M60T (a.k.a. Sabra Mk II)

[CobraKingII 276]

M60T

 

The Turkish M60T main battle tank (MBT) stems from the Israeli Sabra Mk I tank, a heavily upgraded Magach 7, which itself came from the American M60A3 tank.

 

Development

After the end of the Cold War in 1991, the US released surplus M60 tanks for the export market. Turkey purchased 274 M60A1 and 658 M60A3 tanks starting in 1993. In the early 2000's, it was decided by Turkey that new tanks must be purchased, their Leopard 1 tanks must be upgraded, and their M60s must be upgraded. There were two options for the upgrade of the M60s: the General Dynamics 120S and the Israeli Military Industries Sabra. In 2002, a contract was signed between IMI and Turkey for purchase of the Sabra. The Sabra Mk I tank was too expensive, so a new version called the Sabra Mk II was procured instead and designated by Turkey as the M60T.

 

Design

The M60T features extensive armor additions at the front of the turret, giving it a wedge shape. The frontal hull armor was also improved with additional armor layers. Slat armor was added to the rear of the turret, the ammunition storage was improved, a fire suppression system was added, an IR and laser warning system was added, and new smoke grenade launchers were fitted. An NBC protection system is fitted as standard.

 

An active protection system was offered, but the Turks decided not to include it. In addition to the main changes listed above, the commander received a panoramic sight, extra roof protection was fitted, and a new navigation system was added. Explosive reactive armor (ERA) is able to be fitted. Notably, the M60T retains the M19 commander's cupola from the M60 series.

 

Due to all the additions, the M60T weighs up to 59 tons. As such, a more powerful MTU MT-881 KA-501 diesel engine is fitted, producing 1,000 horsepower. A Renk 304S transmission is fitted, and the maximum speed is 55 kph. The suspension and tracks were also improved for a smoother ride and ease of maintenance.

 

The M60T is armed with the M253 120 mm smoothbore gun, controlled by an Elbit Knight III fire control system (FCS). A thermal sight is provided for the gunner along with a laser rangefinder. The turret traverse was changed from a hydraulic type to an electrical one. The crew's electronics and displays were modernized, but a battle management system was turned down by the Turks.

 

 

Production and Service

170 M60T tanks were delivered to Turkey from 2006 to 2010. M60T tanks were deployed to Syria, and that is their only known combat deployment. During the operations in Syria, several M60Ts were hit by Russian-built Kornet anti-tank missiles, which penetrated the armor and knocked out the tanks. There is a debate as to whether the losses were due to tactics or to obsolescence. It is unlikely that another nation will choose to procure the Sabra tank, due to its disappointing combat record and its obsolescence on the modern battlefield.

 

 

Specifications

Spoiler

Basic

• Crew: 4

• Weight: 56 - 59 tons (Depending on configuration)

Mobility

• Engine: MTU MT-881 KA-501 diesel engine

• Power: 1,000 hp

• Max. Speed: 55 kph

Armament

• 120 mm M253 smoothbore gun

  • -9°/+20° of elevation

  • Fully stabilized

  • Gunner thermal sight

  • Laser rangefinder

• 7.62 mm coaxial machine gun

• 12.7 mm commander's machine gun

Protective Measures

• IR and LWR system

• Smoke Grenade Launchers

• Explosive Reactive Armor (ERA)

• Slat Armor - Turret rear

 

Sources

https://aw.my.games/en/news/general/development-sabra-mk2

https://www.militaryfactory.com/armor/detail.asp?armor_id=522

http://www.military-today.com/tanks/sabra.ht

Edited November 29, 2020 by CobraKingII

[Miki_Hoshii 2,031]

Open for discussion.

[ACOMETS 158]

good for 9.3 US as a premium or event or maybe TT ,it is like  C2A

Edited November 29, 2020 by ACOMETS

[modern_primat 5]

thank you so much for that suggestion! i want sabra mk.2 so much....+1

 

also look:

On 29/11/2020 at 10:52, ACOMETS said:

good for 9.3 US as a premium or event or maybe TT

also, why you wrote 9.3 BR? M60 AMBT has 9.7 BR  while AMBT has less pen gun than merkava mk.3(sabra mk.2 and merkava mk.3 has same gun). it should be +9.7 BR

 

and these are my thoughts:

If it is going to be added to the tech tree as standard vehicle, it can come after M60A3 TTS. it should be in 10.3, it has good gun, good mobility, slightly good armor. look M60 AMBT in 9.7 BR. so, sabra should be in 10.3

 

The other reason I want Sabra Mk.2 is it has reactive armor. This makes it similar to M60A1 RISE(P) and M60A3 TTS. Sabra Mk.1 doesn’t have reactive armor, that's why i don’t want Sabra Mk.1 now.

 

Due to the recent event vehicles added(M60 AMBT / Merkava Mk.3) making it an event vehicle may anger the player base. But if you don't consider that it can be a good event vehicle. Since it is actually a modified M60 tank we have already in game the 3D model can be cheaper to make rather then a modelling new tank. M60A1(AOS), M60 AMBT's 3D models can be used as a base for the Sabra Mk.2’s 3D model.

 

also, there is images about sabra mk.2.

