M60 Marksman - The last attempt

[DevilO6]

Would you like to see M60 Marksman in-game?

• Yes
• No

TL;DR: M60A3 with Marksman turret.

Hello, and welcome to my suggestion. Today I would like to present a tank, who was the last attempt ever to sell the Marksman turret.

Introducing

M60 Marksman

History

Following a worldwide market survey into the type of air defence system required to protect armoured and mechanised formations and units from the low-level fighter ground attack aircraft and the pop-up helicopter threat, in 1983 the Marconi Command and Control Systems commenced development of a prototype of the Marksman twin 35 mm anti-aircraft turret. The principal feature of the Marksman gun turret was that it was a completely self-contained turret, which can be fitted to any Main Battle Tank hull or large Armoured Personnel Carrier hull without modification. The first prototype was completed in 1984
with a turret of mild steel, while the second, fully armoured and equipped to production standard, was completed in 1985. Following the creation of the production standard turret, a series of tests, trials and demonstrations was carried out using a bunch of different tank hulls. M60A3 was one of the hulls used for tests and demonstrations. This vehicle was the last attempt to market Marksman turret. It was fitted onto M60A3 hull in 1994, as a demonstration in Saudi Arabia. The turret failed to pick up interest of the British army, but was successfully sold to the Finnish army, where it was fitted into T-55 chassis.

Now its time to talk about the specifications.

General:

Engine: Deisel producing 750hp
Gearbox: Manual, 6 forward, 2 reverse
Suspension: Torsion bar
Max speed: 48km/h
Crew: 3 Driver, Gunner and Commander/Radar Operator
Protection:
Hull: Identical to M60A3
Turret: All around protection against 14.5 mm heavy machinegun and 155mm airburst
Horizontal limits: 360° rotation
Turret rotation speed: 90°/s
Vertical launcher limits: -10° +85°
Elevation speed: 60°/s
Stabilized: Yes, two-plane
10x 66mm smoke grenades

Radar:

Radar: Marconi S400.
Type: Symmetrical Parabolic antenna combine search and track radar
Band: IEEE: X/Ku NATO: I/J
Range: 12km search, 10km track
Tracking accuracy: <1mrad rms angle
Scan zone: 360°x15°
Scan rate: 60 rpm
IFF

Features

Multipathing solutions

Text

Frequency agility
Monopulse
MTI
PRF stagger
Low sidelobes

Ability to cue turret in whole 360°

Gunner/Commander sight:

SAGEM Type VS 580-VISAA
Dual FOV: 5°/x10, 18°/x3
Integrated LRF in the gunner sight
Stabilized: Yes, Two-plane

Armament:

2 x 35mm Oerlikon KDA Autocannons
Ammunition:230xAA + 20xAPDS per gun
Shell types: 35x228
HEI
HEI-T
SPAHE-T
APDS-T

This sums up this suggestion. This vehicle has good protection, punchy guns and great reaction time. Combination of all those thing would make it a force to be reckoned with on the battlefield.

Pictures

Sources

GEC-Marconi Marksman anti aircraft gun turret brochure
Marconi Command and Control Systems Marksman anti aircraft gun turret brochure
Marconi Radar Systems International 33
Oerlikon-Contraves 35mm x 228 Ammunition for the Automatic Cannon KD Series brochure
Janes LBDA 2003-2004
International Defense Review 6/1984

[magikvfx]

MORE MARKSMAN WE NEED ALL OF THEM :))))
What is there like 6-7 of them total?

[БЕИ]

The turret of Chieftain Marksman:

[AspandaIV]

+1

One thing you fail to mention is that the M60 Marksman in the photos are taken in Saudi Arabia since the Saudi army was interested in trialing the Marksman on the M60, the M60 is one of the MBT’s Saudi Arabia operated during that timeframe. The Saudi’s never adopted it, favouring the AMX-30 DCA if i recall correctly

[DevilO6]

There are 7 in total. 5 failed fits and 2 service fits.

[BSpiel8]

There’s at least 9 no?

1: Chieftain
2: Centurion
3: Challenger
4: Leopard 1
5: M60
6: Type 59
7: Vickers
8: Leopard 2
9: T-55

Also G6 that of course did not progress pass scale models

[DevilO6]

Yea, I was half asleep. Add Magach to it (should be up soon)

[a_brazillian]

lmao ye

[BSpiel8]

Magach? Interesting, I will certainly await the suggestion for it then

[DevilO6]

Yea, im having quite a hard time tracing what it was doing in Marconi hands, but it did existed.

[BSpiel8]

I presume it was a direct offer to Israel and/or other users of the M48? Never heard of it so I’m not sure if the M60 tests came before or after but depending on the context it could be a good candidate for Israel.

[DevilO6]

M60 was the last attempt. Magach came with the original trials, in 1986, and was displayed in 88 at Farnbough. Another of the Marconi ventures with the turret, that went nowhere, so UK once again.

The only one im dabating if to do is T55, as there is the one from original trials, that would go to UK, but i dunno if i want to do it.

[BSpiel8]

I see, the variety of hulls is impressive, but the general pretense of being for general export rather than for one or two specific nations certainly makes it difficult to find homes for them lol

To me, the M60A3 is really the only one with a defined customer, being demonstrated specifically in Saudi Arabia as opposed to back in England. Technically the Saudis already have the Lightning F.53 as a British premium, but I think they would fit in better in a separate tree entirely.

@DevilO6

The only one im dabating if to do is T55, as there is the one from original trials, that would go to UK, but i dunno if i want to do it.

Probably not worth it, considering that we could see a very similar version in Finland.

[DevilO6]

I did UK for now, if Saudi ever comes to the game it might be suggested for it, but that is a far away thought.