Personally, I found replacing sprockets far easier than replacing final drives.
Yes the M1 sheared a number of sprockets but I never once saw an M1 lose a final drive. I'd rather add oil to the roadwheels than grease any day. They're easier to maintain and they don't break. The suspension system, I'll take the rotary shocks over the volute springs and shock absorbers of the M48/M60. There is no comparision about swapping packs, the M1 is hands down the winner if for no other reason than connecting the final drives. Bummer.We're going to agree to disagree on two points.ġ.)I found the M1 to have much more room on top for sleepingĢ.)All things being equal, I found the M1 easier to maintain. The heavier M1 meant we were restricted from cross-country trips w/o tank transporters. There were more places to sleep on top of the M60.Įverything else has been beaten to death before :The M60A3s were easier to work on, the M1s smelled funny. (the way they're meant to be! )ĭepends - the M1 driver's position was better, the M60A3's turret less cramped. And our vehicles were all OD with white stars. I liked them then, and remember them fondly now.ĮRA was not part of the inventory during my service, came later. Pretty much the basics, adequate to the threats of the day. M48's-M60's of most iterations were sound, reliable, reasonably protected vehicles with good armament. Not a total loss, as it made contributions that would later be incorporated on the M1 after they found the funds. Too much tech with too little money, but it was high profile project at the time, since the MBT-70 had been declared DOA. Would not have hesitated to take one to the Sinai that autumn had the occasion called for it (and it seemed then that it would), The A2 I'm pretty much on record about as I was on the Initial Production Test Project. Fine vehicle in it's day (though we weren't shooting at anybody in them at the time, though it seemed we were weeks away from doing just that in Oct. I thoroughly enjoyed the M60A1's that we had occasions to use as test mules for a variety of projects. They may be right, because I don't think there were any RG units in Kuwait by the time the Marines got there. Some reports claim one or more close-range FRONTAL penetrations against T-72s, but the last time I brought this up, I think the "Soviet Cheering Section" (Vasily and Harkonan) called BS and claimed they were probably test shots against empty hulks after the battle.
What's disputed is if there were any battle kills against T-72s. One M60A1 was lost.Įngineering variants also came in really handy clearing lanes in mindfields, and penetrating berms. For sure, these kills included T-55s, T-62s, Type 59/69s, and various light AFVs. Most were part of 1 MEF's eastern flank effort to push into Kuwait City, which included more than a couple of armored duels. There were several battle kills by USMC M60A1s in ODS. One reason for this thread is I'm gathering as much info as possible for a future model project. I think the answer to that was a no?Ĥ) Did you guys who crewed the M60 (A1, A2 or A3) like it? How often was the M60 fitted with the TWMP? Any other pix of it?Ģ) What is the ERA mounted in them USMC M60A1s? First gen ERA? Who developed it? Israel or USA?ģ) Did any USMC M60A1s kill Iraqi tanks during ODS? ISTR we had a thread on that but I don't recall the details anymore. Unfortunately, the pic is small and lo-res, so I dunno if it was the very same TWMP mounted that is mounted to the M1 or a similar looking one that is somewhat the same as the one fitted on the Leo1 (there seems to be a different mount or such between the usual M1 TWMP and the Leo1 TWMP, although both look very much the same). Anyhow, to kick off this thread, I have some questions (as usual):ġ) I saw one pic of a USMC M60A1 in ODS fitted with a TWMP. One of my fave tanks is the M60, probably because it looks very much like the M41's big bad brother.Īnyhow, ISTR we had an old M60 thread that I can't find.