10% disability right there. When the tank NEXT to you fires....BOOOOOMMM!!!!! |
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Posted: 8/31/2011 4:16:04 PM EDT
[#35]
Former 19E here!
2/69th Armor out of Ft. Benning, Ga. The M60 was the last of the land beasts, Tanks now days are far more sporty. |
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Posted: 8/31/2011 4:19:56 PM EDT
[#36]
Tank Question. Could the final versions of the M-60 fire the main gun while on the move?
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Posted: 8/31/2011 4:26:31 PM EDT
[#37]
Quoted: I honestly don't know? I never crewed an 'A3. I went straight from the 'A1 Rise to the M1. The 'A1 DID have a "stab" system of sorts but itTank Question. Could the final versions of the M-60 fire the main gun while on the move? pretty much just kept you in the neighborhood...lol Maybe some of the 'A3 guys can answer your question (?) |
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Posted: 8/31/2011 4:31:40 PM EDT
[#38]
Quoted: Quoted: Don't the Marines still have some active M60s? M60A1 AVLB vehicles. IIRC the USMC stuck with M60's until after Desert Storm. They have M1A1's. They were concerned about how the M1A1's heavier weight would effect sealift and amphib operations. Marines received Abrams HA during Desert Storm |
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Posted: 8/31/2011 4:32:49 PM EDT
[#39]
I always loved the lines of the M-60 as well. Even with that huge spotlight on it!
It always looked cool! One of the highlights of my time as a Midshipman was getting to fire the main gun on an M-60. One round HEAT one round Sabot (the old DU Sabot). When I got into the gunners chair I wondered, "What's this mesh fence for". After I fired the first round and saw the gun recoil inches from my head I figured it out!
The Loader has the biggest balls in the world. An E-2 standing on a little four inch wide ledge, holding onto handles in the roof of the turrent while the gun recoiled between his legs! I learned what "Up" and "On the way meant" that day! |
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Posted: 8/31/2011 4:34:18 PM EDT
[#40]
Quoted:
Tank Question. Could the final versions of the M-60 fire the main gun while on the move? When I was at the fire power demo at Camp Pendleton in 1988 they were firing on the move, both the main gun and the 50 cal turret. That's not definitive of course. |
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Posted: 8/31/2011 4:55:13 PM EDT
[#41]
M60s are great until you have to dig it out of a rice paddy. One the only things to be greatful about being a grunt for.
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Posted: 8/31/2011 4:58:13 PM EDT
[#42]
Quoted: One year we had our ammo brought out by this transportation company that was like 60% Ladies with a female Commander. SHE decided that SheI always loved the lines of the M-60 as well. Even with that huge spotlight on it! It always looked cool! One of the highlights of my time as a Midshipman was getting to fire the main gun on an M-60. One round HEAT one round Sabot (the old DU Sabot). When I got into the gunners chair I wondered, "What's this mesh fence for". After I fired the first round and saw the gun recoil inches from my head I figured it out! The Loader has the biggest balls in the world. An E-2 standing on a little four inch wide ledge, holding onto handles in the roof of the turrent while the gun receoiled between his legs! I learned what "Up" and "On the way meant" that day! wanted to put a few rounds downrange and they put her in MY tank. We gave Her a "Quicky" class on conduct-of-fire and set Her loose! I was loading and told Her over and over......"Mam, don't pull the trigger until you hear Me give an UP(!) and am out of the way of the gun please" She was squeezing the hell out of the Cadillac's and as soon as I slapped the safety foreward.....BOOOM!...."On it's way" LOL! We did this 7 or 8 times and I eventually got Her to at least use the proper terminology and sequence (My TC was no help because he was laughing too hard) and wait 'till I'd cleared the fuckin' gun! |
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Posted: 8/31/2011 5:00:24 PM EDT
[#43]
Quoted:
Tank Question. Could the final versions of the M-60 fire the main gun while on the move? Hell yes it could! We had stabilization too. The M1 was/is a hell of a tank but the M60 could do one thing better. We had more main gun depression and so could fire better from defilade (is that the right word?) position. |
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Posted: 8/31/2011 5:22:38 PM EDT
[#44]
Quoted:
Quoted:
Tank Question. Could the final versions of the M-60 fire the main gun while on the move? Hell yes it could! We had stabilization too. The M1 was/is a hell of a tank but the M60 could do one thing better. We had more main gun depression and so could fire better from defilade (is that the right word?) position. I didn't know that. |
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Posted: 8/31/2011 5:22:43 PM EDT
[#45]
Quoted:
Quoted:
One year we had our ammo brought out by this transportation company that was like 60% Ladies with a female Commander. SHE decided that She
I always loved the lines of the M-60 as well. Even with that huge spotlight on it! It always looked cool! One of the highlights of my time as a Midshipman was getting to fire the main gun on an M-60. One round HEAT one round Sabot (the old DU Sabot). When I got into the gunners chair I wondered, "What's this mesh fence for". After I fired the first round and saw the gun recoil inches from my head I figured it out!