Spoiler

i made fake statcard about sabra mk.2 Sabra mk.2 drawing by __Zibi__(WT Live)

 

Edited December 6, 2020 by modern_primat

[yoyolast 83]

+1 from me

[ACOMETS 158]

22 hours ago, modern_primat said:

thank you so much for that suggestion! i want sabra mk.2 so much....+1
 

also, why you wrote 9.3 BR? M60 AMBT has 9.7 BR  while AMBT has less pen gun than merkava mk.3(sabra mk.2 and merkava mk.3 has same gun). it should be +9.7 BR

 

and these are my thoughts:

If it is going to be added to the tech tree as standard vehicle, it can come after M60A3 TTS. it should be in 10.3, it has good gun, good mobility, slightly good armor. look M60 AMBT in 9.7 BR. so, sabra should be in 10.3

if it has the same transmission as ambt ,then it is slower -1

they won't give it any better round than (M829A1) so round will be like KE-W on ambt (the round is a export version of M829A1) 

armor means nothing at high tier (T64 and later have good rounds and germans have good rounds ) . it will be protected from atgms only ,(i dont know about how good the ERA is so it wont stop all atgms)

[CneuHa3_TUR 223]

On 30/11/2020 at 12:07, ACOMETS said:

if it has the same transmission as ambt ,then it is slower -1

Well... Differences from M60A3 SLEP in game are it's engine, it's main gun and it's passive protection.

M60T using MTU-881 KA 501 engine with RK 304 transmission, I don't think it changed it's top speed, but it still has a new 1000hp engine and also this one using IMI made MG253 as main gun, unlike Raytheon's A3 SLEP using American made M256.

 

On 30/11/2020 at 12:07, ACOMETS said:

they won't give it any better round than (M829A1) so round will be like KE-W on ambt (the round is a export version of M829A1) 

IMI made M322/M328 rounds being used with these tanks by Turkish Army in field, so I don't see anything stopping them to add M322 APFSDS to it just like Merkava MK.III in game.

 

But main problem here is, all M60T's being upgraded with Fırat Modernization which adding this tank active protection including both soft kill&hard kill measures and a new RCWS. As I know this modernization program is done with all 160 Tanks and they're being named as M60TM rn or some few still left to be upgraded... So it'll be with Fırat Modernization as researchable modification when it's being added or without it? Bec. if so, with that modification it'll be the first Tank in game with hard kill measures 

Such tank would require a higher BR than 9.7 obviously.

 

[modern_primat 5]

1 hour ago, CneuHa3_TUR said:

But main problem here is, all M60T's being upgraded with Fırat Modernization which adding this tank active protection including both soft kill&hard kill measures and a new RCWS. As I know this modernization program is done with all 160 Tanks and they're being named as M60TM rn or some few still left to be upgraded... So it'll be with Fırat Modernization as researchable modification when it's being added or without it? Bec. if so, with that modification it'll be the first Tank in game with hard kill measures 

Such tank would require a higher BR than 9.7 obviously.

 

if gaijin add dynamic BR affected by modifications, this wouldn't be a problem. just higher BR and problem solved.

[CneuHa3_TUR 223]

1 hour ago, modern_primat said:

if gaijin add dynamic BR affected by modifications, this wouldn't be a problem. just higher BR and problem solved.

There are so much things waiting to be changed with Top Tiers and yes, this could be a good addition for letting stock players catch their breath 

[modern_primat 5]

"should it come to WT?" opinions about sabra on diffrent places:

 

Spoiler

https://www.reddit.com/r/Warthunder/comments/k384da/m60t_sabra_mk2_suggestion_on_wt_forum_come_and/

https://www.reddit.com/r/Warthunder/comments/a5929r/gaijin_please_i_want_m60t_sabra/

https://www.reddit.com/r/Warthunder/comments/9sonr7/gaijin_pls_m60t_sabra/

https://www.reddit.com/r/Warthunder/comments/j7pdm5/m60t_drawing_by_zibi/

 

https://live.warthunder.com/post/923838/en/

https://live.warthunder.com/post/935175/en/

https://live.warthunder.com/post/912785/en/

 

Edited December 6, 2020 by modern_primat

[efetenekeci 787]

+1 from me. Even if the Israeli tech tree comes, I don't think we would get the tanks on the tech tree. If Gaijin wants to give the tank on some events, wish they won't give on some marketplace events as those event vehicles are much more expensive to obtain.

[Milocat 3,399]

+1 to this, it would be nice in an Israeli or Turkish tree or something like that but it seems more likely that it'll get added as a U.S. event vehicle.  That would be less ideal but I'll try not to complain since it would at least get this wonderful tank in the game.

[modern_primat 5]

On 22/12/2020 at 18:56, Milocat said:

+1 to this, it would be nice in an Israeli or Turkish tree or something like that but it seems more likely that it'll get added as a U.S. event vehicle.  That would be less ideal but I'll try not to complain since it would at least get this wonderful tank in the game.

 

im agree with that. thank you cat. nice writing.

[modern_primat 5]

also i have to remind that...

 

M60T has good turret protection aganist modern ATGMs

 

 

Spoiler

 

Edited January 9 by modern_primat

[modern_primat 5]

cmon dudes, vote111!!!!!

[Universae 626]

I dont know why we didnt get this instead of that mess that is the M60 AMBT. 

 

+1 I would love to see this version of the M60 ingame. (please replace the AMBT with this)

[CobraKingII 276]

6 minutes ago, Universae said:

please replace the AMBT with this

Not how it works 

[Universae 626]

14 hours ago, CobraKingII said:

Not how it works 

If only aye. 

[TheGreyDead 1]

Would be fun +1

[[email protected] 211]

This would be a good addition giving it a unique tank to a nation.

[Borotovas 3,826]

+1

 

I like the shape of this tank.

[modern_primat 5]

On 19/02/2021 at 21:16, Borotovas said:

+1

 

I like the shape of this tank.

 

but it is israeli ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)

[yoyolast 83]

8 minutes ago, modern_primat said:

 

but it is israeli ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)

Technically yes but Israel never used it

[[email protected] 211]

Would be a cool squadron tank for the US given it’s the complete opposite of the Leopard 2PL