- Yes
- No
In the early 60’s the Italian Army was looking for a new tank to replace the M47s, which had now reached the limit of use. NATO tanks set up under the FINABEL project they were not yet ready, like all the other modern models including the KPz70, and that in order to dispose of the Leopard one had to wait for the exhaustion of the orders destined for the Army of Federal Germany. The only NATO tank available remained the M60A1, which the United States was willing to sell at a preferential price. Among other things, it mounts the British 105/51 design cannon that arms all the other European tanks examined. The M60A1 was thoroughly tested at the 2nd Ariete Armored Brigade and at the Teulada Armored Unit Training Center. The original program was to include 1000 of these tanks but was severely curtailed in late 1963. A first batch of 100 was purchased directly from Chrysler and delivered between 1965 and 1966 the remainder of 200 was produced under license by OTO Melara with deliveries between 1969 and 1970. The M60A1 had innovative features of the first order, such as the turret in one piece, very spacious, and could be equipped with new devices, and this explains its longevity in fact it will remain in service until the early 90s, taking part in 1993 in the operation “Restore Hope” in Somalia, in the meantime in 1992 the Italian Army purchased one APFSDS ammunition stock from Israel, for the 105mm cannons of the M60A1, Leopard and B1 Centaur. According to the Americans, the production of the M60A1 in Italy has been a considerable technical success for OTO Melara. Among other things, it is the first tank produced in Italy since 1945, for this important reason I believe that the M60A1 must be added to the Italian TT.
Specifications:
Crew: 4 (commander, driver, loader, gunner)
Dimensions
Length: 9.43 m (6.94m without gun)
Width: 3.63 m
Height: 3.63 m
Total weight, battle ready: 52 tons
Performance:
Propulsion: Continental AVDS-1790-2A V12, AC TT diesel, 750 hp (560 kW), 15.08 hp/t
Transmission: General Motors CD-850-6A, 2 ranges forward, 1 reverse
Maximum speed: 48 km/h
Suspensions: Torsion bars suspensions, shock absorbers
Range: 500 km
Max grade: 60%
Trench Crossing: 2,59 m
Vertical Wall Climb: 0,91 m
Max fording depth: 1,20 m
Armament
Main: 105 mm Gun M68
Sec: 1 x cal .50 M85 (12.7 mm)
1 cal .30 (7.62 mm) Browning M73
Photos:
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