The Loader has the biggest balls in the world. An E-2 standing on a little four inch wide ledge, holding onto handles in the roof of the turrent while the gun receoiled between his legs! I learned what "Up" and "On the way meant" that day! wanted to put a few rounds downrange and they put her in MY tank. We gave Her a "Quicky" class on conduct-of-fire and set Her loose! I was loading and told Her over and over......"Mam, don't pull the trigger until you hear Me give an UP(!) and am out of the way of the gun please" She was squeezing the hell out of the Cadillac's and as soon as I slapped the safety foreward.....BOOOM!...."On it's way" LOL! We did this 7 or 8 times and I eventually got Her to at least use the proper terminology and sequence (My TC was no help because he was laughing too hard) and wait 'till I'd cleared the fuckin' gun!
Lucky you! 
Still have all your parts!?!? I admire your professionalism continuing to use the term "ma'am".
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Posted: 8/31/2011 5:24:57 PM EDT
[#46]
Quoted:
Quoted:
Tank Question. Could the final versions of the M-60 fire the main gun while on the move? Hell yes it could! We had stabilization too. The M1 was/is a hell of a tank but the M60 could do one thing better. We had more main gun depression and so could fire better from defilade (is that the right word?) position. Well, that answers that, the M-60 is now my favorite U.S. tank.
I always thought it looked bad-assed with all that reactive stuff stuck on it. We took delivery of a couple M-60E-somethings while I was at King Fahd Int Airport, either late fall of 90 or Jan 91, they both had blades mounted to the front, and if I remember correctly, they were going to be used for UXO removal from runways and or taxi ways. EOD had ammo for the 50 cals, but that was it. I was suposed to learn how to drive the thing when I ended up missing the training for something else that was going on. I'm still pissed about that. Both tanks looked new with green paint, and were fresh off the boat (Or plane) from Germany.
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Posted: 8/31/2011 5:26:05 PM EDT
[#47]
This is the engineer tank, is that correct?
What's that bump (cupola?) on the right side of the turret on top of the hull?
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Posted: 8/31/2011 5:27:20 PM EDT
[#48]
OP - What did you think of the M48? If I recall correctly, Godzilla killed the crap out of those things. |
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Posted: 8/31/2011 5:32:32 PM EDT
[#49]
I hated the M60A1. I loved the M1A1. It was night and day. The M60 you just putted along, and if you were the TC the flak jacket was not to protect from shrapnel, but to keep your ribs from breaking. The M1A1 was like riding in a brand new truck-smooth as hell.
Dangerous as fuck though. Almost lost my left hand on one the ranges when the gunner grabbed the GPCHs and the main gun elevated and my hand was almost caught between the moving parts. M60A1 Rise Passive crewman's course June-August 1987. USMC Det GySgt Hazlett SSgt Mcklintock SSgt Watts SSgt Cordero SSgt Carroll USA Plt Sgts SSG Morris SSG Stanley SSG Holman TCIs SSG Funkhouser "Funky" SSG Adams |
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Posted: 8/31/2011 5:32:49 PM EDT
[#50]
Congrats I had my 10k a few days ago.
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