The US Army’s M60 Patton Battle Tank vs. Soviet T-54/T-55 Tanks

by Maya Carlin, Warrior Contributor, Weapons

Like the M1 Abrams main battle tank (MBT) and the Apache family of helicopters, the U.S.-made M60 tank proved that upgrades over time can keep a weapon system viable for decades.

The M1 Abrams MBT may be more widely recognized today, but back during the Cold War the M60 Patton armored vehicle served longer and fought honorably on more battlefields than its successor.

In fact, the M-60 is certainly deserving of the title of one of the most successful battle tanks ever produced across the globe.

The First Patton

In the early 1950s, the U.S. began to see just how badly its tanks lagged behind the Soviet Union during the Korean War. To rectify this issue, U.S. manufacturers hurriedly designed and produced a new armored vehicle – the M47 Patton. The new MBT entered its production phase in 1951. This turnaround would have been considered a feat if the resulting M47s hadn’t suffered several technical issues that prevented it from performing well.

One year later, the M-48 variant entered service but was considered unsatisfactory by the Army. Improvements to the M-48 variant included the incorporation of the 90mm main gun and fire control systems. By the late 1950s, rumors began to circulate that the Soviets were developing an advanced tank capable of carrying a high-velocity rifled gun. To keep up with its adversary’s new T-54/T-55 medium tanks, the U.S. began work on its own XM60 prototype.

The M60’s Specs

Although the M60 was derived from the M48 Patton, the latter MBT series was only considered a “product-improved descendant” by the Army. The new tank design featured diesel engines and a powerful main gun, elements taken from the Army Combat Vehicle Committee’s enhancements to the M48 MBT. Initially, the M60 Patton also sported the same general turret shape as its predecessor.