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Royal Thai Army’s M60A3 TTS “WERA”: Wooden Environmentally Recyclable Armor
Hi and welcome to my 37th suggestion, which is about the Royal Thai Army’s M60A3 TTS with some special armor, hope you like it. 
First of all:
- Feel free to share more Information and / or correct me if something is wrong
- Discuss respectfully, any aggressive kind or verbal abuse will be reported, the Forum rules also apply here
- Disclaimer: The designation “WERA” is my “own creation” and meant to make easier to differate this variant from the standard M60A3 TTS
Basic Background
The M60A3 was developed in response to the need for an improved version of the M60 series in 1976, particularly to address problems with the M60A2 and the outdating M60A1 tanks.
Production of the M60A3 began in 1978, with the first units delivered to army units in Europe starting in 1979. However, the M60A3 was considered a stopgap solution as development of the XM1 Abrams main battle tank was already underway. Nevertheless, production continued and a total of over 15,000 M60s were built. Procurement of M60A3 tanks for the U.S. Army ended in 1983, but production for foreign military sales, including orders from Egypt in 1985, continued. In addition, various modernization programs have been carried out to modernize existing fleets in other countries.
The Royal Thai Army ordered 125 M60A3 TTS tanks from the US reserve through the FMS program around 1996, with the mission of enhancing border defense. In 2015, one of the M60A3s was equipped with large wooden baskets on the hull and turret which were filled with logs. Supposedly the wood is supposed to protect against HE and RPGs, but I couldn’t find any evidence of this. Nothing came of the idea (which, funnily enough, was put into practice and officially presented), in 2017 majority of M60A3 TTS’ were upgraded by the Israeli company EBIT to improve operational capabilities, firepower and night operational capabilities.
The M60A3 TTS “WERA” Overall
Improvements of the M60A3 over previous variants included electronics and fire control systems, replacement of the flammable turret hydraulic fluid with a non-flammable alternative and the integration of a Halon fire suppression system.
In general there were two variants of the M60A3: the earlier version M60A3, and the later version; M60A3 TTS, which was equipped with a Tank Thermal Sight (TTS) for the gunner.
The M60A3s key features included a laser-based rangefinder, an M21 ballistic computer, improved turret stabilization system and an improved electrical system.
Except for the “special additional armor”, the Thai M60A3 TTS is identical to the examples in the game; weighing 54.6 tons, powered by a Continental AVDS-1790-2 V12 with 750 hp, a top speed of 48 km/h, armed with an M68E1 105mm gun, along with a 7.62mm M240 machine gun, a .50 M85, smoke grenades and four crew members.
Thanks for your time, hope you liked it 
[Will add more if there are some (more) important / declassified things]
[PM or comment if a Link or Picture isn´t working]
Sources:
Links
Thai M60A3 with extra wood armor – Tank and AFV News
Thai army invents eucalyptus tank armour | Shephard
Das Panzerdetail - Feuerleitanlage des M-60A3
DEFENSE STUDIES: FMS To Thailand : M-60A3 Tanks
M60A3 Patton
AAG_th บันทึกประจำวัน: ศักยภาพในการต่อสู้รถถังหลักของยานเกราะเหล่าทหารม้ากองทัพบกไทย-๒
เกราะเสริมแบบใหม่ของ รถถังหลัก M60A3 กองทัพบกไทย - Pantip
https://www.army-technology.com/projects/m60a3-main-battle-tank/?cf-view
Book / Other:
Thailand Royal Army Weapon Systems Handbook Volume 1 - IPB USA 2009
Federal Register Vol.62 No.120 - 1997 (Link)
List of Suggestions of ASEAN region
